Darkness.
Dawsyn wasn't sure how long he had been asleep.
His body begged him not to move.
Every muscle screamed in protest from the previous day's training.
When he finally opened his eyes, the crystal lanterns still illuminated the underground sanctuary with their soft glow. Time seemed meaningless beneath the church.
Across the room, Elias was already awake.
He sat cross-legged beside the underground stream, a steaming cup of tea resting on the stone beside him.
"You overslept."
Dawsyn groaned.
"I didn't think there was morning down here."
"There isn't."
Elias smiled.
"Only discipline."
The old man stood.
"If your enemy attacks while you're tired…"
"…he won't wait for you to wake up."
Dawsyn slowly forced himself to his feet.
His legs nearly gave out.
Elias simply watched.
"Good."
Dawsyn frowned.
"Good?"
"You chose to stand."
"Most people would've stayed on the floor."
The lesson had already begun.
Without another word, Elias tossed him two smooth stones.
Each was no larger than a baseball.
"Hold them."
Dawsyn caught them.
"They're just rocks."
"For now."
The old man walked toward the center of the training hall.
"Today…"
"…you'll learn control."
He pointed toward the far wall.
"Stand."
Dawsyn obeyed.
"Raise your arms."
He did.
"Now don't lower them."
"…For how long?"
Elias picked up his teacup.
"I'll let you know."
An hour passed.
Sweat dripped from Dawsyn's forehead.
His shoulders burned.
His arms trembled violently.
The stones suddenly felt as though they weighed fifty pounds each.
"I…"
"…can't…"
A wooden staff gently tapped his elbow.
"Yes."
"You can."
Another hour.
His breathing became ragged.
His vision blurred.
Several times his arms began to fall.
Each time…
Elias corrected his posture.
Not with anger.
With precision.
"Your body quits before your mind."
"So teach your body…"
"…to listen."
Finally…
The stones slipped from Dawsyn's hands.
They struck the stone floor with a sharp crack.
He collapsed beside them.
"I'm done."
"No."
Elias calmly replied.
"You're resting."
"There is a difference."
Dawsyn laughed weakly.
"I don't think my arms know the difference."
For the first time that day…
Elias smiled.
"They will."
After allowing him only a few minutes to recover, the old man led him to another section of the chamber.
Dozens of wooden poles had been embedded into the floor.
Some stood only inches apart.
Others were spaced several feet away.
"What is this?"
"A conversation."
Dawsyn looked confused.
"With who?"
"Your feet."
Elias stepped effortlessly across the poles.
His movements were smooth.
Graceful.
Every step landed perfectly.
Without a single wasted motion.
"Follow."
Dawsyn stepped onto the first pole.
It wobbled.
The second.
He nearly fell.
The third…
He lost his balance completely.
His foot slipped.
He crashed onto the stone floor.
Elias didn't laugh.
He simply waited.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each attempt lasted slightly longer than the last.
Each failure taught him something.
By sunset…
He had crossed half the course without falling.
The System chimed.
Ping.
Ancient Martial Technique Recognized
Crimson Step
Synchronization Increased
12%
16%
Technique Analysis
Movement becoming instinctive.
Balance significantly improved.
Energy consumption reduced by 9%.
Continue training to unlock the next stage.
A second screen appeared.
Status
Host: Dawsyn
Race: Half Crimson Sovereign
Bloodline Synchronization: 18.9%
Level: 3
Strength: 16
Agility: 22
Vitality: 18
Endurance: 20
Intelligence: 14
Willpower: 23
Blood Essence: 145/500
Passive Traits
• Unbroken Resolve
Ancient Martial Arts
• Crimson Step (Synchronization: 16%)
Dawsyn blinked.
"My agility…"
"It jumped."
Elias looked over.
"What are you staring at?"
"Nothing."
The old man narrowed his eyes.
"That expression again."
"What expression?"
"The one where you're reading invisible words."
Dawsyn froze.
"You… can tell?"
"I can tell you're seeing something."
Elias slowly walked closer.
"You've done it several times now."
"After training."
"After fighting."
"And just now."
Dawsyn looked away.
"I…"
He wanted to explain.
But how?
Would Elias think he had gone insane?
After a long silence, Elias simply nodded.
"You don't have to tell me."
"Not yet."
"When you're ready…"
"…you will."
The words caught Dawsyn off guard.
There was no pressure.
No demand.
Just trust.
For reasons he couldn't explain…
That trust felt heavier than any lesson.
Elias walked toward the underground stream and filled two cups with cool water.
He handed one to Dawsyn.
"You've improved."
Dawsyn smiled.
"That's the first compliment you've given me."
"No."
"It was an observation."
"There is a difference."
Dawsyn laughed.
"I should've known."
The old man took a sip before speaking again.
"Tomorrow…"
"We stop teaching your feet."
Dawsyn raised an eyebrow.
"What are you teaching instead?"
Elias' golden eyes met his.
"Your instincts."
The smile disappeared from Dawsyn's face.
He wasn't sure why…
But the way Elias said those words sent a chill through the sanctuary.
The old man calmly set his cup aside.
"Because instincts…"
"…cannot lie."