Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

The sun was high in the sky, casting its golden rays over the vast plain. It was the third day of training, and Kael felt the accumulated fatigue in his muscles, but something different was driving him forward. Adalric was not just a strict trainer; he was a mentor who understood the depth of Kael's potential, and the young man was beginning to realize how much this was changing him.

"Let's go... like before," Kael breathed deeply, gripping the axe firmly. Before him stood a large tree, its trunk thick and resilient. He had faced trees before, but today was different. Today, he knew the true test was not strength, but control.

Adalric stood beside him, observing carefully. The Fourth Sword King didn't say anything, just crossed his arms, his penetrating gaze following every movement of Kael. The silence between them was almost as heavy as the responsibility Kael felt.

He adjusted his stance, grounding his feet firmly into the earth. He raised the axe, but before attacking, he closed his eyes for a moment. It wasn't about applying strength to the strike, but about finding balance between the blade and the movement.

When the axe came down, there was no thunderous impact as he expected. Instead, the sound was almost nonexistent, like a whisper. He opened his eyes, furrowing his brow. The tree stood there, unmoved, as if nothing had happened.

"Did I... fail?" Kael asked, looking at Adalric in confusion. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

Adalric smiled, a satisfied expression he rarely showed. He walked up to the tree, raising a hand and gently touching the trunk. As soon as his fingers made contact, the trunk slid smoothly to the side, falling in a perfectly clean cut. The sound of it hitting the ground reverberated across the plain.

Kael stood in awe, staring at the fallen trunk and then at the smooth cut on the remaining part of the tree. He touched the edge with his fingertips, surprised by the precision. It was as if the wood had been divided by an invisible blade.

Adalric laughed, pleased. "You didn't fail, Kael. That's control. Raw strength knocks down trees in an explosion of debris, but true mastery creates cuts that don't even disturb the balance."

Kael swallowed hard, feeling a mix of pride and disbelief. "I... I didn't think I was capable of something like this."

"Of course you are. The strength has been inside you from the beginning. My role here isn't to create something new in you, but to help shape what already exists." Adalric crossed his arms, looking at Kael with intensity. "Do you think cutting trees is the final goal? No. It's just a step to learn how to apply this in any situation, whether in combat or life."

Kael nodded slowly, absorbing the words. He looked back at the cut on the tree, the precision almost hypnotizing. Adalric was right. It wasn't just a physical exercise; it was a lesson in balance, in the power of controlling one's own strength.

Kael absorbed Adalric's words as his eyes remained fixed on the perfect cut in the tree. The precision was almost mesmerizing, and for the first time, he began to understand that true mastery over his strength wasn't something so distant. Adalric's confidence in his potential made him feel more capable, but also left him with a slight sense of foreboding.

"One more time?" Kael asked, pointing to another tree nearby.

Adalric laughed, shaking his head. "Not this time, kid. The perfect cut is just the beginning. Now that you've achieved balance, it's time to take this to a new level."

"Huh?" Kael frowned, confused. "But we only have one day left until we reach Azalith."

"Exactly," Adalric said with a smile that Kael was beginning to recognize as the prelude to trouble. "And that's why the next step of your training starts now."

"And what would that step be?" Kael asked, though he already suspected he wouldn't like the answer.

Adalric crossed his arms, his smile widening almost maliciously. "From now on, you'll be solely responsible for dealing with any threat that crosses our path. Magical beasts, creatures from the forest, or even foolish bandits trying to rob us. Everything will be your responsibility."

Kael blinked, surprised. "You want me to face everything alone? What if something really dangerous shows up?"

Adalric shrugged. "Then you'll have the chance to find out just how well your training is working. This is the only way to test your skills and reinforce what you've learned. Oh, and just to make sure it's challenging..." He paused, the smile on his face now almost cruel. "We'll take the most dangerous route."

Kael fell silent for a few seconds, processing what he had just heard. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"I've never been more serious," Adalric replied. "Of course, we'll be watching, but don't count on help unless you're about to die. Until then, you're on your own."

As always, Umbra appeared with his impeccable timing, laughing in the background. "This is going to be fun to watch. I hope you're ready, Kael. Looks like you just became the main attraction."

Kael sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a moment to gather courage. He knew complaining would be useless; Adalric didn't seem like the type to change his mind easily.

"Alright," Kael said, finally opening his eyes. "I accept." He took a deep breath before continuing. "However, I want a place to stay when we get to Azalith. I don't know anything about that place."

Adalric crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow before smiling. "I was already planning on taking you with me, you fool. You really think I didn't put the pieces together? You're going to study in Azalith, aren't you?"

Kael hesitated, surprised by how quickly Adalric had reached that conclusion. "Y-yeah..." he responded, a bit flustered.

Before silence could settle in, a sharp voice, full of irritation, echoed across the camp. "HUMPF! I KNEW YOU WERE HIDING SOMETHING!"

Both men froze for a moment, their heads turning toward the sound. Irelia stood a few steps away, arms crossed and an expression that mixed irritation and indignation. Despite that, her posture carried something almost adorable, like a child throwing a tantrum.

"Irelia?" Adalric asked, raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be resting?"

"I knew you two were plotting something!" she accused, completely ignoring Adalric's question. Her eyes were fixed on Kael. "And you! You're going to the Azalith Academy and didn't say a word? I thought we were travel companions!"

Kael was left speechless, the intensity of her little outburst catching him off guard. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I... It's not like I was hiding it on purpose. I just didn't think it was that important."

"Not important?" Irelia repeated, clearly offended. "And how do you think I feel, knowing you're going to study at the same place as me and didn't say a word?"

Adalric let out a low laugh, clearly enjoying the situation, but he wouldn't be around for long. "Enjoy yourself, liar!" he said, disappearing, leaving Kael alone with the girl who looked like she was about to breathe fire.

"You're going to explain yourself!" she said, her voice shaking with frustration.