His muscles were outrageously more powerful. He felt them, every inch of them. Each retraction and spring outward. It was intoxicating. The pain he received was nothing compared to the pleasure he was feeling. On top of that, the mana he could hold in his dantian had increased half the amount. He was pleased with his progress.

But never satisfied.

He had woken earlier. Forcing himself to shed even more sleep than before the battle at the bandit camp. Or what the guards were calling it, Battle of the Anacip. In the current language, Battle of the Soul taker. Either word of his true abilities slipped into someone's ears, or they had taken Kenan's last words. “Your soul is mine to judge.” And proceeded to run with it, making it a coincidence.

No longer did Noctis sleep at the barracks. The Smitchz had been kind enough to buy another bed for Kenan. Dion also got up, gumpily and ready to give his master's hand a hard bite. Kenan fastened the fake blade to his back. As he was no longer in battle, he opted to carry his real blade wherever he went again. Then he slowly snuck his way out of the house.

According to Doco. Kenan had graduated from his physical training tenure. Now the kid was responsible for his own discipline in his journey. However, they would still be continuing his scholarly work, until they found a better replacement. Also, his swordsmanship lessons couldn't be taught by Doco, as he only knew the basics. Besides, Noctis didn't need help in that department.

Eventually, Kenan found himself in the training grounds. He stuck both blades in the soil. Shrugged off his shirt. Then started running laps. Warm up done. He put his magical vambrace from one to two. He felt the weight increase. It was something he could easily handle. The two became a three. Before Anacip, Kenan was on the cusp of breaking a barrier. Now, with the souls, he blew right past it, switching to four. He was starting to feel physical strain. A debate started in his head. Rational and drive fought a battle. It wasn’t enough. Five. The weight forced his back to bend, his legs wobbled under the immense pressure. Noctis strained just to stand up right. Perfect. Dion layed down, and watched idly as he dozed off.

Later, Noctis was laying on the ground, out of breath with a sheen of sweat on him. The sun had erupted into dawn. Slowly, or more like as fast as he could. Kenan stood, grabbed both blades and tumbled his way back to the Smitchz. By the workings of the gods, Noctis surmised, did he get there in time to enjoy a hot breakfast. Well… lukewarm.

"What's your plan for the day, Kenan?" Sveige asked. Most of the duration of the meal was silent. The siblings' minds were too muddled with morning fog to talk properly. Sveige was mentally planning his workday as well as Hernie taking in all the chores she needed to do. Kenan, well, his focus was on trying to lift his fork and keep his head away from face planting in the food.

"I plan on practicing my swordsmanship. Later on I will learn under Doco. The time in between? I don’t exactly know. Probably magical training.”

"Starting off in a sprint." Sveige commented.

"Will you be back for supper?" Hernie asked while she was cleaning some dishes.

"Yes. Speaking of…" Like a snail Kenan reached for a pouch on his side. Awkwardly he was watched as he managed to place it on the table. On the corner of the table. A second passed. It fell. “Dion…” The wolf pup snagged the bag in his teeth, jumped on his hind legs and placed on top. With his snout he pushed it towards the Sveige. Dion then cocked his head, sniffed. Turned towards Jorun. As fast as lighting, Dion stole a piece of sausage and went back down. Either Jorun didn’t notice or was too tired to care. "That should pay for all of my expenses."

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Sveige then reached over and looked inside. Eyes went wide. With some quick mental math, he realized that there was about six months worth of pay inside. "We can't take this." Sveige said.

"You can, and you will." In the black eyes of Noctis. The gold wasn’t even his. Earlier in the week, the guards, and the survivors had forced this sack of gold onto him. Claiming it wasn't at all fair he didn't see an ounce of his treasure.

"Kenan. We don't keep a ledger." Hernie said. Taking her husband's side.

"I know, and I'm eternally grateful for it. Otherwise, I would owe a hundred platinum for what you have given me." Noctis saw Sviege slowly giving it back to him. "Take it or I will get a hundred platinum."

"Ken…" Sveige began.

"For the love of gods. Just take the money you fools." Jorun said. barely lifting his head.

"Jorun!" His mother smacked him on the back of the head. Making his face go into his food. It stayed there as he silently chewed.

"Good, then we are in agreement." Kenan backed away from the table. Or tried. Faithfully, Dion gripped the back of the seat with his maw and pulled. Helping his master achieve the impossible task "Can I borrow Jorun?"

Jorun lifted his head, his face covered in food. "What?" The word came garbled through the chewing.

"How long?" Sveige asked.

"No more than a moment. I just need to have a quick chat with him." Kenan was already pulling Jorun's chair back and pulling him off. More rather, Dion was.

"Yes of course. But this discussion about the coin is not over" Hernie answered.

Noctis smiled. "What discussion?" By the collar, Dion had already dragged the half asleep person outside. Before either of the disgruntled adults could say a word, Kenan shut the door. Dion had managed to get Jorun to the edge of the stairs leading to the balcony. Wolf and master made eye contact, and Noctis nodded. With foot and snout, Jorun went tumbling down as his face landed in mud. He jumped up with anger in his eyebrows. Forcefully jolted to alertness.

"Ow! And why?!"

"Oh just have Hernie kiss your forehead or something. Besides, that was a warning." Kenan said as he winced down the steps. Soreness had already begun to take its toll. He then started to walk towards Jefned. Jorun absently followed. "Quit trying to court my sister. You are way too young and she's not interested."

Jorun’s frown shifted to a dreamy smile. "Oh the magnificent Lucy. Oh how I wish I could whisper in her ear." He got a look from Kenan. Dion nipped at Jorun’s heels. "What?! Look, I'm just returning the favor."

Noctis started to rummage through the saddle bags. "What are you talking about?"

"You're joking! Have you not seen the way Geia looks at you? As if you're a knight in shining armor."

"Or a demon in a man's face." Kenan mumbled to himself. Finally he grabbed a large oblong box from the horse. Then shoved it into Jorun's hands before he lost the strength to hold it. "Here."

"What's this?" Jorun asked, turning over the box in his hands.

"Open it." Jorun did so without any further hesitation. He pulled out one weirdly formed object. Somewhat curved triangle shape with a neck stemming from a flattened point. Strings ran down from the top of the neck to the middle of the body.

A few moments passed as Jorun twirled it in his arms. Then his eyes went wide. "Kenan!" He thrummed the strings once.

"How can I have a bard by my side who doesn’t have an instrument? I bought it a few days ago." Noctis smiled.

Jorun carefully set down the lute. Then hugged or tackled his friend. Noctis did not have the strength to resist or reciprocate "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" He released the hug. Smiled from ear to ear. "Oh the ballads you're going to hear!”