Chapter 36 – Private Practice (Part 4)
Chapter 36 – Private Practice (Part 4)
Another two slipped by like water through open fingers. Zane's relentless training continued in silence, the only sounds echoing across the balcony being the sharp swish of his blade and the soft hiss of displaced air. Fiora, having stopped giving instructions a while ago, simply watched from a distance.
Zane had entered what could only be described as a trance—a state where his mind, body, and instincts moved in harmony, completely immersed in the rhythm of repetition and refinement. It was an unrelenting process, yet strangely graceful, like watching a flame grow steadily fiercer with every breath of wind.
And it was working.
At a pace that made even Fiora narrow her eyes.
'He's still not there yet... But at this rate...' she thought, eyes fixed on him. 'With how fast he's improving, it won't even take a week before he reaches a level that normally takes years. This is absurd.'
Even thinking it felt like a joke. That kind of progress was unheard of, even among the most talented knights in training. And yet, here Zane was—slowly but surely brushing up against the borders of elegance and mastery.
Fiora let out a faint breath, barely audible. "What kind of monster is this kid..." she murmured under her breath.
Everything about him was an enigma—from his striking red eyes to his ability to pick up skills like he'd been born for them. She recalled the records she'd looked over the night before: a poor, ordinary boy from nowhere. Mother dead. No other family. No known affiliations. A quiet, broken upbringing hidden beneath a mature shell.
That sorrow... the one lingering in his eyes—it made sense then.
'To grow this strong mentally, this fast... that kind of strength doesn't come without pain. Without hardship.' Her gaze softened just slightly. 'You've seen more than most ever will, haven't you?'