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The memory surfaced like a whisper in the dark, slipping into my mind without warning, creeping over me like a cold mist. The scene flickered, hazy at first, then sharpened as I sank deeper into the dream.

I was back on the training grounds, my mother’s voice clear, steady, and cutting through my confusion with her usual, unyielding calm.

“Exira, at its base form, is just mental manipulation,” she explained, her gaze piercing, pinning me in place. “It’s the assertion of your will, your desires, onto others. And like all things, it’s horribly inefficient until you reach Tier I.”

Her words seemed to echo, layering over each other, disorienting, yet I clung to them. My mother continued, her tone almost clinical, unbothered by my barely contained frustration.

“To truly make use of Exira as more than a parlor trick, to make an impression or, at most, stun-lock an opponent, you’ll need techniques,” she went on, her gaze steady and unrelenting. “How Exira interacts with your enemy–that’s up to you to test. You’ll need to learn its strength, its limits, and what percentage of yourself you can give.”

I wanted to say something, to tell her I understood, that I could handle it. But the words stuck in my throat.

I haven’t even faced a real enemy… not one where death was just a heartbeat away.

My mother’s eyes softened briefly, a fleeting expression, then she stepped forward, her hand on her sword as she moved toward the training field. I watched her walk, her stride as smooth and purposeful as ever, the powerful calm radiating from her. She unsheathed the massive claymore on her back–a weapon as imposing as she was, broad, heavy, demanding absolute precision and strength. The sight of it sent a thrill of dread through me, familiar yet deeply unsettling.

I felt a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Aunt Nora, her smile warm and encouraging. She patted me on the back, her expression telling me more than words ever could.

At least Aunt Nora’s here… The thought settled something in me, grounding me for the battle ahead. I could feel her quiet confidence, her belief that I’d pull through.

Taking a deep breath, I hefted my own training sword—a longsword, nothing flashy, but quick, light, perfect for my speed. My fingers tightened around the hilt as I moved to stand beside my mother on the field. The weight of expectation settled on me, heavy and unshakable.

Focus, Lexi… focus, I reminded myself, steeling my mind, locking away the doubts, the fears. I fell into a familiar battle stance, feeling my body tense, then release, honing in on the instincts I’d drilled into myself. Each breath slowed, grounding me, as I gathered my emotions, my will, channeling them into a single, focused point within. The familiar surge of power hummed beneath my skin, Exira stirring awake, thrumming, expanding, wrapping itself through my muscles, my veins, sharpening my senses.

This is it, I thought. If I can’t bring Exira fully under my control now, I’ll never survive the real thing.

Across from me, my mother shifted, her gaze cold and detached, like a blade held against my throat. She was watching, waiting, poised to test every boundary I could push. And I knew—she would use every ounce of strength she believed I could withstand, nothing more, nothing less. She was going to push me right to the edge, to force me to learn.

Focus, Lexi. There’s no room for error.

I tightened my grip, took another breath, then lunged forward, feeling Exira channel through me, amplifying every motion, every reflex. My mother met me head-on, her claymore sweeping toward me with an unyielding force. I blocked, barely managing to keep my footing as the weight of her swing rattled through my bones. But I pushed back, gritting my teeth as I adjusted, pouring more of Exira into my body.

Then, without warning, she shifted, her next strike faster, harder. I stumbled, nearly losing my balance as the impact sent me sprawling backward. Pain flared through my shoulder, and I scrambled to my feet, forcing Exira to steady me. I could feel my pulse racing, the tension building, each heartbeat louder than the last.

“Real battles will have variables beyond your control,” she said, her voice calm as she stepped forward, unfazed. “Manipulating those variables is the only way to secure victory. Control your mind, Lexi. Control the field.”

Her radiant blue eyes bore into mine, their steady, unshakable calm a stark contrast to the chaos brewing within me. There was a detached authority in her gaze, one that demanded submission, demanded obedience, and I fought against it, swallowing down the urge to falter.

“There will be pain far more intense than this,” she continued, her tone cold, impassive. “If this level of suffering makes you lose your reason, your will to stand, then—”

My arms began to tremble more and more, feeling loose and difficult to move.

Clang… fuck!

