"What was that for?! You dragged me like a damn sack! Why do I have to train too?" he demanded, his voice sharp with protest.
Felicia met his glare with unwavering eyes, her voice calm but resolute. "I won't let you be a burden to Kaivan. You have potential, but your body needs to be sharpened again." Her words fell like hammers striking his pride.
The word "burden" struck Radit hard. His fists clenched, anger sparking. "Burden? You think I'm a burden?" His voice rose. He stepped closer, eyes fierce. "I've never been dead weight. For the record, I've always been reliable!"
In the corner, Kaivan sat silently, watching without much reaction. To him, this was no more than routine training. He failed to grasp the hidden intent behind Felicia's actions, thinking it all just part of practice.
Felicia glanced between Kaivan and Radit, a small smile curling her lips. "Both of you, come at me. I want to see just how far you can go."
Kaivan and Radit's eyes crossed, hesitation lingering, yet there was no turning back. Felicia stood calmly, like a gentle breeze concealing the storm within.
Radit charged first, his anger fueling his strength. His fist shot forward, but Felicia merely dipped her head, twisting lightly before striking his stomach. Not too hard, but enough to shake him. Radit staggered back, coughing.
Kaivan came next from the other side, his leap sharp and quick. Felicia pivoted, lowering her stance before sweeping his legs. Kaivan collapsed, breath stolen from his chest.
"It's not about strength," Felicia said, her voice like dew on a cold morning. "It's about rhythm. About cooperation."
Radit slowly rose, clutching his stomach. "Damn it, shouldn't have smoked earlier," he muttered, half angry, half impressed.
Kaivan remained silent, eyes fixed on Felicia, searching for something he couldn't grasp.
She stood tall, unshaken. "You both have potential. But you're not strong enough yet. In a real fight, there's no room for a single misstep."
Radit looked at her, not with protest this time, but with a respect that was steadily growing. Felicia wasn't just a sparring partner. She was teaching them something deeper: to survive, they had to move as one soul.
This training, no matter how harsh, wasn't for herself. Felicia wanted Kaivan and Radit to become strong, not burdens, but guardians of one another.
In the corner, Kaivan sat on the floor, his breath ragged, sweat dripping down his forehead. Yet his mind wasn't on the ground, it was stirring inside him. Something was awakening from deep within, not pain, but awareness.
"Accelerated thought…" he murmured.
Beside him, the Tome Omnicent slowly opened. Its pages turned on their own, glowing with words:
"When you fainted, your brain's capacity increased by twenty percent. Against Julian, you used it unconsciously."
Kaivan held his breath. A world inside him seemed to unfold. "But… how?" he whispered.
The book answered, its words like a whisper:
"Control it like fear, like adrenaline. When you're afraid, your body grows cold because blood is redirected to vital organs. The brain triggers survival mode. Now, you can access it faster. The world will slow, because your mind will accelerate."
Kaivan read every word carefully. This was more than an ability. It was a miracle. Yet before euphoria could cloud his reason, another warning appeared:
"Without control, this power could destroy your body. A body unprepared may collapse under its weight."
Kaivan clenched his fists. Not out of fear, but from the realization: something inside him had changed. There was no going back.
Dusk painted the sky in hues of copper orange. On the workshop's upper floor, Kaivan stood, his breath heavy but his gaze sharp. Felicia watched him closely, a faint smile curving her lips. Something about him was different, calmer, more resolute.
"Felicia," Kaivan said firmly. "Let's continue."
Felicia raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but didn't object. She crossed her arms. "Are you sure you're ready to get serious?"