Rain took a deep breath as he made his way through the forest, his mind still tired from yesterday’s training. The morning air was crisp, the blue leaves of the trees swaying gently as he moved toward the clearing where Diego was waiting. His sparring partner was already there, standing with arms crossed, his sword resting at his hip.

  "You’re te," Diego remarked, unsheathing his bde—only to toss it to the ground. Instead, he gripped the sheath firmly, a smirk tugging at his lips.

  Rain exhaled sharply, loosening his shoulders. "Didn’t know we were in a rush," he replied, drawing his own sword.

  Diego didn’t waste time. He lunged forward, faster than Rain could properly react, and swung the sheathed sword with one hand. Rain barely managed to block, his arms rattling from the impact. Even without the bde, Diego's sheer strength was overwhelming.

  "You’re still too stiff," Diego remarked, effortlessly shifting into another strike. "Essence isn’t just about power—it’s about flow. You need to move with it, not just force it."

  Rain sighed and replied, "I know, I know."

  Rain gritted his teeth, channeling essence into his feet for a burst of speed. He sidestepped, then pivoted to counterattack. But Diego was already there, blocking his strike with ease.

  "Better," Diego admitted, before swiftly closing the distance and delivering a heavy blow with his sheath to Rain’s ribs. The impact sent him stumbling back, gasping for air.

  Rain steadied himself, wiping sweat from his brow. "You know, for someone giving advice, you sure like hitting me a lot."

  Diego smirked. "Best way to learn."

  The spar continued, Rain adjusting his movements, testing out different ways to apply essence as he fought. But no matter how much he improved, Diego always had the upper hand.

  After a particurly intense exchange where Rain narrowly avoided a knockout blow, Diego finally stepped back, lowering his sheath.

  "That’s enough for now," he said. "You’re improving, but you need more than just raw effort. Experience and focus—that’s what’s gonna push you forward."

  Rain exhaled, rolling his sore shoulders. "Guess I’ll just have to keep getting beaten up then."

  Diego chuckled. "That’s the spirit."

  ———

  After a short break, Rain followed Emily toward another training spot, his body still aching but his mind focused. Unlike sparring with Diego, training with Emily was a different kind of challenge.

  "Alright," Emily said, stretching her arms. "Now, let’s pick up where we left off yesterday. Show me your control over essence."

  Rain nodded, raising his palm and focusing. This time, instead of forcing it out, he guided it—like moving a limb he had always possessed but never fully used. A small sphere of water formed in his hand, hovering gently.

  Emily grinned. "Nice. Looks like you’re getting the hang of it."

  Rain looked at the floating water, a sense of excitement bubbling within him. Magic still felt strange, but also… natural.

  "Now, let it flow freely," Emily instructed.

  Rain rexed his grip over the essence, allowing the water to drift slightly before coiling for a bit then losing its shape and spshing onto his palm.

  Emily nodded. "Good. Control isn’t just about making something happen—it’s about maintaining it, shaping it as you want."

  Rain furrowed his brows, trying again. This time, he not only formed the water but also shaped it into a thin stream that coiled slightly before dispersing.

  Emily cpped her hands. "See? Progress."

  Rain let out a small ugh. "Who knew my first magic would be water? I always thought I’d be something more… Explosive."

  Emily smirked. "Well, it suits you. Fluid, adaptable… and still learning."

  Rain rolled his eyes but smiled. "Alright, what’s next?"

  The lesson continued, Emily guiding him through different techniques to maintain and direct the flow of essence. By the end, Rain was exhausted but satisfied. He was starting to understand magic—not just as a tool, but as an extension of himself.

  ———

  Rain y ft on the ground, his body heavy with exhaustion. His breath steadied as the lingering warmth of exertion faded, repced by a cool stillness. He closed his eyes, letting the weight of his fatigue pull him under. Within moments, his consciousness slipped away, plunging him into darkness.

  When sensation returned, Rain felt the chill of water pping against his skin. It covered his entire body except for his face, which remained exposed to the air. The water wasn’t deep—just enough to submerge him while allowing him to breathe. His fingers twitched, stirring the liquid, sending ripples outward. A deep, echoing stillness surrounded him, broken only by the soft movement of water.

  Rain slowly opened his eyes. The sky above him stretched endlessly, illuminated by countless blue stars. A massive blue moon hung above, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the tranquil waters surrounding him. He recognized this pce immediately—his inner realm.

  Rain stood up, his movement sending ripples across the luminescent water. The surface shimmered, reflecting the vast blue moon above like a mirror cracked by his presence. He took a deep breath, the cool air of his inner realm filling his lungs.

  A wisp circled around him pyfully, its soft glow casting faint shadows across the water’s surface. Then, in that familiar youthful voice, it spoke.

  “You’re back again,” it said, almost teasingly. “Did you miss me?”

  Rain replied "Cut the charades I'm here to figure out how to raise my Focus level."

  The wisp let out a small chuckle, its light pulsing with amusement. “Straight to the point, huh? Fine.”

  It floated in front of Rain, spinning slowly. “Focus is gained through meditation—true meditation. Not just sitting around with your eyes closed but diving deep into yourself, into your spirit, in your soul.”

