The clang of metal on wood resounded throughout the training area, as Kahel’s sword struck with precision into the wooden dummy. Muscles screamed, protesting against hours of repetition, but the hard, dead weight of the blade in his hand was an old friend—something to be leaned upon. With time, he had sharpened his technique, his movements sharp, quick, more calculated. Yet, it wasn’t just the swordplay that had changed. But something else, within him, had begun to stir—something deep inside.

Kahel stepped backward, catching his breath. He could feel them now—the Viera coursing through him. Since that day, when Elion’s life was torn from him, something had stirred within Kahel. The ability wasn’t just a thing to be used. It was part of him, in the weaving of his being, a connection to grow with time.

He shut his eyes, focused on the energy within. Empyreal Rift, the Viera he had inherited, was already second nature, yet it was so much more. There was a deeper wellspring of potential therein, something he was still discovering. Viera wasn’t just a tool, an extension of himself—a reflection of his relationships with those who mattered most in his life. Of course, it was clear that his loss had changed Elion, had given him a new modification, but simultaneously it opened the door to the unknown.

Rein’s voice cut through the silence, dragging Kahel back to the present. “Your movements are getting better. You’re getting quicker. But you’re still holding yourself back.”

Kahel opened his eyes, his breathing evening out. “I am not.”

Rein walked closer, eyes as keen as ever. “Not with your sword, no. But with your Viera. You’ve accessed its power, but you’re not harnessing it entirely. You’re scared of what that means, what that can do.”

Kahel’s frown brought his blade down. “I don’t know how to use it like I’m supposed to. I know what Elion could do, but it’s different now. It feels… like it’s mine, yet not.”

Rein’s eyes gentled, but his tone didn’t. “Because it is yours now. Viera’s tied to the person, but your ability is different. You copied what others were able to do, but it’s more than the ability to mimic others; you carry a piece of them with you.”

Kahel didn’t say anything for a long moment, the weight of Rein’s words sinking in. It wasn’t that he could move with Elion’s speed—he had taken a part of Elion with him, a piece of his spirit, and that thought was both comforting and unsettling.

Rein inclined his head toward the field. “We’re going to work on that. Not just your sword, but your Viera. You need to learn to put both of them together without so much as a misstep.”

Kahel listened, and in his heart, he felt the now-familiar surge of determination course through him. The second time around, he was ready to begin anew, and this time, he allowed the stirring of the Viera to continue unabated inside him. His muscles tensed as the energy coursed through his veins, magnifying his movements, guiding him in ways beyond the most basic touch of muscle memory.

They sparred for hours, the sun scaling higher and higher in the sky as Kahel pushed himself further than he ever had. His speed seemed S if he was warping through space, with each strike faster than the last, each movement tight and deadly. But it was not enough. Rein still countered every attack with ease, his eyes always watchful, studying Kahel’s progress in silent, pressuring intensity.

Kahel breathed in ragged gasps, his body spent, but his mind alive with the sensation of his Viera. There was an edge to something greater, something just beyond his grasp.

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“Focus,” Rein commanded as they locked swords, his voice slicing through Kahel’s exhaustion. “Stop relying on your memory of Elion’s ability. Make it yours.”

Kahel gritted his teeth, pushing against Rein’s sword, but the words hit a mark inside of him. That was the thing—it wasn’t just about emulating Empyreal Rift, it was about shaping it into something new, something peculiarly his.

In that instant, Kahel let go of the hesitation that had held him back. His body moved instinctively now, quicker, smoother, but this time, it wasn’t only Elion’s understanding that guided him. It was his own linkage with the Viera, his own knowing of the power pulsating within him.

Rein’s eyes widened fractionally as Kahel’s next strike was a fraction of a second faster than the last; his movements no longer simply mimicry, but innovation. And for the first time, Kahel felt in control—not of Elion’s gift, but his own power. A final clash of their swords resounded before Rein stepped back, lowering his blade.

“Good,” he said, nodding in approval. “You’re beginning to understand.”

Kahel stood still, the heaving of his chest a testament to exhaustion, but his heart alight with clarity. It wasn’t just the physical training that mattered; conquering the Viera was also to subdue a part of himself he had only begun to comprehend.

The darkness had already fallen by the time Kahel returned to his quarters—the ache in his muscles was constant, reminding him of the day’s training. He had never pushed himself harder, but unmistakable was this sense of accomplishment. The Viera within him was growing, developing, reaching out for something more.

He sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, centered in the stillness. The energy of the Viera was ever-present now, a quiet hum beneath his skin, waiting to be called upon. But there was more to this power than pure and simple speed. He could feel it, this untapped well that went beyond what Elion was once capable of. It was tied to relationships forged and ties that bound him to those around him.

Kahel’s mind wandered back to the day Elion had died, the memory’s he attained, and the moment when his Viera had been passed on to him. That bond had been strong, forged through years of friendship, but it had also changed Kahel in ways he hadn’t fully understood until now. The Viera wasn’t about the power at all. It was about the bonds between people, ones that manage to transcend even death.

He opened his eyes, and his sight fell upon the sword leaning against the wall. It had been with him through every battle, every loss—but it wasn’t just a weapon. It was the symbol of the journey he had undertaken, the path he was still walking.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Rein entered, his expression unreadable, yet always commanding.

“You did well today,” Rein said simply.

Kahel nodded, feeling a sudden surge of pride that he had been acknowledged. “I’m starting to understand it—the Viera. It’s not only about Empyreal Rift anymore. It’s beyond that.”

Rein regarded him for a moment, his eyes contemplative. “Viera is unique with everyone; it is connected to who you are and what you are capable of. Empyreal Rift was Elion’s gift, but you’ve made it your own. You’ve unlocked something more.”

Kahel furrowed his brow, uncertain: what was Rein driving at?

“You aren’t simply emulating abilities, Kahel, you’re actually assimilating them. You’re making them part of yourself. That’s the true power of your Viera.”

Kahel considered this, the weight of Rein’s words settling over him. It made sense now—the more he connected with the Viera the stronger he became. But there was still so much he didn’t know.

“Will it always be like this?” Kahel asked. “Will I always inherit someone’s Viera when they die?”

Rein’s expression darkened but he didn’t answer immediately. “It depends on you. Your gift is a rare one, Kahel. It comes with great power, but also great responsibility. You’ll need to be very mindful of the bonds you form, and also of what you pay in exchange for it.”

The thought caused Kahel’s chest to tighten. Elion’s death had been bad enough; he did not need to be considering losing anyone else, let alone gaining an inheritance of their powers at such cost.

“But that’s a lesson for another time,” Rein said, his voice softening. “For now, you’ve made progress. Significant progress. But you’re not done yet.”

Kahel nodded, the weight of the conversation sinking in. There was still much to learn, much to master. His Viera was a part of him now, and it was up to him to decide how to wield it.

Rein stood, turning toward the door. “Tomorrow, we will begin something new. You have learned to control the basics of your Viera, but now we’ll see just how far you take it.”

Kahel watched him go, a sense of anticipation welling in his chest. He was no longer learning to fight. He was learning to master the power passed on to him—and in doing so, he was becoming something more than he had ever imagined.

As the door shut behind Rein, Kahel closed his eyes once more and allowed the hum of the Viera to lull him into the stillness of his meditation. The future was not certain, yet for the first time, Kahel felt ready to face what would lie ahead, indefinable. Somewhere deep within himself, a new understanding of the power he wielded started to form quieitly.