The days began to follow a demanding routine after the training sessions started. In the morning, we took on missions or trained together as a group. During the afternoon, we focused on coordinated combat. And at night, I continued trying to surpass my own limits.
Even sleeping very little, I couldn't stop.
The feeling that time was running out grew stronger with each passing day.
That morning I woke up early once again. The sky was still dark when I went down to the mansion's garden. The cold dawn air helped clear my mind a little.
I picked up my sword and began practicing simple movements alone.
Quick slashes.
Footwork.
Mana flow.
Everything while trying to maintain absolute control over my energy.
After the previous night's training, I had finally understood something.
The more I tried to force the sword's power...
The more it slipped out of control.
I needed to stop fighting against that energy.
I needed to learn how to flow together with it.
I continued training in silence until I heard footsteps behind me.
Rai'kanna appeared wearing light training clothes while tying up her hair.
"You started by yourself again."
"You're up early."
She slowly approached.
"You make too much noise when training your mana."
I ended up letting out a quiet laugh.
"Sorry."
Rai'kanna watched my movements for a few seconds.
"You're still focusing only on the sword."
I slowly stopped.
"What do you mean?"
She crossed her arms.
"You keep forgetting that you also possess draconic power."
I looked at her in silence.
She was right.
Ever since I received that blessing and the dragons' power, I had mainly used the flames as raw attacks.
I had never truly tried to master them properly.
Rai'kanna then pointed toward the distant mountains.
"Let's go."
"Now?"
"Yes."
She started walking normally as if she had already made up her mind.
I simply followed.
Some time later, we arrived once again at the mountainous region north of Vailor. Strong winds blew between the massive rocks while the sun slowly began to rise over the horizon.
Rai'kanna stopped in an open area surrounded by enormous boulders.
"Training dragon fire near the mansion doesn't seem like a good idea."
"I agree."
She turned toward me.
"Then begin."
I gripped my sword while slowly releasing mana.
Golden markings appeared along my arm.
Then I summoned the dragon flames.
Red fire erupted around me immediately.
The temperature of the area rose violently.
Nearby rocks began cracking from the heat pressure alone.
But Rai'kanna remained standing calmly, watching.
After a few seconds, she slowly shook her head.
"Wrong."
The flames gradually disappeared.
"What?"
"You're doing exactly the same thing as with the armor."
I frowned slightly.
"Explain."
She stepped a little closer.
"You're using far too much force."
I looked at my own hands.
"Dragon flames aren't meant to explode all the time."
"Then how should I use them?"
Rai'kanna raised her own hand.
A small blue flame appeared above her palm.
Much smaller than mine.
But unbelievably more stable.
Her mana barely fluctuated.
"Control."
She slowly closed her hand and the flame disappeared.
"Dragons don't waste energy."
I kept watching her carefully.
Then Rai'kanna pointed at me again.
"Again."
I took a deep breath.
This time I tried reducing the amount of mana.
A small red flame appeared in my hand.
Unstable.
Constantly flickering.
Rai'kanna sighed.
"You're trying to imprison the fire."
"Because if I let it loose too much, it explodes."
"Exactly."
She smiled faintly.
"So stop trying to imprison it."
It sounded simple when she said it.
Actually doing it was another story.
I tried again.
The flame grew larger.
Lost control.
Exploded violently.
A wave of heat swept across the nearby rocks.
Rai'kanna dodged effortlessly.
"Close."
"Not even close."
She crossed her arms.
"You improved."
I kept trying for several more minutes.
Small explosions began erupting throughout the mountain.
Some rocks even partially melted.
The heat kept increasing.
But gradually I started realizing something.
The flames became more stable whenever I reduced my strength.
Whenever I simply allowed my mana to flow.
I took another deep breath.
Closed my eyes for a few seconds.
Then summoned the flames again.
This time slowly.
Red fire appeared above my hand.
Smaller.
More concentrated.
Far more stable.
Rai'kanna watched closely.
"That's it."
I kept the flame active for several seconds without losing control.
The temperature was still incredible.
But for the first time, I could truly feel the flow of the energy.
As if the fire itself were breathing together with me.
Then I opened my eyes.
And threw the flame forward.
The fire cut through the air like a crimson spear.
Without an uncontrolled explosion.
Without wasting energy.
The distant mountain was struck directly.
