Oswald scrambled quickly to his feet. Sweat trickled coldly down the nape of his neck as he drew the unfamiliar longsword, holding it unsteadily between himself and Selene. "You better start explainin' yourself."

  Selene calmly rose to her full height. "Oswald, think rationally. Do you genuinely believe you can defeat me as you are right now?"

  "No, I know I ain't got a chance, but that doesn't mean I'm not gonna try if you ain't gonna give me answers!"

  Selene let out a quiet sigh. The moonlight traced edges along her silhouette, and for a split second, Oswald could swear she was right there in front of him. Then, in the blink of an eye, she vanished.

  He had no idea how she disappeared like that. But before Oswald could so much as catch up, Selene suddenly reappeared and stood right in front of him, close enough that he could see the faintest glint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

  Then, her hand flicked out, tapping him lightly on the forehead. It was barely a touch, but it sent him staggering backward like he’d been struck by a hammer.

  His boots scraped against the dirt as he fought to keep his balance. Damn it!

  "Sheathe your sword, we both know you're not even accustomed to handling a longsword yet." Selene said calmly.

  Oswald opened his mouth, maybe to protest, maybe to explain himself, but nothing came out. Heat crawled up his neck, his shame sinking in deep. She’s right. I'm just actin' like a dumbass.

  With a heavy sigh, Oswald slid the blade back into its sheath. His shoulders slumped, looking to the ground as he muttered, "Sorry, I wasn't thinkin' straight."

  She regarded him for a long moment before speaking again, "It's fine, raise your head."

  Oswald's throat tightened. Part of him wanted to refuse, to wallow in his own frustration. But he forced himself to meet her gaze.

  To his surprise, Selene didn't look angry, not even disappointed. She looked as if she completely expected things would play out in this way. "I do not hold your reaction against you, Oswald, most would respond exactly as you did upon sensing my mana core."

  Oswald swallowed hard, hesitation clawing at his throat before he finally gave in to the question gnawing at his mind. "But why does it feel so… evil?"

  "To be blunt, Oswald, I've killed many people and monsters alike. Each life taken has left its mark upon my mana core."

  "Then does that mean all the big-shot adventurers got mana cores as twisted as yours?"

  Selene's lips curved into a faint, almost amused smile. "I daresay many formidable adventurers possess mana cores that inspire a similar sense of unease as mine, even if their deeds are deemed heroic. In time, you may encounter individuals whose mana feels even more sinister, despite their strength being far lesser than the greatest of warriors. Such is the nature of mana, it is constantly shaped by one's experiences and emotions."

  “Then… how do people not get spooked when they sense your mana core? I mean, I know it took me a while to get the hang of mana sensing, sure, but there’s gotta be folks way better than me at it.”

  “Because I do not allow them to sense it.”

  Oswald blinked. “Wait, what?”

  “It is common practice, Oswald. Any half-decent adventurer learns to mask their mana core. Concealment is vital, particularly for those whose mana might cause… unnecessary alarm.”

  “Right, but… I felt yours just now, how'd that happen?"

  “Because I allowed you to. As we train together, it was only a matter of time before you noticed, even if it took years. When that moment came, I preferred it to be on my terms.”

  Oswald rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling under his breath. “Well… I respect that. Despite what I said earlier, you’re a good person, Selene, better than most.”

  But Selene didn't laugh. Instead, her eyes locked onto his. "Do you truly believe that, Oswald? That I'm a good person?"

  Taken aback, Oswald blinked at her uncertainty. "Uh, yeah? You've helped me so much already. That's enough proof for me."

  "Is that so?"

  "Hold on, are you messin' with me or somethin'?"

  "Not in the slightest. And regardless, we ought to resume proper training."

  "Yea, I guess. Whatcha got in mind?"

  "You'll be sparring with me nonstop for the next three weeks. No breaks, no rest." Selene said, without a single trace of it being a joke.

  Oswald stared at her incredulously, eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you serious? There ain't no way, I’ll die!"

  "You'd be surprised by what you're capable of,"

  "I mean, yeah, I've got the Animus and all, but that’s just crazy! And who's gonna look after Vivi while we’re trainin' nonstop?"

  "The cabin door is open, so Vivi will be perfectly fine, as there is a river not far from there where plenty of small birds gather to drink. And do not forget, you are the one who claimed you wished to become one of the greatest adventurers, strong enough to be a contender in the Tournament of Champions. If you truly meant what you said, you must be willing to make sacrifices."

