Echoes of a Seraph

After several days of intensive training, Kayn felt his mastery of anima growing stronger with each passing day. The wound on his chest no longer hurt as much as it once had, though occasional sharp pangs reminded him it wasn't fully healed—nothing he couldn't handle. A large scar had formed, one he imagined he could one day boast about.

As he stepped out of the room, his muscles protested with even the slightest movement. Yesterday's training had been particularly grueling. He had to leap between lily pads on a nearby lake, which sank upon detecting the flow of his anima, forcing him to channel energy through his legs to stay afloat. Every failure meant plunging into the freezing water and starting over.

At the entrance, his teacher—he had started recognizing Finn as his master—stood dressed in a simple green tunic, a backpack slung over his shoulder as he carefully adjusted the straps.

"Good morning, Master. Are you heading somewhere?" Kayn asked, surprising Finn as he turned to look at him.

"Good morning, Kayn. I need to visit a nearby village. Now that you're here, our provisions run out faster, and I need to restock."

"I see..." Kayn replied, guilt lacing his voice. He felt he was imposing on Finn's kindness. "If you'd like, I can go instead."

"Maybe another day. This forest is vast, and you could easily get lost. Even I have trouble finding my way home sometimes."

"If you say so..."

Finn stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Kayn's shoulder and looking him directly in the eyes.

"Even if I'm not here, you'd better keep training. If I come back and find you slacking..." A mischievous spark lit his eyes. "Let's just say yesterday's training wasn't one of the tougher ones."

Wasn't one of the tougher ones? I nearly fainted several times, Kayn thought, a shiver running down his spine.

"Don't worry. I'll keep training."

"I hope so." Finn headed toward the door but added before leaving, "I might not make it back in time to cook, so there's leftover soup from yesterday in the pantry. You can eat without me."

Kayn nodded, watching as his master opened the door and disappeared down the path, vanishing among the trees. He closed the door behind him and, stepping forward, felt his foot land on something soft. Frowning, he looked down—it didn't feel like the wooden floor.

He glanced at his feet and saw a worn notebook, its covers stained and now marked with the print of his shoe. Picking it up curiously, he read the title written in black ink:

"Anima Control"

It must have fallen from Finn's bag. Kayn carefully opened the notebook and began flipping through its pages. The first sections were filled with detailed notes on anima control: energy manipulation, concentration, release—all explained with diagrams showing flow routes through the body, accompanied by illustrations to aid understanding.

He continued turning pages, finding descriptions of the very training exercises he'd been doing with Finn. They were explained in intricate detail, including nuances he'd had to figure out on his own. If he'd had something like this during his training, he could have progressed much faster.

Why didn't Finn ever show me this? he wondered, captivated by the notebook's content. It was a complete guide on controlling anima, starting from the basics.

He moved to the sofa and sat down, immersing himself in the reading. He absorbed every word, every diagram, knowing they would be incredibly helpful. Then, a particular title caught his attention:

"Anima Techniques"

Confused, he turned the page and found detailed notes, complex diagrams, and schematics for techniques he'd never seen before. The only one he recognized was the Empty Weapon Technique, which Finn had demonstrated—a method of using anima to harden an object and turn it into a weapon. But the other techniques went far beyond that.

Anima wasn't just for strengthening weapons. It could enhance senses, increase speed and strength, and even create anima explosions.

His heart raced as he carefully examined each technique. Finally, he closed the notebook and looked out the window at the forest beyond.

He knew returning the notebook was no longer an option. He needed to learn these techniques as quickly as possible.

Deep in the forest, Finn moved swiftly. He reached an area where the air grew denser as he ventured deeper, an unsettling feeling raising goosebumps on his skin. The area was shrouded in a thick mist that hung over the trees.

Suddenly, the distant snap of branches caught his attention. He froze, instinctively placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. Nearby bushes rustled violently, and animals darted out, fleeing in the opposite direction. Finn frowned; the forest creatures rarely behaved this way.

A sharp, acrid scent filled his nostrils. As he continued forward, the stench of burning wood and increasing heat forced him to cover his nose and mouth with his sleeve. The scenery began to change—the once-green leaves were now scorched, and the ground was blanketed in ash.