A massive explosion occurred immediately afterward.
Part of the rock simply vanished.
I stared at it in silence.
Rai'kanna let out a quiet laugh.
"See?"
I looked at my hand.
The mana I had used was much less than I normally would.
But the power...
It was greater.
Much greater.
"So that was it."
Rai'kanna nodded.
"You always try to solve everything by using absurd amounts of mana."
She walked toward the mountain's edge.
"But control matters far more."
I spent a few seconds observing the destruction on the distant mountain.
Then I began testing again.
This time creating small flames.
Concentrating them.
Releasing them.
Changing their shape.
Little by little, I began to understand how that power worked.
Dragon fire wasn't just destruction.
It was flow.
Precision.
Absolute control.
Hours passed as we continued training.
At one point, the other girls arrived as well.
Scarlett was the first to notice a huge section of the mountain that had been destroyed.
"What happened here?"
Rai'kanna answered casually.
"Training."
Vespera looked at the distant crater.
"That doesn't look like normal training."
"Because it wasn't."
I couldn't help smiling faintly.
Liriel noticed immediately.
"You improved."
I nodded.
"A little."
Lyannis walked over, carefully analyzing the mana around me.
"The flow changed."
Even Elara seemed surprised.
"The flames are much more stable."
Scarlett crossed her arms.
"So you finally started using your brain."
"Thanks for the kindness."
She only gave a faint smile.
After that, the training continued with everyone participating.
Lyannis began coordination exercises.
Vespera practiced her shots while Elara used wind to alter trajectories.
Scarlett focused on destructive magic.
Liriel handled support and barriers.
Rai'kanna concentrated on physical combat.
And I tried to unite all of it while mastering my own mana more effectively.
The entire afternoon passed that way.
Training.
Mock combat.
Magical control.
Strategies.
At one point, Lyannis organized a mock battle between us.
She wanted to test our coordination.
The group quickly divided into positions.
Scarlett advanced first using lightning.
Vespera attacked from long range immediately afterward.
Rai'kanna moved in from the flank.
Elara manipulated movement using wind.
Liriel maintained barriers and support.
For the first time...
Our movements began flowing much better.
I was able to keep up with everyone without acting alone.
That was important.
Because in the battle against the First General...
I probably wouldn't win alone.
By the time training finally ended, the sun was already beginning to disappear below the horizon.
We were tired.
Sweaty.
But satisfied.
We sat near the rocks as the cool evening wind began to blow.
Scarlett lay on the ground looking up at the sky.
"We're improving."
Lyannis nodded.
"Especially our coordination."
Vespera rested her bow beside her.
"We still need to improve our position switching."
Rai'kanna agreed.
"But it's already much better than before."
Liriel looked at me.
"And you?"
I took a deep breath before answering.
"I think I'm finally starting to understand my own power."
Elara smiled faintly.
"It's about time."
I ended up laughing quietly.
We stayed there for a few minutes simply resting.
The sky slowly darkened above the mountains.
But even during that calmer moment...
I could still feel it.
The demonic mana.
Distant.
Heavy.
Like a shadow slowly drawing closer.
Then Lyannis spoke calmly.
"The north is worse."
I immediately looked at her.
"You noticed it too?"
She nodded.
"The mana density has increased since yesterday."
Scarlett sat up again.
"They're moving?"
"We don't know yet."
Rai'kanna grew serious.
"But they're probably preparing something."
The atmosphere became heavy again.
The war seemed closer than ever.
And even with all my progress...
I still felt that I needed to become stronger.
Much stronger.
We returned to the mansion later that night.
The servants quickly prepared dinner while the group talked about the day's training.
For the first time in quite a while...
The atmosphere felt a little lighter.
Perhaps because everyone could see real progress.
After dinner, I went upstairs to my room alone.
I spent some time looking at the sword resting beside the bed.
Golden markings faintly appeared across my hand.
Then I summoned a small dragon flame.
This time it remained stable.
Silent.
Controlled.
I observed the fire for a few seconds.
Then I slowly closed my hand, extinguishing the flame.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
I was finally beginning to move forward.
But at that exact moment...
I felt something strange.
A distant pressure.
Weak.
But present.
I immediately looked toward the open window facing north.
The cold wind silently crossed the room.
And for some reason...
At that moment...
I had the feeling that something was watching back.