  "You're right, but—"

  "If you refuse to see this through, then I am finished training you."

  The weight of Selene's words pressed against Selene's ribs like a vice. She ain't bluffin'. If I back out now, that's it. No second chances.

  His fingers curled into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms as he forced the hesitation out of his mind. "Alright, I'll do it. Where we startin'?"

  Selene’s sharp gaze lingered on him for a moment. Then, with a small nod of approval, she reached for her sword. Steel whispered against the scabbard as she drew it. "Right here, but first, listen carefully. You must follow my instructions precisely, or else you will die."

  Oswald nodded as he squared his shoulders. Here goes nothin'.

  Selene lowered her blade slightly. “This training has three objectives. First, to improve your swordsmanship with the longsword. You are competent, but competence is insufficient.”

  Oswald gave a sharp nod. Yeah, no surprise there. Ain't like I’ve had proper training till now. And I ain't used to longswords.

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  “The second goal is to increase your endurance and stamina, simple enough."

  “Makes sense.”

  "The third goal is for you to wield your mana core instinctively. There are two primary methods: projecting it outward to cast spells, as mages do, or turning it inward to strengthen your body and weapon, a far more common practice."

  Selene lifted her free hand, fingers flexing slightly, and for the briefest moment, a soft glow pulsed beneath her skin before vanishing. “Swordsmen, archers, monks, all enhance themselves in this way.”

  “I get that part. But what do you mean about me needing to use it instinctively?” Oswald asked.

  “Most warriors must consciously channel their mana before using it. That is why swordsmen often shift into a stance before attacking. Why archers regulate their breathing before loosing an arrow. And why monks recite prayers before engaging in battle. They all require a moment to prepare.”

  “So if someone jumps ‘em before they can do all that, they’d be a lot weaker?”

  “Exactly. Relying too much on preparation leaves you exposed when caught off guard. But if you learn to channel mana instinctively, your body stays battle-ready. Or to put it another way, your physical abilities will always be heightened.”

  Oswald exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’d put me ahead of damn near everyone, wouldn’t it?”

  The faintest smirk touched Selene’s lips. “It will put you far ahead of the average adventurer, yes. But mastering such a skill is no simple feat. It requires complete control over your mana core, so much so that it moves with your body naturally, without conscious effort. That is why our training will be… rigorous.”

  "But how's that gonna work exactly? Ain't I still supposed to activate my mana core first?"

  "No. I will force you to activate it in combat. It will be neither easy nor pleasant, but it is possible."

  “Alright, but is it even possible for me to learn all that in just three weeks?”

  "We'll be training without breaks in order to maximise efficiency, and also, I have something special planned."

  Oswald's fingers tightened around the hilt of his longsword. “Alright… what exactly do you got planned?”

  Selene studied him, her expression giving away nothing. “Stand still, and when I say so, look into my eyes.”

  Unease twisted in his stomach, but he gave a slow nod. “Got it.”

  Selene closed her eyes. All other sounds faded, swallowed by an unnatural silence. A shiver ran down Oswald’s spine. Then, Selene opened her eyes.

  A black sigil burned to life in both irises, a five-pointed star, pulsing power. The glow of the symbol contrasted against her pale features, making the air between them feel unnatural. “Now, look into my eyes. Do not look away until I say so.”

  Oswald hesitated, but he forced himself to obey. The instant their gazes locked, a foreign sensation slithered through his skull.

  His stomach lurched. A wave of dizziness crashed over him, sending his balance teetering on the edge. His vision warped, dark tendrils creeping in from the corners of his sight, clawing at his mind.

  Oswald's pulse pounded in his ears, too loud, too fast. It felt like something was peeling away at him, layer by layer, exposing everything beneath the surface.

  But suddenly, a voice cut through the haze. “Focus, Oswald!”

  Selene’s sharp tone yanked him back from the brink. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stand firm against the invisible force pressing in on him. His body screamed for him to look away, to break free from whatever this was, but he fought against the instinct.

  The pressure intensified, his head throbbing as if a vice had clamped around his skull. The longer he stared, the deeper the feeling burrowed into him. Then, suddenly, it stopped.

  “You may look around now."

  Oswald stumbled back, air rushing into his lungs like he’d surfaced from drowning. His hand shot to his temple as a piercing pain lanced through his skull. A strangled gasp tore from his throat, and he shook his head, trying to dispel the lingering vertigo.

  But something was wrong. He could barely see the forest anymore.

