I slept for almost nine hours. Man, that was some solid sleep. Honestly, if I’d taken Zander’s offer to sleep in his bed, I doubt I would’ve gotten any rest at all. Good call on my part.

When I woke up, though, the bed was empty. Zander was already gone. Figures. He and Eira were probably out training—earlier than anyone else, I’d bet. Being a student of someone like Teacher Janga must require that kind of discipline.

Discipline.

The word lingered in my mind. It’s not easy to build, especially when you’ve spent years nestled in a comfort zone. It’s like every time you try to improve, you’re dragged back to the starting line, your progress wiped clean. That’s the trap I fell into. I couldn’t stick to discipline because I was surrounded by people who thrived on negativity—people I mimicked without even realizing it. Toxic habits are contagious like that.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I stepped out of the house, expecting to find Zander and Eira hard at work.

But then I was surprised to see Teacher Janga standing there, instructing them.

Zander had mentioned he was summoned by the Emperor, so why was he here at the temple? Maybe it was postponed I thought.

As I approached, their voices grew clearer, and I caught snippets of Teacher Janga’s instructions.

"Relax your body," he said, pointing at Zander.

There was something different about the way they trained today. Yesterday, without Teacher watching, it felt…ordinary training. But now, their movements carried an energy—almost electric, like they were trying to radiate excellence under his gaze.

I couldn’t blame them. If I were in their place, I’d do the same—flaunt every ounce of learnings or skills I had.

Teacher Janga, having given his last pointer, glanced my way. He smiled, but I couldn’t help wondering if it was genuine or just polite. "You’re awake, Zachary," he said.

Was he annoyed? No, I was probably overthinking. Still, guilt nipped at me for waking up so late on my first official day as his student. I made a mental note to set an earlier alarm—assuming exhaustion wouldn’t take me hostage again.

I bowed politely. "Good morning, Teacher."

He patted my shoulder. "Zander told me you’ve learned breathing underwater," he said. "Now it’s time to start learning how to feel the water." His smile this time seemed sincere.

Relief washed over me—he wasn’t mad, just eager for me to progress. "I’ll try my best to learn that today teacher," I replied, hoping my enthusiasm didn’t sound like overconfidence. Truth be told, I had every intention of mastering it in a day.

Teacher Janga turned to the nearby spring, but not before I caught a faint smirk from Eira. It was subtle, the kind of look that said she found my ambition amusing—or foolish.

Teacher pointed to the water. "It’s not easy to feel the water if you’ve only just learned to breathe underwater. Trust yourself—that’s the key."

I nodded, taking his words to heart. There was something about him today that seemed…different. Maybe it was knowing he was powerful enough to warrant the Emperor’s personal summons. It made me curious about who he truly was beneath the surface.

Teacher Janga’s words echoed in my head: “Trust yourself—that’s the key.” It sounded simple enough, but as I stood at the edge of the spring, the stillness of the water felt more like a challenge than a comfort.

Zander and Eira were sparring a short distance away, their swords clashing in a steady rhythm. It was mesmerizing to watch—Zander’s quick, agile movements countered perfectly by Eira’s calm, precise strikes.

I slid into the water, the coolness hugging at my skin. My focus wavered as I adjusted to the temperature. Taking a deep breath, I tried to let the water surround me, moving my hand slowly beneath the surface.

The first attempt was a complete failure. I couldn’t feel anything but the cold water pushing back against my movements. Frustrated, I surfaced, wiping water from my face.

The clash of swords stopped.

"Having trouble already?" Zander called out, a teasing lilt in his voice. He leaned on his sword, watching me with a grin.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I gave him a small smile, trying to stay lighthearted. "Just figuring out how to make the water like me."

Eira walked over, tilting her head slightly as she studied me. "It’s not about making it like you," she said calmly. "You’re trying too hard."

Zander nodded sagely, though I wasn’t sure if he was being serious or just playing along. "Yeah, you’ve got to let it come to you. Like… like a cat. If you’re too eager, it’ll just ignore you."

Eira shot him a sharp look. "That’s not remotely helpful."

Zander shrugged. "Still true."

I chuckled softly, appreciating the brief break in tension. "So Be less eager."

They watched as I tried again. This time, I sank deeper into the water, letting it rise to my shoulders. I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Slow. Calm.

Nothing.

I surfaced again, shaking my head. "Still no connection."

Zander smirked. "Third time’s the charm, right?"

Eira sighed, clearly unimpressed. "If you stopped thinking so much about failing, you might actually feel something."

Teacher Janga’s voice cut through. "Zachary, trust doesn’t come from overthinking. Relax. Let it guide you."

Zander exchanged a glance with Eira before they both returned to their sparring. Their movements were sharp and fluid, but I caught them glancing my way occasionally, no doubt to check on my progress—or lack thereof.

I tried again. This time, I stopped trying to force it. I let the water hold me, moving only slightly, almost experimentally. My breathing steadied. I focused on nothing but the faint sensation around me.

That’s when it happened. A gentle nudge against my hand, subtle but unmistakable. The water was responding, shifting with me instead of against me.

I stayed in place, experimenting with small, deliberate movements, feeling the way the water swirled and flowed. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.

I had lost track of how many times I’d tried. Maybe this was the 30th attempt? Or the 40th? Honestly, I wasn’t counting anymore. Every time I dove under the water, I failed.

