The sun had begun to set.
The field was quiet again.
Riven stood there—
Still catching his breath.
Body tired.
Mind exhausted.
But his eyes—
Were sharper than before.
Godwin stood a few steps ahead.
Calm as always.
"…You're slow."
Riven frowned.
"…I just survived you for a minute."
Godwin shook his head.
"…You survived by reacting."
A pause.
"…Not by understanding."
Silence.
Riven clenched his fist.
"…Then teach me."
Godwin turned slightly.
"…First lesson."
A pause.
"…Stop looking at me."
Riven blinked.
"…What?"
"…Close your eyes."
Silence.
"…You're joking, right?"
Godwin didn't respond.
Which meant—
He wasn't joking.
Riven hesitated.
Then—
Slowly—
Closed his eyes.
"…Now what?"
Godwin's voice came calmly.
"…Move."
"…Without seeing."
Riven frowned.
"…That makes no sense."
"…Exactly."
A pause.
"…That's why you rely on sight."
Silence.
Riven took a step.
Careful.
Uncertain.
Then another.
"…This feels stupid…"
Suddenly—
Godwin moved.
Fast.
Riven felt it.
Not saw—
Felt.
"…!"
He reacted instantly.
Jumped back—
Barely avoiding something.
He opened his eyes.
"…You attacked me!"
Godwin looked at him calmly.
"…And you noticed."
Silence.
Riven froze.
"…Wait…"
"…I didn't see you…"
"…But I still reacted…"
Godwin nodded.
"…Because you felt it."
A pause.
"…That's what you need to train."
Riven slowly closed his eyes again.
This time—
More focused.
"…Not sight…"
"…But awareness…"
Godwin moved again.
Faster.
Riven stood still.
Focused.
Listening.
Feeling.
Then—
He moved.
Not perfectly.
Not smoothly.
But—
In time.
The attack missed.
Riven opened his eyes slightly.
"…I did it…"
Godwin nodded.
"…Barely."
But this time—
There was approval.
Subtle.
But real.
"…Again."
Riven closed his eyes fully.
Focused harder.
Godwin attacked.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each time—
Riven improved.
Not by seeing—
But by sensing.
Feeling the shift.
The movement.
The intent.
Time passed.
Minutes.
Then—
Hours.
Riven's body trembled.
Exhausted.
But he didn't stop.
"…Again…"
Godwin watched him.
Silently.
"…Good."
A pause.
"…Now second lesson."
Riven barely opened his eyes.
"…There's more…?"
Godwin smirked faintly.
"…Of course."
He stepped forward.
"…Now attack me."
Riven froze.
"…With my eyes closed?"
"…Yes."
Silence.
"…That's impossible…"
Godwin looked at him.
"…Then prove it."
Riven clenched his teeth.
Closed his eyes again.
Focused.
"…Feel…"
"…Don't think…"
He moved.
Attacked.
Not precise.
Not strong.
But—
Directed.
Godwin tilted slightly.
The attack missed.
But—
Not by much.
Godwin's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Again."
Riven attacked again.
Better this time.
Closer.
More accurate.
"…Again."
Each attempt—
Improved.
Slowly.
But clearly.
Then—
One strike.
Different.
Cleaner.
More focused.
Godwin moved—
But paused slightly.
The attack passed—
Right next to him.
Close enough.
Very close.
Silence.
Riven opened his eyes.
"…Did I—?"
Godwin looked at him.
"…You almost did."
A pause.
"…That's enough for today."
Riven dropped to the ground.
Exhausted.
"…I can't move…"
Godwin turned away.
"…Good."
"…That means you actually trained."
Riven laughed weakly.
"…You're brutal…"
Godwin smirked faintly.
"…You asked for it."
Silence.
Then—
Riven looked at him.
Serious.
"…Why are you helping me?"
A pause.
Godwin didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Because you remind me of something."
"…What?"
Godwin looked at the sky.
"…Someone who kept moving forward."
Silence.
Riven didn't fully understand.
But—
He didn't need to.
Not yet.
Godwin started walking.
"…Rest."
"…Tomorrow will be harder."
Riven groaned.
"…Of course it will…"
But despite everything—
He smiled.
Because for the first time—
He felt it.
Growth.
Real growth.
And this was just the beginning.
To be continued…