Chapter 6: The Widow’s Burden

The cool evening breeze carried the faint scent of rain as Alexander sat on the porch, his body still aching from the day’s training. The farm was quiet, save for the soft rustling of the leaves and the occasional distant call of an owl. He had grown accustomed to this place, to its rhythm, its quiet peace. Yet, despite the simplicity of his life here, there was an undercurrent of mystery that lingered—particularly with Lyra. He could see it in her eyes, in the way she moved with practiced grace, and the sadness she carried like a shadow.

It was nearly six months since Alexander had first arrived, wounded and broken, on Lyra's doorstep. In that time, they had formed an unspoken bond, a closeness that had developed out of mutual respect and necessity. But tonight, he could sense something different in the air. Lyra had been quiet all through dinner, more so than usual, and there was a weight to her movements as if something was pressing down on her spirit.

Lyra stepped out of the house, her eyes distant as she walked over to where Alexander sat. Without a word, she sat beside him on the porch, folding her hands in her lap. For a while, they just sat in silence, listening to the night. Then, finally, she spoke.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” she said softly, her voice almost lost in the wind. “Something I’ve been meaning to share for a while now.”

Alexander turned his head, his curiosity piqued. He had long suspected there was more to Lyra than met the eye—more to her past, her quiet strength. Now, it seemed, she was ready to share that burden.

She took a deep breath, her fingers lightly tracing the worn wood of the porch. “My husband… He was a war hero, you know. One of the most powerful men I’d ever known. But that power… it came at a great cost.”

Alexander remained silent, letting her speak at her own pace. He could feel the weight of her words, the memories they stirred.

“He was known for his unique fighting style,” Lyra continued, her eyes gazing out into the distance as if seeing something far away. “The Gravitonic Sword Style. It’s unlike anything else. He could control gravity, bending it to his will. With a single swing of his sword, he could make his weapon feel as light as a feather or as heavy as a mountain. His enemies would be thrown off balance, unable to predict the weight behind his strikes. And he didn’t stop there. He could manipulate the gravity around his opponents, making their movements sluggish, their bodies heavy. It was like fighting in a world that he controlled entirely.”

Her voice grew softer, tinged with a reverence that only deep love and admiration could bring. “He wasn’t a big man, not in the way you’d think for someone with that kind of power. He was tall and lean, but there was a strength in him that didn’t come from his muscles alone. It came from his mastery over gravity. When he fought, it was like the world around him bent to his will. Every step he took was calculated, every swing of his sword precise. He could increase his own weight in an instant, making his blows impossible to block, and then lighten himself to move faster than the eye could follow.”

Alexander’s mind raced, trying to imagine such a feat. A fighting style that could control gravity itself. It was no wonder her husband had been a war hero. The sheer versatility of such power was unimaginable, both a weapon and a defense all in one.

“There was one battle,” Lyra said, her voice dropping to a near whisper, “that changed everything. He and his team were sent to slay a dragon—a creature of immense size and power. During the fight, he pushed his abilities to their absolute limit. He made the dragon’s wings so heavy that it couldn’t lift off the ground. He increased the gravity around its body, slowing its movements until it was like watching a creature fight through thick mud. And then… he struck the final blow.”

Lyra paused, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “He won, but not without a cost. He was grievously wounded. The dragon’s claws had torn through his armor, and his body was nearly crushed under the sheer strain of controlling so much gravity for so long. But it wasn’t just the physical wounds that took a toll on him.”

Alexander frowned, sensing the darker turn in her story. “What do you mean?”

“The battle… it changed how people saw him. His power had always been awe-inspiring, but after that, some began to fear him. Even the King, who had once praised him, began to see him as a threat. And in his fear, the King did something unforgivable.”

Alexander’s heart tightened in his chest as he listened.

“While my husband was recovering from his wounds, the King had an alchemist secretly mix poison into his medicine. It was a slow poison, something that would sap his strength over time. He healed from his wounds, but the poison spread too far, too fast. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.”

Lyra’s voice broke slightly, and Alexander could see the pain in her eyes as she relived the memory. “He knew he couldn’t stay in the capital. If the King wanted him dead, then staying meant putting me and our unborn child in danger. So he fled. We fled. As far away as we could. We settled here, on this farm, trying to live a quiet life. But the poison… it never stopped. It ate away at him, little by little, until there was nothing left.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks now, silent but heavy. “He died when Amara was still a baby. She never got to know him, never got to see the man he truly was. And I… I’ve carried that weight with me ever since.”

Alexander felt his throat tighten, his heart aching for her. He reached out, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Lyra. I… I can’t imagine what you’ve been through.”

She wiped her tears away, her expression hardening once more. “It’s in the past now. But I wanted you to know. You remind me of him sometimes… in the way you fight, the way you carry yourself.”

Alexander swallowed hard, feeling the gravity of her words—not just metaphorically, but literally. He had been training for months now, pushing his body, regaining his strength. But compared to a man like that? It felt like he was still at the very beginning of his journey.

