After closing the book, I leaned back and let out a deep breath. My mind was swimming with everything I’d just read—chaos anchors, Evershift currents, fractals, chants… Mordekai wasn’t kidding when he said chaos was a lot to handle.

“Alright,” I muttered to myself, slapping my cheeks to focus. “I’ve got the theory down. Now it’s time to put this into practice.” A grin crept across my face as the thought sank in. “Hahaha! Looks like my training arc is officially kicking off. Let’s see if I can do what that madman couldn’t!”

Before I could get too lost in my chaotic daydreams, I heard light footsteps approaching. Nyxis came running in, her face practically glowing with excitement, with Lucy trailing close behind.

“Papa! Papa!” Nyxis chirped, practically bouncing on the spot. “Sister Lucy showed me all around her village, and she gave me so many delicious fruits! Look!” She held up a handful of brightly colored berries like they were treasures.

“Is that so?” I said, crouching down to her level and ruffling her hair. “Sounds like you had a blast.”

She nodded enthusiastically, then popped a berry into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like a squirrel’s. I chuckled at the sight and glanced at Lucy.

“Thanks for looking after her, Lucy,” I said with genuine appreciation. “She seems like she had a great time.”

Lucy waved it off with a smile. “It was no trouble. She’s a curious kid, and the villagers love her already. Plus, it’s nice to see her so happy.”

“Still,” I insisted, “you’ve got my thanks.”

Nyxis tugged on my sleeve, her voice muffled as she tried to talk around the berry in her mouth. “What about you, Papa? Did you find out anything cool in the library?”

I stood up, stretching a bit before placing a hand on my hip. “Oh, I found plenty, Nyxis. Enough to make my head spin, honestly. But it’s good stuff—stuff that’s gonna help us big time.”

She tilted her head, curious. “Big time?”

“You’ll see soon enough,” I said with a sly grin. “For now, let’s get out of this dusty old library.”

With that, we made our way outside, stepping into the fresh air and leaving the library’s weighty atmosphere behind. The sun was dipping low on the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink.

I took a deep breath, the cool breeze brushing against my face. “Alright, let’s get moving. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

As we walked back toward the heart of the village, Nyxis and Lucy chatted happily beside me, their voices light and cheerful. Meanwhile, my mind was already racing with plans, visions of chaos anchors and fractal constructs flashing in my head.

Alright, Mordekai, you crazy old lunatic, you’ve thrown down the gauntlet. Let’s see if I can walk the line between brilliance and madness without tripping over my own feet. My training arc was just beginning, but at least I wasn’t doing it alone.

“So, Alex,” Lucy said, crossing her arms and giving me a curious look, “looks like you found what you were searching for. But seriously… it’s Mordekai’s book. Do you really think you can trust him?”

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. “Trust? Nah, not exactly. But I don’t think he was the raving lunatic people make him out to be either. From what I read, he was just… curious. He wanted to understand chaos, not destroy the world. Sure, his methods were questionable, and yeah, it backfired spectacularly, but the guy wasn’t evil. Just... ahead of his time. Maybe too far ahead.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “If you say so, Alex. Just don’t let his ‘curiosity’ rub off on you in the wrong way.”

I grinned. “Don’t worry. I plan to make fewer catastrophic explosions. Emphasis on fewer.”

She sighed, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. “By the way, we ran into the Chief before coming here. He said he’s prepared a house for you—complete with a hot spring.”

“Wow, really? Thanks, Lucy! That’s generous of him,”

“Lucy, why didn’t you start with that? That’s the real jackpot right there.” I replied, genuinely touched.

She rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with my priorities. “Come on, I’ll take you there.”

As we started walking, I glanced at her. “Hey, Lucy, where do you live?”

“Oh, just two blocks away from where you’ll be staying,” she said casually.

“Really? So, do you live alone?”

She shook her head. “Nope, I live with my grandparents.”

“What about your parents?” I asked, curious.

“They’re adventurers,” Lucy said, her tone shifting to something softer. “They visit me once a year, but they left me with my grandparents after I was born. Said they didn’t want to burden themselves with raising a child while chasing their dreams.” She gave a small shrug. “My grandparents aren’t scholars or anything fancy. Just locals. But they’re good people.”

“I see,” I said, respecting the mix of pride and resignation in her voice. “Your grandparents sound like great folks.”

She smiled at that, and we chatted a bit more as we made our way through the village. Soon, we arrived at the house the chief had prepared.

“This is it,” Lucy announced, stopping in front of a quaint wooden home surrounded by lush greenery. Steam wafted gently from the back, hinting at the promised hot spring. “Alex, Nyxis, this is your place now. I’ll bring dinner in a bit. Until then, enjoy the hot spring.”

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“Thanks, Lucy,” I said, genuinely grateful.

With a small wave, Lucy turned and headed off, leaving Nyxis and me to explore our new digs.

“Let’s check it out!” I said, and Nyxis eagerly nodded, grabbing my hand as we stepped inside.

