The first rays of sunlight crept through the trees as Yuu stepped into the waterfall clearing, Shinrai strapped to his waist. Lirael was already there, standing on the grassy bank with her wings folded neatly against her back. In front of her, she'd arranged a series of wooden posts—some tall and thin, others wide and sturdy.
"You're early," she said, turning to smile at him. "Good. Discipline is as important as skill when it comes to being a guardian."
"I couldn't sleep," Yuu admitted, walking over to join her. "My mind was racing with everything you told me. About Malakor, about the academy, about… being the Blade Guardian."
Lirael nodded thoughtfully. "It's a lot to take in. That's why we'll start simple today. First, we need to help you sense magic—because in Aethermoor, every living thing has a magical signature. Even you, though yours is different from everyone else's."
She held out her hand, palm up. A small, glowing orb of soft green light appeared above it—warm and gentle, like a tiny sun. "This is nature magic—the kind my people use. Can you feel it?"
Yuu focused on the orb, reaching out with his senses the way she'd described. At first, he felt nothing—but then, a faint tingling sensation spread through his fingertips, like static electricity. "I… I think so," he said, surprised. "It feels warm. Like standing near a fire on a cold day."
"Good," Lirael said, letting the orb fade away. "Now, close your eyes."
He did as she asked. "What am I looking for?"
"Not looking—feeling," she corrected gently. "Walk forward a few steps. Trust your instincts."
Yuu took slow, careful steps across the grass. After a few moments, he felt a sharp coolness in the air, like touching ice. He stopped immediately. "There's something here," he said.
"Open your eyes."
When he did, he saw that he was standing just a foot away from a thin wooden post. Lirael had woven a faint blue spell around it—so faint he hadn't noticed it with his eyes, but he'd felt it clearly with his senses.
"Magic affects the air around it," she explained. "Fire magic makes it warm, water magic makes it cool, earth magic makes it feel heavy, and wind magic makes it light. With practice, you'll be able to tell what kind of spell is being cast before you even see it—and that will give you the time you need to dodge or counter it."
For the next hour, Lirael created small spells around the clearing—different colors, different types—and had Yuu walk through them with his eyes closed, identifying each one by touch alone. He made mistakes at first, confusing water magic with wind magic, but slowly, his senses sharpened. Soon, he could tell exactly what kind of spell he was approaching just from the way the air felt against his skin.
"Now for the next part," Lirael said, moving to stand beside one of the taller posts. "You need to learn how to use Shinrai to cut through magic. Watch closely."
She held up her hand, and a thick wall of glowing orange fire magic appeared in front of the post. Then, in one fluid motion, she drew a small silver dagger from her belt and sliced through the wall—it parted like silk, leaving no trace behind.
"Magic has a flow," she said, returning the dagger to its sheath. "If you strike against the flow, the spell will push back. But if you strike with it, you can break it easily. Your sword is special—it doesn't just cut through magic, it absorbs the excess energy and stores it. That's why the first Blade Guardian was able to stand against Malakor's powerful spells."
Yuu drew Shinrai, feeling its familiar weight in his hand. "Show me how to find the flow."
Lirael created another fire wall—this time larger and brighter. "Focus on the spell," she instructed. "Feel its movement. See how it rises and falls, like a wave."
Yuu watched the wall carefully, then stepped forward. He swung Shinrai in a wide arc, following the curve of the fire's movement. The blade sliced through the spell effortlessly, and he felt a small jolt of warmth travel up his arm and into the sword. When he pulled the blade back, the fire wall had vanished completely.
"Excellent!" Lirael said, her eyes bright with approval. "Now try with water magic."
She created a wall of swirling blue water, and Yuu struck again—this time following the spiral pattern of the spell. Once more, the blade cut through easily, and he felt a cool tingle in his hand. They practiced with every type of magic Lirael could summon—earth, wind, light, even a faint touch of shadow magic—and each time, Yuu's movements became more confident, more precise.
By the time the sun was high in the sky, Yuu was sweating and breathless, but he'd never felt more alive. Every swing of the sword felt natural, as if he'd been doing this his whole life.
"We'll stop for now," Lirael said, sitting down on the rock by the pool. "You need to rest and eat—training like this uses a lot of energy, even without magic."
Yuu sat beside her, pulling a small pouch of bread and dried fruit from his pocket. "My parents want me to go to the Royal Academy," he said between bites. "They've been saving money for years so I could have a chance to leave the village."
"I know," Lirael said. "The academy will be a good place for you. You'll learn more about the different types of magic, meet people from all over Aethermoor, and maybe even find other allies who can help us when Malakor returns. Plus, there's a healer's wing at the academy—you could learn about Aethermoor's medicinal plants and combine that with what you know from your old world."
Yuu's face lit up. "You think so?"
"Of course," she replied with a smile. "Your knowledge of medicine could be just as important as your skill with a sword. Not everyone can be saved with magic—and there are some conditions that spells can't fix. Aethermoor needs doctors as much as it needs guardians."
After they'd eaten, Lirael stood up and stretched her wings. "There's one more thing I want to show you today," she said. "Follow me."