Finally, he emerged from the treeline and was met with devastation: a village consumed by flames. Wooden structures crumbled under the fire. Finn's eyes reflected the inferno as the buildings burned, painting the horizon a hellish red. The crackle of flames and the groaning collapse of beams filled the air with a terrifying symphony.

He crouched beside a particularly large stain, touching the liquid with two fingers and examining it thoughtfully. A sinking feeling settled in his chest. He didn't need long to deduce who was responsible for this destruction.

No screams or signs of life could be heard, only the roar of the fire. Bloodstains marked the ground in multiple places. Finn approached, noting that the blood was still fresh—it hadn't been long since the attack.

Wasting no time, he stood and sprinted back the way he'd come. Branches and bushes blurred past in streaks of green and brown. He had to warn Kayn before it was too late.

Reaching the clearing, he found the boy sitting on the ground, engrossed in his training. Unaware of the elf's urgent arrival, Kayn focused on channeling his anima to a specific point in his body. When he opened his eyes, he noticed his master's presence. With a quick, subtle movement, he tucked a small notebook into his pants pocket. But Finn noticed immediately.

"What do you have there?" Finn asked, raising an eyebrow.

"N-Nothing. I was just practicing," Kayn replied, attempting a casual tone, though his voice betrayed tension.

The elf raised an eyebrow, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Without a word, he extended a hand, and a gust of wind flowed from his fingers. The notebook slipped from Kayn's pocket and landed neatly in Finn's hand.

"Hey!" Kayn protested.

"This notebook..." Finn began flipping through the pages slowly, recognizing the complex diagrams and notes he'd written himself. "Where did you get this?"

His piercing gaze fixed on Kayn, who lowered his eyes nervously. It was the first time he'd seen his master so serious.

"You dropped it when you left earlier. I thought it might help me progress faster. If you'd given me this from the start, I would've improved much more quickly..." Kayn muttered.

Finn closed the notebook with a sharp snap, the sound echoing in the boy's ears like a warning.

"So, you'd rather take the easy way out? Is that what you're telling me?" Finn demanded.

"No, but..."

"You're not ready for these techniques. No matter how quickly you're progressing, you need to master anima control much more thoroughly before attempting to learn them."

"That's not true," Kayn protested, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm ready. If I train a little more, I can do it."

"Really?" Finn tilted his head, eyes locked on Kayn. "Then have you managed to learn or use any of these techniques so far? If so, I'd love to see it."

Kayn clicked his tongue in frustration. The silence that followed was all the answer Finn needed. The elf turned his back, while Kayn clenched his fists in anger. Sighing, Finn glanced at him over his shoulder before stepping closer once more.

"There's no need to rush. You've managed to control your anima in just one week. In such a short time, you've progressed more than many do in years. You have a gift for this, but that doesn't mean you should push yourself to learn too quickly. Sometimes, it's better to take several small steps instead of one giant leap."

"I'm sorry... I thought that the sooner I learned to use this power, the sooner I could face the draconids."

Kayn's words reminded Finn of why he had returned. A tense, ominous atmosphere settled over the clearing. The birds in the trees fell silent, and a heavy stillness blanketed the area. Finn drew the sword at his waist, his gaze scanning the surrounding forest. Kayn, confused, watched him intently.

"What's going on?" Kayn asked.

"You probably noticed I came back empty-handed. The truth is, when I arrived at the trading town, it was completely destroyed—consumed by flames."

Kayn paled at those words, the fate of his village flashing through his mind. The images of his home in flames flooded his thoughts.

"I don't want to frighten you. But it's possible that the fire was caused by—"

Before he could finish, a shadow burst from the forest at superhuman speed. A blue-scaled creature lunged at Kayn with ferocity. The boy barely had time to react, but fortunately, Finn anticipated the attack, intercepting it with his sword.

The creature's claws clashed against the steel, sending a shower of sparks into the air. Finn pushed back with force, deflecting the attack and forcing his opponent to step away, revealing a smile full of sharp teeth as dangerous as its claws.

