Three years passed in Niraval, and by fifteen, Drona had forged himself into a knight of growing renown. His training, battles, and relentless pursuit of strength had made him one of the kingdom’s most promising warriors. Rumors circulated among the knights about a coming war with the neighboring kingdom of Hravash--a feud that had simmered for twenty years and was finally boiling over into open conflict.
When news came that he was to join the battalion heading to the frontlines, Drona felt a thrill that mixed both excitement and dread. The war with Hravash had claimed countless lives, and the tension between the two kingdoms was fierce, fueled by decades of skirmishes and bloodshed over territory, trade, and honor.
His small band of allies joined him, standing side by side as they marched to the distant battlefield. For Drona, this was not just another mission; it was his first true test as a knight, a chance to prove his worth in the fires of war. The weeks that followed were a brutal education. He faced enemies with skills and magic that tested every ounce of his strength and forced him to reach deep within himself to find new reserves of power.
Struggling with his magic, Drona learned to wield his abilities more effectively. Each battle pushed him closer to his limits, and as he fought, his command over fire grew stronger, more controlled. He could summon flames more reliably, create bursts of energy that could turn the tide of combat, and protect himself and his comrades with raw magic.
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One day, during a fierce skirmish, he found himself facing Gareth--the same knight who had mocked him three years before. In the midst of battle, Gareth’s taunts returned, now edged with a grudging respect as he saw Drona’s strength firsthand.
“You’ve improved, boy,” Gareth spat, blood running down his face. “But remember--strength can only take you so far.”
Drona replied with a fierce swing of his sword, fire crackling along its edge. “I’ve come this far because I have something worth fighting for.”
The battle was long and grueling, and when it finally ended, Drona had earned the respect of his fellow knights and, begrudgingly, even Gareth. His performance in the war marked him as one of the kingdom’s most promising young knights, and upon their return to Samudrapura, he was granted the rank of Knight Enchanter, a title reserved for those who had mastered both the sword and their magical abilities.
Now sixteen, Drona returned to his home kingdom with newfound power and respect. Yet, despite his accomplishments, a hollow ache lingered in his chest--a sense that, while he had risen in rank and strength, something vital was still missing. He thought of Kumbhaka, of his mother’s quiet wisdom, and of the promise he had made to Lyra.
The journey had only just begun.
End of Chapter 5