The next morning, Makoto woke before Lyona had the chance to wake him up.
His body still felt sore from yesterday's training, especially in the arm where his flux had once "mini-exploded."
He sat up, staring at the dusty ceiling of the hay storage.
He wasn't sure since when, but the smell of hay that used to be annoying now felt… a little calming.
Just a little.
Makoto stood and put on his shoes.
Today he didn't want to look like a burden.
---
A Restless Morning
As Makoto stepped out of the storage house, he saw some villagers watching him from afar.
Those suspicious gazes were still the same as yesterday—cold, wary, as if he carried a plague.
Makoto took a deep breath.
"I have to get used to this… at least until I prove I'm not a threat."
As he walked toward the training field, quick footsteps approached from behind.
"Makoto."
Lyona appeared with a small cloth pouch in her hand.
Her face remained expressionless, but there was a slight—very slight—hint of relief seeing Makoto already awake.
"You're faster than I expected," she said.
"I don't want to be called slow again."
"Good. Here." Lyona tossed the pouch.
Makoto caught it.
Inside was a piece of hard bread and a small dark-purple fruit.
"A simple breakfast," Lyona explained. "The village doesn't give much to mist-strays. So just eat what's available."
Makoto bit the bread.
"So hard… is this bread or a rock?"
"If you can eat while complaining, that means you're fine," Lyona said as she walked ahead.
Makoto sighed.
He hurried after her.
---
Advanced Flux Training
The training field that morning was filled with a thin mist that was beginning to fade. Dew still clung to the tips of the grass.
Lyona stood straight.
"Today we start flow stabilization," she said.
"Stabilization?"
"Yesterday you managed to touch your flux, though it was wild. Today you have to try diverting part of its flow to one point. Without an explosion."
"Without an explosion… yeah. That's important."
Lyona drew her sword and stabbed it into the ground as a marker.
"You'll try focusing your flux into your right palm. Don't force it. Follow its flow, not fight it."
Makoto closed his eyes.
Take a breath.
Empty the mind.
Feel that faint warmth…
Slowly, he felt it again—the subtle vibration flowing from his chest to his arm.
"Hngh… I… I can feel it."
"Now, don't force it. Let it flow like water."
Makoto tried.
The flux moved, but again it felt unstable.
Sometimes strengthening suddenly, then weakening, like an old engine sputtering.
"I… it's hard to guide, Lyona."
"Too tense. When you're tense, your flow breaks."
"I'm trying not to be tense!"
Lyona stepped forward and—without warning—patted his shoulder.
Makoto almost jumped.
"Relax," she said, her tone softer than usual.
Makoto froze, slightly startled.
He took a deep breath and tried again.
The flux flowed once more.
Slowly.
More orderly.
Following the muscle lines of his arm.
Lyona nodded.
"Good. Maintain it. Direct it to the hand."
Makoto moved his hand a little.
And finally—for the first time—a small flame-like pale blue light glowed faintly in his palm.
Makoto's eyes widened.
"I… I did it! Lyona, I—"
"Don't talk!"
The light instantly vanished.
Makoto stiffened.
"…Seriously?"
"If you speak during concentration, everything collapses," Lyona said. "But you already took the first step. That's good enough."
Makoto stared at his hand in amazement.
He had actually produced stable flux.
Though very small.
But still—real progress.
For the first time since he arrived, he felt capable of doing something in this world.
---
Incident in the Village
As they returned to the village, the atmosphere felt uneasy.
Some villagers were gathered in the middle of the road, whispering in panic.
Makoto slowed down.
"What's going on…?"
One of the villagers saw Lyona and immediately reported.
"A child is missing in the northern forest!"
Lyona frowned.
"The northern forest? At this hour?"
"He was chased by wild dogs! His mother said he ran inside before anyone could catch him!"
Makoto saw Lyona's face turn serious.
"How long since he went in?" Lyona asked.
"Almost an hour!"
Makoto tensed.
"The northern forest is dangerous, right?"
Lyona gave him a brief look.
"There are goblins there. And worse… thin mist often appears."
Makoto swallowed hard.
"So… the child could be dragged by the mist like I was?"
"Yes. Or worse."
Without hesitation, Lyona tightened her sword belt.
"I'm going now."
Makoto reflexively stepped forward.
"Lyona! I'm coming with you!"
Lyona looked at him firmly.
"You're not ready."
"But—the child needs help!"
"You still can't control your flux."
Makoto clenched his fist.
"I know. But… if I can help even a little… I want to try."
Lyona looked into his eyes.
There was firmness, but also a hint of doubt.
Makoto recalled the small flux light from earlier.
"…I don't want to be just a burden."
A few seconds passed before Lyona finally spoke.
"Fine," she said quietly.
"But if you lose control, I'm dragging you back."
Makoto nodded strongly.
"Deal!"
Lyona let out a long breath.
"Alright. We're finding that child. Don't stray from me."
Makoto tightened the straps of his bag.
In his heart he said:
"If this world wants to test me… I'll face it."