The impact echoed through the air, forcing both to step back. It was then, with his heart pounding wildly, that Kayn fixed his eyes on the figure emerging from the shadows. A draconid—but not just any draconid. 

"You're…" 

Kayn's voice cracked as he recognized the scar crossing the creature's left eye. It was the same scar his father had inflicted in a desperate attempt to protect him. It was Fafnir. Kayn remembered him vividly. He had killed his mother right before his eyes and had almost taken Kayn's life as well. 

"Well, I see you remember me," Fafnir remarked, raising his bloodied claws to his mouth and licking them with relish. "I see you managed to escape with your life after all. Don't get the wrong idea. If I let you go, it was because I chose to. I don't usually let my prey escape. But… it's not bad to have some fun now and then. I could've done the same with your father, but he was too weak." 

"What did you do to my father?" Kayn growled. 

"Don't worry. He doesn't have to suffer anymore." 

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean he no longer has to suffer being as weak as he was." 

"My father is not weak!" 

Kayn's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, but firm fingers clasped around his wrist. 

"What do you think you're doing?" Finn asked in a calm voice. 

"I'm going to kill him. What do you think?" 

Finn observed Kayn with a serious gaze, seemingly paying no attention to Fafnir. 

"Control your emotions. In your current state, you wouldn't accomplish anything." 

"I don't care! I'm going to kill him!" Kayn tried to push forward, but Finn's grip tightened. 

"If you're truly that determined, I won't interfere. But if you want your father's sacrifice to mean anything, I suggest you don't act so recklessly." 

Kayn, still filled with rage, recognized the truth in Finn's words. With a frustrated sigh, he released his hand from the sword and stepped back, acknowledging his own powerlessness in that moment. Finn gave a faint smile, pleased that Kayn understood, and began to walk toward Fafnir. 

The draconid let out a harsh laugh. 

"So, you need someone to protect you to avoid getting hurt? You're even more pathetic than your father." 

Kayn burned with fury, but he knew that trying to fight would only lead to his death at the hands of the draconid. He clenched his fists tightly, watching Finn's back as the elf moved forward. 

"If you want to reach him, you'll have to get through me first." 

"It's been a while since I faced an elf," Fafnir growled, letting out a sneering laugh. "Well, I suppose it'll be a good warm-up." 

Without warning, Fafnir lunged with the speed of an unleashed beast. His sharp claws gleamed with a deadly light, cutting through the air with a whistle. Finn, instead of preparing for the impact, closed his eyes, relaxing his stance as if surrendering to his fate. 

"Giving up already?" Fafnir mocked, hurtling toward him. "Come on, we're just getting started." 

But Kayn knew exactly what Finn was planning. 

"No, that's…" 

The air around Finn began to stir. Leaves and dust swirled in eddies around him. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, which shone with an intense light. 

"Zenith Style: Shatter Zone." 

In an instant, Finn deflected Fafnir's first strike with an elegant movement of his sword, channeling anima through the blade. The impact created a shockwave that staggered the draconid, forcing him to retreat. But Finn was faster. With a swift slash, he forced his enemy onto the defensive. 

"Damn you!" Fafnir growled. 

Without giving him a chance to recover, Finn advanced, propelled by gusts of wind swirling beneath his feet. Every strike was accompanied by cutting gales that battered Fafnir from multiple directions, creating an unstoppable whirlwind. The sound of metal clashing against scales rang like war bells. 

The draconid tried to fight back, summoning flames that erupted from his hands and launching them in fiery arcs toward Finn. But the elf dodged each attack gracefully, anticipating his moves as if reading his mind. The forest around them lit up with each explosion. 

"Is that all you've got?" Finn taunted, flashing a smile. 

Fafnir roared in fury. His scales began to glow with a reddish hue, and a powerful flame burst from his mouth, spreading like a blazing wave, consuming everything in its path. In response, Finn touched the ground, and a barrier of wind rose before him. The flames crashed against it, scattering into a burst of sparks. 

Seizing the opportunity, Finn slid across the terrain with the speed of the wind. He closed in on Fafnir, unleashing a flurry of precise strikes. The draconid could barely keep up; each impact weakened him further. 

