When Eden finished breakfast, Aren had arrived at Nashira's request. The three of them—plus Liani, who needed to be present—headed out through the back of the clinic.
The peaceful meadow was bathed in the midday sun, but being close to the mountains, at a higher elevation, a cool gust of wind still swept through the area.
"Alright, Eden. Let's begin," Aren said as he approached.
Slung over his shoulder was a rough, old cloth bag. He dropped it onto the grass with a metallic clatter and knelt down on one knee.
"I borrowed a few weapons from the blacksmith. Just try not to break anything, alright? I excluded firearms—these days, only we humans really make use of them, and even then, they don't work very well against New World beasts. But you, my dear and young virgin Echo…" He pulled out a short sword with a sharp *clang*. "You work better in close combat."
He extended the sword with both hands. Eden stepped forward and took it in silence. Aren spread out the rest of the weapons he had brought: an axe, a rapier, a spear, daggers, and a sickle.
"You never know what an Echo's specialty will be, so I brought a bit of everything to see what you like best. But with such a slender little body, you'll probably need something light. You have to do something with your body—you need to train it, make it strong, or you could tear it apart."
"Tear it apart is…?"
"Forcing your muscles beyond what they can endure, to the point where they rupture," Nashira answered.
"Eden, there are a lot of rules to this and an entire training process, but you'll have to adapt. You didn't have the fortune of being born in some lavish capital full of rich people desperate to own an Echo. You're in… a humble village, in the middle of nowhere. Congratulations. So—chin up."
He stood, adjusting his trousers as he did, and continued:
"You Ecos are born with a gift, since you're a hybrid between human and monster. Divine energy flows through your blood, tied to the goddess's creations. You're able to absorb the vital energy of any living being that shares that same energy—or, in simpler terms, New World animals.
"There are eight recorded categories across these nine hundred years, all forming a hierarchy: Animals, Beasts, Creatures, Monsters, Guardians, Colossi, Titans, and Lords. The difference between the first and the last is enormous. Trust me—one day, you'll be grateful you were born in this quiet village.
"To increase your strength, you need to absorb the vital energy of a New World being. And like I said before, at first you won't notice it. You'll double your strength, then triple it. But eventually, you'll reach a point where your body can't tolerate the next growth. Your skin will tear apart, and you'll become nothing more than a very, very large mass of crimson flesh and blood. The upside? You'll probably die before you feel any pain. So you'd better train your body."
Aren pointed behind Eden. There stood a small, two-legged animal with orange plumage. It had three clawed fingers used to climb trees and eat leaves—a herbivore. Its head was round, and its mouth had no sharp teeth.
"That's a Boguro. Completely harmless—perfect for practice. Grip the hilt firmly and strike a vital point. Areas like the neck are harder to reach, but more vulnerable. The chest works too—just remember to strike with enough force to pierce the sternum."
"U-um."
"Come on, Eden. It's turned its back—you've got a clear shot."
"I-is it necessary to hurt something that won't hurt me?" he asked, gripping the hilt with both hands.
"I hear hesitation in your voice. I thought you wanted to devote yourself to this."
"I want to know the world—to explore it. If this is the way, I accept it, but… should it really be easy to kill something that doesn't fight back?"
Aren rolled his neck and hunched his shoulders as he replied:
"Out here, there are only passive animals. With your lack of experience, I don't recommend looking for something that fights back yet."
Eden tightened his grip on the sword and swallowed, furrowing his brow slightly.
'Three days ago, I killed that animal without thinking twice. It was self-defense—survival—but I didn't even think. My body just acted on instinct.'
He moved with determination and raised the sword over his head. His clumsy, slow movements made him shout to gather strength as he brought the blade down in a vertical strike. The noise startled the Boguro, which bolted away, letting out a cry that alerted the rest of its group.
Eden restrained himself and stopped. He lowered the sword, forming a disappointed grimace, and simply watched the group flee.
"Why are you stopping?" Aren shouted. "Do you think they'll all come back or stand still so you can hit them? Go after them!"
He tensed his body and gave chase. He ran straight into the center of the colony, watching them scatter around him. The flapping of wings filled his ears as orange feathers flew in every direction. The Boguro's cry was sharp, but neither painful nor disorienting.
Whenever one passed close, he sprinted toward it and tried a horizontal or vertical slash, but he couldn't land a hit. 'They're so fast,' he thought. He was so clumsy that, at times, they darted right between his legs.
Trying to catch one that passed nearby, he tripped and fell onto the grass, the sword's hilt striking his face. Aren couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Come on, keep trying!" he shouted between laughs.
Nashira cleared her throat sharply, drawing his attention. She stood with her brow furrowed, hands on her hips, giving him a judging look.
"What?" Aren asked. "It was funny."
Eden ran back and forth until all the Boguro retreated into the forest or their burrows. Seeing no one left, he collapsed onto the green grass on his back. His sword lay discarded beside him.
"I couldn't… catch any," he murmured.
Soft footsteps on the grass made Eden open one eye. Aren stood near him, hands on his hips.
"Is that as far as your dream goes?"
"I just need a breather. Then I can keep going for another hour."
"Yeah, sure," Aren replied with a half-smile and that air of irony. "Take it easy. There are plenty of hours of sunlight left. Besides, there's more than one weapon—we'll find the one that suits you best."
Nashira approached and crouched beside Eden, close to his face. She plucked a bit of grass from the ground and placed it on his forehead. He looked at her in confusion, but Nashira simply smiled at him in silence.