The house was cozy and warm, with simple but comfortable furnishings. A faint scent of fresh herbs lingered in the air, probably from the chief’s effort to make the place welcoming. Nyxis ran ahead, her giggles echoing as she explored every corner.

“Papa! Look, look!” she called out, pointing toward a door at the back. I followed her, and when I opened it, the hot spring greeted us—a beautiful pool surrounded by smooth stones, its surface shimmering in the soft glow of lanterns placed around it.

“Well, Nyxis,” I said with a grin, “what do you say we soak and relax for a bit?”

“Yay! Hot spring time!” she cheered,

I shrugged off my cloak as soon as we got inside—it was soaked with sweat. Gross. “Alright, Nyxis! Let’s hit the hot spring!”

Nyxis chirped excitedly, flapping her wings in delight. “Yay, bath time!”

Together, we headed out to the open-air bath. The steam rising from the water looked inviting, and the night sky above added an almost magical vibe to the whole experience.

I stripped down, catching my reflection in the water’s surface. Damn it. I looked way too fat. My belly bulged out, squishy and embarrassing. I groaned and quickly averted my eyes. Focus, Alex. You’re here to relax, not wallow in self-pity.

“Papa! Hurry up!” Nyxis called, already splashing around the edge of the spring.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming!”

Ignoring my insecurities, I grabbed a cloth and started scrubbing Nyxis down. Her feathers, as always, amazed me. Unlike a regular bird’s, hers were incredibly strong—like reinforced steel. But they were soft in places, too, especially near her face.

“Geez, Nyxis, your feathers are tougher than half the weapons I’ve seen,” I said, chuckling as I lathered soap into her wings.

“Ehehe, I’m strong, right?” she chirped proudly.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t let it go to your head,” I teased.

As we washed up, memories of the Cursed Forest came to mind. Back then, all we could do was splash around in whatever water we could find to rub off the dirt. This? This was luxury. The hot spring’s warmth seeped into my muscles, melting away tension I didn’t even know I had. My body felt lighter, my thoughts clearer.

Nyxis looked just as relaxed, her wings drooping lazily as she leaned against me in the water. “Papa... this feels so good...”

“Yeah, it does,” I said, leaning back with a contented sigh.

As I watched her excitement, I couldn’t help but feel a rare moment of peace. For now, the chaos of the world could wait.

Relaxation mode, activate!” I scooped her up, laughing as we stepped inside. It was cozy and warm, the faint scent of the springwater already making me feel ten times better.

After a while, we climbed out and dried off. The village had even prepared fresh clothes for us, which I appreciated—until I saw mine. The size was... big. Really big. They’d clearly measured me up before picking these out.

I groaned internally as I pulled on the oversized tunic. “Damn it... Why am I still this fat? Come on, Alex, get it together! You’ve got magic, weapons, and now chaos knowledge, but you can’t handle a little weight? Ugh, screw you, Alex. Screw. You.”

I shook off the frustration and tried to focus on the present. My stomach growled loudly, interrupting my pity party. Right. Dinner. When’s Lucy coming?

While waiting, I noticed my cloak still smelled like sweat. Gross. “Guess it’s magic to the rescue,” I muttered.

A quick splash of water magic cleaned it up, followed by a gust of wind magic to dry it out. Within moments, the cloak was good as new—or at least passable. I threw it on and turned to check on Nyxis.

She was curled up on the side of the room, already fast asleep, her soft snores filling the quiet space. I smiled, the sight chasing away the last of my self-doubt.

“Guess you had a big day too, huh?” I whispered, settling down nearby.

With Nyxis asleep and Lucy bringing dinner soon, I let myself relax. The training arc was about to start, but for tonight, this little moment of peace was enough.

Just as I was about to throw my cloak over my shoulders, the door creaked open. Lucy walked in, balancing a tray of steaming dishes with practiced ease.

“Alex, Nyxis, dinner’s here!” she called out cheerfully.

The moment her eyes landed on my face, a cold chill shot down my spine. Oh crap. She saw me. She saw my fat face and my stupid squishy belly. This was it—my doom. Time to start packing and say goodbye to this village.

But to my shock, Lucy didn’t so much as bat an eye. Instead, she calmly set the tray down on the low table and began arranging the dishes like nothing was wrong.

“Hey, Alex, wake Nyxis up. I’m pouring dinner,” she said without even looking up.

I blinked, utterly confused. “Lucy... You don’t know me. Aren’t you terrified? I’m Alexander Solheart.” My voice dropped dramatically.

Lucy smiled as she ladled some soup into a bowl. “Why should I fear the person who saved me?”

Her words knocked the wind out of me. “But... but I might do bad things, you know. I might... sexually harass you or something!” I blurted out, more out of desperation than anything.

She didn’t even flinch. “If that were true, you’d have done it the day we met,” she said simply, her tone calm but firm. “Instead, you saved me and helped me without asking for anything in return. You, Alex, are different from the rumors. Maybe they were false all along.”

I laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of my head. “Well... about that. The rumors are actually true. I was like that back then—lazy, selfish, and honestly, a complete jerk. But I’ve started over. I’ve left that version of me behind. Now, I’m living for Nyxis. I want to be strong enough to protect her from anything the world throws at us.”