It happened so quickly that I barely registered it at first. One moment, I was gripping my sword, the clash of steel ringing in my ears, and the next, an overwhelming pressure locked me down, denying me any action.

Thum, thum.

My head rang like a bell, and I willed my Exira to respond, but it only managed to alleviate the headache before snuffing it out completely.

I suppose the match ends… damn… wait… wha…

I thought the match had ended, but I caught sight of Mom’s cold gaze as she moved in with a swing.

Slice

In the blink of an eye, a flash of pain so sharp it barely registered coursed through me.

Thud

Splash

My body staggered back on instinct, locked under Mom’s Exira, but it wasn’t until I glanced down that my heart froze.

My hands… they were gone.

I stared in disbelief, blood pouring from the stumps of my wrists. The reality didn’t sink in at first—there was only a surreal numbness as if it were happening to someone else, not me. But then… the pain hit–a burning agony that shot up my arms like fire.

Argg

My body wanted to collapse, but it stayed frozen. The grunts tore from my throat before I could stop them, barely audible.

Arghhh

I wanted to scream, but all I could manage were ragged gasps, struggling to breathe through the haze of pain and her Exira still bearing down on me.

My mind raced, grasping for some way to make sense of it, but all I could think was, How can this be happening?

I tried to move, to do something, but all I could do was cradle the bleeding stumps, feeling the warmth of my own blood gushing down.

Tears blurred my vision, my chest heaving as fear set in. I frantically screamed in my head for Mom to stop, for Aunt Nora to come quickly.

Shuaa

All my thoughts came to a halt as the presence of overwhelming Exira intensified, denying me the ability to think.

“You have improved since the last spar. However, your mentality of ending everything in one strike is nothing but a child’s fantasy,” she said coldly. “YOU ARE NOT AN ASSASSIN, ALEXIS.”

“Your fascination with mixing every single technique might work against novices, but any experienced opponent would lop your head off, not just your hands.”

The voice grew colder and appeared closer as the presence of Exira became overbearing. I could feel my bones creaking under the pressure. But what it brought was an unnatural clarity to my mind amidst the overwhelming pain—ridiculous amounts of pain…

“Going all out against an opponent you know far outclasses you could have been a smart move, but—”

“But you threw everything at me from the very start, showing no aces, holding no cards in reserve, no good strategy. Did you honestly expect to overwhelm me?”

Splurt… splurt

Blood kept gushing out of my wounds, a grim reminder of all that had transpired. I could almost see my face pale as life drained from me, yet, screaming internally, I forced my head against the pressure to meet Mom’s gaze, knowing full well she wouldn’t let me go.

“Alexis.”

Shuaa

The EXIRA was even more intense now. If before it was pure physical pressure, now it was downright terrifying, filled with the killing intent of my mother… no, the Ruler and Matriarch of House Drakeseir.

“There will be unknown variables in a real battle, variables far beyond your control but manipulating them will make you come out victorious. There will be pain; I guarantee it will be much more intense than what you are experiencing now. If this much makes you lose your reason, your will to stand, then…”

Splurt…

Grr

Damn… she… wants an answer?… fu*k, ahh!

Gritting my teeth, I summoned whatever remained of my Exira and matched her gaze.

“Y….YES!... MoTHEr!”

A sharp, jarring pain tore through me, and the scene shattered—

.

.

I jerked awake, gasping, my body drenched in sweat, the cold air of the cave seeping into my skin. My chest heaved, each breath harsh and ragged as I looked around, grounding myself in the present, the dark, damp stone walls a stark contrast to the vivid memory that had just swallowed me whole.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Just a dream… a memory.

But the ache in my hands felt real, as if that incident happened recently.

.

.

Splash.

I stepped out of the water, droplets streaming down my skin as I took in the chill air. That last dive had been refreshing, a shock to the system that wiped away the fatigue of the last few days.

After sleeping, an actual, solid sleep for once—and freshening up, I could almost believe I was a different person. Almost. Muscles felt looser, my thoughts clearer. The burns that had plagued my skin were barely there anymore, just faint patches where the raw, angry red had smoothed into pale, healing flesh. I could only guess that the blessing of the moon pendant had something to do with it.

