The boys found themselves in a spacious training hall within the manor, its walls fortified and without windows. Light streamed from the large skylights above, illuminating the room but offering no view to those outside.

"Some of you may know him by reputation," Cadugan said, nodding toward Voralis. "For those who don’t, this is Voralis, and he’ll assist with our training. He’s an excellent fighter, so make sure to listen when he offers advice."

Cadugan straightened, his gaze sweeping over the group. "With four new members joining us, today’s lesson will be a little different," he continued. "I’ll spend most of the session getting them up to speed. The rest of you, pair up with your assigned partner and begin your regular drills. I’ll check in with you as soon as I can. Now, let’s get to work!"

The recruits spread out across the hall, leaving Viktor, Arelos, Soren, and Fenric standing together. Cadugan focused on the four of them, laying out the structure of their training. "Your main focus will be one-on-one combat," he said, his voice clear and direct.

Soren tilted his head, curiosity evident in his voice. "So we won't be working in teams?"

Cadugan nodded. "That's right. Most missions you'll undertake will require you to handle yourself alone."

Viktor frowned, a slight wrinkle forming between his brows. "But aren't there group assignments that might involve combat?"

Cadugan's expression softened but remained firm. "Occasionally. We do have tasks that require small teams, but they’re rare. Even in those cases, being able to hold your own takes priority. So, while we’ll touch on group tactics, the individual skillset is what we’ll mainly focus on."

Soren seemed unsure. "So, group tactics don’t matter unless you’re in a large group?

Cadugan chuckled lightly. "Not exactly. They’re always useful, just that their impact scales with numbers on your side. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves—we’ll cover all that in time."

The boys nodded, processing the information, understanding the importance of individual prowess in their line of work.

"In terms of weapons," Cadugan continued, his hand gesturing to a rack that lined the wall, "you'll become familiar with knives, crossbows, and hand-to-hand combat."

Viktor’s gaze shifted to the weapon rack, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "What about swords?" he asked, gesturing toward the collection of blades hanging neatly on the wall. "You’ve got several over there."

Cadugan followed Viktor’s glance and gave a slight nod. "We used to teach the sword," he replied evenly. "But our members rarely found practical use for it in the field. It’s a fine weapon, no doubt, but we discarded it in favor of the aforementioned three as they've proven more effective for the work you'll be doing."

Fenric broke into a grin, his enthusiasm unmistakable. "So we gotta master all three?"

Cadugan’s eyes glinted with a hint of amusement. "Mastery might be a stretch, but we’ll make you competent in each. You'll choose one to specialize in after some basic training."

Fenric puffed out his chest slightly. "Easy, knives for sure."

Cadugan smiled, humor playing at the edges of his lips. "Knives are a solid choice, but don’t be too hasty. You'll make your decision after you’ve had a chance to learn the basics of each weapon." He reached into a nearby barrel and pulled out a wooden knife. "That said, today is all about knife training."

Cadugan gestured for Fenric to step forward. "Let's start with something simple," he instructed. "I will thrust the knife toward you, slowly at first. I want you to block it with a sweeping motion, like this," he demonstrated a smooth, effective block.

Fenric watched intently, nodding in understanding. As Cadugan moved the knife toward him, Fenric mirrored the block, meeting Cadugan's thrust with precision.

"Good," Cadugan praised. "Now, let's increase the pace." He continued thrusting, each attempt a little faster than the last. Fenric focused, managing to block each one, his confidence visibly growing.

The exercise picked up speed until Cadugan suddenly slowed down but changed the angle ever so slightly. Fenric faltered, surprised, as the knife slipped through his defense.

Cadugan paused, holding the knife just short of Fenric. "What happened there?" he asked, addressing the onlookers.

Soren hesitated before speaking. "He reacted too slowly."

Cadugan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Seems that way, doesn't it? But why would that be when the knife moved much slower compared to before?"

Arelos interjected thoughtfully. "It's not about reaction speed, it's about prediction accuracy."

Cadugan regarded Arelos for a moment before speaking. "Nicely observed," he complimented the boy. "Defending against a knife is hardly about raw reaction time—quick reflexes can't outpace a sudden blade. Instead, your mind must predict how a strike will land. Fenric managed to block those thrusts because our brains naturally anticipate and respond to threats."

"Look around," Cadugan said, signaling for them to observe their peers. "They're practicing straightforward blocks and attacks, but notice how there's more to it. As they advance, they incorporate feints and misdirections, testing each other's ability to anticipate the next move."

Two recruits—Neros, the tall boy who led the run earlier, and another older boy—were engaged in a drill that seemed almost like a choreographed dance. Their knives flashed through the air with blinding speed and grace, their movements fluid and precise. It was mesmerizing; each sequence of attacks and defenses was executed with such precision that it was hard to imagine how one could respond so fluidly to such an onslaught.

