After defeating the forest terror, Imperial and The village celebrates their victory, and Imperial quietly begins training alone at night. The next morning, Ari stays behind to learn healing, while Imperial and Tracey set off south, guided by Ari's magical locket.
Scene: Ari's Training – The Awakening of Light
While Imperial and Tracey journeyed southward, a different kind of path was unfolding back at the Central Empire. Ari had begun her first day of training with the old elder, a seasoned master of light magic, in the quiet, mist-veiled forest behind the palace.
The elder, a hunched man with long silver hair and a calm yet piercing gaze, stood with his hands behind his back as he addressed Ari.
Elder: "Listen closely, girl. Light healing is not the same as ordinary healing magic. Most healers use mana to detect and repair injuries—broken bones, torn muscles, internal bleeding. It's all physical. But light magic doesn't work quite the same."
He raised his hand, letting a gentle glow emerge from his palm—a soft golden light that shimmered with purity.
Elder: "Light healing touches something deeper. It doesn't just mend flesh and bone—it reaches the essence. The soul, the will, the spirit. That's why it's revered. Why it's feared. I've used it for thirty years… and at my current level, I can mend a shattered leg in under a minute."
He turned and pointed at her.
Elder: "Now show me what you know. Cast a spell—any spell. I need to see how much light you carry within."
Ari hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Ari: "I will. But… give me a moment."
She turned away and headed back to her room. Inside, she knelt by her travel bag, hands moving with quiet reverence as she reached in and pulled out a sword wrapped in soft velvet cloth. She removed the covering, revealing a magnificent weapon—a blade of white and golden hues, with a handle etched in elegant curves and adorned with tiny embedded gems.
As her fingers brushed over its surface, we are taken into a flashback.
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[Flashback – The Gift of Legacy]
The training grounds buzzed in the distance as Ari sat under a tree, silently watching Imperial train. His moves were precise, thunder trailing in his footsteps. Her eyes sparkled with quiet admiration.
Suddenly, a voice called out to her.
Master Kaien: "Ari! Come here for a second."
She stood and jogged over.
Ari: "Yes, Uncle Kaien? What is it?"
Kaien, wearing his usual calm expression, held a large pouch in his hand.
Kaien: "You're a light magic user, aren't you? Then this might be of use to you."
He handed her the pouch. Ari opened it carefully, pulling out a beautiful sword with white-yellow tones. The blade gleamed in the sunlight, half golden, half metallic silver-gray.
Kaien: "This sword… I used it in my younger days. It was originally passed down to me by my mother. It was designed with grace in mind, making it more suitable for those who blend elegance with power."
Ari stared at the weapon with wide eyes.
Ari: "But… this was your mother's. Isn't it too important to give away? It feels like a final memory."
Kaien (softly smiling): "That's exactly why I'm giving it to you. You're my student now. Your swordsmanship is promising, and this blade deserves to dance again—not gather dust in a shrine. Besides… if I find the time, I'll teach you some rare light techniques that only a few in this world remember."
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[Present – Forest Training Grounds]
The memory faded. Ari stood again before the elder, sword in hand.
Elder (nodding approvingly): "That's an incredible-looking sword. I can feel the energy radiating off it."
He gestured forward.
Elder: "Now… aim for those trees. Show me what you've got."
A cluster of tall, thick trees stood ahead. Ari gripped her sword. The moment she stepped forward, her movement changed. She no longer walked—she flowed.
Each step was like the wind—graceful, almost weightless. She dashed forward, her sword sweeping in smooth arcs like a ribbon caught in a breeze. With each movement, the blade sang.
In mere seconds, the trees fell—cleanly sliced.
The elder's eyes widened in shock. He approached the trunks and examined the cuts. The wood was so smoothly severed, the edges shone like polished glass.
Elder (softly): "Incredible..."
He called Ari over and pointed to the cuts.
Elder: "Look at this. It's not just the precision, it's the cleanness. No tearing, no hesitation in the slice. This is… like slicing through butter. Only a blade infused with pure, synchronized magic could achieve this."
He stepped back and looked at her again, seriousness returning to his voice.
Elder: "As I suspected… your power isn't beginner-level. If I had to put it into military terms, it's like you've been dropped into the battlefield at the level of a Royal Captain—without ever having stepped foot in training camp."
Ari's eyes widened.
Elder (smiling): "And that means I don't have to hold back when I teach you. From now on, we dive into high-level light magic spells."
With that, he began to demonstrate a complex pattern of runes and sword movements. Ari observed closely, copying the spellwork with growing confidence.
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Scene Transition – Southbound Journey
Meanwhile, in the southern wilderness, Imperial and Tracey rode their summoned beasts—monstrous creatures trained for speed and endurance.
As they moved across the rocky terrain, Tracey broke the silence.
Tracey: "Imperial… I'm not doubting her, but—how are you so sure that Ari can read ancient text? Like the one written on that stone pillar you mentioned?"
Imperial remained quiet for a moment, his eyes scanning the horizon. Then he gently pulled the reins, stopping his beast.
Tracey followed, halting beside him.
Imperial turned his sword sideways and held it out for Tracey to see.
Imperial: "That's the same question I asked myself… when I first saw her reading it."
He pointed to the blade. Near the lightning emblem etched into the steel, faint letters glimmered in a language long lost to the world.
Imperial: "Look here. These markings… these letters below the lightning seal. Can you read them?"
Tracey squinted and shook his head.
Tracey: "No… I've never seen that language before."
Imperial (quietly): "Ari read it like it was her second language."
His voice carried a mixture of curiosity and something deeper—an unspoken feeling that her powers, like his, might trace back to something much older than anyone understood.
Tracey said, "Yeah… below that lightning mark, there's something written. I think I can read some of it."
Imperial nodded. "Yeah, I can read it too. But the real meaning behind those words—I only understood it because my master explained it to me. What's strange is… the exact same text was carved into that ancient pillar. And Ari, without hesitation, read it perfectly—word for word, exactly as my master once told me."
He paused, eyes thoughtful.
"That's how we realized she could read the ancient language. She didn't even know she had that ability until that moment. I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it—this isn't random. It has to be connected to something deeper."
Tracey asked, "So… what does the inscription actually say?"
Imperial looked ahead, his voice calm but firm.
"It means: 'Follow the lightning.'"