Chapter 79

The atmosphere at the training ground changed as Elena strode forward, defiantly twirling the wooden sword. Nick and Devon exchanged glances, silently agreeing that this would be worth watching. Although they both felt tired and needed a bath, they did not intend to miss a duel between the former teammates.“I figured you’d be too much of a housewife for a proper spar,” Akari teased, loosening her shoulders and dropping into a casual stance. “But I guess even you can’t resist showing off in front of her boys.”

Elena snorted. “If anyone’s showing off, it’s you, Akari. Don’t think I didn’t hear you lecturing Devon about his tendency to rush forward when you used to do exactly the same at his age. Let’s see if you’ve still got it.”

The two women began to circle each other, their muscles taut and ready to explode in motion. Despite their playful banter, there was a palpable tension in the air, an unspoken understanding that this spar would be serious.

Nick found himself leaning forward. He’d seen his parents spar before, but this felt different. A fierce intensity had replaced his mother’s usual calm demeanor, and Akari seemed genuinely eager to test herself.

“Think you’ll manage to land a hit this time?” Akari taunted, grinning.

“Think you’ve learned to dodge?” Elena shot back with a rare mischievous expression.

The exchange drew a laugh from Devon. “They’re like a couple of kids,” he chuckled.

Nick didn’t respond. He was too focused on the way their stances shifted, their swords moving in minute increments as they adjusted to each other’s presence. Every detail screamed experience—it was evident that despite the years apart, the two women knew how to read each other very well.

And then, with no warning, they exploded into motion.

Elena moved first, becoming a blur as she closed the distance. Akari met her head-on, and their swords collided with a sharp crack. The force of the impact sent a gust of wind spiraling outward, rustling the nearby trees.

Nick’s eyes widened as he struggled to keep up. Even with his high mental stats, it was almost impossible to follow their movements.

Luckily, he had an answer to that now, and so he cast . The world around him seemed to slow as his senses expanded, but he was surprised to find that even with the spell, it was a challenge to track them.

What caught his attention was the faint golden-green glow on their swords, which he noticed after watching them exchange several earth-shattering blows. He realized it was what prevented the wood from splintering under the sheer force of their strikes. The Stalking Gait was fully showcased—every movement was calculated, and every shift in weight was designed to maximize speed and power.

Elena ducked under a horizontal slash, twisting her body to deliver a counterstrike aimed at Akari’s ribs, who sidestepped at the last moment, using her momentum to launch a spinning attack that Elena narrowly blocked. The clash sent another shockwave of wind tearing through the training grounds, forcing the two brothers to take a step back.

Nick barely noticed as his spell revealed even more. Invisible cyclones swirled around the two women, as their movements creating eddies and currents that disrupted each other’s balance. The precision was staggering, as he had barely been able to feel the shifts when using only his passive sense.

“Are you seeing this?” Devon whispered in awe. It must have been even more incredible for him, considering he was following their exchanges with much greater ease.

Nick nodded, too engrossed to respond. With , he could see the intricate web of air currents they were manipulating. Without the spell, it would have been impossible to notice how seamlessly they integrated the environment into their techniques.

As the duel continued, each exchange became more intense than the last. Akari unleashed a series of rapid lunges that left perfect holes in the ground, moving like a blur as she forced Elena back, who, after retreating for three beats, countered with a sudden burst of speed, crossing to Akari’s flank in a single exhale. The strike that followed would have landed on anyone else, but Akari managed to deflect it at the last second.

The ground beneath them began to show the strain of their battle. Cracks formed where their feet dug into the dirt, and wounds littered the earth as the winds that followed their wooden blades became greater and greater.

Then came the turning point.

Elena darted forward, aiming to strike Akari’s shoulder. However, as she moved, her opponent unleashed a powerful, if unfocused, gust of wind, nearly uprooting the outhouse at the edge of the training ground.

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Her eyes flicked toward the disturbance for the briefest moment—a distraction Akari capitalized on. With a twist of her upper body, she delivered a crushing blow to Elena’s side, sending her sprawling to the ground.

Nick gasped. Devon gulped. Akari howled.

The force of the strike would have been enough to blast through stone, but Elena rolled to her feet with only a wince. She calmly dusted herself off, and approached her friend with her hand extended.

“Not bad,” she said, seemingly unbothered by the loss. “You’ve not slacked off, I see.”

Akari chuckled, shaking her hand. “You make it sound like I needed to work for it. I’ve always been better.”

Elena laughed, shaking her head. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Nick and Devon exchanged stunned glances before bursting into applause.

“That was incredible!” Nick exclaimed, still processing everything he’d just seen.

Elena turned to her sons, returning to her usual gentle demeanor. “You two should be taking notes. That’s what I want to see from you.”

Devon grinned. “We’ll have to spar once I get back from my apprenticeship. I’ll be as strong as you then.”

