I woke up before the sun rose.
My body was still tired from the previous day's training, but my mind was restless.
I stayed there for a few seconds staring at the bedroom ceiling, trying to organize my thoughts.
The decision had already been made.
I was going to train.
They were going to train too.
And, somehow, that had made everything feel lighter.
When I went down to the mansion's hall, I found Rai'kanna sitting at the table, drinking something hot.
She looked like she had been awake for quite some time.
"Didn't you sleep?" I asked.
"I slept a little."
"Just because of the sorceress?"
"She should arrive today."
I sat in front of her.
"Do you trust her that much?"
"I do."
"Is she really that strong?"
Rai'kanna nodded.
"She has faced creatures that not even demon generals have fought."
That caught my attention.
"Why isn't someone like that known throughout the entire kingdom?"
"Because she doesn't like to appear."
"Then why did she agree to come?"
"Because my father asked."
I stayed silent.
Rai'kanna continued.
"And because she trained me when I was younger."
"She trained you?"
"Yes. Part of what I know today, I learned from her."
That explained a lot.
Her mana control, her posture in combat, the coldness in difficult decisions.
Elara appeared soon after, followed by Vespera and Liriel.
Lyannis came last, still with a sleepy expression.
All of them knew that today would be different.
After breakfast, we headed to the city's entrance.
Rai'kanna said the carriage would come from the northern road.
We waited.
The wind was cold that morning.
No one spoke much.
After some time, we saw the carriage approaching.
It was simple, without royal symbols, without escort.
It stopped a few meters in front of us.
The door opened.
And a woman stepped down.
She was older than I had imagined.
Long hair, already with some white strands mixed with black.
Calm eyes.
Firm posture.
She wasn't wearing flashy clothes.
Just a dark and simple cloak.
But there was something about her that you could feel from afar.
Presence.
Rai'kanna stepped forward.
"Master."
The woman smiled faintly.
"It's been a while, princess."
Her voice was low and calm.
She looked at me.
"So you are Takumi."
I nodded.
"That's me."
"I've heard a lot about you."
"I hope they're not exaggerations."
She studied my face for a few seconds.
"They don't seem to be."
The others remained silent.
The sorceress looked at each of them.
"Are these the ones who want to train?"
"Yes," Rai'kanna replied.
She walked slowly around them, observing posture, gaze, breathing.
It seemed like she was analyzing much more than just appearance.
She stopped in front of Elara.
"Good mana reserve."
Then Vespera.
"Good bodily precision."
Liriel.
"Interesting control of light."
Lyannis.
She smiled.
"This one is already strong by nature."
Finally, Rai'kanna.
"You've evolved since the last time."
Rai'kanna grew serious.
The sorceress looked at me again.
"And you will train with the adventurer."
"Yes."
"Good. That way no one gets in anyone's way."
I liked her direct manner.
"We'll need a rank S dungeon," she said.
"We already have one in mind," Rai'kanna replied.
The sorceress nodded.
"Then let's not waste time."
I looked at them.
"Good luck."
Elara smiled.
"You too."
Vespera made a small gesture with her head.
Liriel looked excited.
Lyannis was clearly curious.
Rai'kanna simply said,
"Later I want to see how much you've evolved."
"Me too."
They left with the sorceress in the opposite direction from the one I would follow with Scarlet.
I watched until they disappeared.
It felt strange.
For the first time, we weren't all going to the same place.
But at the same time, we were.
I turned back to find Scarlet.
She was already waiting for me near the dungeon entrance.
"So they really went to train."
"They did."
"With that so-called sorceress."
"Yes."
Scarlet took a deep breath.
"Good. That way you can focus."
We descended again.
This time, the dungeon's silence felt different.
Deeper.
Scarlet spoke as we walked.
"Today we're going deeper than yesterday."
"How much deeper?"
"Enough for you to stop hesitating once and for all."
I looked at her.
"You think I hesitate that much?"
"You fight well. But you think too much before attacking."
"Is that bad?"
"In real combat, yes."
We kept descending.
The monsters began to appear stronger.
Faster.
More aggressive.
And for the first time since we started that training, I felt real difficulty.
Not difficulty in winning.
But difficulty in maintaining the correct posture all the time.
Every mistake was noticed.
Every opening was pointed out.
Scarlet didn't say much.
But when she did, it was precise.
"Guard."
"Hesitated."
"Too much force."
"That movement was good."
Time passed without me noticing.
When we stopped to rest, I was out of breath.
I sat on a stone.
Scarlet remained standing, watching me.
"You're improving."
"Slowly."
"That's how it is."
I stared at the ground for a few seconds.
Thinking that, at that exact moment, somewhere else in the kingdom, they were training too.
Striving.
Evolving.
For the first time, I felt like I wasn't carrying everything alone.
I raised my head.
"Let's continue."
Scarlet smiled faintly.
"Now you're starting to understand the training."
We stood up.
And returned to the darkness of the dungeon.
This time, without distractions.
Without an audience.
Just me, her, and the sound of monsters approaching.