“Come with me,” Lyra said suddenly, standing up and wiping her hands on her apron. “There’s something I want to show you.”

Intrigued, Alexander followed her as she led him down a path that wound through the trees at the edge of the farm. They walked in silence for what felt like miles, the night growing darker around them. Finally, they arrived at the mouth of a cave hidden beneath an outcropping of rocks. The entrance was unassuming, overgrown with moss and ivy, but there was a strange energy in the air that made Alexander’s skin tingle.

“This was his secret training area,” Lyra said quietly. “A place where he could push his limits in private.”

She stepped forward, placing her hand on a rune etched into the stone. With a whisper of words that Alexander couldn’t quite make out, the rune began to glow, and the heavy stone door slid open with a deep, rumbling sound.

They stepped inside, and the air changed immediately. It was thick, oppressive, as if the very room was filled with an invisible weight. Alexander’s steps felt heavy, each movement a little more difficult than it should have been.

“This room is infused with gravity,” Lyra explained as she moved deeper into the cave. “He used it to train his body and mind, to adapt to different levels of pressure. The gravity can be adjusted with the runes. He would practice here for hours, increasing the weight little by little until even the smallest movement required every ounce of strength he had.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

She demonstrated, pressing her hand to another rune on the wall. The room’s gravity increased, and Alexander immediately felt the change. It was as if invisible hands were pressing down on him, making his legs feel like lead. His breath came in short, shallow gasps as the weight bore down on his chest.

“Feel it?” Lyra asked, watching him carefully.

Alexander nodded, his muscles straining under the pressure. It was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Every step felt like he was walking through water, every breath a challenge. And yet, despite the discomfort, he could feel the potential. This was how her husband had grown so powerful—training under conditions that would break most men.

“He believed that by mastering gravity,” Lyra continued, “he could master anything. He once told me that controlling gravity was like controlling the essence of life itself. Everything is affected by it. Every movement, every action, every breath.”

Alexander was silent, absorbing her words. He could see now why her husband had been so feared, so respected. This wasn’t just a fighting style—it was a philosophy, a way of life.

As the gravity in the room returned to normal, Alexander exhaled a long, shaky breath. His body felt light now, almost unnaturally so, as if he could float away at any moment.

“You’ll train here from now on,” Lyra said, her voice soft but firm. “If you want to truly understand your potential… if you want to honor his memory… this is where you start.”

Alexander nodded, the weight of her words settling on his shoulders. This wasn’t just training anymore. It was a legacy.

Alexander stood on the porch, the evening breeze cool against his skin. His body ached from the gravity training in the cave, and his muscles screamed for rest, but he ignored the fatigue. The farm was quiet, the only sounds the distant chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves in the trees. The sky was clear, a canvas of stars slowly revealing themselves.

He’d been on the farm for nearly six months now, each day a step toward rebuilding himself. The routine of farm work had become a steady rhythm—swinging axes, lifting heavy loads, tending to the animals. Each task strengthened him, grounding him in the present. But more than the physical work, it was the stillness of this place that had allowed him to reflect.

Tonight, as he stood in the quiet of the night, something inside him shifted. There was a pull, a soft whisper calling him inward. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, feeling the rise and fall of his chest. The night’s stillness wasn’t just external—it was inside him, too. His mind settled into a calm he hadn’t felt in a long time.

And then, there it was.

A faint sensation beneath his skin, a warmth that pulsed gently with each beat of his heart. It was subtle at first, almost like a quiet hum or vibration, but as he focused on it, the feeling became more pronounced. It was mana—the same energy he had seen Lyra wield with such ease and power. He had sensed it before in brief flashes, but tonight it felt closer, more real.

Taking a slow breath, Alexander concentrated, trying to connect with the energy. It was like reaching for something just out of grasp, elusive and slippery. But as he continued to breathe steadily, his mind calm, the mana began to respond.

He could feel it, a warm current running through him, starting in his core and spreading outward through his limbs. His heart rate quickened as he tried to direct it, to will the energy to flow. At first, it resisted him, moving in fits and starts, but gradually, it began to obey.

Mana Manipulation (5%).

He could see the words appear faintly in his mind's eye, like a faint reminder of progress. A small milestone, but it was there—a skill he hadn’t had before, now forming as a result of this focused practice.

Alexander kept his breathing steady as he continued to guide the mana. It wasn’t graceful—it surged unevenly, sometimes pooling in his chest, other times shooting toward his limbs too quickly. His muscles trembled as he tried to move it with more precision, his focus wavering.

He concentrated harder, imagining the mana moving down his arms, into his fingers, and then back up into his chest. The energy was rough, raw, and untamed, like trying to ride a wild animal. But each time he faltered, he adjusted, trying again, feeling the mana respond a little more each time.

