The Next Day
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5g1H0KD81
The morning sun had only just begun to rise, casting soft golden light across the cobblestone courtyards and misty rooftops. Temu loud footsteps echoed throughout the halls of castle walls, she stormed over to Kaida’s room and burst through the door.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjezZqdwsO
“RUNT! Rise and grind if you’re not up in the next five seconds, I’m dragging your sorry ass by your-”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXftgMCWRhL
She stopped short.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfevIm3HxVv
The room was empty.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qMi60pbzs
Bed neatly made. No trace of Kaida in sight.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GRUv1wDEW
Temu’s ears twitched, tail stilling mid-flick. She narrowed her eyes and turned sharply on her heel, footsteps echoing through the palace halls as she tracked down the others.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC66G43Trqz
She found Alric first, as he was tightening his gauntlets near the barracks.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63o90tGx8j
“Have you seen the runt?”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U4ZaU46e7
Alric looked at Temu, he blinked, proceeding her question. “Kaida? No, I assumed he’d be asleep with you in his ear.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8q93XbRqT
“I thought so too…but the runt is not in his room” She said with a low growl, rubbing the back of her head.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivFJ0KovnM
Alric took a moment to think. “Ask the others, maybe they’ve seen him” he said while fixing onto his arm straps.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5zY7dN2WV
“I guess…” she said, turning to continue her search.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbAEsBomaG
Next she ran into Lorien, carrying a pile of books. He shook his head.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcVw8tsxe3
“Bookworm, have you seen the runt?” She barked at Lorien.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTizOBucEN
“I’m afraid not, I assumed he’d still be sleeping. He usually is.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnWdyDeAkD
She clenched her fist “Damn…thanks for nothing” she said walking off.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp6vAnZCsP
“Jezz…is she that upset she didn’t get to bully him on wake up?” Lorien said under his breath.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxInmiXbSMG
“Damn right!” She said, yelling across the hallway, leaving Lorien stunned when she heard him.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi05GfcIM5L
As she continued to storm down the hall she ran into Seraphina, sitting on a bench in the hall yawning.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ065x0ox44R
“Seraphina, have you seen-”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB9yDOVo23
“I heard you yelling at Lorien, if you’re gonna ask me if I seen the boy around then nope, sorry ma’am. Too tired to see much of anything. Think he snuck off to get extra sleep? He seems like the time” she giggled.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VTllncqPr
Temu grumbled and continued her search.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCRYZo6FRW
After about fifteen of searching the inside of the castle she met up with everyone who still didn’t know where Kaida was, they all eventually ran into Lysara leaning against a pillar as she looks out the window. Her face unreadable but her eyes were focused.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvlZa4rwWz
“Princess,” Temu asked, “Have you seen Kaida?”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9i7WmeEph
She didn’t answer.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1a9bMUkXi
Without turning heard, Lysara raised her hand and pointed toward the training field holding a small smile on her face.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIuzf03ybt
The group gathered beside her, peering through the window following her gaze.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8QdwKkxVP
Outside, down on the training field, Kaida was running laps.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhyMapo9pY
Full gear on. Sweat soaking through his clothes. Feet pounding the track with steady determination.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IevoSrxsz
“What the hell…” Seraphina muttered.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKH1mXWq3w
“When did he even get up?” Alric asked.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDaHWAVmCo
Lysara finally spoke, her voice calm but proud. “He’s been at it for a while now, I’d guess a little over thirty minutes or so.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zvKrJQMN8
They all stared in shock, even Temu was frozen for a moment. She let out a low pleased grunt as a satisfied grin curved her lips.
After a bit of time the group made their way down to the field. Down on the field, Kaida spotted them walking towards him. He raised a hand mid-stride, grinning despite the sweat streaming down his face.
“Hey, guys!” He shouted as he slowed his jog. Alric being the first to jog up beside him.
“You training already?” Alric asked.
Kaida wiped his forehead with the back of his arm. “Considering I’m further behind compared to all of you I decided I wanted to catch up. So I thought I’d get ahead today.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o2FpusATJ
Seraphina whistled. “Well look at you, overachiever alert!” She said with a smirk on her face.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnGeKIRxYl
Kaida chuckled a bit “Hardly, but I do appreciate the compliment.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTONtdTTQO
Lorien pats Kaida on the back “This is a big step forward for you Kaida, taking the initiative to better one’s self is not always an easy task. Actually it’s the most difficult, so don’t downplay your efforts.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJk3mwJB06
“Huh, I…didn’t think of it that way,” Kaida said, rubbing the back of his neck.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMidUc81xS3
“Try to keep that in mind”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmGHqdoANN
“Hey runt,” Temu said, stepping up to him cracking her knuckles. “Today, you’re training with me. Personally. And for the rest of you—Standard drills. Alric, takeover here!”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrrm21EbDV
Alric gave a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
Before Kaida could object to the idea, Temu had already grabbed him by the back of collar and started dragging him off to the far side of the yard.
“H-Hey! I can walk, you know!”
“I know,” Temu said, smirking. “But this is more fun.”
