After breakfast, Ian stood up, her tone serious. “Acki, get ready. You’re about to start your real training.”

Acki, eager but still unsure of what to expect, nodded. “Alright, teach, just let me get my boots on.”

Once he had his boots laced up, Ian led him farther away from their camp, deep into the woods where the trees stretched high above them. The air felt different here—thicker, heavier, like the forest was alive with something Acki couldn’t explain.

They reached a small clearing. In the center of it sat an orb, glowing faintly in the dim light filtering through the trees.

Ian gestured toward the orb. “Put your hand on it.”

Acki glanced at her, confused. “What is it?”

“It’s an elemental orb,” she said. “It’ll show us your natural elements—the magic you’re connected to.”

“Alright,” Acki said, still not sure what to expect. He placed his hand on the orb.

As soon as his palm made contact, the orb lit up, brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding. Acki felt a strange warmth spread through his body, and then, out of nowhere, a voice echoed from the orb itself: Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Wind… Black Flame.

The glow faded, and Ian just stared at the orb, eyes wide with shock. “You have all the elements? And Black Flame too? Kid, you’re something else.”

Acki, feeling the weight of her words, rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean… it’s not that special, right?”

Ian gave him a sharp look. “No, kid, it is that special. Most people have one or two elements, maybe three if they’re really gifted. But you? You’ve got all of them. And Black Flame? I’ve never even heard of it.”

Acki thought for a moment. “I think I know what Black Flame is… I’ve used it before.”

“Show me,” Ian said, curiosity in her voice.

Acki picked up a branch from the ground, holding it tightly in both hands. Concentrating, he muttered, “I call upon the sun god’s flames… BLACK FLAME!”

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Instantly, dark flames—almost pitch black with a glowing white core—burst to life around the branch. The air around him seemed to sizzle and crackle with heat. He swung the branch, and the flames cut cleanly through the air, slicing through a tree with ease. The tree fell with a loud crash, and Acki grinned.

“See? Pretty cool, right?” Acki said, turning to Ian. “It’s strong. Imagine if I had a real sword.”

Ian stood there, arms crossed, impressed but keeping her cool. “Yeah, kid, it’s impressive. You might even surpass me one day… not that I’ll let that happen.”

Her smirk faded as her expression grew serious. “Alright, enough showing off. It’s time to get serious. Let’s train.”

Acki, feeling more confident than ever, nodded. “Let’s do it!”

The rest of the day was grueling. Ian pushed him harder than he’d ever been pushed before. They spent hours practicing sword swings—again and again, until Acki’s arms felt like they were going to fall off. He worked on his stance, his footwork, learning how to move fluidly, all while keeping his guard up. When they weren’t practicing with the sword, Ian had him trying basic spells—summoning fire, manipulating water, shifting the earth under his feet.

By mid-afternoon, sweat poured down Acki’s face. His shirt stuck to his back, and every muscle in his body ached. But he refused to stop. Every time he thought about giving up, he remembered Ian’s words: You might even surpass me one day. That thought alone kept him going.

By the time the sun started to set, Acki collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. “Teach… I can’t… I can’t go any further.”

Ian stood over him, arms crossed, not even breaking a sweat. “You did good today, kid. If you train like this every day, you’ll be strong in no time.”

Acki, lying on his back, looked up at her, grinning despite his exhaustion. “I’ll never stop training. I’ll get stronger… I’ll make you proud, teach.”

Ian smirked. “You already are, kid.”

They started walking back to the camp, but Ian stopped suddenly, as if she’d remembered something important. “Tomorrow, I’ll teach you something new. A special kind of magic.”

Acki, still catching his breath, looked up, intrigued. “Magic? But I’m getting pretty good with a sword. Why do I need magic?”

Ian gave him a stern look. “A true adventurer knows more than just swordplay. You’ll need magic—different kinds of it. You’ve got too much power inside you to ignore it. Plus, out there in the world, you’ll face things a sword alone won’t be able to handle.”

Acki sighed, but nodded. “Alright, teach. I’ll give it a shot.”

By the time they reached the camp, the sky was dark, and Acki’s stomach growled loudly.

“You hungry?” Ian asked, a knowing smile on her face.

“Starving,” Acki admitted, rubbing his stomach. “Rabbit meat again?”

Ian grinned. “You bet.”

Acki’s face lit up with excitement. “Hell yeah!”

They sat by the fire, eating quietly. The exhaustion from the day’s training started to fade as the warmth from the fire and the smell of roasted rabbit filled the air. Acki looked over at Ian, feeling grateful that she’d stuck with him, that she hadn’t let him give up on himself.

“Hey, teach,” Acki said softly, “thanks… for everything.”

Ian glanced at him, then shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Don’t get all sappy on me now, kid. You’re the one doing the work.”

They finished their meal, and as the fire crackled, Ian stood up. “Alright, kiddo, get some rest. You’ve got a lot more training tomorrow.”

Acki yawned, already feeling the pull of sleep. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, smiling as he laid down by the fire.

Ian rolled her eyes. “I told you to stop calling me that.”

“Yes, teach,” Acki corrected with a grin, as he drifted off to sleep, the fire’s warmth and the sound of the crackling flames wrapping him in comfort.