Nick didn’t say anything. He was too busy replaying the duel in his head, analyzing every movement and trying to decipher the deeper secrets of the Stalking Gait. He’d seen it in its full glory today, and it only solidified his determination to incorporate it more in his style.

Night had settled over Floria, the only light coming from the occasional lanterns that lined the streets and the faint glow of the moon above. Nick sat on his bed, leaning against the wall with his wand resting on his knee as he focused on the ebb and flow of air in the house.

allowed him to sense even the faintest shifts in currents, and he had honed it to track the breathing patterns of those closest to him. His mother and Akari were finally deeply asleep, though he would bet any sudden noise would have awoken them. Devon’s snores came from the other end of the hallway, and the rest of his range was peaceful. With his father still busy at the wall, he had his chance.

Satisfied, Nick swung his legs over the bed and crept to the window. Thanks to his control over the air, which muffled any sound, he moved in silence and slipped out into the night. There was something liberating about being alone with his thoughts and the whisper of the wind at his command.

He had been sneaking out regularly for as long as he could remember, partly out of habit and partly out of necessity. Even now, with more people he was comfortable with aware of his talent, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was better off avoiding attention.

Floria was on edge after the Vine Wraith attacks, and the tension he’d discovered among the beastmen only added to the pressure. Nick felt justified in wanting some time alone, even if it meant bending the unspoken rules.

He kept to the edges of his family’s land, sticking close to the shadows as he moved toward the boundary. The chill of the night air was refreshing, and the soft rustle of leaves accompanied his steps. But just as he neared the edge of the property, his spell picked up a presence that he recognized instantly.

His father was moving quickly, leaving faint scorched footprints in his wake. The heat emanating from him distorted the air, making his path easy to trace even without .

Nick froze, weighing his options. He could try to slip away, but Eugene was too fast, and with his enhanced perception, he’d surely notice. The only thing left to do was brace for discovery.

A moment later, Eugene stepped into view, illuminated by the faint glow of his fiery aura. His eyes fixed on Nick, and for a while, neither of them spoke.

Nick shrugged, meeting his father’s gaze with a sheepish expression. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Eugene’s brow rose slightly. “So you thought sneaking out in the middle of the night was a good idea? Even after you were attacked exactly at this time?”

Nick crossed his arms. “I wasn’t going to get close to the forest.”

For a moment, he expected a lecture or, worse, being sent back home to be left to his mother’s and Akari’s tender mercies. But Eugene surprised him.

“If you’re that bored, come with me,” he said. “I’m heading back to the wall. We could use another mage.”

Nick blinked. “Seriously?”

Eugene turned and began walking, brooking no argument. “Seriously. Unless you’d prefer to test your luck and face your mother when you get caught."

Nick hesitated for just a moment before stepping in behind him. His father’s casual invitation was intriguing, and besides, the chance to join him on patrol was far more appealing than skulking around by himself.

The walk to the wall was brisk, with Eugene’s long strides covering the distance in just a few minutes, forcing Nick to jog to keep up. As they approached, Nick could hear the low hum of activity—a mix of soldiers conversing in hushed tones and the occasional clink of armor. The wall loomed above them, having been reinforced with stone and magic to shield the town from the recent threats of the Green Ocean.

As they arrived, a minor commotion drew Eugene’s attention. A group of soldiers had gathered near one of the barracks, and their raised voices hinted at something having happened.

“What’s going on?” Eugene barked, immediately taking command.

The soldiers turned, snapping to attention. One of them, a younger man with a nervous expression, stepped forward. “Sir, it’s the adventurer team patrolling the southern reaches. They haven’t reported back yet.”

Eugene’s eyes narrowed. “How overdue are they?”

“Not long, only half an hour,” the soldier admitted. “They’re known to slack off sometimes, so it’s not completely unusual.”

Before Eugene could respond, Darien approached. The grizzled veteran’s expression was grim. “With all due respect, sir, this isn’t something to take lightly. Any disruption in their schedule could mean trouble—if we have another stampede, we need to know.”

Eugene nodded, making a show of considering their words. “You are both right.”

He turned to Darien. "Prepare the wall for a potential emergency. I want someone to inspect the traps and notify the Guild."

Darien saluted, but Eugene stopped him before he could leave. “I’ll handle the missing team myself. We can’t afford to waste time, and I need someone I trust here.”

Darien hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Eugene then turned to Nick. “You’re coming with me.”

Nick blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, what?”

"I imagine you wanted to leave the house to seek out some kind of adventure," Eugene said, leaving no room for disagreement. “You’re here now, and I could really use a mage with a sensory spell.”

Nick hesitated, but the situation left little room for protest. He nodded, feeling his excitement grow despite himself. This wasn’t how he had planned to spend the night, but he didn’t dislike the idea of going on a mission with his father.

Eugene gestured for Nick to follow, and together, they headed south.