She led him through a narrow path in the forest, deeper than he'd ever gone before. The trees grew taller here, their trunks so wide it would take three people to wrap their arms around them. The air was cool and still, filled with the scent of moss and damp earth.
Eventually, they came to a small clearing surrounded by stone pillars covered in ancient carvings. In the center of the clearing was a large, flat stone slab, overgrown with ivy.
"This is a sacred place," Lirael said softly. "It's where the first Blade Guardian trained, thousands of years ago. The carvings on the pillars tell the story of his journey."
Yuu walked over to one of the pillars and ran his hand over the carvings. They depicted scenes of a young man training with a sword, helping villagers, fighting monsters, and finally standing against a huge, horned figure that must have been Malakor. At the bottom of the pillar, there were words carved in a language he didn't recognize—but somehow, he could read them.
"Strength is not in power alone, but in the courage to protect. Wisdom is not in knowledge alone, but in the kindness to share. Hope is not in certainty alone, but in the faith to believe."
Yuu felt a lump form in his throat. These were the same words his grandfather had taught him in his old world, spoken in a language that didn't exist there. "He knew," he said quietly. "The first Blade Guardian—he knew about my world."
"Maybe he was from your world too," Lirael said. "Or maybe the connection between our worlds is stronger than we know. Either way, his legacy lives on in you."
They spent the rest of the afternoon studying the carvings, Lirael explaining what each scene meant. Yuu learned that the first Blade Guardian had also studied medicine, using plants from his world to heal wounds that magic couldn't fix. He'd worked with elves to learn about their healing herbs, with dwarves to create tools that could be used alongside magic, and with fairies to understand how nature could help the sick and injured.
As the sun began to set, they made their way back to the village. Yuu's mind was filled with new ideas—ways he could combine his old knowledge with what he was learning in Aethermoor, ways he could help people both as a doctor and as a guardian.
When he arrived home, he found his parents in the barn, packing crates of supplies. "We're getting everything ready for your trip," Elena said, wiping her hands on her apron. "We've got dried fruit, wheat bread, even some honey for the journey. And Mr. Thorne at the bakery said he'd give you a discount on fresh bread for the road."
Marcus walked over with a large wooden chest. "I made this for you," he said, opening it to reveal a set of sturdy leather armor—light enough to move freely in, but strong enough to protect against cuts and scrapes. "It's not magical, but it's well-made. And I added a special sheath for your sword—so it won't get damaged on the journey."
Yuu touched the armor, his eyes stinging with tears. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I did to deserve you both."
"You're our son," Marcus said simply. "That's all that matters. Whether you can use magic or not, whether you're a farmer or go to the academy—you'll always make us proud."
Over the next two weeks, Yuu split his time between training with Lirael and helping his parents prepare for his journey. He practiced swordsmanship every morning, learning new forms and techniques that would help him fight against magical opponents. In the afternoons, he helped pack supplies, mend fences, and say goodbye to the villagers who had become his family.
Mrs. Willow, the village healer, gave him a leather pouch filled with dried medicinal herbs. "These will help with fevers, cuts, and stomach aches," she said. "And if you find any new plants at the academy, write to me and tell me about them. I've always believed that magic and medicine work best together."
Finn, his best friend since childhood, came to see him the night before he was set to leave. "I wish I could go with you," Finn said, handing him a small wooden carving of a sword. "But someone has to take care of your parents and the farm while you're gone. I promise I'll look after everything."
"Thank you," Yuu said, hugging his friend. "And if you ever need help—if anything happens to the village—send word to me at the academy. I'll come back as soon as I can."
That night, Yuu couldn't sleep. He packed his new armor, his sword, his supplies, and the gifts from the villagers into the chest his father had made. He thought about his old world, about his parents and sister there, and hoped they were okay. He thought about his new world, about Lirael and the danger that was coming, and knew he had to be ready.
As the first light of dawn crept through his window, Yuu stood up and dressed in his traveling clothes. He strapped Shinrai to his waist, put on the leather armor, and picked up his chest. He walked outside to find his parents waiting for him, along with half the village.
They'd gathered to wish him well, bringing food and gifts and words of encouragement. Mr. Thorne had baked a special loaf of bread shaped like a sword, and the children had made him a crown of wildflowers.
Marcus placed a hand on Yuu's shoulder. "Remember who you are, son," he said. "You're kind, you're strong, and you have a good heart. That's worth more than any magic in the world."
Elena pulled him into a tight hug. "Write to us often," she said, her voice soft. "And take care of yourself. We love you."
Yuu nodded, unable to speak for fear of crying. He said his final goodbyes, then turned and walked down the road leading out of the village. As he looked back one last time, he saw Lirael standing at the edge of the forest, her silver wings catching the sunlight. She waved, and he waved back.
The journey to Silverfall City would take two weeks by horseback. Along the way, he'd pass through other villages, cross rivers, and maybe even encounter bandits or monsters. But Yuu wasn't afraid. He had his sword, his knowledge, and the love of everyone he'd left behind.
He was on his way to the Royal Academy of Magic—to learn, to grow, and to prepare for the day when he would have to face Malakor and protect the world that had become his home. The road ahead was long and uncertain, but Yuu was ready.
The Blade Guardian had returned, and his journey was just beginning.