“Maybe it works without needing moonlight…” I muttered, glancing down at the pendant. “Or it just has some strange condition I haven’t figured out.”

Shrugging off the mystery for now, I stretched my arms over my head, feeling my muscles pull and wake up. Time for a proper warm-up.

Stretching my neck in wide, slow circles, I felt the familiar burn start in my shoulders, rippling down to my chest. Next were my arms, loosening the joints, rotating my elbows and wrists to ease out the stiffness. Each movement sparked a little reminder of the fight that had come before, the aches, the bruises. But the soreness was easing with every stretch, every breath.

I moved through each exercise without hesitation: shoulder rotations, arm swings, leg stretches. The muscles in my legs protested, but I ignored the discomfort. I swung one leg back, then the other, feeling the strain ease into something more fluid, controlled. The steady burn crept through me, a good, grounding ache that reminded me I was still alive, still capable of movement, of fighting.

Finishing the last of the stretches, I took a deep breath, let the air fill my lungs, and jumped back into the water, savoring the cold that stole away the heat of exertion, easing the soreness I’d built up. For a few moments, I just floated, letting the weightlessness carry me, the gentle push of water against my skin a welcome balm. The pendant glinted faintly at my chest, pulsing with a cool, steady energy. I could feel its subtle work within me, knitting my body back together, fueling the healing that had started from within. I looked at my skin–it was pale, healed, no angry red burns left. A small grin tugged at the corners of my mouth.

“Guess you’re more useful than I thought,” I murmured to the pendant, giving it a quick pat.

Finally, I pulled myself out of the water, reaching for a cloth to dry off. The damp chill of the cave settled around me, but it was familiar now, almost comforting. With quick efficiency, I toweled off and grabbed the spare clothes I’d scavenged from El’s stash. A bit loose, maybe, but after some adjustments, they fit well enough.

The real excitement hit when I lifted the Notics armor set. I’d modified it just enough to fit my frame, adjusting the straps, padding where necessary. Donning the armor was an experience in itself. The cool, sleek material settled over me, hugging close to my body without restricting my movement. I flexed my arms, feeling the joints respond smoothly, each movement unhindered. The weight was perfectly balanced, just enough to remind me it was there but light enough to feel like a second skin.

“Well, let’s see what you’re made of,” I said, grinning as I threw a few quick punches into the air, each one slicing through the dim, damp air of the cave. Shadowboxing in the dark, I felt the way the armor absorbed and redistributed the force of each punch, like a perfect extension of my own strength.

“Yeah… this will be fun.”

After testing the armor, I turned my attention back to the ring. I needed to keep practicing with it until summoning became second nature. Let’s get this down, I thought, slipping into the rhythm of pulling the sword out, holding it, feeling its weight, and then slipping it back in. After a few dozen repetitions, the motion felt smoother, more instinctive. It would still take a second or two to summon, but each practice cut down the time.

I figured it was time to test summoning smaller items, like arrows. After all, in a fight, I’d need to be able to grab them on the go, rather than fumbling around with an entire quiver.

“Alright, come on, arrow…” I muttered, focusing on pulling a single arrow from the ring. My mental energy zeroed in, Exira wrapping around the image of the arrow, trying to materialize it.

Nothing.

I took a deep breath, then tried again, a bit more forcefully. Again, nothing. Frustration simmered beneath the surface, but I didn’t let it distract me. It’s just a process, I reminded myself. A skill like any other. Try again.

Twenty minutes passed, each attempt more focused than the last. But no matter how carefully I pictured it, I couldn’t summon a single arrow. I even tried storing a few arrows separately, away from the main bundle in the quiver, hoping it would make them easier to retrieve. But that just made it worse. The effort of visualizing one individual arrow was starting to exhaust me, my head throbbing from the strain.

“Hah, of course it’s not that easy,” I grumbled, leaning against the cave wall, rubbing my temples. “Fine. I’ll just take the whole damn quiver out if that’s what it takes.”

Pulling out the entire quiver was fast enough, so it wasn’t all bad. But there was something infuriating about not being able to grab a single arrow on its own. More practice, I told myself, clenching my fists. It’s all about fine-tuning, control.