Amid the chaos, Finn glanced toward Kayn. 

"All right, Kayn. Pay attention." 

Finn gripped his sword tightly, channeling anima into the blade. The weapon began to glow with a golden light. He charged at his opponent once more. 

"Zenith Style: Ethereal Cut." 

His sword traced a luminous arc, striking Fafnir's side. The scales cracked, and a grimace of pain distorted the beast's face. He staggered back, panting. 

Kayn watched the battle closely, recognizing Finn's movements as the same ones his father had used. For the first time, he understood what he lacked to master them. 

"I won't let a stupid elf defeat me!" Fafnir bellowed, his eyes blazing with rage. "I'm a draconid! The ultimate species! I cannot lose!" 

"That's what you think," Finn murmured, preparing another attack. But before he could strike, Fafnir concentrated his anima, and pulsating, menacing spheres of flame emerged from his hands. He hurled them at Finn, creating craters in the ground as they exploded. 

Finn leaped, evading the blasts. In mid-air, he twisted his body and channeled the wind beneath his feet, hovering momentarily. From his elevated position, he extended a hand toward Fafnir. 

"Aurora Style: Dawn Arrow." 

A spear of pure light materialized in his palm and shot forward at breakneck speed. The draconid barely dodged it, but the projectile grazed his shoulder. Fafnir fell to the ground, and as he rose, he realized Finn had disappeared. He looked around, bewildered. 

"Where are you, damn elf?" 

Behind him, Finn reappeared in a flash. He pressed the fingers of his right hand against Fafnir's back, right between the scales. 

"Aurora Style: Twilight Touch." 

Anima surged through the elf's fingers, paralyzing the draconid for a few seconds. Fafnir struggled, but his muscles wouldn't respond. 

"What… what have you done to me?" Fafnir roared, straining against the paralysis. 

"It's over." Finn raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow. 

But in an act of sheer willpower, Fafnir broke free with an ear-splitting roar. He turned sharply and, instead of attacking the elf, locked his hateful gaze on Kayn. 

"No…" 

The draconid launched himself with blinding speed toward the young man. His eyes burned with fury. Everything happened in the blink of an eye; there was no time to react. 

Without hesitation, Finn stepped between the draconid and Kayn, taking the full force of the attack. Fafnir's claws sank deep into Finn's side, producing a gut-wrenching sound of flesh and bone being pierced. Finn cried out in pain as blood poured from the wound, soaking his clothes and staining the earth red. 

Even so, a faint smile crossed his face as he looked at Kayn, who was frozen in terror.

"Why...?" he stammered, tears beginning to stream from his eyes.

Fafnir withdrew his claws, letting Finn collapse to the ground with a muffled groan. A crimson stain quickly spread beneath his body, soaking the earth.

"Finn! No, no!" Kayn cried out, his voice breaking. He knelt beside him, trying to staunch the bleeding. "Say something. Finn!"

The draconid panted from the exertion and his wounds, yet he still seemed fully capable of ending Kayn's life with ease.

"I must admit, that mentor of yours was strong," Fafnir said, licking the blood off his claws. "But he was nothing more than a fool. Just like your father. Don't worry, you'll be able to join them soon enough."

Kayn lifted his gaze, his reddened eyes locked onto Fafnir. Fear and fury burned within him, a fire threatening to consume him. He stood up despite his trembling legs. It wasn't just terror that shook him, but a deep anger boiling in his chest.

He knew giving in to his rage wouldn't help. He took a deep breath and gripped his katana, positioning himself between Finn, who could barely move, and the draconid.

"Kayn... run... I'll buy you some time," Finn murmured weakly.

Kayn glanced over his shoulder, taking in the elf's dire state. Finn's words were both a plea and a command. But this time, Kayn refused to flee.

"That's right. Listen to your mentor," Fafnir sneered, taking a step forward. "Run, just like you did last time. Let everyone sacrifice themselves for you, just so you can escape. Try as many times as you like. I'll always find you."

