Chapter 22 - 21 - Echo Initiate
Ashtoria had never trained anyone before. So when Riven asked to be taught how to become a Lawbearer, her first instinct was to reject him. Especially when he kept insisting—shamelessly flattering her and pleading in ways no one had dared before.
And yet... in the end, she couldn’t refuse.
Strangely enough, she didn’t regret it.
Riven wasn’t the first to seek her help, but he was the first to do so with such stubbornness and without an ounce of fear. Most people would kneel, bow, or flee in her presence. But this man... he pressed, demanded, even complained honestly right to her face.
Everyone knew—becoming a Lawbearer required talent. And that talent came in varying degrees. That’s why noble families always tested their children first before granting them training or resources. If their talent didn’t meet expectations, they were abandoned without a second thought.
Ashtoria glanced at Mira, who now lay sprawled in the grass like a corpse. Her breath was ragged, her forehead drenched in sweat. She had only managed to complete 43 push-ups before her arms gave out. It was slightly surprising. But at the very least, she tried.
On the other hand, Riven was now finishing the final part of today’s training: a ten-kilometer run. He was lean, but not frail. From the way he moved—his heavy yet controlled breathing, the stability of his posture—Ashtoria could tell he was used to pushing his body. This level of training would normally break a commoner. Yet somehow, he endured.
As night fell and pale stars lit the sky, Riven finally completed the full training. His body soaked in sweat, his breath coming in hard gasps, he staggered over to Ashtoria and collapsed into the grass beside her.
For a few moments, he simply lay there, eyes fixed on the night sky stretched endlessly above them.
Then, still panting, he asked,
"I’ve done everything... Will you teach me now... how to absorb mana?"