With a sigh, I let myself sink back, feeling the ache settle into my bones. My thoughts flickered back to the pendant, still cool against my chest, a quiet reminder of some deeper mystery I hadn’t yet unlocked. The cave was dark, silent save for the faint drip of water somewhere in the distance. But in the quiet, I felt something stir in me—a sense of readiness, of anticipation for whatever lay beyond these walls.

“Yeah, I’ll figure this all out,” I whispered to the shadows. “One step at a time.”

I took one last glance at my hand, the ring gleaming faintly in the dim light. The Notics armor hugged close, the pendant resting near my heart, a silent, unwavering presence. Whatever the coming battles held, I knew I was as prepared as I could be.

Satisfied, I took a quick mental inventory, running through the artifacts and items stored within the ring. Everything's in place.

Equipped Gear

ARMOUR Attuned

Noctis ONE-SET Armour [Mortal Tier ★★★★] (Cloak,torso,pants,boots)

E: (Aegis Protego Obscurioveilum Restituo Unbreaking)

ATTUNED ARTIFACTS

The sole earring ?????????

Aunt Nora’s blessed Bracer for dumb Lexi [Overmortal Tier ★★★] (Regen, stealth)

E : (⊑⟒⌰⌰⍜ ỻ⎍⋔⏃⋏⌇)

Drakesier Heirloom [Divine Tier ????]

E :(??????)

El’s Gift (Spatial Ring) [Mortal Tier ★★]

E : (⊑⟒$#$#%⋔⏃⋏⌇)

Moon's Blessings Pendant [Mortal Tier ★★]

E : (Luna Benedictionis)

ENCHANTED GEAR

Mask

Trusty Spyglass

Warmth Ring (Foveo) [Passive Enchant Type]

WEAPONS

Longsword [Mortal Tier ★]

E : (Ferro Durabilis Acutus Aeternum)

Expansio Spear [Mortal Tier ★★]

E : (Penetrans Durabilis Expansio)

Expansio Shield [Mortal Tier ★★]

E : (Aegis Durabilis Expansio)

Longbow [Mortal Tier ★]

E : (Dirige Accelerare Percute)

El's RING

[FOOD and Rations]

Dried strips of meat x 30 and Bread x 10

Raw meat chunks x 5 ~ 3 kg each

Water canteen x 2 [E] ~10L each

Spices (assortment)

Bundles box ]

[Artifacts]

Runic Fragment

(hidden)

Warmth Ring [P]

E: (Foveo)

Breathless Ring [C]

E: (Respiratio Nullus Arca)

Cleanse Ring [C]

E: (Mundo)

Protective Pendant [E]

E: (Defendo)

Revealing Monocle [C]

E: (Apparere Occulta)

Trusty spyglass [P]

E: (UNBREAKING I)

Key Items]

Diary

Insignia x2

Map I x2

Metal card x2

Photos x2

Documents [U]

Elf’s Drawings

keys

[Items]

Energy Crystals x10

Spare Clothes

Ropes

Sewing kit

Cloaks [E]

Spare Leather Armour

Torch

[Armaments]

Daggers x2

Arrowsx240 quiver loaded

I took out a strip of jerky and bit down, chewing slowly as I went over each detail in my mind. One last roll call before heading out.

“Alright,” I muttered to myself, ticking off each item on my mental list. “Gear? Check.” I glanced down at the glinting edges of my gauntlets, adjusted the straps around my shoulders. Everything was secured and ready for quick access.

I tore off another piece of jerky, feeling the toughness in my jaw as I chewed, savoring the salt. Food eaten? Check. The taste was a welcome shift from the bland rations I’d been stuck with. It was the little things that kept you sane.

I took a deep breath, letting my senses settle in the dim quiet of the cave. Rested? Check. After the sleep and the wash, my mind felt clearer, my body recharged. It was a rare sensation out here in these hostile lands, and I wanted to make the most of it.

Moving to my pack, I hefted one of the water bottles, the cool weight reassuring in my grip. Each one was filled to the brim. Water bottles, all filled. Check.

I looked out at the mouth of the cave, where shadows stretched and beckoned. The time had come. “Alright, Alexis,” I said to myself, taking a final breath to steady the nerves that began stirring in my chest. “Let’s move out.”

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