After a hearty meal prepared by Garba—because Kaiser's cooking was a collective nightmare they hoped would never repeat—Kaiser then set out to tackle the rest of his grueling schedule. Meditation and "dance lessons", which is odd considering his practicing the sword, they weren’t exactly what he expected for swordsmanship training, but if it’s what Garba insisted on, he would give it his best shot for the sake of earning strength.

Garba, of course, took no chances to make sure his sometimes stupid disciple learns. He dragged and locked Kaiser in an empty, dimly lit room and strictly instructed Ariella and Cia to avoid any interruptions, leaving him with no choice but to meditate alone.

Sitting cross-legged, he tried his hardest to quiet his mind, a place usually alive with endless thoughts and stray ideas. But without any distractions or a task to focus on, Kai can't help but remember the memories from earlier. It surfaced and sent a wave of heat through him.

The scene replayed vividly in his mind—his sudden, ridiculous remark to Cia, boldly suggesting he’d "build a family of his own." Heat rose to his cheeks as he slapped a hand to his face, groaning.

'What the heck was I thinking…? I practically told her I’d… gods, I practically said I'll impregnate them in broad daylight!'

Even though his introverted in nature, with a tendency to avoid the masses and had pitifully small social circles to the point his friends could be counted in one hand. Kai knew little about shame, more so when exposed to few people he knew. Still, what he just did was beyond shameless, that's literally, sexually abusing a person with disability verbally.

His teasing felt like they had crossed a line of decency. He winced, realizing he practically thrown himself into her personal space with his teasing. A part of him wondered if he’d just bullied a blind girl in the worst possible way, poking at things no one had any business poking.

Although, those foolish words automatically came out in the heat of the moment. Driven by his surprise at seeing the usually dull and crestfallen blind girl show joy. He just wanted to see more of her smile, hear more of her joy and make her happy. Before he knew it, those inappropriate words were already out...

Remembering Cia’s laugh—so soft and bright. His lips curved into a slight smile, and a quiet chuckle escaped him despite not knowing why.

'It was worth it,' he admitted to himself, feeling his own spirits lighten. He might have sacrificed a bit of dignity, which he had so little of. But seeing Cia’s joy, hearing that rare, genuine laugh, was worth far more than any pride he had left to lose. And despite the ridiculous teasing, she’d accepted it as a joke. He was relieved she hadn’t taken offense; her usual sharp wit and level-headedness let her roll with his mischief.

Still, what's done is done and would likely remained in their memory for eternity. He groaned, his face flushed.

'Shame, where are you when I need you? Useless bastard, I know I don't use you often, but at least be around when necessary... How am I going to face them now?'

His stomach twisted as he thought about facing Cia and Ariella again. Ariella had probably heard the whole thing too, but the childish goddess seemed to live on her own world, untouched by mundane matters of mortals. But Cia—she’d remember, for sure.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

'Or would she?' Kai wondered, running a hand through his hair with a sigh. 'She’s clever. She knows I was only joking. Right? Right?'

But his confidence faltered as he sat on the wooden floor, distracted by a hundred thoughts. His eyes drifted up to the ceiling, losing himself in the silence for a moment.

'Alright, enough.' Kai slapped his cheeks, willing himself to focus. 'You’re not going to become a great sword master by whining. Just concentrate, moron.'

He closed his eyes, letting out a slow, calming breath, trying to wash away all his doubts and focus on the emptiness around him. Even though the meditation was supposed to help him cultivate a calm, steady mind—a critical foundation for learning Garba’s style—today it felt more like trying to tame a storm than finding peace.

Seconds passed as Kaiser struggled to stay focused in his meditation, often resorting to random distractions before attempting to realign himself. Then, fidgeting with something again, even attempting to sleep but was slapped awake by his resolved to make progress. He can't be lazy here... But still, meditating in this desolate room is just too tedious and boring. Why can't he just swing a sword repeatedly? Practicing that way would at least refine his slashes and improve his muscle fibers. Kai don't really get Garba's teaching methods, always instilling doubts on his mind if it's even working at all. Maybe it's just wasn't for him? But that can't be it, his mentor specifically designed a simple routine for him alone.

'Guess I'll just follow.'

After a few more failed trials. At last, his emotions settled down to not affect his thinking too much, calming enough to allow him a degree of quiet. The frustrated groans faded into the background, and as the minutes passed, a tentative peace emerged from his usually chaotic mind. It was then he stumbled upon a discovery that brought him further focus: in the deep silence, he could faintly hear a rhythmic heartbeat pulsing within the void. It was distant, soft—almost as if listening through a thick wall—but that subtle beat became something to anchor his thoughts to.

There's nothing but silence and blackness anyway, which made him sympathize with Cia's point of view. However, as he focused more on the sole beating sound in the void. Gradually, he directed all his attention to that steady sound, and more, and more. Slowly swallowing all his attentions, drawing him to

concentrate on the faint thump, thump. It took effort to hear, but once he locked in, the world seemed to fade around him, dissolving other stray thoughts and ideas. That heartbeat, once distant, grew louder, and in following its calming cadence, he found himself slipping away from his worries and thoughts, existing only within its melody.

But just as he was finally losing himself in the rhythm, the door creaked open, shattering his concentration. The kill joy of a grampa once again interrupted. Garba’s voice followed, firm and inescapable.

"Time’s up, brat. Not bad—I see you’re finally getting the hang of it," Garba remarked, nodding approvingly. "Now, get up. We’re heading upstairs to pick up where we left off earlier."

Kaiser let out an irritated groan, rubbing his temples. "Come on, old man, I was just getting somewhere. Did you really have to barge in now?"

Garba’s voice held no sympathy as he walked away, unbothered. "Less whining, more moving. We’ve only got a few days before we head out with the others. Time’s short, and the Dance of the Wind won’t wait for you to dawdle."

True, Kaiser swallowed any argument, reminded again that his mentor’s strictness was for his own benefit. Their departure was days, not weeks nor months, away, so time was precious. They can't take it slow and steady, Garba was pushing him to the limits to give him any edge he could before they left the village behind.

Upstairs, the familiar and uncomfortable routine awaits. Marking dread in Kai's heart as they ascended up, each step reminding him of the wrongness of it all. Unfortunately, he can't stop the inevitable.

This is why he will always stay dubious at his mentor's teaching. He even thought that Garba only wants him to be seen dancing!

'Ridiculous'

Eventually, Garba once again began his demonstration of the Dance of the Wind—an odd series of fluid, twisting movements that seemed anything but a traditional sword technique.

It had always seemed like some grotesque, awkward dance in Kai's disturbed eyes. But today, for some reason he can't understand, it felt different, more open somehow, and instead of his usual extreme reluctance to observe, let alone pay attention, he actually managed to pay attention. Surprisingly finding some sense in the horrid display of the saggy swan.

As Garba moved, Kaiser’s mind tried hard to process the moves while pushing away discomfort, unnecessary thoughts, unessential judgement, stray ideas. Letting him watch without the same intense frustration that usually plagued him, clouding his focus. In the midst of it all, he even began to grasp the fundamentals of a few moves. Nothing too complex—just the simplest of steps and gestures he could identify and

memorize—but he could see for the first time how they came together in the style his mentor was teaching. And give him a glimpse of how hard the other steps are, which flex one's body to unnatural angles. As for the sword style, Kai wasn't seeing it yet, but his making progress.

Unexpectedly, he left the session with something new: a strange sense of accomplishment instead of another nightmare material to robbed him some sleep.

'Well I'll be damned, I'm actually learning something.'