His body felt alive with the power surging through him, but it wasn’t comfortable. His arms tingled with the energy, sometimes uncomfortably so, and his chest felt tight as he attempted to control the flow. He shifted the mana to his legs, the warmth moving sluggishly through his thighs and down into his calves. There was a sudden rush of heat in his knees, then a cold emptiness as the flow stopped.

His brow furrowed in frustration, but he calmed himself. This was new to him—like a novice swordsman learning the basics of a blade, his movements were crude, imprecise. But the mana was there, and with each attempt, he gained a bit more control.

Mana Manipulation (10%).

The progress was slow, but it was undeniable. He could feel the skill developing inside him, the energy becoming more familiar, more a part of him. His body trembled from the effort, sweat beading on his forehead as he continued to push the mana through his limbs.

It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t even good yet. But it was progress.

He tried to shift the energy again, this time directing it toward his arms while focusing on his breathing. The mana flowed, uneven and jagged, but it moved. His muscles hummed with the power, his body both exhausted and invigorated at once. He could feel the potential—if he could master this, there was no telling what he might be able to achieve.

But for now, he was still a novice.

His breathing grew heavier as he guided the mana back to his core, letting it settle there. His muscles ached, his mind felt stretched thin, but there was something exhilarating about the experience. He had tasted the power that lay within him, and even though he was far from mastering it, he knew he was on the right path.

Exhaustion began to creep in, the weight of the day’s training finally catching up with him. He allowed the mana to fade, letting it return to its natural state, still humming faintly beneath the surface but no longer straining for control.

Alexander opened his eyes, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He was drained, both physically and mentally, but there was a flicker of hope in his chest. He had gained something tonight—a skill, however rudimentary, and a deeper understanding of the energy within him.

Tomorrow, he would continue. Tomorrow, he would push himself further.

With a deep sigh, he turned and headed back inside the farmhouse. The fire in the hearth had died down, casting only a faint glow across the room. He moved quietly, careful not to wake Lyra or Amara, and slipped into his bed.

As he lay there, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling, his mind drifted. He thought of the training ahead, of what Lyra had shared about her husband, of the power he had seen in the cave. And he thought of the mana inside him—the potential waiting to be unlocked.

The ache in his muscles was a reminder of how far he had come, but also of how far he still had to go. He wasn’t there yet. Not even close. But tonight had been a step in the right direction.

His eyes grew heavy, and as he drifted off to sleep, a quiet determination settled over him. Tomorrow would be another chance to improve, another opportunity to grow stronger and for the first time in a long while, Alexander felt hopeful.

Alexander’s thoughts quieted as he lay in bed, his muscles heavy from the exertion of both physical and mana training. He could feel the gradual development of his skills, each one inching closer to the next tier. He had gained so much in his time on the farm—strength, insight, and the beginnings of mastery.

Sleep overtook him, his body tired but his spirit alive with the promise of what was to come. Tomorrow, the journey would continue.

Alexander felt the warm pull of sleep take him as his thoughts faded into the darkness. His body was tired, but his spirit felt renewed. Tomorrow, he would push his limits even further.

Got it! Here’s the updated stat sheet with the initial stats at 10 and the new increases from skill progression.

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**Stat Sheet Update:**

**Name:** Alexander

**Class:** [N/A]

**Level:** 1

**Physical Stats:**

- **Strength:** 14 (+4)

- **Agility:** 11 (+1)

- **Endurance:** 14 (+4)

- **Dexterity:** 10 (+0)

- **Vitality:** 12 (+2)

**Mental Stats:**

- **Mana Pool:** 45 (+5)

- **Focus:** 13 (+2)

- **Insight:** 11 (+2)

- **Willpower:** 8 (+0)

**Skill Progression:**

- **Axe Mastery:** 45% (Basic) to next tier (Apprentice)

- **Gained Stats:** +2 Strength, +1 Endurance

- **Farming:** 63% (Basic) to next tier (Apprentice)

- **Gained Stats:** +1 Strength, +1 Vitality

- **Tame Beast:** 22% (Basic) to next tier (Apprentice)

- **Gained Stats:** +1 Dexterity, +1 Focus

- **Physical Fitness:** 72% (Basic) to next tier (Apprentice)

- **Gained Stats:** +1 Agility, +1 Endurance

- **Sword Mastery:** 35% (Basic) to next tier (Apprentice)

- **Gained Stats:** +2 Strength, +1 Dexterity

- **Mana Manipulation:** 10% (Novice) to next tier (Basic)

- **Gained Stats:** +5 Mana Pool, +2 Focus, +1 Insight

- **Observation:** 27% (Basic) to next tier (Apprentice)

- **Gained Stats:** +1 Insight, +1 Focus

- **Woodworking:** 40% (Basic) to next tier (Apprentice)

- **Gained Stats:** +1 Dexterity, +1 Endurance

- **Regeneration:** 18% (Basic) to next tier (Apprentice)

- **Gained Stats:** +1 Vitality, +1 Endurance