Morning came early.
Too early.
Riven barely opened his eyes.
His body still sore.
Muscles aching.
"…I can't even move…"
And yet—
"…Get up."
Godwin's voice.
Calm.
Unforgiving.
Riven groaned.
"…Of course…"
Slowly—
He stood up.
"…What now?"
Godwin looked at him.
"…Today…"
A pause.
"…You stop reacting."
Riven frowned.
"…Then what do I do?"
Godwin stepped forward.
"…You act first."
Silence.
"…But I can't even see your moves properly…"
"…That's why you'll fail."
Riven clenched his fist.
"…Then teach me how not to."
Godwin nodded slightly.
"…Simple."
A pause.
"…Don't wait."
Before Riven could respond—
Godwin moved.
Fast.
But this time—
Riven didn't wait.
He attacked first.
Instinctively.
Not perfectly.
But decisively.
Godwin stopped.
Just for a moment.
"…Good."
Then—
He countered.
Riven barely dodged.
"…Tch—!"
He moved again.
Attacked again.
Faster this time.
More confident.
But still—
Not enough.
Godwin pushed him back.
"…You're still thinking."
Riven gritted his teeth.
"…Then how do I stop?!"
Godwin stepped forward.
"…Trust your instinct."
"…That's it?"
"…That's everything."
Silence.
Riven closed his eyes.
Not to avoid.
But to focus.
"…Instinct…"
"…Don't think…"
Godwin moved again.
But this time—
Riven moved first.
Faster.
Cleaner.
More direct.
Their movements clashed.
Not evenly.
But closer.
Much closer.
"…Again."
Godwin said calmly.
Riven attacked again.
This time—
He didn't hesitate.
Didn't doubt.
Didn't think.
And suddenly—
Something changed.
The world slowed.
Not literally—
But for him.
Movements became clearer.
Intent became visible.
Paths—
Opened.
"…What is this…?"
Godwin noticed instantly.
"…There it is."
Riven's attack shifted.
More precise.
More controlled.
Godwin stepped aside—
But barely.
"…He's reading me…"
Riven moved again.
This time—
He didn't miss.
His strike—
Connected.
Light.
But real.
Silence.
Both stopped.
Riven froze.
"…I… hit you…"
Godwin looked at him.
Not surprised.
But—
Satisfied.
"…You did."
Riven stepped back.
Breathing heavily.
"…What… was that…?"
Godwin crossed his arms.
"…Your first step."
A pause.
"…Toward real strength."
Riven looked at his hand.
"…It felt… different…"
"…Because you stopped relying on thought."
Godwin said calmly.
"…And started trusting yourself."
Silence.
A faint glow appeared around Riven's eyes.
Not visible—
But present.
Godwin noticed.
"…You awakened it."
Riven looked up.
"…Awakened what?"
Godwin smirked faintly.
"…A skill."
A pause.
"…Not given."
"…Earned."
Riven's eyes widened slightly.
"…What kind of skill?"
Godwin turned away.
"…You'll figure it out."
Before Riven could ask more—
Godwin's expression changed slightly.
Serious.
Sharp.
"…Looks like we're not alone anymore."
Riven froze.
"…What do you mean?"
Silence.
Then—
A presence.
Heavy.
Dark.
Familiar.
But wrong.
"…This feeling…"
Riven's body tensed.
"…It's not like the monsters from before…"
Godwin looked into the distance.
"…Yeah."
A faint smile appeared.
"…This one's different."
The ground trembled slightly.
Air grew heavier.
Something was approaching.
Something stronger.
More dangerous.
Riven swallowed.
"…Is this part of the training…?"
Godwin glanced at him.
"…No."
A pause.
"…This is real."
Silence.
Riven steadied himself.
"…Then what do we do?"
Godwin stepped forward.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"…You fight."
Riven's eyes widened.
"…What?!"
Godwin looked back at him.
"…You wanted to get stronger."
A pause.
"…Now prove it."
The presence grew closer.
Darker.
Heavier.
Riven clenched his fist.
Heart pounding.
Fear rising.
But—
He didn't step back.
"…Alright…"
He took a step forward.
"…I won't run."
Godwin smiled faintly.
"…Good."
Because this time—
There would be no holding back.
No easy lesson.
Only one truth—
Survive.
Or fall.
To be continued…