Morning came quietly.
Kael woke to the familiar ache in his muscles, deeper than yesterday but no longer shocking. His body felt heavy, stiff, and sore, yet strangely responsive, as if it had begun to accept the punishment. He pushed himself up from the forest floor and found Soren already awake, standing in the clearing with two wooden practice swords planted into the soil.
"You're up earlier today," Soren said.
Kael rubbed his neck. "Hard not to wake up when everything hurts."
Soren nodded once. "Good. That means your body is learning."
Without further explanation, Soren handed Kael one of the wooden swords. The weight felt more familiar now, less awkward in Kael's hands. He adjusted his grip instinctively, surprising himself.
"We start with sparring," Soren said. "Slow. Controlled. Focus on stance and balance."
Kael took a breath and nodded.
They faced each other in the clearing, the morning light slipping through the trees. At first, Soren moved carefully, guiding Kael through each motion. Step forward. Guard high. Turn the wrist. Kael stumbled more than he succeeded, but his reactions were faster than the day before.
Wood clashed against wood.
Again.
And again.
Sweat dripped down Kael's face as his arms burned, but he did not stop. He adjusted, corrected, learned. Soren increased the pace little by little, testing Kael's awareness. The strikes came faster, sharper, but still measured.
Then something changed.
Soren didn't noticed it but his body suddenly stepped in closer than before. His expression sharpened, his movements tighter. When he swung, there was more weight behind it. More intent.
Kael barely raised his guard in time.
The impact landed squarely against Kael's side.
The sound of wood striking flesh echoed through the clearing.
Soren froze.
Kael blinked.
"…Why did you suddenly stop, Soren?" Kael asked, genuinely confused.
Soren stared at him, eyes wide, his grip loosening as he lowered his sword. "S-sorry, Kael… that must've hurt."
Kael tilted his head. "No, not really."
A chill ran through Soren's spine.
Didn't I put strength into that swing?
He replayed the motion in his mind. The angle. The force. It should have at least bruised him. Maybe worse.
"Maybe just my imagination…" Soren muttered under his breath.
Kael shifted his weight, rolling his shoulder. "Are we continuing?"
Soren hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. Stay alert."
They resumed.
The rest of the training passed without incident. Kael blocked more than he missed. His footwork improved. His breathing steadied. Soren watched him carefully, searching for any sign of injury, but Kael moved as if nothing had happened.
Eventually, Kael lowered his sword and exhaled. "I want to rest for a bit."
Soren agreed immediately. "Sit. Drink some water."
They rested beneath the shade of a large tree. Kael stretched his arms, wincing only slightly.
Soren finally spoke. "By the way, Kael… are you sure you didn't get hurt during training?"
Kael looked genuinely puzzled. "Huh? No. To be honest, I feel like you're going easy on me."
Soren let out a short, nervous chuckle. "I see."
They returned to training soon after. The sun climbed higher, then slowly descended. By nightfall, Kael collapsed onto his bedroll, exhausted beyond words.
He fell asleep almost instantly.
Soren did not.
The forest was quiet under the night sky. Soren stood outside the small camp, listening to the wind and watching the shadows move between the trees. His thoughts returned to that swing. The feeling of resistance that never came.
Something was wrong.
A sudden scream shattered the silence.
Soren spun around and rushed to Kael's side.
Kael thrashed in his sleep, his body drenched in sweat. His face was twisted in pain, his breath ragged and uneven.
"Kael!" Soren grabbed his shoulders. "Wake up!"
Kael screamed again, louder, his back arching unnaturally. Soren's heart pounded as he tried to shake him awake, but it was useless.
Then he saw it.
On Kael's chest, something was forming. The skin began to change, lines slowly appearing as if an invisible blade was carving into him. The marks were small, precise, glowing faintly before darkening into something solid.
Soren pulled his hand back in shock.
"What… is that?"
The carving continued, deliberate and slow. Kael screamed until the final line was completed, then suddenly went still. The pain vanished as quickly as it came.
Silence returned to the forest.
Kael's breathing steadied.
The mark remained.
Soren stared at it, his thoughts racing.
"What was that? I don't get it. What is happening in his body? Is this the aftermath of his training? No. It's different. Something feels off."
He reached out, hesitated, then gently placed his hand near Kael's chest. The skin was warm. Alive. Normal.
Whatever it was, it was over.
Soren exhaled slowly. At first, curiosity clawed at him, but he pushed it aside. Answers could wait. All that mattered was that Kael was alive.
He stayed there for the rest of the night, seated beside Kael, never once closing his eyes.
Morning light eventually filtered through the trees.
Kael stirred.
His eyes fluttered open. "Huh… Soren…? What are you doing here?"
Soren looked down at him.
(End of Chapter 7)