  Rain crossed his arms. “I already meditate.”

  The wisp flickered. “Then tell me—do you actually listen and make use of your essence? Or do you just sit there, hoping for results?”

  The wisp pulsed gently, sighing before he expined further.

  "Well, if you've been meditating then you've been doing it wrong, Rain. Meditation isn’t just about sitting still and hoping to get stronger. You need to cleanse your soul—purify and refine it with the very essence in this domain, the essence that belongs to you."

  Rain raised a brow. "Cleanse my soul? That sounds… vague."

  The wisp swirled around him. "Not at all. It’s pretty direct." It paused before continuing, "The essence in your domain isn’t just power—it’s a reflection of you. The stronger and purer it becomes, the stronger and clearer your spirit will be."

  Rain frowned, gncing at the glowing water beneath him. "So, what do I do?"

  The wisp let out a light ugh. "Not quite. You need to meditate while guiding the essence through you—not as a force to be controlled, but as something that flows naturally. Let it wash over every part of your being. Strip away the noise, the hesitation, the impurities clouding your spirit. Only then will your Focus grow."

  Rain exhaled, his mind racing. This wasn’t just about gathering energy—it was about refining himself. He clenched his fists. Cleansing my soul… training my spirit…

  He closed his eyes, ready to begin.

  The waves of the shallow ocean stirred gently, yet Rain could feel it—the essence within him flowing, threading through his being and sinking deep into his soul. A warmth bloomed in his chest, steady and comforting, like a distant ember reigniting.

  Rain remained immersed in the flow of essence for an hour, his mind growing clearer with each passing moment. Just as he felt himself sinking deeper into the meditation, his inner self suddenly spoke up.

  "Uh oh, you're waking up."

  Rain opened his eyes and watched as his inner realm began to crack, deep voids forming within the fractures. The once-stable world trembled around him.

  He turned to his inner self and asked, "How much Focus did I gain?"

  The wisp pulsed before answering, "7 out of 50."

  Rain let out a small breath. "I see."

  Before he could say anything else, the cracks spread rapidly, and his inner realm shattered completely, swallowing him in darkness. His consciousness in the inner realm pulled away.

  Rain woke up from a short nap, the rigorous training he went through had exhausted his mind. Rain slowly opened his eyes. The foggy sky had darkened, the faint rays of light that once pierced through now completely gone—it was evening.

  Rain stood up, stretching his limbs before making his way to the spring, where a warm glow flickered in the distance. The light came from the campfire, and around it, the entire group was gathered.

  He weaved through the group, the flickering fire casting shifting shadows across their faces.

  Grayson was the first to notice him and smirked. "Well, if it isn't our chosen champion, finally awake."

  Rain sat down on a sizable rock, stretching his arms with a yawn. "Feels like I barely slept," he muttered.

  Diego gnced at him before saying, "Well, now that everyone's here, we'll be discussing our pns for tomorrow."

  Diego added, "This will be our st day in the Forest of Vitality."

  Everyone was surprised as this forest was a haven compared to the rest of the Forsakened Vale. Why would they leave so fast?

  Diego acknowledged their reactions and expined, "By tomorrow morning, the Spring of Vitality will dry up as it can only st for three days, tomorrow will be the third and this pce will revert back to the green forests of the Forsakened Vale. The safety we've had here will stop existing."

  The group wore somber expressions. Though their time in the forest had been brief, it had given them the rest they desperately needed and the safety they had long sought.

  Diego continued, "We'll wake up early and drink as much spring water as we need. We can't take any with us—it'll dry up even if we try storing it in a bottle."

  "We'll move out by then, just like we always have," Diego added.

  The ughter faded, and a silence settled over the group as the weight of Diego’s words sank in.

  The elderly man from Bryan's group exhaled sharply. "Can’t say I’m looking forward to stepping out there again. This pce... it almost makes you forget how bad it is out there."

  Another nodded. "Yeah. For the first time in a long time, I actually slept without jolting awake at every little sound."

  Emily crossed her arms. "That’s exactly why we have to be careful. This pce spoiled us. The Forsakened Vale won’t be as forgiving."

  A man from the group, his voice low and weary, muttered, "Do you really think we can st much longer? I bet we have another week at max before our supplies dry out."

  Grayson leaned forward, his expression unusually serious. "We’ll st longer than that. We’ve already made it this far." He turned to Diego. "So what’s the pn? Same formation as before?"

  Diego nodded. "Yes, but we’ll adjust depending on what we encounter. Our priority is avoiding fights when possible. We can’t afford unnecessary losses."

  Rain, who had been listening intently, finally spoke. "And if we do have to fight?"

  Diego met his gaze. "Then we fight smart. Quick and decisive. No heroics."

  A tense silence followed before one of the younger members chuckled dryly. "Well, at least we’ll be well-rested when we run for our lives again."

  Another snorted. "Yeah, until we’re starving, dehydrated, and half-dead again. Can’t wait."

  Emily smirked. "Better get used to it. This little vacation is over."

  Despite the lighthearted quips, a heavy tension lingered. They all knew what awaited them beyond the safety of this fleeting paradise.