A few days later,

"Ori! Wake up... wake up," Elara's voice chimed, breaking the serene silence. She leaned over Orion's bed, her small hands shaking his shoulder insistently.

I mumbled a groggy protest, rolling over and pulling the blanket tighter around me. "Leave me alone," I said, my voice muffled and laced with irritation.

Elara huffed, crossing her arms with dramatic flair. "You've been sleeping all afternoon! Don't you want to sleep at night?" She leaned closer, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Wake up already! Uncle Darius will be here any minute."

I opened one eye, the warm glow of the firelight flickering in the corner catching my attention. The room felt safe, cocooned from the cold beyond the walls. "Children should take afternoon naps," I muttered as I sat up slowly, stretching out the aches. "It helps develop their minds." The words came out sluggishly, edged with sleep.

Elara's expression shifted, a grin spreading across her face. "La la la," she sang mockingly, mimicking my drowsy voice with playful exaggeration. Then, with a twirl that sent her hair spinning like a ribbon, she dashed out of the room and into the living room.

I sighed, finally awake, as the warmth of the room seeped into my bones. The glow of the late afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting golden patches on the wooden floor. Stretching lazily, I stepped out of my room, the lingering drowsiness still weighing down my limbs.

"Go and wash your face. It's time," Anara said, her voice soft but insistent, as I rubbed my eyes and trudged toward the hallway.

I nodded wordlessly and headed to the bathroom. The splash of cool water jolted me fully awake as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes, still heavy with sleep, met my own gaze.

"After receiving the gifts for our birthday, we started going outside the village to train with our weapons," I thought, recalling the routine. "Sometimes with Mother, other times with Uncle Darius." The memories of sweat, dirt, and the sharp clang of practice swords filled my mind.

I splashed more water on my face, letting it trickle down, before drying off with a towel. My reflection looked determined now. "Even though I want to train harder, this body isn't cooperating with me. Its limitations still hold me back at the mana heart level. I wish I could attempt the advanced mana breathing technique too," I muttered, a flicker of frustration crossing my eyes.

With a final deep breath, I reassured myself, "It will take time, but I need to keep at it. Just two more years." Convincing my mind to persevere, I stepped out of the bathroom.

"Uncle Darius is waiting outside. Get your sword and cloak, quickly," Anara's voice called out again.

I nodded, grabbing my cloak and slinging it over my shoulders. I gripped my sword firmly as I stepped out of the house. The cool breeze nipped at my skin as I glanced up to see Uncle Darius, standing tall and steady, holding Elara's hand. Aria stood beside them, her eyes bright with anticipation. Uncle Darius caught my gaze and gave a small nod, signaling for me to follow.

I took a deep breath, the scent of pine and crisp air filling my lungs, and stepped forward to join them.

We stepped outside the village's stone fence, crossing into a sprawling grassland that stretched toward the distant forest. The horizon was a patchwork of green, dotted with gray stones and small, wildflowers that peeked through the grass like gems. The air was cool, carrying the faint, earthy scent of the nearby woods. The village itself, protected by that humble stone barrier, felt as if it belonged in one of those classic RPG games where young adventurers took their first steps toward greatness.

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"Alright, kiddos! Today's target is to kill 20 slime balls!" Uncle Darius declared with a grin, his eyes glinting with excitement.

"Yeah!" Aria and Elara shouted in unison, their voices ringing through the open space.

"This time, I'll be the first to kill 20 slime balls!" Elara said, determination clear in her eyes.

"We'll see about that, loser," Aria teased with a mischievous smirk before darting off, her cloak fluttering behind her as she began searching for the elusive creatures.

I glanced around, taking in the scene. The grass swayed gently in the breeze, rustling softly against the occasional stone. Far off, the forest loomed with its towering pines and dense thickets, promising both mystery and danger.

Slime balls were the quintessential training monsters for rookie adventurers. These creatures, usually harmless and gelatinous, fed on grass and decomposed plant matter. When threatened, they would compact themselves into tight spheres, capable of surprising bursts of speed as they attempted to escape or, if cornered, retaliate by spitting small, acid-like projectiles that stung and sizzled on contact.

Uncle Darius's voice cut through my thoughts. "If you just stand there, you're going to be a loser today like always. Go on, show me what you're made of, or you'll be training with me in the morning!"

"Okay, okay, don't be so harsh on me," I muttered, adjusting my grip on my sword as I stepped forward, heading in the opposite direction from where Aria and Elara had disappeared.

"If I'm not harsh, how will you ever become strong?" Uncle Darius called after me, his tone holding a hint of both challenge and encouragement.

I cast a quick glance back and saw him standing tall, his eyes scanning the horizon as he held Elara's and Aria's hands earlier, now free to roam. His presence was both a reminder of my goal and a push to move forward.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the sword in my hand. The grass crunched beneath my boots as I walked, eyes peeled for the slight, telltale shimmer of a slime ball moving through the greenery. The day was just beginning, and the training field was alive with possibility.

I spotted a slime ball gliding across the grass, leaving behind a trail of bent, glistening blades. The translucent creature undulated, almost harmless in appearance but with enough acidic power to prove deadly if underestimated.

Aria was already ahead, her eyes sharp as she nocked an arrow to her bowstring. Her main weapon was the bow, and she wielded it like an extension of herself. With the blessing of the god of wind, her arrows traveled faster and farther, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Her rate of fire was impressive, unmatched by Elara.

Elara, on the other hand, was a mage through and through. She specialized in water magic, casting spells up to the second circle. Her mana heart pulsed with power as she drew energy into her hands, shaping a swirling orb of water. Concentration etched across her face as she heated the water, preparing to launch it at a nearby slime. Her technique was slower than Aria's but sufficient for dealing with smaller threats like these.

I focused on my own target. My current level allowed me to sustain mana heart combined with mana breathing for roughly ten minutes at a time. I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar surge of energy fill my limbs, sharpening my senses. The slime in front of me shifted, sensing danger. It compressed itself into a tight sphere before launching a glob of acid at me.

Time seemed to slow. I pivoted to the side, the acid whizzing past me and sizzling as it splattered onto the grass. Without hesitation, I drew my sword back and hurled it in a controlled arc. The blade whistled as it spun through the air, slicing cleanly through the slime. The creature split in two, the severed halves quivering before dissolving into a harmless, sticky residue.

I exhaled, taking a few steps forward to reclaim my sword. "Amateur, total noob," I muttered to myself, the words biting. "Throwing a sword and calling yourself a swordsman. Idiot." I reached down and grabbed the hilt, shaking off the goo before straightening up.

Suddenly, I heard a rustle behind me. I spun on my heel, eyes narrowing. Another slime ball had emerged, bouncing forward with alarming speed. This time, I readied myself, gripping my sword tightly. The creature lunged, and I sidestepped, bringing my blade down in a quick slash that bisected it before it could react.

"Not bad, but your form needs work," Uncle Darius's voice called out from across the field. He stood with Elara and Aria, watching with a critical eye. "If you waste movements like that, you'll tire out before you know it."

"Got it, Uncle," I replied, the adrenaline still humming through my veins.

Elara giggled, her spell now complete as she sent a steaming water ball hurtling toward another slime. Aria let fly an arrow that sailed past, embedding itself in a nearby target.

"Keep up, Orion!" Aria shouted with a grin.

I smirked, raising my sword in a mock salute. "You wish."