The morning sun spilled across the refugee camp, its warmth failing to chase away the lingering chill. Vel sat cross-legged outside their tent, absently stirring his porridge, the quiet tension in their circle more suffocating than the shared space they lived in.
Von took a slow sip of tea before speaking. "Lady Halen wants another meeting. Graham will be there too."
Mari set her cup down with a soft clink. "What do you think it's about?"
Von exhaled. "We've been here longer than expected. People are starting to talk."
Vel frowned. "What do you mean?"
Von's gaze stayed distant. "We're refugees, Vel. And not everyone in Elnor is happy about that."
Landre's fingers tightened around her spoon. "But we haven't done anything wrong."
"That doesn't matter." Von's voice was even, but there was an edge to it. "To some, we're just taking up space—resources, jobs, homes."
Mari placed a gentle hand on Landre's shoulder. "Let's not jump to conclusions. Lady Halen and Graham have been kind to us."
Von nodded but didn't look convinced. "Kindness has limits."
Vel's fingers curled around his bowl. It made sense—of course it did. The Wulfangs were gone, but so was Oakhaven. Elnor had been a refuge, but it was never meant to be their home.
Von set his cup aside. "I want to hear what you all think. If the time comes—if we have to decide—do we stay in Elnor or try to rebuild Oakhaven?"
The question hung in the air.
Landre hesitated. "I don't know," she admitted. "Oakhaven… it won't be the same. But staying here feels wrong, too."
Mari folded her hands in her lap. "We need more information. If Oakhaven is even safe… if we have the means to return."
Vel swallowed. "I think… I'd like to stay here."
Landre looked at him, surprised.
"There's so much more I can learn in Elnor," Vel continued. "And maybe staying will help us figure out what comes next."
Von studied him for a moment, then nodded. "There's another option," he said, shifting slightly. "Lady Halen has offered her support. If I work for her as part of Elnor's guard, she'll help us settle here permanently."
A house. A real home. Vel sat up straighter.
Mari tilted her head. "And she means it?"
Von nodded. "She and Graham both see value in us staying. But it would mean letting go of Oakhaven."
Vel stole a glance at Landre. Her lips pressed together, her gaze locked on the worn edges of her shawl. Letting go. The words felt heavier than they should.
Von looked at each of them. "As your father, as the one who's supposed to protect this family… I think staying is what's best for us."
The silence stretched.
Finally, Mari exhaled, offering a small nod. "Then we stay."
Landre hesitated, then sighed, nodding as well.
Vel didn't speak, but the knot in his chest loosened—just a little.
Von straightened. "I'll speak with Lady Halen today." He stood, dusting off his tunic. "I'll call everyone when it's settled."
As he walked away, Vel watched his father's retreating form, feeling the weight of their decision settle over him.
Vel stared at his empty bowl, the morning's conversation echoing in his mind. Around him, the refugee camp stirred with life—mothers adjusting clothes, men stoking dying fires, whispered conversations floating on the breeze.
His chest tightened as faces flashed through his memory. Old Willem, who always saved the best apples for the children. Little Sara, full of endless questions. The baker's wife, sneaking him extra bread when no one was looking.
Gone. All of them. Gone.
A burning building wasn't just a prop in the background anymore; it was a family lost, history destroyed. A random NPC dead in the background was now a mother of a young girl.
In his old world, he would have shrugged and said this was the cost of conflict, a foundation to keep stories moving. But no, in this world right now, every mistake was final. That moment when Mari almost lost her life to the Wulfang still haunted him—it could have been her.
Vel exhaled, steadying himself. From here on out, if he hesitated, if he faltered, more would be lost. He had to be ready—not just to survive but to move forward.
They don't know, they didn't understand how fragile life had become.
But he did.
He glanced toward Landre and Mari by their tent, whispering softly while Von strode away with purpose. Each moment felt weighted with choices yet to come.
I can't just sit here, Vel stood up and brushed off his knees
Whatever comes next, I cannot let myself be caught unprepared.
Vel quickened his pace as he spotted Celia and Kein sparring in the central clearing.
Celia crouched low, her wooden sword gripped tightly as she lunged forward. Kein sidestepped effortlessly, tapping her shoulder with a light thwack.
"You call that a strike?" Kein teased, twirling his sword. "C'mon, Celia!"
