The morning air was thin and sharp, cutting through the mist over Lunel.
Sunlight glimmered on the lake like molten glass.
Two figures stood on a wide wooden platform — boots planted, energy humming quietly under the surface.
Eren adjusted the compass strapped to his wrist, its needle spinning faster than usual.
"Last day here," he said. "Might as well see how much you've actually learned."
Rynn stretched his shoulders, the tape relic hanging from his belt.
"You sure? Wouldn't want to embarrass my teacher in front of all these fish."
Eren grinned faintly. "Try it."
---
The Duel Begins
The first move was Rynn's.
He drew the measuring tape in a single smooth flick — metallic, flexible, and alive with faint blue light.
Three Mirra Nodes marked the floor in quick succession, their glow pulsing in rhythm with his breathing.
Eren's compass needle turned red.
"Fast setup," he said. "But can you make them dance?"
Rynn exhaled. "Watch me."
The air around the platform tightened.
Rynn yanked the tape back — snap!
A chain implosion rippled outward, sucking the air toward Eren.
Eren stepped into it instead of away, twisting his wrist.
The compass needle spun counterclockwise — red streaks of motion arced around him.
The blast bent midair, curving away harmlessly into the lake.
---
Precision vs Instinct
Rynn wasn't discouraged.
He marked two more Nodes, connecting them with fast flicks.
Each mark hummed louder — his timing nearly perfect.
Eren's eyes flicked to the compass.
"You're syncing them," he said quietly. "Not bad."
"Not bad?" Rynn grinned. "You're about to eat it."
He pulled the tape taut — snap-snap-snap!
Three implosions detonated in a triangular pattern, overlapping into a tight convergence right under Eren's feet.
For a heartbeat, the wooden floor dipped.
The air warped, gravity bending slightly.
Then Eren stepped off the distortion.
The compass needle spun once and froze, pointing downward.
He twisted his hand — and the compressed air reversed direction, shooting Rynn backward like a slingshot.
Rynn landed hard, rolling with the impact.
He laughed breathlessly. "Okay… that was new."
"Momentum's a river," Eren said calmly. "I just changed the current."
---
Final Clash
Rynn's smile widened.
"Then let's see if the river can handle a dam."
He slammed both palms down, marking five Nodes in a tight circle around Eren.
The air hummed, vibrating with pressure.
The tape relic glowed brighter than ever — veins of blue crawling across its surface.
Eren's compass whirred like a heart under strain.
For a second, both energies collided invisibly — implosive pull versus redirection push.
The platform creaked, water spraying upward through the gaps.
Then—
A burst of compressed air exploded outward.
Both were thrown back, landing on opposite ends of the platform.
Eren got up first. Barely.
He was breathing hard, one sleeve torn, compass cracked slightly along the edge.
Rynn groaned and sat up, grinning through exhaustion. "So… tie?"
Eren laughed once. "You hit me. That's already impressive."
He held up his compass, the crack glinting in the sunlight.
"You made me block instead of redirect. That's the closest anyone's come in a long time."
"So I'm getting there."
"Yeah," Eren said, helping him up. "But not there yet."
---
The Decision
Later, as they packed near the edge of the lake, Lunel was quiet — the kind of quiet that felt like the world holding its breath.
The innkeeper waved them off without ceremony, muttering something about "idiots who fight on sacred bridges."
Rynn tightened the strap of his bag. "Where to now?"
Eren looked at the horizon. "Everywhere.
We'll move through the outer regions — ruins, wastelands, anything the Guild hasn't claimed yet."
"Exploring, huh?"
"Learning," Eren said. "You don't learn much standing still."
Rynn smiled. "Fine by me. Just don't complain when I blow up the road."
"I'll redirect it," Eren said.
They both laughed.
The two started walking along the narrow path leading away from Lunel.
The sun climbed higher, the compass needle spinning lazily as the tape relic shimmered faintly at Rynn's side.
Neither looked back.
---
End of Chapter 20
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