The draconid's words were like venom, bringing back painful memories. Kayn relived the moment he fled his village, leaving his father behind, consumed by guilt and shame. But this time, he wouldn't give in. He wouldn't be the coward who ran while others gave everything.

"I won't."

He pointed his sword at Fafnir and, without hesitation, charged. The katana cut through the air in an arc, aiming for the draconid.

"Pathetic."

Fafnir opened his jaws and unleashed a torrent of flames, forming a fiery circle around Kayn, trapping him in a blazing prison. The heat was suffocating, making it hard to breathe. Thick smoke rose in columns, obscuring the sky.

"Now there's nowhere for you to run," Fafnir declared, approaching slowly. "You should've listened to your mentor and fled while you could."

"I said I wouldn't run."

Kayn stepped back until he felt the searing heat of the fire against his back. The draconid advanced with deliberate steps.

I have to do something, he thought, watching Fafnir close in. Then, he remembered the movements Finn had shown him. This is my only option.

Sheathing his sword, Kayn closed his eyes, ignoring the roar of the flames behind him and focusing solely on the flow of his anima. He directed all his strength to a single point.

As Fafnir approached, the words from Finn's notebook echoed in his mind.

"Zenith Style: created by humans, it was one of the first styles developed. This style is characterized by the power of its techniques but also by the immense concentration they require."

Kayn had pored over the notebook, studying each line carefully. The worn pages crackled under his fingers.

"Zone of Rupture: the user enters a state of hyper-awareness. It not only strengthens their weapon but also heightens their senses, allowing them to counter any attack the moment it enters their range, breaking the adversary's defenses. Using this technique can cause the user to temporarily lose all sensory perception (sight, hearing, touch)."

Fafnir's roar shook his thoughts, snapping him back to reality. The draconid lunged, but Kayn remained still, his eyes closed, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

"Do you think you can fool me?" Fafnir roared, convinced of his victory. His claws aimed directly for the young man's heart, seeking to end him in one blow. "A brat like you can't possibly use that technique!"

Just as the claws were about to strike, Kayn opened his eyes. An intense light radiated from his gaze, an unyielding determination. All the anima he had concentrated within his body surged into his sword. In a fluid, precise motion, he unsheathed the blade.

"Zenith Style: Zone of Rupture."

Time seemed to freeze. The world went silent. Fafnir didn't even have time to react as the sword, enveloped in a radiant energy, sliced through the air with superhuman speed, leaving a luminous trail in its wake. The blade pierced the draconid's tough scales, cutting through flesh and bone with ease. A harrowing scream escaped Fafnir's lips. The force of the impact sent him hurtling several meters away, crashing to the ground with a thundering impact that kicked up a cloud of dust and debris.

Kayn stood still, breathing heavily. His body trembled from the effort and the adrenaline. As the notebook had warned, a darkness enveloped his senses. All sound faded. His vision blurred, and a numbness spread throughout his body. He felt nothing.

The sky darkened, and the first drops of rain began to fall, pattering against the ground in an increasing rhythm. The flames that had surrounded him were extinguished by the water, leaving behind columns of smoke rising toward the clouds.

Kayn closed his eyes, letting the rain cool his face, mixing with the sweat and tears streaming down his cheeks. Silence filled his ears, deaf to the thunder of the approaching storm. He took a deep breath, waiting for his senses to return.

In the distance, Finn lay on the ground, his body exhausted and covered in wounds that the rain began to wash clean. He watched the scene through half-closed eyes, unable to believe what he had just witnessed; this young man, with so little training, had managed to master an advanced technique in mere days.

Sounds began to return to Kayn. The first thing he heard was the pounding of his own heart, followed by the soft whisper of the wind and the patter of raindrops on the earth. Through the veil of rain, he made out Fafnir's figure, lying motionless in the distance. Seeing this, tears welled up once more, blending with the rain coursing down his face.

"With this..." he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion.

He stood still for a moment, allowing the rain to wash away the sweat and blood from his skin.

"I'll finally be stronger."

Finn, watching him, felt a profound sense of admiration and pride. A faint smile graced his pale lips.

"Without a doubt, this boy is a genius," he murmured before losing consciousness.