The Silver Dawn

The initiates gathered in a wide circle, whispering among themselves.

Ariel and Arthur stood at the center, blades raised, their bodies still but charged with energy.

Arthur's usual smirk was present, but there was an edge to his stance.

The past month had been brutal.

Ariel had trained until his muscles screamed, until exhaustion blurred his vision. But it had been worth it. He had mastered the Lightbound foundation style.

But now, standing across from Arthur, he knew—mastering it wasn't enough.

Because Arthur was a monster in battle.

And today, Ariel had to prove that he could stand against him.

The knight instructor raised a hand. "Begin."

Arthur vanished.

Ariel barely had time to react before a gust of wind exploded toward him—Arthur closing the distance in a blink.

Ariel lifted his sword to block—

Clang!

Arthur's strike came fast and heavy, but Ariel's blade caught it just in time. The force rattled his arms, but he planted his feet, absorbing the impact instead of resisting it.

Arthur grinned. "Good."

Then he attacked again.

A flurry of strikes, thrusts, feints—each one flowing seamlessly into the next.

Ariel met them head-on, parrying, dodging, countering. His movements were no longer rigid or forced. He let his body move with the battle, not against it.

Balance through adaptation.

Arthur's blade came from his left—Ariel redirected it, twisting his body to turn the momentum into a counter-slash.

Arthur ducked.

Ariel pivoted, swinging again.

Arthur caught the strike mid-motion, locking their blades together.

Their gazes met.

Arthur smirked. "Not bad."

Then, with blinding speed, he swept Ariel's leg out from under him.

Ariel's back hit the ground.

Arthur's blade pressed against his chest.

Ariel stared up at him, breathing hard.

The fight was over.

Arthur withdrew his sword and held out a hand.

Ariel hesitated, then gripped it, letting Arthur pull him to his feet.

"That was different," Arthur said, brushing the dust off his tunic. "You weren't just reacting. You were thinking."

Ariel exhaled. "And yet, I still lost."

Arthur grinned. "That's because you're fighting me. The most talented warrior in the continent."

Ariel rolled his eyes.

Summer crossed her arms. "Please don't let his ego get any bigger."

Arthur winked. "Impossible."

Summer ignored him and turned to Ariel, her tone shifting to something genuinely impressed.

"Ariel, what you did was incredible. It took us three months to master the foundation style. You did it in one—with no prior training."

Ariel frowned slightly. He hadn't thought about it like that.

Arthur nodded. "She's right. You're catching up fast."

Ariel exhaled, tension leaving his body. He hadn't won, but that wasn't the point.

He was growing.

And that mattered more than anything.

The Bonds That Strengthen in Peace

After training, the four of them made their way to the mess hall, their bodies aching but their spirits light.

The hall was buzzing with energy as initiates crowded the long tables, engaged in conversation or shoveling food into their mouths like starved wolves.

Ariel took a seat beside Arthur, Summer and Alaric sitting across from them.

The food was simple but satisfying—freshly baked bread, seasoned meat, and a stew that was far better than it looked.

Arthur stretched, cracking his neck. "That was fun."

Summer shot him a deadpan look. "You have a twisted idea of fun."

Arthur grinned. "It's not my fault you all make such dramatic faces when you're getting beaten."

Ariel snorted. "I don't make faces."

Arthur smirked. "You do."

Alaric, who had been eating quietly, finally spoke. "You do."

Ariel sighed.

Arthur laughed. "See? Alaric doesn't talk much, but when he does, it's to agree with me. That's how you know I'm right."

Summer rolled her eyes, but there was amusement in her expression.

For the first time in a while, Ariel allowed himself to just be.

No expectations. No weight of the world pressing down on him.

Just… this.

The feeling of belonging.

He wasn't sure how long it would last.

But for now, he would hold onto it.

As Ariel was deep in though Arthur suddenly moved

Arthur leaned forward, his usual grin in place. "Alright, serious question."

Summer groaned. "That's never a good sign."

Arthur ignored her. "Your Legacies. They're alive, right? So… how much of a pain in the ass are they?"

Ariel blinked. That was not what he had expected.

Summer sighed heavily. "Gods, where do I even start?"

Arthur smirked. "I knew it."

Summer crossed her arms. "Mine never shuts up. It's constantly pushing me, telling me I need to be stronger, faster, better. If I rest, it gets all judgmental."

Arthur nodded sagely. "So, perfectionist. Sounds about right."

Summer huffed. "It's exhausting."

Arthur turned to Alaric. "What about you?"

Alaric remained silent for a moment before answering, "Fafnir is… demanding."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Alaric exhaled slowly. "It values strength above all else. Every time I hesitate, every time I show restraint, it… disapproves."

Ariel frowned. "Disapproves?"

Alaric met his gaze. "It doesn't speak often. But when it does, it questions me. Asks why I hold back. Why I don't destroy my enemies instead of just defeating them."

Ariel felt a shiver run through him.

Arthur leaned back. "Damn. That's intense."

Alaric nodded. "It is."

Arthur chuckled. "At least mine's fun."

Summer snorted. "I find that hard to believe."

Arthur smirked. "My Legacy is Wind. It's unpredictable, chaotic, and always pushing me toward whatever seems the most interesting."

Alaric shook his head. "That explains too much."

Arthur laughed. "Look, it's great! Except when I actually need to focus, and it's just screaming at me to move."

Summer rolled her eyes. "You mean like you do to us?"

Arthur grinned. "Exactly."

Then, he turned to Ariel. "Alright, your turn."

Ariel froze.

The others had their complaints. Their Legacies pushed them, spoke to them, challenged them.

But Ariel?

His Legacy wasn't just a force.

It was a goddess.

And she had barely spoken to him at all.

The silence stretched.

Arthur frowned. "Ariel?"

Ariel swallowed, forcing himself to speak. "I… don't know."

Arthur blinked. "What do you mean?"

Ariel hesitated, then shook his head. "It doesn't matter."

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "That's the worst answer you could've given."

Summer elbowed Arthur. "Arthur, stop prying."

Arthur raised his hands. "I'm just saying—if our Legacies won't shut up, but yours is silent, isn't that… weird?"

Ariel had no answer.

Because Arthur was right.

The conversation moved on, but Ariel's mind lingered on that thought.

Why is she silent?

A Silent Conversation with the Moon

That night, Ariel stood on the roof of his quarters, the wind cool against his skin.

Above him, the moon hung high and full, its silver light painting the world in a soft glow.

He exhaled slowly.

It had been a long road to get here. And there was still so much further to go.

But for the first time… he felt like he was moving forward.

His grip tightened at his sides.

"I need to understand my power. That is the only way I can find meaning in my life"

He had learned how to wield a blade. He had learned how to move, to fight, to adapt.

But his Legacy?

That part of him remained a mystery.

He closed his eyes, reaching inward.

Into his soul.

The world around him shifted.

He opened his eyes.

And there, standing before him, was the Moon Goddess.

Her gaze was unreadable. Her presence, vast and endless.

Ariel exhaled.

He was ready.