Celia huffed, adjusting her stance. Her dark hair whipped as she swung again, this time landing a glancing blow against Kein's ribs.
"Better," Kein admitted, though he laughed it off with a dramatic wince. "Still too slow."
Vel arrived just in time to see Celia puff up in frustration, only for her expression to brighten when she spotted him.
"Vel! You're here!"
Kein turned, his grin faltering just a little. "Took you long enough," he muttered, twirling his practice sword. "Ready to show me what you've got this time?"
Vel picked up a spare wooden sword, its weight awkward in his hands. He wasn't a warrior. Von's lessons had given him basic fundamentals, but combat had always been something he watched, designed—never fought in himself.
Still, he wouldn't back down.
"I'll join if you don't mind," Vel said, testing his grip.
Celia nodded excitedly while Kein shrugged, though his fingers subtly tightened on his sword handle.
"Alright then," Kein smirked, falling into a ready stance, eyes gleaming. "Let's see what you've learned."
Kein lunged first, a swift horizontal strike aimed at Vel's midsection. Vel twisted just in time to deflect it with the flat of his blade, the impact reverberating through his arms. He stepped back instinctively, creating distance as Kein pressed forward with a quick follow-up.
"Not bad," Kein taunted between swings. "But you're too stiff—relax your shoulders!"
Vel grit his teeth but kept silent, focusing instead on predicting Kein's rhythm. He parried another strike and took a tentative step forward, swinging low toward Kein's legs. The golden-haired boy sidestepped easily, countering with an upward slash that nearly clipped Vel's shoulder.
Celia watched from the sidelines with wide eyes, gripping her own practice sword tightly. "You can do it, Vel!" she called out encouragingly.
Vel felt a surge of determination and shifted tactics. Instead of matching Kein's pace directly, he began feinting subtle movements—testing for openings or patterns in Kein's attacks. For a few exchanges, it worked; he managed to block or redirect most strikes while landing one or two glancing blows himself.
But Kein wasn't an amateur either. Noticing Vel's strategy quickly, he changed his approach—his strikes became faster and more erratic, leaving little room for analysis. A sharp jab caught Vel off guard, striking his forearm lightly but firmly enough to make him wince and lose footing.
"See? You overthink too much," Kein said smugly before pressing the advantage further.
The barrage of strikes forced Vel onto defense, each blow light but unrelenting.
He stumbled backward, his grip weakening as he parried Kein's attack. His arms burned, his struck forearm throbbing in time with his racing pulse and ragged breaths.
"Hey!" Celia's voice cut through his thoughts. "I want another turn!"
Kein lowered his sword, raising an eyebrow. "Already? Thought you'd need time to recover from your last loss."
Celia ignored the jab and turned to Vel instead. "You saw how he fights. What should I do differently?"
Vel blinked, rubbing his sore arm. He glanced at Kein—aggressive, fast, pressing every advantage.
"You won't win by matching him blow for blow," Vel said, nodding toward her lighter sword. "But you're quicker than he is."
Celia frowned. "So... what? Just dodge forever?"
Vel shook his head. "No—make him chase you. Make him overcommit."
Kein crossed his arms, amused but intrigued, as Celia adjusted her stance.
"Ready?" Kein asked after a moment, clearly amused but intrigued by the change in approach.
Celia's stance shifted subtly, her feet light on the packed dirt as she balanced her weight. Her dark eyes fixed on Kein, and for the first time that morning, there was no hesitation in her movements.
Kein grinned, clearly enjoying the challenge. "Alright then. Let's see if this new style of yours can keep up."
He lunged forward, his strikes sharp and deliberate. But this time, Celia didn't meet him head-on. She danced out of reach, sidestepping his swing with a fluidity that left Kein overextended for just a fraction of a second. In that moment, her wooden sword lashed out and tapped against his ribs with a satisfying thwack.
Kein froze.
"What—?"
Kein growled in frustration but couldn't suppress a small laugh. "Alright, I see what you're doing!" he called out as he tried to adjust his attacks to compensate for her speed.
But Celia was relentless now. Every step she took seemed calculated to force Kein into chasing after her while leaving himself open in the process. Her strikes weren't heavy or overpowering—they didn't need to be. Each one landed with precision, scoring point after point as Kein struggled to keep up.
