Kyren was caught off guard when Runa asked to spar, but he wasn't surprised. Of course, she wanted to test him—he'd be doing the same if the system didn't already feed him information. But what Kyren really wanted was to test his new traits.
"I'm down," he said, summoning his weapons and activating his armor.
Runa smirked. "Let's see if you can even touch me, Kyren."
Kyren barely had time to react before the sword floating over her right shoulder shot toward him in a sharp downward slash. He raised his dagger, deflecting the attack, but the sword barely hesitated, circling him before striking again. Kyren rolled away and activated Soundless Step, blinking forward in a near-silent burst of speed.
The second sword came down like lightning, forcing Kyren to raise Lion's Requiem in a desperate block. Before he could regain his footing, the first blade was already swinging upward toward him. He barely caught it with Eclipsing Fang, his muscles tightening under the force of the clash.
I can't just block forever.
Pouring mana into Lion's Requiem, he sharpened its edge to an extreme degree. With a single downward swing, he cleaved through the blade pressing against it.
But Runa was already moving. The moment her weapon shattered, she surged forward with effortless grace, like she was gliding across the battlefield. Her left hand shot up—her remaining sword flying straight to her palm—and she brought both blades down in a powerful, synchronized slash.
Kyren blocked again, but this time, he wasn't fast enough. The edge of her right-hand blade slipped past his guard, slicing a shallow cut along his arm.
Then, he felt it.
Pressure Forged activated.
Mana surged from his core, flooding every inch of his body like wildfire. His muscles twitched, quivering in anticipation. His heart pounded, faster and stronger than before. Kyren clenched his fists, barely containing the overwhelming rush of energy.
But before he could charge forward, Runa backed off. She clapped her blades together, and they dissolved into strands of grass, vanishing into her palms. She spread her hands, summoning a new weapon—this time, a scythe. The blade sharpened from woven grass, and a vine sprouted from its base, curling around her arm before hardening into a wooden handle.
Kyren didn't wait. He vanished with Soundless Step, closing the distance between them in an instant.
Runa hurled her scythe. It spun past Kyren before snapping back toward her like it was tethered by an invisible thread. She caught it mid-stride, already pulling it toward Kyren's neck.
Kyren ducked, feeling the wind of the blade as it cut just above his head. His body felt stronger, faster—sharper. He tightened his grip and slammed the hilt of his dagger into Runa's stomach, landing the first hit of the match.
Runa barely flinched. Keeping her composure, she snapped a punch toward Kyren's face.
He barely had time to react. Raising his arms to block, he braced himself—only to be sent skidding across the ground from the sheer force of her strike.
Stronger. Faster.
His heart pounded harder, his muscles burning as mana coursed through him. He twisted to the side just as Runa's scythe came spinning back toward him.
Her footwork was flawless, carrying her toward him with perfect control. She caught the scythe in one fluid motion and yanked it toward his throat.
Kyren didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, bringing Lion's Requiem up, the tip of his blade resting just under her chin.
"Good spar," he said, his breath steady despite the rush of adrenaline. "We should call it a draw before someone gets hurt."
Runa held his gaze for a second before nodding. She clasped her hands together, and the scythe unraveled, reshaping itself back into two floating swords.
"That was a good fight," she admitted, rolling her shoulders. "You're a lot quicker than I thought. Almost got me."
She smirked at him, but there was something behind her eyes—acknowledgment, maybe even the slightest bit of respect.
Kyren smirked back before they turned to head toward Baldwin and Lydel, who were still sitting around the grill.
Baldwin let out a heavy sigh. "We probably won't be safe here for much longer. Since they know I escaped with you, the guards will be poking around soon."
"That's what we want," Runa said bluntly.
"When they show up, we hit them," Kyren added. "Bleed them out little by little as they send reinforcements."
Lydel suddenly frowned. "Guys… I don't have my sword."
"If you can get me a blade of grass, I can make you a weapon," Runa offered with a shrug.
Lydel shook his head. "My weapon is special. I need it before we leave."
"I'll take you back around the dungeon to look for it," Kyren reassured him, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
He called out to Liora, and a second later, the little sprite flew down, landing in his hair.
"What's up, Kyren? What do you need?"
"Can you grab me two more blades of grass?" he asked politely.
Liora sighed dramatically but disappeared in a wisp of mana. She returned a few minutes later, dragging two long strands of grass behind her. After dropping them at Runa's feet, she circled her curiously before landing back in Kyren's curls.
As she settled in, she whispered into his mind. I see why you like her, Kyren. I'm glad, really. I don't know what I'd do if my poor baby Lydel wanted her instead.
Kyren's face burned. He glanced up at the top of his head. "Hush. This has nothing to do with that."
Sure it doesn't. Liora giggled. Then why have you been staring at her like that since you met?
Kyren yanked her out of his hair, holding her in his palm. "Do you want to go back to the realm and stay there? Or do you want to fly around with us?"
"I want to stay here!" Liora pouted. "Please don't send me back. Veldthar barely talks, and when he does, it's always about grass."
Kyren sighed. "Fine. Just be quiet."
Runa and Baldwin watched their silent conversation with curiosity, but Lydel—who could hear it all—burst out laughing.
Runa ignored them and reached down, absorbing the two blades of grass into her hands. Clasping them together, she formed two new curved swords. One floated to Lydel, while the other remained at her side.
The moment Lydel grabbed the hilt, his sword stopped floating, while the one on the ground rose into Runa's hand.
"Can you hear the sprite talking, or is she just in your heads?" Runa finally asked.
"Me and Kyren can talk to her," Lydel said plainly.
"What was she saying?"
Lydel grinned. "I can't tell you that. That's for Kyren to explain."
As their conversation died down, Liora flew off to explore the room.
Suddenly, the hatch on the wall rattled—then, BOOM! It exploded open.
Three men in red robes stepped through, one after another.
The first guard sneered. "We know the escapees are still in this village."
The second stepped forward. "Show yourselves, cowards, before we have to force you out."
Kyren exhaled slowly before standing to his full height, turning toward them with an unshaken stare.
"What do you want?" he asked, voice steady. "I'm right here, fools."