Viktor watched, fascinated, until Cadugan recalled his attention.

"Alright, boys, let's pair you up by height. Arelos and Viktor, you'll pair together. Fenric and Soren, you two will form the other pair," Cadugan announced.

He handed out four wooden knives, demonstrating the first drill. "You'll take turns striking and blocking. Start slow. Focus on your form," he instructed.

They took their places in the training hall, and Viktor found himself mirroring Arelos's stance. At first, their exchanges were awkward, the rhythm unsteady as they adjusted to the feel of the knife in their hands. But as the minutes ticked by, they started to find their groove, moving in a coordinated dance of attack and defense.

"Don’t turn your wrist so much, Viktor," Voralis advised, passing by. "It weakens your grip and leaves you open."

Viktor nodded, adjusting his stance. "Got it," he replied, tightening his grip on the wooden handle. He took a measured step back before coming at Arelos again with renewed determination.

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Nearby, Fenric grunted as Soren's knife knocked his arm. "Watch it!" he yelped, rubbing the spot with an exaggerated pout.

"Hey, I barely touched you," Soren protested.

Fenric rolled his eyes. "If that was a real knife, I’d be bleeding here!"

Cadugan returned periodically to introduce new variations, adding strikes from different angles or emphasizing footwork adjustments. Each time he did, the boys adjusted their tactics, slowly getting the hang of the more complex combinations.

"Lift your blade higher, Soren," Cadugan called out from a distance. "Protect your shoulder."

Soren nodded, adjusting his posture. "Like this?" he asked, raising his weapon into a more defensive position.

"Much better," Cadugan confirmed, striding past to check on other recruits.

The session wore on, and fatigue set in, muscles aching from the unfamiliar exertion. Yet, there was a sense of accomplishment in the air, each boy pushing himself to keep up with the others.

Finally, two hours later, Cadugan called an end to the training. "Alright, that’s enough for today. Time to wash up and head to dinner," he announced, a hint of approval in his tone.

As the recruits began filing out, Voralis stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Viktor. "Stay behind," he said, his tone calm but firm. The interaction didn’t go unnoticed—several recruits slowed their steps, exchanging curious glances before reluctantly continuing on their way.

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Viktor stood alone with Voralis in the training hall, the silence underscoring the tension in the air. "How do we start this?" Viktor asked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, unsure of what lay ahead.

Voralis chuckled, a rare lightness in his demeanor breaking through. "If only I knew," he replied with a shrug. "Let's see what you can do first, then we can plan from there."

Viktor nodded. "So, should I try lifting things? Like, maybe we start with something light and go from there?"

"Sounds good," Voralis agreed, glancing around the room. He walked over to a table piled with practice gear and selected a crossbow bolt, a wooden knife, and a short sword. Returning to Viktor, he placed them on the floor between them. "Give these a try. Lift whatever you can manage."

Viktor focused on the crossbow bolt first, raising it steadily with ease. Next came the knife, which rose a bit slower but remained stable in the air. Finally, the short sword—a significant effort—hovered for a fleeting moment before clattering back to the ground.

Voralis raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Alright, that's a start. Not bad at all," he said, offering a nod of approval.

"Have you ever tried catching things mid-air?" Voralis asked, clearly curious about Viktor's capabilities.

Viktor hesitated. "Not often," he admitted. "Most times I've just done steady levitations. Catching something's a bit different."

With a thoughtful look, Voralis tossed the wooden knife toward Viktor in a gentle arc. Viktor's instinct kicked in, and the knife stopped mid-flight, held aloft by his power before it could hit the ground.

"Nice reflexes," Voralis remarked, nodding in appreciation. "How long could you keep that floating?"

"Maybe a few minutes if I needed to," Viktor answered with a shrug. "I’ve practiced juggling objects, but I stuck mostly with lighter things like coins when I was getting started."

Voralis crossed his arms, considering Viktor's words. "Do you think adding weight would change your limits, even if you’re managing multiple items?"

"Possibly," Viktor said thoughtfully. "I haven’t really pushed past small stuff much."

Voralis gestured to a nearby barrel. "Let's test that theory. Mind trying with several knives at once?"

Without hesitating, Viktor nodded. Voralis fetched a collection of wooden knives and launched them successively toward Viktor, who deftly caught them all before they hit the floor.

"I was never too keen to take on this assignment," Voralis admitted, glancing at the levitating knives. "But I must confess, witnessing magic firsthand is quite something."

Viktor shifted a little awkwardly. "Yeah. We kind of figured you weren't too happy getting stuck with us."

Voralis cracked a small smile. "It could definitely be worse. At least I'm not stuck in surveillance duties this winter."