Finally, with one last feint that sent Kein stumbling forward off-balance, Celia darted around him and delivered a clean strike to his back.
Kein froze mid-motion before letting out an exaggerated groan of defeat. "Alright! Alright! You win!"
Celia blinked, panting slightly—then grinned in triumph. She turned to Vel, eyes shining.
"It worked!"
Vel walked over, sword on shoulder, and nodded approvingly. "That was impressive," he said with admiration. "This style suits you. Elegant and precise. Honestly, it's attractive to watch."
Celia halted, her smile giving way to a startled stare. Pink tinged her cheeks and ears as she looked down at her practice sword, gripping it tightly.
"A-attractive?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Vel, puzzled by her reaction, shrugged it off with a light laugh. He gestured toward Kein. "See? Even Kein couldn't keep up."
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered with an exaggerated shrug. "You got me this time." His tone carried an edge of playfulness, but Vel caught the faint tightness in Kein's expression—the way his grip on the practice sword subtly tightened before he tossed it aside with feigned nonchalance.
Celia peeked up from beneath her bangs, still visibly flustered but managed a small nod in response. "Thanks... both of you."
Kein rolled his shoulders casually and jabbed a thumb toward Vel with an easy smirk that felt just a bit forced. "Don't get used to it though," he said lightly. "Next time we spar, I'm not holding back!"
Vel chuckled softly but said nothing more, letting Celia bask in the moment of victory without interruption.
Vel eyed the wooden sword, its rough surface warm from the sun. His arms ached from deflecting Kein's relentless attacks, and frustration lingered like a dull throb. He exhaled, glancing at Celia as she wiped sweat from her brow, still basking in her triumph.
"You know," Vel began, turning the sword over in his hands thoughtfully, "maybe sword fighting isn't really my thing."
Celia and Kein both looked at him, startled by the sudden declaration. Celia blinked, tilting her head slightly in confusion. "What do you mean? You were doing fine earlier."
Kein smirked faintly but stayed quiet this time, watching Vel curiously as he continued.
"It's not that I'm giving up," Vel clarified quickly, meeting their gazes one by one. His voice carried a quiet conviction beneath its calm tone. "I just think... I need to find my own way to fight. Like you did today, Celia."
Celia's eyes widened before dropping to her practice sword in understanding.
"Your own way..." she murmured thoughtfully.
Vel nodded, lowering the wooden blade to his side. "Watching you out there—it wasn't about being stronger or faster than Kein. You fought smart. And that worked for you because it fits who you are."
Kein raised an eyebrow but said nothing, leaning against a nearby post with his arms crossed as if waiting for Vel to elaborate further.
Vel tapped the tip of his wooden sword against the ground lightly. "I guess what I'm trying to say is... I need to figure out what works for me too. It doesn't have to be just swords—or at least not in the same way other people use them."
Celia tilted her head again but offered a small smile of encouragement after a moment. "That makes sense... But how are you going to figure that out?"
Vel recalled a spell in Aeonalus called Mind Acceleration. Its flavor text read:
[A spell that enhances the speed of thought, compressing seconds into moments]
Mages used it to reduce their casting time, but maybe he could apply it to combat - analyzing and reacting before strikes landed. Of course, as a high-tier spell, regular fighters couldn't access it.
Vel tapped the tip of his practice sword against the dirt, his mind restless. Strategy, strength, technique—it all led to one thing he couldn't ignore: magic.
But it lingered, tantalizing yet frustratingly out of reach. No spirits attuned to him. No real grasp of how it worked. Only theories and what little he'd pieced together from Bestiel's explanations.
"Hey, Celia," he began, his voice cutting through the afternoon quiet. He shifted his weight, looking at her thoughtfully. "I heard about the Academy. They help with attunement tests and teach magic there. Have you ever thought about going?"
Celia's dark eyes widened slightly before she glanced down, fidgeting with her practice sword. "Of course," she said after a pause, her voice softer than usual. "Most kids dream about it at some point. It's not just magic they teach there—they have all kinds of training. Swordsmanship too."
Vel tilted his head slightly, considering her words. That made sense. In a peaceful world like his old one, education focused on knowledge and personal growth—things like literature or science. But here in Aeonalus? A land rife with conflict from monsters and war alike? Naturally, their education system would emphasize survival—training the next generation to fight and defend themselves.
