Chương 31: A Blade Has No Memory

The next morning, Leo did something he had not done since arriving at the academy. He skipped breakfast. Not because he was injured. Not because he was investigating the chamber beneath the academy. He simply wanted to train. The previous night's events had left him with too many questions, but questions were useless if they distracted him from what he could actually control. His body. His sword. His energy. Everything else could wait. He entered the eastern training grounds before sunrise.

The field was empty except for a few practice dummies and the pale mist hanging above the grass. Leo drew his sword. The black blade reflected the first light of morning. He stood still. Then he moved. First Form — Falling Leaf. A horizontal cut. His waist rotated. His feet followed. The blade stopped exactly where he intended. Leo returned to his starting position. Again. This time, faster. The sword cut through the mist. He changed his footing. Second Form — Returning Tide.

The blade reversed direction in one continuous motion. His wrist remained relaxed. His shoulder stayed low. The technique was simple, but it had one weakness. The transition between the first and second forms was too slow. Leo repeated it. Again. Again. On the seventh attempt, his grip tightened. The blade became unstable. Leo stopped immediately. He looked at his hand. His fingers were trembling. The problem wasn't the sword. It was him.

His body was still adapting to the changes caused by the mana he had absorbed. The increase in magical energy had expanded his reserves, but his internal energy had not yet adapted to the new balance. He had been treating the two powers as separate systems. That was no longer sufficient. Leo sat beneath a nearby tree. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. He closed his eyes. His breathing slowed. Internal energy began circulating through his body.

He then introduced mana. Slowly. A small amount. The mana entered his pathways. His internal energy reacted. The familiar pressure appeared beneath his ribs. Leo did not resist it. He observed. The two energies moved independently for several seconds. Then they touched. Heat spread through his chest. Leo immediately stopped the circulation. His breathing became heavier. A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead.

"So that's the limit." He had pushed too far. Not dangerously. But enough to understand something important. The two energies could cooperate. They could even synchronize. But they could not yet be treated as one. If he forced the process, his body would pay the price. Leo leaned back against the tree. He looked at the sword beside him.

"Power isn't the problem." He picked it up.

"Control is." A few minutes later, footsteps approached. Leo opened his eyes. Amon entered the training ground carrying two wooden swords. He stopped when he saw Leo.

"You've been here since sunrise?"

"Yes."

"You didn't eat breakfast." Leo looked at him.

"How do you know?"

"I saw you." Amon tossed one of the wooden swords toward him. Leo caught it.

"Fight me."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you're going to complain when you lose." Amon stared at him. Then laughed.

"That's exactly why I want to fight you." Leo stood. The two walked toward the center of the field. Amon raised his wooden sword.

"I've been practicing the mistake you pointed out."

"Good."

"I changed my footwork."

"I noticed."

"Then don't hold back." Leo nodded.

"Alright." Amon attacked. Ember Step. His right foot struck the ground. The technique accelerated his movement without producing the large burst of flame he normally used. Leo blocked. The impact pushed him backward. Amon immediately followed with another strike. Leo deflected it. Amon turned his wrist. Twin Flame. Two consecutive strikes came from opposite angles. Leo blocked the first. He avoided the second. Then Amon changed direction. This time, Leo couldn't counter immediately.

The wooden blade struck his shoulder. Amon stepped back.

"Got you." Leo rubbed his shoulder.

"Yes." Amon smiled.

"You actually admitted it."

"Don't get used to it." Amon laughed and attacked again. The second exchange lasted longer. Neither fighter dominated. Amon had corrected the weakness in his footwork, and Leo deliberately refused to rely on overwhelming speed. He wanted to understand how much he could accomplish with technique alone. Amon attacked high. Leo lowered his center of gravity. The wooden swords crossed. Leo twisted his wrist. Silent Crossing. The weapon slipped past Amon's guard.

But instead of striking his chest, Leo stopped the blade beside his neck. Amon froze. Leo lowered the sword.

"Your new footwork is better." Amon breathed heavily.

"But?"

"You still announce your strongest attack with your eyes." Amon blinked.

"My eyes?"

"You look at the place you're about to strike." Amon immediately looked away. Leo smiled.

"Exactly."

"You're annoying."

"I know." Amon dropped onto the grass.

"I need another month."

"Probably."

"That was supposed to be encouragement."

"It was." Amon stared at him. Leo walked toward the edge of the field. For the first time since their arrival at the academy, their training felt less like competition and more like two young warriors helping each other improve. That mattered to Leo. Strength gained alone was useful. Strength gained beside people he trusted was different. By midday, Alice and Masha joined them. Masha carried a basket.

"I brought lunch." Amon immediately stood.

"Finally."

"You were fighting five minutes ago."

"I fought hard."

"You lost."

"I almost won."

"You were hit in the neck." Amon pointed at Leo.

"He cheats." Leo sat beneath the tree.

"How?"

"He thinks too much." Masha laughed. Alice handed Leo a piece of bread.

"You look tired."

"I'm fine." She gave him a skeptical look.

"You always say that." Leo took the bread.

"This time it's true." Alice sat beside him. For a while, none of them spoke about the underground chamber. That was intentional. There were enough things happening in their lives without turning every quiet moment into another mystery. They talked about classes instead. About the upcoming practical examinations. About the city festival. About Amon's complete inability to cook. Normal things. Human things. Leo found himself enjoying them more than he expected. That evening, Leo returned to his room.

The black sword rested beside his bed. He sat on the floor and began his meditation. This time, he did not attempt to merge Mana and Internal Energy. He simply studied their relationship. Mana responded to the environment. Internal energy responded to him. That difference was fundamental. If he wanted to create a true hybrid technique, he would need something capable of translating one into the other. Leo opened his eyes. He reached for a small mana stone. He held it between his fingers. A faint glow appeared.

Then disappeared. Leo smiled. He had no technique yet. No perfect answer. But he had a direction. And that was enough. He placed the stone on the table. Outside his window, the academy was quiet. The sealed underground chamber was still there. Whatever had awakened beneath the foundations remained hidden. Leo did not go looking for it. Not tonight. He had learned something more valuable that day. There would always be things in this world that he could not control. But his sword was his. His energy was his.

And the person he chose to become was his alone. Leo lay down. For the first time in several nights, he slept without searching for answers. End of Chapter 31