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 sat across from them, his tea cooling in his hands. His muscular arms made the cup seem small, almost delicate. He stared into it, brow furrowed, mouth set. The silence stretched longer than usual—Von rarely lingered over breakfast like this.
Mari glanced at him, concern flickering across her face. "Is something wrong?"
Von looked up, as if pulled from distant thoughts. "No, just... thinking."
He took a slow sip of tea, then set the cup down carefully. His gaze moved to Landre first.
"How has the church work been, Lan?" he asked, his tone casual but deliberate. "Everything alright? Any trouble?"
Landre blinked, surprised by the question. "I... yes," she said hesitantly. "The church has been welcoming. Father Oswin is kind, and the acolytes were helpful introducing the work." She paused, fingers tightening around her spoon. "It's been good."
Von nodded slowly, absorbing her words without comment.
His attention shifted to Mari next. "And you?" he asked, voice softening slightly. "How has Elnor been treating you?"
Mari tilted her head, studying him. "Well enough," she answered carefully. "The people here are busy with their own lives, but they're not unkind." She paused. "There's been some dissidence in the fields, but it's just small things. Happens every day. Nothing to worry about."
Von didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned to Vel.
"What about you, Vel?" There was weight behind the question, though his tone remained even. "Made any friends? Learn anything new?"
Vel swallowed, sensing something unspoken in his father's gaze. Why is he asking this now?
"The kids here are pretty playful," Vel said. "I've made a few friends. There are a lot of things to learn here."
Von's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. He looked away, staring out toward the edge of the camp where other refugees were beginning to stir.
The silence returned, heavier now.
Finally, Von exhaled and stood, brushing off his tunic. "I have a meeting with Lady Halen today," he said, his voice flat. "Graham will be there too."
Mari frowned slightly. "What's it about?"
Von picked up his sword belt from where it hung nearby. "Not sure yet." He buckled it, the leather sliding through the brass with familiar efficiency, then glanced back at them. "I'll let you know when I return."
As he walked away, Vel watched his father's retreating form disappear between the tents.
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the half-eaten breakfast forgotten.
Vel turned to his mother. "Father seemed tense. Has something happened while he's been working here?"
Mari's gaze lingered where Von had disappeared. "Maybe he just didn't get enough rest," she said quietly. "There's been a lot of problems with the refugees lately. More than usual. It probably gave him more trouble than he's letting on."
Landre said nothing. She just nodded along, her fingers still gripping her spoon. Something was weighing on Von—something he wasn't ready to share.
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. Roen the baker, who always tossed him fresh rolls with a grin. Little Lili with her bright eyes and enthusiastic wave.
Gone. Both of them.
A burning building wasn't just a prop in the background anymore; it was a family lost, history destroyed. A child dead in the rubble was now a girl who'd smiled at him just days before.
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 to each other. 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 usual playground. The sight lightened his mood a bit—a welcome distraction from dwelling on what happened to Oakhaven.
It's time to put what I learned into practice.
Kein's wooden sword cracked against Celia's ribs with a solid thwack. She stumbled back, resetting her stance without a word. Her tight expression told him this wasn't the first time she'd lost today.
They both turned as Vel stepped closer.
"About time you showed up," Kein said, lowering his practice sword.
"Mind if I join a few rounds?" Vel asked.
Kein's grin widened. "Alright then. Let's see what you've learned."
Vel grabbed a spare wooden sword from the ground and tested its weight. Celia retreated to the sideline, arms crossed as she watched.
They stood apart, facing each other across the packed dirt.
Kein lunged, his wooden sword aimed at Vel's midsection.
Vel deflected on instinct, but his movements were stiff, not fast enough. His balance went with the parry, weight shifting awkwardly to one side.
Kein noticed. He pressed forward immediately, sword already cutting toward Vel's exposed shoulder.
Vel backpedaled, raising his blade to block. Wood cracked against wood—again, then again. There wasn't enough time to think about what to do next. His body just reacted to Kein's strikes, blow after blow, each one driving him further back.
Before Vel realized it, his heel touched the boundary stone. He was outside the ring.
"Not bad," Kein said, lowering his sword. "But you're too stiff. You need to work on footwork—know where to step next, not just react to where I push you."
Vel stood there, breathing harder than he should be after such a short exchange. His arms already ached.
"Again," Vel said, tightening his grip.
They returned to their positions.
This time Vel took the initiative—but so did Kein. Their wooden swords clashed mid-strike, the impact jarring through both their arms. Vel had already planned his next move before the round started. His blade swung toward Kein's left side before the other boy could reset.
Kein blocked, but barely. Vel pressed forward, forcing another exchange, then another. For a few heartbeats, Kein was the one backpedaling.
"Come on, Vel!" Celia called from the sideline.
Kein's expression hardened slightly at the sound. He caught Vel's next strike and shoved back with unexpected force, knocking Vel's sword wide.
Vel's mind raced. Step back and reset? Or sidestep for a counter?
Before he finished the thought, Kein's blade cracked against his wrist.
"Ow—"
Kein stepped back, that smug grin returning. "You're thinking too much. Let instinct guide you, not your head."
Vel rubbed his wrist with a wry smile, considering the words. Instinct, huh? Easier said than done.
"Let me try again," Celia cut through his thoughts.
Kein turned toward her, but Celia stepped closer to Vel first. "What do you think?" she asked quietly.
Vel glanced between her and Kein. "His style is all about dominance—aggressive, giving you no space to think." He gestured with his practice sword. "You can't match his strength, especially not head-on. You need to control each attack, not just stop them. Find a way around after he commits." He paused, then added with a small laugh, "And stay calm. Which is something I clearly failed at."
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 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?"
How...? Vel repeated the question in his mind.
Sword fighting—any weapon really—was the most reliable path forward. But what if it took too much time to train to become even relatively competent? Years, maybe. Years he didn't know if he had.
Was there a way to shorten it? Maybe if he could think faster while fighting with a sword...
A spell from his design came to mind. Mind Acceleration—a high-tier magic that enhanced the speed of thought, compressing seconds into moments. Mages used it to reduce casting time, but what if he applied it to combat? Analyzing and reacting before strikes even landed.
The problem: it was a high-tier spell. He doubted any regular person could teach him that. Even rarer to find someone who dedicated time to both sword and magic. The people here likely just picked one over the other. They didn't have the growth potential players had back when this was a game.
But then it all circled back to one thing: magic.
"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 post.
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 need a place to live or someone to 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. "Unlike kids from noble families who can just focus on learning without worrying about any of that stuff."
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 post, 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.