Chapter 20: Flower Boutique

  Outside, darkness had long since fallen, yet light still flickered across the training mats inside the dojo. Diana moved swiftly, every strike and kick shaped by focused precision. Suddenly, the door opened, and Master Daro stepped inside.

  “Master! Where… where have you been?” Diana called out excitedly, her hands still raised as if ready to continue training at any moment.

  “It’s complicated,” Daro replied calmly, his voice slightly weary. “I have something to take care of. I’ll have to leave in a few days.”

  Diana froze, surprise clearly visible in her eyes as the silence of the late evening settled over the dojo.

  She slowly lowered her rapier. “Is it dangerous?” she asked carefully.

  Daro nodded calmly. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be gone for a while.”

  Diana didn’t hesitate. “So… it is dangerous?”

  Daro looked into the shadows of the dojo, his gaze serious. “Danger is not what you fear. Danger is a storm hiding behind silent clouds—you don’t see it, you don’t feel it… and yet it can sweep everything away. Even what seems safe can destroy you if you underestimate it.”

  Diana sighed in annoyance. “Stop with the complicated wisdom. I’M COMING WITH YOU!”

  Daro shook his head. “No. This is something I must handle alone.”

  “I am coming!” Diana puffed her cheeks, crossed her arms, and stomped her right foot against the floor with an angry glare.

  Daro’s usually composed demeanor began to tighten. “Diana, listen to me…”

  “I’m coming, I said!”

  “But that’s really not possible—”

  “YES IT IS!”

  His brow furrowed, veins subtly rising at his temple. “Fine,” he said at last, half amused, half irritated. “If you manage to land a hit on me in a fight, you can come.”

  Diana grinned mischievously.

  Haha… I know, Sensei. You hate being interrupted. But I have to come somehow. Let me show you my new tricks.

  “Then let’s begin,” Daro said, drawing his rapier and taking a fighting stance.

  Diana mirrored him.

  Let’s see how you like this, Sensei.

  Suddenly, the entire room grew warmer as Diana, eyes gleaming, rushed toward Master Daro with her rapier in hand. Even though she wielded the blade, it was obvious her passive abilities were active—no, they felt far stronger and purer than before.

  Daro blinked. “Her Soulbound… awakened? I was only gone a few days…”

  It was as if flames were being born inside Diana’s eyes.

  Daro needed only a single second to adapt to her new rhythm. With minimal effort, he evaded every thrust of her blade.

  Of course he adapts that fast. He’s Sensei. Fine. Let’s raise the level.

  Diana growled and unleashed her active ability. The rapier seemed to ignite in flames, while her physical and mental processes surged to their maximum. For her, everything slowed into near time-lapse.

  She launched her decisive strike—

  —and her blade was deflected halfway through.

  She stared at her weapon in disbelief.

  “Y-You blocked that so easily? That wasn’t even everything yet!”

  Flames flared higher along her rapier. Her speed increased dramatically. Yet no matter how fast she became, Daro evaded her with playful ease.

  “Damn it!” Diana cursed, her voice edged with frustration. “Why can’t I hit you? … Then I’ll do this!”

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  She fully released her Soulbound and absorbed it passively into herself. The rapier dissolved into fine, glowing particles that rushed toward her and flowed into her body.

  The temperature in the room spiked again. Light poured from her, brighter and more intense, while the surrounding shadows deepened into pitch black. Power pulsed from her slender form, making her appear almost inhuman.

  Even Daro retreated with two elegant leaps.

  Diana shifted into close combat, fists raised. “You really are worthy of being my master, Sensei!” she called out, sweat forming on her brow.

  A small, genuine smile crossed Daro’s face. “And you, my student. If I were your age… you might actually stand a chance of hitting me.”

  “What?! We’ll see about that!” she shouted and pushed her speed even further.

  “Someone’s just as easy to provoke,” Daro remarked with a faint smile.

  Her strikes rained down, each powerful enough to shatter stone. Suddenly, Diana felt a pair of eyes watching from the deepest shadows of the dojo.

  Neris…

  Without words, they understood each other.

  Diana pressed forward, adding kicks to her assault. With every movement, sparks and trails of fire followed her limbs.

  “Perfect. Now, Neris!”

  The mark on her hand glowed impulsively.

  Behind Daro, from the darkest shadow, a fiery rapier suddenly manifested. With a deafening hiss, it shot forward, piercing through his back and bursting through his chest.

  The cracking and splitting heat devoured his body with violent force, sending even the last birds inside the dojo fleeing in terror.

  But instead of collapsing, his figure dissolved into mist.

  Moments later, he stood again—five meters away, high atop one of the dojo’s ceiling beams.

