See Blindly

A Warm Welcome - Part 2

Drystan exchanged a nervous look with Mey, feeling the weight of the situation. He was about to face someone who wasn't just a teacher from the legendary Apprentice's Camp but someone who clearly surpassed him in ability. He knew this, but his pride and determination kept him standing firm. Adjusting his stance, he gripped the sword tighter, trying to steady his breathing and nerves.

Mey, on the other hand, remained calm, fully aware of Drystan's racing heartbeat. Her powers allowed her to read every hesitation, every doubt. As he prepared to strike, she briefly checked on the distant horsemen, now climbing the hill and slowly approaching, still posing no immediate threat. "I'll keep an eye on them," she thought, turning her focus back to Drystan.

Determined to act, Drystan launched forward with a confident strike, aiming for Mey's left side. His movements were strong, but predictable for someone who could anticipate thoughts. Before his sword even came close, Mey had already shifted, effortlessly avoiding the blow.

Undeterred, Drystan pressed on, delivering a series of rapid strikes from varying angles, hoping to catch her off guard. Yet, each time he attacked, Mey was already one step ahead. She danced around his blows with an almost supernatural grace, dodging without even breaking a sweat. For her, the fight wasn't about sword skill — it was about controlling the situation, predicting and reacting before the strike was even made.

Frustrated by his inability to land a hit, Drystan paused, adjusting his stance. This time, he went for a stronger, more precise attack, swinging wide with an arc aimed high, trying to destabilize her. But once again, as if anticipating every detail, Mey ducked gracefully, the attack missing her entirely.

Drystan, breathing harder now, tried a low sweep aimed at her legs, hoping to knock her off balance. Mey responded with a light jump backward, effortlessly avoiding the strike without losing her footing.

Minutes passed, and beads of sweat began to form on Drystan's forehead. He was giving it his all, but nothing seemed to work. Mey remained calm, dodging every attack without ever retaliating. It wasn't a matter of strength or fighting technique — it was simply her advantage of knowing what he would do before he even moved.

Drystan, now panting and visibly exhausted, decided to make one last desperate attempt. He spun quickly, aiming for a surprise strike from below, targeting her legs once again. This time, Mey decided it was time to end the match. She allowed him to complete his motion but, before his wooden sword could make contact, she stepped forward with lightning speed.

In a flash, she delivered a devastating punch straight to Drystan's wooden sword.

The impact was immense.

The sound of the wooden sword shattering echoed across the hill, and a powerful gust of wind followed the force of her strike, tearing up the grass and creating a small crater where Mey had landed her blow. Drystan's sword splintered instantly, and he was thrown backward by the force, flying about ten meters before crashing to the ground. He tumbled, finally landing on his back in the grass, dazed and clutching the broken hilt of his sword, his hair disheveled and his body covered in bits of grass. Despite the fall, he wasn't hurt.

Caelan, who had been watching the entire scene with wide eyes and a huge grin, shouted, "Whoa, Mey! Punches don't count! It was supposed to be a sword fight!"

Mey handed the broken sword back to Caelan with a small smile, while Drystan, still catching his breath and brushing the grass off his body, approached her with a crooked smile. He couldn't deny what had just happened.

"That was... definitely educational," Drystan said, still trying to compose himself, running his fingers through his disheveled hair. "I think that lesson will stick with me for a long time."

Mey smiled softly. "It was a good practice. Both of you have impressive potential." She turned to Caelan. "You have a natural talent, Caelan. Keep training, and you could surpass even the best swordsmen."

Caelan's eyes lit up with pride. "I'm going to train every day, Mey! One day, I'll be as strong as you!"

Mey chuckled quietly, appreciating his enthusiasm. Despite the heavy burden of her journey, there was something touching about Caelan's innocence and determination that stirred something within her.

As they made their way back to the house, the sky was beginning to take on the soft hues of evening. The laughter inside the cozy home contrasted with the quiet peace of the surrounding hills. Mey, now silent, allowed herself to momentarily forget the dangers that lay beyond this refuge, relishing in the rare warmth of companionship and simplicity.

She knew she would have to continue her journey soon, but for now, she permitted herself to enjoy this brief sense of peace.

As they neared the house, the calmness of the environment remained, but Mey was already aware of the approaching riders. Their simple, unassuming thoughts indicated they had no ill intentions. They likely just wanted to speak with Drystan, perhaps about some local issue. However, Mey knew that even if the situation changed, these riders posed no real threat.

Approaching the house, she felt a brief surge of arrogance within herself. She knew that, should anything happen, she could deal with those knights in mere seconds. Controlling the situation was easy, and the thought of always being in control gave her a momentary sense of superiority.

But then, she stopped. She composed herself. Control didn't always need to be so direct. Mey sighed, pushing aside that arrogance, reminding herself that not every situation required a show of power. After all, she was in a place of tranquility, and the simplicity of this moment was what truly mattered.

As they approached the house, they heard a firm knock on the door. Drystan glanced at Mey with a curious expression, and she gave him a slight nod. "They're just city knights," she said calmly. "Here to talk, nothing to worry about."

Drystan nodded and walked toward the door, while Mey remained a step behind. Though she was calm, she knew that if necessary, she was ready.

The door opened, revealing the knights, who did not have an intimidating stance. Mey observed the scene with serenity, knowing that in the end, this place remained safe — because she was there.

Yet, something deeper tugged at her attention, an unseen unease lingering in the background. Though the knights were harmless, she sensed something beyond them, something moving in the shadows, a distant presence that shouldn't have been there.

Her Arcan glowed faintly, as if responding to this sense of unease.