Auren held the blue sword with both hands. His chest rose and fell, his breath hot, but his eyes burned with determination. The desperation in his smile was not weakness—it was resolve.
"I am ready, Master. Mister Lyrax…" he raised the sword toward him, voice trembling with eagerness. "I will challenge you. If you dare, fight me. And teach me."
Lyrax tilted his head back and laughed, a sharp sound echoing across the Hollow Mountain. "Hahaha! Where did that come from, huh?"
But Auren's lips curled into a smirk. "I am no longer the old Auren. I am Hunter Mage Auren Ryuki. From today onward, I will only grow stronger… stronger than anyone. So come down!"
Lyrax's expression shifted—amused yet intrigued. With a single step, he leapt from the high balcony. His robes flared as he descended, cloth and hair carried by the rushing wind. The air bent to his presence. Slowly, gracefully, he landed before Auren, his aura heavy, pressing against the boy's chest.