  “…Fire manifestation and even shadow fusion. How did she…”

  Diana laughed triumphantly. “Hahaha! Didn’t see that coming, did you, Sensei? And I knew you had another trick up your sleeve. How did you do that?”

  Daro stared at her intensely. “What… did you just do?”

  “Come out, Neris! Let me introduce you to my Sensei.”

  From the deepest shadow leapt a one-meter-long black panther with deep red pupils.

  “Neris? A panther… with shadow attributes and fire affinity… Unless…” Daro’s eyes widened as realization struck him. “Th-That’s an Ignipardis?”

  “Yes!” Diana laughed proudly. “His name is Neris. We met right here in the dojo.”

  Daro jumped down from the beam, stunned. “Ignipardis haven’t been sighted in over 450 years. Mystical elemental beings… today considered almost nothing more than legends.”

  “I only knew them from stories too, Sensei. But I think it has something to do with my aura. During meditation… he just appeared.”

  Diana waved it off as if the mythical creature were secondary. “So, Sensei? Did I pass? Can I come now?!”

  Daro’s gaze hardened. “Diana… this isn’t a game.”

  “Sensei…”

  “I’m seriously concerned. But for now, I must finish my preparations. We meet here again in four days. Either we say goodbye… or we leave together.”

  “Yes, Sensei!” Diana called out full of determination.

  “But whatever my answer will be—you must accept it.”

  “Understood, Sensei.”

  The night slowly gave way to early morning, and Diana eventually collapsed into bed, exhausted. After a quick shower and wishing Dad, Mom, and lazy Darek good night, she grabbed a plate of leftover redberry ragout from dinner.

  Sitting cross-legged on her bed, Neris quietly stepped out of the shadows. Together they finished another portion before going to sleep.

  “We still have a lot of training to do, Neris. Here, eat—you have to grow big and strong!”

  Neris gave a soft approving sound as Diana gently stroked his head.

  “You’re amazing… you know that? I’ll get us another portion.”

  The next morning, Darek woke close to noon. Still drowsy, he yawned and stretched extensively.

  “Ahhh… that felt good. My soul feels stronger and more refreshed than ever. Only Seraphis is still grumbling—the rest of Dad’s basil probably didn’t last long.”

  He got up lazily, washed, and dressed.

  “Let’s see what Ben’s up to. Maybe he’ll come with me while I pick up some food.”

  Just as he closed his bedroom door, he heard Diana’s voice:

  “Well, sleepyhead—finally awake?”

  “Lazy? Heh, clearly someone doesn’t know who she’s talking to. Before you stands none other than the winner of our school’s Soulbound test! I even won this!” He proudly held up his compass.

  Diana crossed her arms, unimpressed. “A compass… how impressive. And the day you win a real tournament, I’ll tame a mythical beast.”

  “Kids!” Dad suddenly called from the dining room. “Has anyone seen all my basil?”

  Darek scratched the back of his head nervously. “Uh… well, I’ve got things to take care of in the city today, sis. Have fun with your toothpick gymnastics!” With that, he dashed outside, jumped on his bike, and rode off.

  “And who ate all the ragout yesterday? That was supposed to last for today!” Mom called after them.

  “Wait, brother! I’m heading the same way!” Diana grabbed her sports bag and sprinted after him.

  Once in town, Darek immediately heard Ben shouting his name.

  “Darek! Over here!”

  Darek shook his head slightly, as if this were typical Ben behavior.

  “So what are you even buying?” Ben asked. “Grandma sent me to get more food for Socrates anyway.”

  “I figured I’d check out some flower shops,” Darek replied.

  As they walked, Ben frowned. “Flowers? Why flowers?”

  “Don’t ask. It’s complicated…”

  “What’s her name?” Ben interrupted eagerly.

  “Seraphis. And I’m not even sure if it’s a he or she… hmm, I think a he.”

  Ben froze mid-step and stared at him speechlessly.

  “My new Soulbound, you genius,” Darek said, slightly annoyed.

  “Ohhhh… right. I get it now… wait a second… WHAT?! A second one? How did you pull that off?!”

  “I’ll tell you on the way. Now I really understand why Socrates has to tutor you… Speaking of him—anything new?” Darek asked.

  Ben thought for a moment and shook his head. “No… actually wait! I told him about the tournament. He said to give you his congratulations.”

  Darek blinked in surprise. “Oh… thanks. Hearing something nice from that beak doesn’t happen every day.”

  “Oh yeah,” Ben added, grinning. “He gave you a new nickname. Said ‘Pillow Lover’ was too long.”

  “Yeah? And what is it?”

  Ben grinned wider. “‘Sandman.’ He says you fly around spreading dust—just like the Sandman.”

  “Seriously?” Darek muttered. Somehow… he had expected that.