The sun was hot that morning.
Eiden stood in the training yard, holding his wooden sword.
He had already finished warm-up drills. His shirt was soaked with sweat, but his face stayed calm.
Other students were chatting, laughing, playing around.
Eiden stood alone—like always.
---
Today's class was sparring.
Instructor Gray pointed at the groups.
"Two by two! Remember what you learned. No real injuries!"
Eiden got paired with someone new.
She stepped forward, her eyes sharp and cold.
Silver hair tied back. Clean uniform. Strong posture.
Elara Frostveil.
Top student. Daughter of a noble family. Known for perfect sword form and zero emotion.
She looked at Eiden without a word.
---
"Start!" the instructor called.
They didn't charge.
They circled.
Eiden's eyes locked with hers.
He saw something strange—not pride, not anger. Curiosity?
She moved first. Fast and smooth.
Slash.
Eiden blocked it with ease.
Another strike—faster this time.
He twisted his body, ducked, and stepped in close.
Their swords touched, and they both froze.
Close range.
Elara's eyes widened slightly. Just for a moment.
Eiden whispered, "You're holding back."
She didn't answer.
---
"Enough!" Instructor Gray called.
The spar ended in a draw.
The class clapped. Some looked confused.
"Elara always wins," someone said.
"How did that guy keep up?"
Eiden walked away, quiet.
Elara stayed still, watching his back.
She touched her sword hand.
"He moved like he saw my attack before it happened," she muttered.
---
Later, during lunch, Eiden sat under the tree again.
He opened his sword manual, pretending to read.
But his thoughts were busy.
"She noticed," he said softly.
"She's watching too closely."
His plan was to stay low. Stay quiet.
But Elara was smart.
She didn't talk much, but she saw everything.
He needed to be careful.
---
That afternoon, another lesson began—monster basics.
They studied beast types and weak points.
Eiden listened carefully.
He had fought monsters bigger than castles in his past life.
But here, he had to act like he knew nothing.
Instructor Gray explained mana cores and monster crystals.
"These are worth money. Hunters use them to rank up. Killing a monster is not just for glory—it's survival."
Eiden nodded.
That night, he stayed up late in the dorm room.
He meditated, drawing mana slowly into his core.
Not enough to glow. Just enough to sharpen his senses.
---
In the dark, he stood and began practicing sword swings.
Slow. Clean. Focused.
Every move was like a spell.
Not flashy. Not loud.
Just... correct.
In the window, moonlight touched his face.
"I won't be weak again," he whispered.
"But I won't be a monster either."
Outside the dorm window, someone watched him from the shadows.
Silver eyes glinted.
Elara turned and walked away.
She didn't say a word.
But now... she knew.