CHAPTER 27

The days blurred together as my training with Alric intensified. Each session pushed me further, forcing me to rely more on instinct and less on my abilities. The lessons were brutal, but they were necessary. Without Analyze, Auto-Dodge, or Slip, I had to learn how to fight as a normal warrior would—relying on my reflexes, reading the flow of the battle, and anticipating my opponent’s next move.

I was becoming faster, more efficient with each passing day. My strikes were more precise, my dodges smoother. But it wasn’t just about the physical skills. Alric had been drilling something deeper into me—a mindset, a state of constant awareness. No ability could replace the sharpness of instinct, and that’s what I was honing now.

We were in the clearing again, the familiar training ground that had become the backdrop to so many of my lessons. Alric circled me slowly, his eyes focused and sharp. He didn’t speak much these days—he didn’t need to. Our communication had become less about words and more about the flow of the fight.

I shifted my stance, waiting for the inevitable attack. My body was tense, ready to spring into action, every muscle coiled like a taut wire. I had learned not to rely on Auto-Dodge to save me anymore. This was about feeling the shift in the air, sensing the change in momentum before the attack even began.

And then he moved.

Alric’s fist shot toward me like lightning, but I was already in motion, my body reacting on pure instinct. I twisted out of the way, my footwork quick and precise. His follow-up strike was faster, but I deflected it with my forearm, using the force of his blow to spin and land a kick toward his midsection.

He blocked it easily, his expression unreadable as he countered with a series of rapid strikes. I dodged and weaved between them, my mind focused, clear. I could feel the rhythm of the fight now—the ebb and flow of energy between us. Alric was testing me, pushing me to see how far I could go without relying on my abilities.

I hadn’t used Analyze in days, and while it was tempting to fall back on it, I resisted. Alric had been right—Analyze was a powerful tool, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to rely on my instincts, my ability to read the fight in real time, to anticipate without overthinking.

We continued like this for what felt like hours—strike, counter, dodge, repeat. Each movement was a test, a challenge. My body moved without hesitation, my muscles acting on memory and training. It was exhausting, but exhilarating at the same time.

Finally, Alric stepped back, raising his hand to signal the end of the session. I stopped immediately, lowering my arms as I struggled to catch my breath. Sweat dripped down my face, my limbs heavy from the effort.

“You’re improving,” Alric said, his voice calm but firm. “You’re learning to trust your instincts.”

I nodded, too winded to respond. I could feel the truth in his words, though. I had been improving. The fights felt different now—less about relying on my powers and more about being present in the moment, adapting to whatever came my way.

Alric watched me for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. “There’s still more to learn, but you’re getting closer.”

The next morning, Alric told me we were going on a journey—into town. It had been nearly a year since I had last been among people, and the thought of leaving the forest felt strange. I had grown so used to the quiet solitude of the woods that the idea of returning to the bustle of a city felt foreign.

We traveled in silence for most of the day, the trees eventually giving way to open fields and dirt roads. I kept my mask at my side, ready to wear it if needed. Alric had drilled into me the importance of hiding my identity during fights, but here, I was just another traveler, another face in the crowd. No one would recognize me.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

When we finally reached the outskirts of the town, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. It wasn’t fear, exactly, but a kind of heightened awareness. The town was bustling with activity—merchants shouting about their wares, people haggling in the marketplace, children running through the streets. It was loud, chaotic, and a stark contrast to the peaceful quiet of the forest.

Alric seemed unfazed by the noise, his demeanor as calm as ever. He led me through the crowded streets with purpose, weaving between the throngs of people with ease. I followed closely behind, trying to keep my eyes on him while also taking in my surroundings.

After a while, we stopped at a small inn at the edge of the town. It was a modest place, with a wooden sign hanging above the door and the faint smell of cooking wafting from inside. Alric pushed open the door, and we stepped inside.

The interior was warm and inviting, the wooden beams low and the fire crackling in the hearth. There were a few patrons scattered around, sitting at tables or nursing drinks at the bar, but none of them paid us much attention.

Alric led me to a table near the back, away from the main crowd. We sat in silence for a while, the only sound the soft murmur of conversation from the other patrons.

“I brought you here for a reason,” Alric said after a while, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “You’ve been training hard for months now, but there’s something you need to understand about balance.”

I frowned slightly, unsure of what he meant. “What do you mean?”

Alric leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting toward the fire. “Training is important. Discipline is important. But you can’t spend all your time focused on fighting. You need to learn how to live, too.”

I blinked, taken aback by his words. This wasn’t something he had ever mentioned before. Alric was always focused on training, on honing my skills. I hadn’t expected him to bring up something like this.

“Life is more than just battle,” he continued, his voice thoughtful. “If you let yourself become consumed by the need for power, you’ll lose sight of everything else. You’ll become hollow.”

I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. His words made sense, but they also felt… strange. My entire life for the past year had been about training, about becoming stronger, preparing for the fight against the demon. What else was there?

As if sensing my confusion, Alric gave me a small smile. “You’ve been living in the forest for nearly a year now, isolated from the world. But you’ll have to rejoin it eventually. And when you do, you need to know how to live.”

He gestured toward the people in the inn, the men and women laughing and talking, sharing stories and drinks. “These people live their lives without thinking about demons or magic or the Flow. They work, they love, they fight when they must, but they know how to find joy in the simple things. That’s something you need to learn, too.”

I looked around, watching the people as they went about their lives. It was a strange thing to witness—people who had no idea about the dangers lurking in the world, no idea about the power I had or the enemies I would soon face. And yet, they seemed content. Happy, even.

“Why are we here, Alric?” I asked quietly.

Alric leaned forward, his gaze meeting mine. “I wanted to show you that there’s more to life than power. Sometimes, you need to take a step back. To rest. To find peace in something other than the fight. You’ve been pushing yourself hard, Niv, and while that’s admirable, it’s also dangerous. You can’t lose sight of why you’re fighting in the first place.”

I looked down at the table, his words sinking in. He was right, of course. I had been so focused on training, on becoming stronger, that I hadn’t thought about anything else. But what was the point of all that strength if I didn’t know how to live?

Alric stood up, motioning for me to follow. “Come. Let’s get something to eat. Sometimes, the best way to find balance is through the simple things.”

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The meal was quiet, but there was a sense of peace that I hadn’t felt in a long time. For the first time in months, I wasn’t thinking about training or fighting. I wasn’t thinking about the demon or my revenge. I was just… living.

It was a strange feeling, but not an unwelcome one.

As we left the inn, Alric placed a hand on my shoulder. “Remember this, Niv. Power is important, but so is balance. Don’t lose sight of yourself in your quest for strength.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. He was right. I had been so focused on preparing for the fight that I had forgotten what it meant to live. But now, I understood.

I needed balance. And that was something I would have to carry with me when the time came to face the demon.