"Surveillance sounds pretty dull," Viktor ventured, trying to draw Voralis out a bit more. "How long have you been with the guild, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I joined when I was about your age," Voralis replied, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "I trained in these very halls as a recruit."

"Must feel strange to be back as, what, an instructor now?" Viktor probed, trying to imagine Voralis as a younger recruit.

Voralis shrugged. "In some ways, yes. The strangest part is seeing Mikos running things here again. He used to manage this place years ago."

"Is he content being back in charge?" Viktor asked, sensing there might be more to the story.

Voralis hesitated briefly, his expression thoughtful. "Mikos... I think returning here is good for him after everything that's happened."

"What do you mean by that?" Viktor asked, curiosity piqued.

Shaking his head, Voralis focused back on the exercise. "Enough of that for now," he said, picking up another wooden knife. "Let's see how you do with catching and propelling it back toward the wall," he instructed, pointing across the room.

Viktor squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. "Alright, let me give it a go," he said, determination lining his words.

Voralis nodded, amusement flickering across his face. "Here goes," he replied, tossing the wooden knife up into the air with a smooth motion.

With focused intent, Viktor caught the falling knife in mid-air, his magic swirling around the object with an unseen force. He carefully watched it hover for a moment before he mustered the strength of his will, pushing the knife forward with his mind. It soared through the air, reaching halfway toward the wall before gravity claimed it, sending it clattering to the floor.

"Not bad," Voralis commented, arms crossed as he assessed the display. "I can’t see you using that in a fight, though, at least not yet. But there might be potential if we work on it."

Viktor considered this, nodding thoughtfully. "I haven't really noticed any slow down in improvement, but I also haven't been pushing myself much lately," he admitted.

Voralis tilted his head. "Here's what we'll aim for, then," he suggested, a hint of challenge in his tone. "We'll focus on you catching objects of gradually increasing weight and then throwing them as far as you can. If we see good progress in the next couple of weeks, we'll continue along this path. If not, we'll adjust our approach."

"And what's the goal here? What should I be aiming for?" Viktor asked, curious about the broader objectives.

Voralis shrugged. "To be honest, I'm not even sure Faros can answer that," he confessed. "Neither of us knows what you’re fully capable of yet. Without mages or resources to guide you in spellwork, our goal for now is to simply explore your boundaries and see how far we can push them."

As the structure of their training session began to take form, Voralis started a series of exercises, tossing several knives in succession at Viktor, each time expecting him to catch them faster and throw them farther. Once in a while, Voralis would throw two at a time, and Viktor had to learn to anticipate the sudden change in pace.

"You’re getting quicker," Voralis noted, stepping back to give Viktor space as he caught the latest volley with increasing confidence. "How's it feeling?"

"Good," Viktor admitted. "I can tell when I'm about to miss one before it happens, but I’m improving."

"Think you could try three at once?" Voralis asked, his tone challenging but light.

"Only one way to find out," Viktor replied, a spark of determination in his voice.

With a nod, Voralis grabbed three knives. He tossed them simultaneously, watching as Viktor focused and caught each one.

The knives hovered momentarily, held in position by Viktor’s will. He carefully released them toward the far wall in a sweeping motion, each knife maintaining its trajectory as they dispersed across the room.

Voralis watched him, arms crossed. "That's pretty impressive," he said, offering a smile. "Let's wrap up for today. You've put in good work."

Viktor grinned, feeling a small surge of pride. "Thanks," he replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "I guess I could get used to this. It was actually fun."

Voralis nodded. "You did well. Head to the dining hall, the staff has been told to put aside some food for you," he advised, gesturing towards the exit. "I'll take care of the mess we've made here."

As Viktor made his way to the door, Voralis called after him. "I’m actually keen to see how far you can take this, Viktor.”

Viktor turned back at the doorway, a faint smile lingering on his lips. "I’ll do my best," he promised before stepping out into the dimly lit corridor.

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Voralis began gathering the scattered wooden knives, returning them to the barrel. He admitted to himself that this session had been unexpectedly intriguing. Witnessing Viktor's magic, even in its raw form, was something else entirely. Voralis had seen magical feats before, but there was always a surreal quality to experiencing it firsthand, even with someone as inexperienced as Viktor.

Initially, Voralis had harbored doubts. He thought Faros might have been overly optimistic about Viktor’s potential. But as the session progressed, it became clear that Viktor's abilities were developing at an impressive rate.

Despite his misgivings at first, Voralis now found himself looking forward to tomorrow's session. He was eager to see if Viktor could maintain the pace and build upon the skills they’d started to cultivate today. The real challenge would be finding new ways to test Viktor's limits and perhaps push them even further.