"So that means Kein wants to go too?" Vel asked as he glanced toward Kein, who had wandered off to lean against a nearby tree.
Celia gave a small nod but didn't elaborate immediately. Vel noticed her expression shift subtly—hope mingling with something more hesitant.
"What are the requirements?" Vel pressed further.
Celia blinked before straightening slightly as though reciting something she'd memorized long ago. "You need to be at least sixteen years old and pass the entrance test." She paused briefly before continuing in a quieter tone. "But it's not just about passing."
Vel frowned faintly in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Celia bit her lip, hesitating before answering fully this time. "The Academy is in Lona city—the capital," she explained carefully, as though weighing each word. "It's... complicated for people like us. You'd have to live in the dorms or know someone there who can help you settle in."
Her grip tightened on her wooden sword as she added reluctantly, "And then there's the expense." She looked away slightly, her voice tinged with resignation now. "Kids from noble families don't have to worry about any of that stuff—they can just focus on learning."
Vel nodded slowly as he processed what she'd said, comparing it unconsciously to university systems back in his old world: entrance exams, dorm life, financial burdens—all familiar concepts but warped by the realities of this world.
Almost like college...
Vel grinned as an amusing thought bubbled up unbidden. He tapped the wooden sword against his palm, his eyes crinkling with laughter.
"Hey, what if we all just lived together?"
Celia's head snapped up so fast her bangs fluttered out of place. "W-What?!"
Kein, who had been half-tuned out, choked on a laugh. "Wait, you're serious? You think that'd work?"
Vel blinked. "What? It's practical, isn't it? Splitting rent and food would be easier for all of us. And we're friends, so—"
Celia clutched her sword against her chest, her face turning an alarming shade of red. "It's just—well—I'm a girl!"
Vel's brain stuttered. Oh...
His face burned instantly as realization slammed into him like a charging Wulfang.
"Ah! Wait! No—that's not what I meant!" His words tumbled out in a panicked rush. "I wasn't thinking about—uh—you know!"
Kein snorted, barely restraining his laughter. "Oh, this is gold."
Vel groaned, rubbing his neck. "I just got caught up in the idea—cost-sharing, not—" He waved his hands frantically, as if that would erase the awkwardness.
Celia exhaled softly but still looked unsure—her grip on her practice sword relaxing slightly yet not fully letting go of whatever concern lingered in her mind.
"I... I didn't mean to suggest anything improper," Vel stammered out, his voice barely above a whisper. He risked a glance at Celia, hoping she could see the sincerity in his eyes. "I just thought... well, it sounds like a good plan if we're all going to be in Lona anyway."
Celia nodded slowly, her grip on the practice sword finally relaxing. "I understand, Vel," she said, her voice steady despite the lingering blush on her face. "It's just... it's not every day someone suggests we live together. It took me by surprise, that's all."
Kein pushed off from the tree, his laughter subsiding as he approached them. "Smooth, genius.", He said, punching Vel lightly on the arm. "But he's got a point, Celia. If we're all heading to the Academy, it makes sense to stick together."
Vel shot him a glare, but his mind was already moving past the embarrassment.
"Okay," Vel said, shaking off the last of his flustered nerves. "So maybe a shared house is unrealistic. But we'll figure something out."
Celia glanced at him, still pink around the ears but visibly calmer. "There are boarding houses in Lona," she admitted. "They cater to students from out of town. We could look into those when the time comes."
Vel nodded, grateful for her quick thinking. "That sounds like a good start. And in the meantime…"
He turned his practice sword in his hand, feeling the weight of it settle. "We focus on preparing. Training. Saving up. Whatever it takes to make it happen."
The three of them stood quietly, each lost in their own thoughts.
Vel knew they had a long road ahead—filled with challenges they couldn't begin to imagine. But as long as they faced those challenges together, he was confident they could overcome anything.
"Let's make sure we pass those tests," he said, raising his sword with renewed determination. "And when the time comes—we'll take Lona by storm."
Celia's expression hardened into resolve as she lifted her own sword. "Together."
Kein rolled his shoulders and smirked. "Together," he echoed.
The clack of wood meeting wood filled the air as they resumed their training, each strike another step toward their future.