  A thick fog sprawled in every direction, devouring everything beyond the small clearing where he stood. It coiled unnaturally, moving without wind, alive in a way mist had no right to be.

  The ground beneath him was solid, but its texture was unfamiliar, neither dirt nor stone, something in between. His boots pressed against it, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that if he weren’t careful, it might swallow him whole.

  He turned to Selene, eyes wide. “Where are we? Did we just teleport?”

  Selene folded her arms, her Animus still active as she met his gaze. “This is the outskirts of my domain.”

  “Your domain?”

  “Yes, and ordinarily, I bring people here for interrogations.”

  Oswald stiffened, a cold prickle running down his spine. Interrogation? His feet almost shifted back on instinct, but he caught himself before he could make a fool of himself. “You… uh, you ain’t plannin’ on interrogatin’ me, are you?”

  Selene let out a quiet sigh. “No, obviously not.”

  “Whew… damn, for a second there, I thought—” He let out a short, nervous chuckle before clearing his throat. “So, uh… do you bring people to this place often?”

  “Quite the opposite. You see, to bring someone here, they must look into my eyes for an extended period. It is not something I can do instantly, nor is it something I can force without preparation.”

  “So… you’re sayin’ it’s a pain to pull people in here?”

  “It is wildly impractical unless the target is either restrained… or willing.”

  “Alright… but that still don’t explain why you brought me here. I still don’t get it.”

  “Because here, I have control over many things.”

  Before Oswald could ask what she meant, she lifted her chin slightly and stated, “It is raining.”

  Immediately after the words left her mouth, the sky darkened above them. Thick clouds gathered from nowhere, swirling into existence with an eerie smoothness. A second later, cold droplets pelted his skin, quickly escalating into a downpour. Within moments, he was drenched, water dripping from his hair and soaking through his clothes.

  Oswald shuddered at the sudden chill, blinking through the rain. “You can just… make it rain?”

  She regarded him with an almost amused expression. "In this place? I can."

  “Are you a goddess or somethin’?”

  “Save your questions for later, for now, draw your weapon.”

  Oswald hesitated before yanking his longsword free. He wiped water from his brow and glanced at her. “If we’re sparrin’, it probably ain’t gonna go well for me. I’ve only used a longsword a couple times before.”

  “That is fine, by the time I am done with you, you will at least wield it as well as a trained soldier.” Selene said confidently.

  “You say that like it’s a sure thing. I ain’t doubtin’ your skill, but I ain’t exactly a genius or nothin’.”

  “Indeed, it will take time for you to learn. Which is why it is fortunate that, for every nine days that pass here, only one day passes in the real world.”

  Oswald’s breath caught as he processed her words. “Wait, what? Nine days here is just one day outside?”

  "Yes, it's exactly as I said. "

  “That don’t make no sense. How does that even work? And if what you're saying is true, do you use this place to train yourself too?”

  Selene tilted her head slightly, considering his question. “This domain is tied to my Animus. It took great effort to alter its time dilation to function as it does now. I found it useful for training... or prolonging certain activities. Regardless, although I may enter this domain at will, this will be the last time you step foot here for a long time.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Once you leave this domain, the backlash will be severe. I have no doubt you will collapse the moment we return. And after that, it would be unwise for you to enter again.”

  Oswald swallowed. So whatever this place is, it ain't somethin' I can handle long term. He exhaled sharply and gave a reluctant nod. “Okay... I sorta get it.”

  Selene’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. Then, she raised her blade and shifted into a stance. “You can think about the details as we spar.”

  Oswald barely had a moment to brace himself before she lunged. Shit!

  Water splashed beneath her feet as she closed the distance with terrifying speed. Oswald barely managed to lift his sword before she was upon him, but the moment their blades met, the force of her strike sent a violent tremor up his arms. His grip faltered.

  Then, with a sharp twist of her wrist, Selene knocked the longsword clean from his hands. The weapon clattered against the ground, the sound swallowed by the downpour. Oswald stumbled back, his fingers numb from the impact. Damn it, she’s fast!

  Selene took a step back, lowering her blade. “Pick up your sword.”

  Oswald exhaled sharply, shaking the sting from his hands before crouching to retrieve his sword. As he straightened, he shot her a glance. “Maybe I should use my Animus too?”

  “No.”

  “But why not?”

  “You are not allowed to use it until I say otherwise. For now, you will fight with nothing but your own strength.”

  Oswald clenched his jaw but nodded. Fine, I’ll just have to make do.