Zander and Eira had taken a few breaks from their training, their occasional glances my way offering no solace. Meanwhile, Teacher Janga stayed nearby, watching me in silence. He didn’t give me pointers or encouragement—just his unwavering, quiet attention.

I surfaced again, gasping for air, frustration bubbling alongside exhaustion. That’s when Teacher finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"Let’s try a different approach," he said, his calm tone carrying the weight of experience.

A different approach?

"This time, don’t focus on the water anymore," he continued with a faint smile. "Just focus on yourself."

I frowned, unsure what he meant. "How?"

Teacher crouched and dipped his hand into the spring, his fingers skimming the surface. "Simple. Go deeper. Close your eyes and stay under as long as you can—but don’t kill yourself trying, alright?" He chuckled at his own joke.

Teacher gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. I glanced over to where Zander and Eira were resuming their sparring, the clash of their swords filling the air again. They weren’t paying attention to me anymore, and that was probably for the best.

I took a deep breath and dove back into the water, pushing myself deeper this time. The spring was colder as I descended, and the light above faded quickly. It was darker here, quieter too, like the world above didn’t exist anymore.

My lungs tightened as the pressure of the water increased. Teacher’s words echoed in my mind: “Focus on yourself.” What did that even mean? I wasn’t sure, but I tried anyway. I stopped fighting the water, stopped trying to control it.

Instead, I listened. Not to the water—but to myself.

Whoosh.

Deep underwater. That’s where I was, huh?

I closed my eyes, trying hard to focus. Meditation was new to me—clumsy, shaky new. But somewhere in the chaos, something inside stayed steady. Calm, even.

Not that it wasn’t scary. Oh, it was terrifying. My mind couldn’t help but wander to all the wrong places: the fear of sinking deeper, of falling endlessly, and, worst of all, the shadowy unknown waiting far below.

The deep had its grip on me, but strangely, it was quiet now.

I barely heard the muffled rush of water anymore. No splashes or distant echoes. Just stillness. Just me.

But why? Why was it so calm when fear still churned inside me? Something—some force—was holding me steady. I could feel it.

And then—

Something.

“So, you’re learning something powerful,” a voice said, sharp and clear.

It was a woman’s voice—calm, soothing, and warm. The kind of voice you’d imagine echoing in a sacred hall, steady and kind.

Who is this? Not a voice I recognize. But there’s something about it—something that feels... otherworldly. As if it belongs here, underwater, like some ancient presence.

Before I could place it, a bright orb flared into view. My eyes were still closed, yet the glow was vivid, almost blinding, searing itself into my vision.

“It’s hard to decide which aura to give you,” the voice mused, soft yet deliberate.

That light—it’s familiar. Not in a ‘remembering an old friend’ kind of way, but familiar in a primal sense, like déjà vu. Like I’ve seen it before, just can’t remember where. Or when. Or what it even is.

“What aura should you have?” the voice continued, unfazed by my silence. “You’ve wandered through the darker corners of your past life, haven’t you? That bond still clings to you. Yet, even now, I see light in your heart. So… what should it be?”

"No, the real question is, what do you intend to do with this new life of yours?" it asked.

That’s when I remembered. This was the same bright orb that entered my body before I woke up in this new form. It was the thing that gave me a second chance at life.

Even though I was still a stranger to this world, the question lingered: what should I do with this new life? Should I aim to become stronger? Maybe. Strength was part of what I wanted, but it wasn’t the whole picture. Truth be told, I didn’t even know what I truly wanted—a clear goal was elusive. Perhaps I needed to explore this world more to figure it out. But to do that, I’d need strength—if only to protect myself and those I cared about.

"Honestly? I have no idea," I said with a playful smile. "But isn’t that the fun of it?"

Sure, I wanted to be stronger, but it wasn’t the endgame. I’d have to travel this world and uncover my real purpose.

After I gave my answer, something strange happened.

The last thing I saw was the orb shattering into pieces. Its destruction was the final image before everything went dark. And just like that, I blacked out.

image [https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/thumbnails/027/187/944/small/gold-and-luxury-under-line-png.png]

Clack.

Clack.

Swishhh.

Clack.

I woke to the sound of swords clashing. My head throbbed as I sat up, groggy and disoriented. What had happened? Did I drown? No, that didn’t seem right. The memory of the orb pushed its way to the front of my mind, and I groaned, grabbing my head as a sharp pain shot through it. It wasn’t just a headache—it felt like my skull was being pierced.

The pain lasted only a moment before it faded, leaving me breathless.

Clack.

The sound of wooden swords brought me to my feet. I staggered to the window and peeked outside. There, I saw Eira sparring with someone unfamiliar. Their match was intense, but they weren’t using real blades—just practice swords. Watching from the sidelines were Teacher and Zander.

The new guy caught my attention immediately. He had dark hair with subtle brown highlights, messily styled but effortlessly cool. His movements were sharp, precise—on par with Eira and Zander’s—but he had a livelier energy about him.

Then my gaze shifted to Teacher, and that’s when I saw a small creature, a small bear munching on an apple.

Was I hallucinating? No, probably not. This was a world of magic, after all. Strange creatures were practically normal. Besides, I couldn’t exactly talk—I had a bond that talks.