Five hours of sword swings...
Lein's muscles were burning like fire.
His lungs gasped for air like a fish out of water. His heart pounded in his throat, threatening to break free.
He had delivered more than three thousand strikes before allowing himself a short break — and immediately regretted it. The moment he stopped, exhaustion crashed down on him like a wave. His muscles filled with lead, his hands trembled, barely holding the wooden sword. His legs buckled, and then simply gave out — Lein collapsed onto the ground. He could barely feel them. And he didn't want to think about what was happening to his arms.
But most of all, it was his mind that suffered.
Boredom. Absolute, mind-numbing boredom. It was poison. Not because he had nothing to do — but because his concentration slipped away like water through his fingers. His thoughts scattered, distracted by everything around him: was that last strike diagonal or vertical? And what about the one before that? He kept losing count. Every thousand felt like ten thousand.
Lein kept catching himself drifting off: making plans, recalling faces from the city, thinking about the Princess... No, not like that. His thoughts were pure. It's just... she was strange. Always had that absent gaze, like she was reading something in the air. And that was only what he saw with his own eyes. People said she spoke in riddles, retold unknown fairy tales, uttered phrases whose meaning slipped away the moment you heard them.
He also learned that it was the Princess who, six years ago, introduced the world to virtual economics. Before that, people traded resources — gold and minerals had long since lost their value. But the Princess discovered new ways to use Soul Shards by decoding the ancient version of Leight — its Historical dialect. The Rune Tongue.
This language was also considered Historical, though far more mysterious.
Not everyone could make use of it. Ordinary people couldn't understand the symbols — let alone the runes. They also couldn't sense the power of the Shards. They didn't know what the Historical version of Leight even was — or confused it with the Rune Tongue. But there was a chasm between them. Lein knew this better than anyone in the city.
Runes were something else. More complex. Secretive and enigmatic. They were also part of the Historical branch, but used for different purposes. If symbols were a language of science, logic, almost mathematics — then runes were the language of mysticism. Magic, secrets, miracles — all passed through them.
The Historical dialect didn't require blood, ether, or any other source of power. Only knowledge. Only will and mind.
Yes, the Princess was strange. But thinking about her let Lein distract himself from the pain.
He exhaled heavily, lying on the cold ground beneath gloomy clouds, near the base of the lake. He could hardly believe he'd done it.
— That was... awful. I really did it… But damn it, I don't want to anymore. Can't feel my legs, my arms feel like they belong to someone else, and I'm covered in mud and sweat... And this will go on until that stubborn old man decides it's time for real sword training… Ugh, no point in whining. I should just go wash off in my pool.
He really had built a small pool — just so he wouldn't dirty the lake's clean water. But then Raine, as always, suddenly declared that water could be purified using Soul Shards. He had said it so simply. Casually. As if Lein's hard work meant nothing. Lein remembered that day with an irritated smirk.
As he lay there catching his breath, a shadow suddenly fell over him. A warm flickering torch flame lit up a familiar smirk.
The old man's silhouette.
That old, smug grin.
Perfect timing, as always.
— What do you want?
Raine clapped his hands, applauding, and Lein felt irritation bubble in his chest — like he was being praised for a trick, like a trained animal. He hadn't seen such scenes himself, but people told stories in the city. Back then, he didn't understand why it was humiliating. Now — he understood all too well.
— Oh, poor Lein… Fell for the princess, and now you're screaming her name during training! Now that's obsession!
Lein's eye twitched. Raine's face was especially annoying today. Even more than usual — which was quite the achievement.
— Fell for her!? Me!? You're delusional. Right, your tea must've run out — no wonder you're losing your mind! I actually feel sorry for you, you grumpy fossil.
Raine burst out laughing, holding his stomach, and with a teasing look said:
— Then why, pray tell, were you yelling "Princess!" so passionately while swinging that sword?
— That… I… Hold on. I said that out loud?
— Of course. And you were mumbling something about how strange she is. Didn't catch the details, but I bet you know exactly what's strange about her.
Lein fell silent. He had no one to blame but himself.
— By the way, if I'm not mistaken, wasn't it her who brought you that basket of food? Such a kind soul. How could anyone not fall for that... Though your timing is a bit off — you might want to deal with the dragon first…
«How does he know that? I only told one maid… Then again, people aren't exactly known for keeping their mouths shut.»
He sighed deeply. In four years, Lein had learned not to react to Raine's jabs. But there was one thing that irritated him beyond reason — when people tried to "ship" him with Princess Alice. He didn't like her. Didn't even feel sympathy. If anything — he felt on edge around her. She seemed like the most harmless one in the hero party, and that's what unsettled him.
— Say whatever you want, old man, but my heart is already taken.
— Oh-ho! Did I hear that right? So who's captured our dear Lein's heart?
Lein smirked.
— Of course! Me.
— I'm sorry, what? I must've misheard. Since when can a name be that short?
Lein raised his trembling hand with a proud look and pointed at his chest.
— In this world, no woman is worthy of me. I love myself. Only I deserve my love! Ha-ha-ha!
Raine stared at him like he was insane.
— You… idiot… And how do you plan on finding a girl with that attitude?
— I don't.
— And what about kids? Grandkids? Wait… Oh, right. I forgot. You're twelve. You haven't even discovered the joys of sharing a bed yet…
— Cut the filthy thoughts, you perverted old goat! I don't need that!