Lucy paused, then gave me a warm smile. “Well, I like the current Alex. That’s the only one I care about.”

Nyxis stirred at my side, her eyes fluttering open. “Papa, food?” she murmured sleepily.

“Yeah, yeah, come on, kiddo. Dinner’s here,” I said, gently nudging her awake.

The three of us dug into the meal Lucy prepared, and holy hell, it was good. Like, really good. “Lucy, this is amazing,” I said between bites, my mouth half-full of stew.

“Thank you,” she said, beaming.

Even Nyxis chirped in agreement. “So tasty! Sister Lucy is the best!”

We ate, laughed, and chatted about everything and nothing. For a moment, it felt like we were a normal family, sharing a quiet evening together.

After dinner, Lucy gathered the dishes and stood to leave. “I’ll be heading back to my place now. Sleep well, Alex, Nyxis.”

“Thanks, Lucy. Goodnight,” I said, waving as she closed the door behind her.

I looked around the room. There was a single bed in the corner—big enough for me, but definitely not for Nyxis. I sighed, staring longingly at the mattress. “Guess the bed’s not happening tonight.”

Nyxis tilted her head. “Papa, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Nyx,” I said, ruffling her feathers. Grabbing a spare bedsheet, I spread it out on the floor. “We’ll sleep here, like always.”

She chirped happily and curled up beside me, her warm body a comforting presence.

As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t help but smile. Yeah, I could’ve taken the bed, but the truth was... I couldn’t sleep without my featherball next to me.

“Man, I really am an attached father,” I muttered, chuckling softly before drifting off to sleep.

As the night quieted, I closed my eyes, feeling a strange sense of peace. Sure, life was messy and far from perfect, but for now, this was enough

It was morning. Too early.

The village was still shrouded in the last whispers of night when I quietly slipped outside. I didn’t want anyone noticing me, so I used a bit of flight magic to avoid the guards and curious villagers. Gliding through the crisp air, I spotted a serene little spot near a water pond. Perfect.

From Mordekai’s notes, the first step to channeling chaos was meditation. A calm mind was key to unlocking and controlling the energy. That sounded easier on paper.

At the center of the pond was a flat stone, just big enough for me to sit cross-legged. I landed softly, letting the quiet surroundings wash over me. The cool breeze, the gentle ripple of water, the faint hum of nature—it was all strangely soothing.

I steadied my breathing and tried to connect with the chaos within me. It wasn’t hard to find; the moment I reached for it, it surged like a storm, wild and unrelenting. My mind felt like it was being torn in every direction.

“Calm down, damn it,” I muttered through gritted teeth, sweat dripping down my face. But calming chaos was like trying to tame a wildfire with a bucket of water. My mental focus wavered, and the energy kept slipping through my grasp.

By the time the sun peeked over the horizon, I was spent. No major progress, just a headache and the unsettling feeling of chaos still

crackling beneath my skin.

“Great start,” I grumbled, flying back to the village.

When I returned, Nyxis was still curled up, peacefully snoring. I smiled, gave her a gentle pat, and collapsed beside her. Sleep came quickly, exhaustion taking over.

I didn’t get much rest before Lucy burst into the room, breathless and wide-eyed.

“Alex! Demons! They’re attacking the village!”

That snapped me awake. Nyxis perked up immediately, and we were on our feet in an instant. Grabbing my gear, we rushed outside to face the chaos.

The scene was worse than I’d expected. Dozens of demons swarmed the outskirts of the village, their twisted forms gleaming in the morning light. They were stronger and more numerous than the usual stragglers we’d encountered before.

“Alright, Nyxis, let’s clean this up,” I said, cracking my knuckles.

Nyxis let out an enthusiastic squawk, her wings spreading wide as she launched into battle. I followed, summoning my magic to reinforce her strikes. Together, we tore through the demons with a mix of brute force and spellwork.

One particularly bold demon lunged at me, and I decided to try out Nightmare Speed—a burst movement technique. My body surged forward, faster than I’d ever moved, but the strain hit me like a brick wall. My breath caught, and my legs felt like jelly after just a few seconds.

“Damn it, Alex, you’re still too weak for this,” I muttered, switching back to ranged magic. Fire and wind spells did the trick, but it wasn’t as satisfying.

By the time the last demon fell, the village was safe. I glanced at one of the fallen creatures and briefly considered harvesting its meat.

“Eh, low-level demon meat’s not worth it,” I muttered, kicking its corpse aside. “I’ll wait until I kill something stronger.”

The villagers cheered as we made our way back. The chief greeted us with a deep bow.

“Thank you, Alex, Nyxis. Your strength saved us. We’ll likely need your help again soon.”

“Anytime,” I replied, giving him a casual wave. Inside, I felt a mix of pride and annoyance. Sure, I’d helped, but the fight had reminded me of just how far I still had to go.

As Nyxis and I returned to our room, I silently vowed to push myself harder. The chaos within me, the strength I sought—it was all still out of reach.

But hey, every journey starts somewhere, right?