Seraphina waved to Kaida “Later Kaida” she said with a grin on her face.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeEwULVLn8
“That boy is in for a rough day…” Lorien said, Alric patting his shoulders “Yup…welp nothing we can do about it now but pray. Well everyone, let’s start are drills.” Alric said to everyone.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OlESbsABS
Meanwhile Kaida stands before Temu on the opposite side of the field, he has his arms crossed as he looks at her.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVcljTyrmA
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcIiiaHjPz
“So… what kind of training are we doing today?” Kaida asked, shifting nervously. “Please don’t say weapons training… I’m not trying to die today.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74b64kqoR3
There was a noticeable edge of panic in his voice.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K9XEm3tIL
“No, not that,” she replied calmly, arms crossed. “If we did weapons training, I’d probably kill you by accident.” She gave him a deadpan look. “Instead, we’re focusing on mana control. You’re running around activating abilities without understanding the basic flow of energy in your body. That’s a fast track to overloading your system and passing out. Or worse.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrGmBHCn5O
Kaida let out a breath of relief. “Oh… okay, that sounds better. So, uh… what’s first?”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfFLqgdHv9
She didn’t answer right away.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwncR96C90
Without warning, she stepped in close and drove her fist into his gut.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf0GGWgf4b
“UGHH—What the FUCK?!” Kaida doubled over, arms instinctively wrapping around his stomach as he dropped to one knee. “What was that for?!”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2430AozVoX
“Focus on the pain,” she said flatly, as if it were the most normal instruction in the world. “And breathe.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODtryX49as
Kaida shot her a glare, eyes narrowed in frustration. But after a second, he did as told. He closed his eyes and took slow, deliberate breaths. His focus centered on the ache in his abdomen, the raw throb of it pulsing with each heartbeat. It didn’t make sense—what was this supposed to accomplish?
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4R6I8FIP2
Then, slowly, something shifted.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRADJemJO0
The pain started to fade.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSRa8R9tUJ
Confused, Kaida opened his eyes and touched the area where she’d struck him. The sharp ache was gone—completely gone.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwM4NMKmE6
“What… what just happened?” he asked, staring up at her in disbelief.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tNt96X193
“You just used your mana to heal yourself,” she explained, her voice even and instructive. “Mana isn’t just some external force you manipulate. It’s an energy that exists both within and around you. It responds to intent. If your body is in danger and you instinctively want to protect or fix it, mana can answer that call—as long as the demand fits within the natural function it was trained for.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbdmltKtZX
She paused, giving him a moment to absorb that.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1llsRpTil
“Say, for example, you were born with the ability to manipulate elements without needing a special focus item, like me. Let’s say your affinity was fire. Your mana would naturally respond to your will when generating heat or flames, because it aligns with your internal vibration—fast, energetic, destructive. But if you suddenly wanted to shape water or use ice, your mana would resist. That vibration is slower, calmer. It requires discipline and retraining to make that shift.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiFP3QSgMe
“So… mana reacts to emotion and intent… but also to some kind of internal frequency?” Kaida asked, trying to piece it together.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4md6cQHLz6
“Exactly. Hot, aggressive emotions usually link to fast vibrations—fire, lightning, things that burst outward. Cool, focused emotions link to slow vibrations—water, ice, things that flow or freeze. Master your emotions and your focus, and you’ll master your mana.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHRq2b6dkv
“That’s… a lot to process,” Kaida said, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to absorb everything she had just explained. His brow furrowed, clearly overwhelmed but intrigued.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPVYuAhQMz
Temu gave a confident smirk, placing a hand over her chest with exaggerated pride. “Don’t worry. Under my expert command, you’ll be a master of mana manipulation in no time.”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3igWAafHP
Her tone was boastful, almost theatrical, like she was announcing it to a crowd.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR8rTFj6gp
Kaida chuckled and gave her a playful look. “Even better than you?”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVddEZMyei
There was a beat of silence.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlJ9H3bLlB
Temu’s expression shifted—her eyebrow arched as she slowly turned toward him. Without a word, she slung an arm around his shoulders in a mock chokehold. Her other hand came down on his head with a rough, almost violent pat.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpTnbHEQAf
“In your dreams, brat!” she said, voice loud and full of playful menace. “The day I let you surpass me is the day I get on my knees—and there’s only one man I’ve ever knelt to, and that was the king himself!”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOVuHEKPJZ
Kaida grunted under her hold but couldn’t stop himself from laughing. “Just wait and see… you big house cat!”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8ebWx2vd1
That comment made her ears twitch visibly.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCKgLsrmij
She froze for a moment.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEv7lwTLdEV
“…What did you just call me, you little shit?!”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw7WwNSKyh
Her grip tightened around his neck as she shouted, shaking him like an unruly kitten.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNbONuunUH
“AAAGH! It was a joke! A joke!!”
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK8OduWqzs
The sudden chaos caught the attention of everyone nearby. Heads turned, and in moments the tension gave way to laughter echoing through the training grounds. The sight of Temu wrangling the overconfident rookie was just too good to ignore.
157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkBKjfGZYc
It was loud, rowdy, and full of life—and for once, Kaida didn’t mind being the center of it.