Raine went quiet. Finally, after a pause, he asked quietly:
— Then what do you plan to do once you kill the dragon?
Lein laughed:
— Live. Enjoy life. Maybe raise my soul core's rank. You know, just to spite you. Oh, and eat a lot of tasty food.
Raine sat down on a nearby rock and smirked:
— Enjoy life without love? You really are still a child. That's dangerous...
— Maybe. But I won't change my mind.
— Then let's make a bet.
— On what? — Lein asked, skeptical.
— On whether or not you fall in love someday.
Lein thought about it, then nodded confidently:
— Deal. What's at stake? Consider yourself already defeated.
— If I win, you'll let your beloved hit you once. However she wants. A slap, a punch — her choice. The only condition is: you must think of me in that moment.
Lein looked at Raine suspiciously. Something about the old man seemed… tired today. For the first time ever, Lein dared to ask a question he'd long been holding back:
— Old man… how old are you? But! If it's uncomfortable for you, you don't have to answer!..
Raine looked up at the sky. It was dark. As always. The gloomy, heavy clouds seemed like they'd never leave.
— Eighty, — he finally replied.
Silence fell between them. But not an awkward one. On the contrary — it was peaceful. Enough had been said.
When Lein recovered a little, he asked:
— And how do I find the path to my own soul?
Raine turned. His gaze grew heavy, as if he dove deep into some distant memory.
— Usually, it takes a jolt. Something intense, emotional — like a strike to the heart. That's why most people live their whole lives right at the threshold of their soul, without ever stepping inside. But you're lucky — I once helped a king with this. I know how to open the path to the soul. First, though, we go downhill — it's going to start pouring soon.
They began their descent. Despite his age, Raine moved steadily, while Lein struggled — every movement sent waves of pain through his body, as if every muscle were being pulled by a string. He nearly lost his footing, but managed to stay upright.
At the bottom, Raine sat in his usual spot — near the skeleton of the Chimera — and nodded to the ground in front of him.
— Sit with your back to me.
Lein obeyed. Raine touched his shoulder blades and spoke quietly:
— I'm going to channel ether into you. It'll spread through your body and resonate with your soul. Catch that moment — feel it, remember it. That sensation will guide you back here. But you won't get many chances. Ether is rare.
— Why?
— Not now. Don't get distracted. This must be flawless. If it doesn't work... I'll have to shake the path out of you another way. And believe me, you won't like that. I'll put you on an emotional rollercoaster. Oh, maybe I should do that…
Lein swallowed nervously and gave a small nod.
«The ether must be sent directly into the soul. If I mess this up, his body won't handle it — it'll tear him apart,» thought Raine, once again reminding himself just how delicate this task was.
— Brace yourself. Here we go.
At first, Lein only felt a faint chill. But soon the cold turned real — it seeped through his skin, like water through a crack in stone, into his chest, his gut, deep into his core.
Lein caught the moment. It was like falling inside himself — and finding nothing but darkness. Not ordinary darkness, but a space with no walls, no ceiling, no light. Only the sense... of infinity.
He tried to reach for his body — nothing. No arms. No legs.
«What is this? Where am I?.. Is this… my soul?..»
A shiver ran through his mind. It was overwhelming — the silence, the cold, the infinite blackness around him. Nothing made sense. And yet, deep inside, he knew: this was him. His essence.
He tried to breathe — but there was no breath. No lungs. No heartbeat. Only thought.
— Old man, I'm inside. What now?
A second of silence. Then Raine's voice, tinged with unexpected surprise:
— Already?.. Hm. We'll talk later. Your task is to find the source of your soul. Everyone's is different.
— It's empty here. Just darkness and cold. Wait… hold on. The ground. It's water. Clear as ice. But solid. And… endless? It's dark — so dark it looks like black paint.
— Can you influence it?
— Let me see… yeah, I think so. I feel a connection to it. Hard to explain. I just… get it.
— Excellent. Then this really is your energy. Try separating tiny drops from it. Just imagine them breaking off.
— Mhm. Okay… I think it's working… They're glowing. Gray. Like ash… Cough-cough!
Lein suddenly coughed hard. Blood spilled from his mouth.
— Damn… Guess I overdid it... Let's try again! — Lein shouted, now back in the real world.
He could feel his body again — move his arms, his legs. The pain, however, hadn't gone anywhere.
— No. That's enough for today.
— But why!? I almost had it!
Raine sighed.
— Foolish boy. You almost killed both yourself and me. This is a slow process. It demands caution. You've probably already exhausted your mind from that failed attempt — the next one would go even worse, and be even more dangerous.
— Tch… Fine. Next time I'll nail it!
— Go to sleep, idiot. You're still gushing blood from your mouth.
Lein, trembling, barely managed to reach the mattress and collapsed onto it, falling asleep instantly.
And Raine... remained seated, staring into the void. Fear flickered in his eyes.
Normally, it took people a month — or longer — to find their soul path. Lein had done it in a minute. But that wasn't the part that scared him.
It was his soul…
Most people had, at best, one core of energy — if they were lucky. But Lein...
He had a sea. A real sea. His energy wasn't stored in a drop — it was an ocean.
From a soul like that, one could forge more than one core. Possibly dozens.
Raine had never heard of anyone like that. Not in books. Not in ancient myths. Even gods, if the legends were true, started with only one…
«Is he even human?.. Dear God, who did I drag in off the street…»
Raine had a lot of work ahead of him.
A whole lot.
As always.