Season 1 – Chapter 7: Friendly Duel

  Night quietly fell over the forest, and the small camp Akira and Yuki had made was illuminated by the faint glow of a crackling fire, its flames shifting gently in the wind. The scent of smoke and dry grass spread through the air, blending with the chill of the evening. Akira sat on one of the stones near the fire, elbows resting on his knees, thoughtfully watching the orange sparks rise toward the sky.

  Lately, he had often reflected on everything that had happened since he arrived in this world—the dangers they had survived, the training, the battles, and Yuki, who had become his first true companion in this unfamiliar land.

  Yuki sat a few meters away, wrapped in a thin cloak, her knees drawn to her chest. Her eyes were fixed on the fire, but her thoughts were far away. Though she tried to appear calm on the outside, a silent battle raged within her. Memories of the past—of people who had hurt her, of moments when she had been helpless—returned again and again. The world they lived in was not merciful, and she knew that trust could be a dangerous thing.

  One sentence echoed in her mind: “What if he changes one day… what if he shows his true face… what if I’m not safe beside him…”

  She didn’t want to doubt Akira. He had helped her and saved her life. But fear was stronger than reason. She was afraid that if she grew too attached, she would be hurt again.

  Unintentionally, Akira caught fragments of those thoughts. His mind-reading ability sometimes activated on its own, especially when emotions were strong. He sensed her insecurity, her fear, and her confusion, but he couldn’t understand the true cause. A feeling of discomfort formed in his chest—he didn’t want her to suffer, yet he didn’t know how to help.

  “Yuki,” he said softly, breaking the silence, “you seem lost in thought tonight. Is something bothering you?”

  She flinched slightly and quickly lowered her gaze.“No… I’m just tired,” she replied, forcing a small smile.

  But in her heart, a decision had already formed. If she was going to continue traveling with him, she needed to know how strong he truly was. She needed to know whether she could stand against him if she ever had to. She needed to make sure she wasn’t completely helpless.

  The next morning, as the sun barely began to filter through the treetops, Yuki was already standing in a small clearing, holding a wooden staff. Her face was serious, her eyes determined. Akira stepped out of the shelter and looked at her in confusion.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Good morning… what are you doing?” he asked.

  “I want us to train,” she said firmly. “I want a friendly duel.”

  Akira raised his eyebrows in surprise. “A duel? Where did that come from?”

  “I need to become stronger,” she answered quickly. “I don’t want to depend on you forever.”

  But in her mind echoed the truth: “I need to know if I can defend myself from him… I need to know how dangerous he is…”

  Akira did not read those thoughts. His mind was calm, without any intention of using his ability. He saw only a girl who wanted to improve.

  “Alright,” he said after a brief pause. “But promise me we’ll stop if someone gets hurt.”

  Yuki nodded.

  They stood facing each other in the clearing. The wind rustled through the leaves, and the silence became almost tangible. Yuki moved first—fast and decisive—using techniques she had trained for years. Instinctively, Akira activated his ability, copying parts of her movements and adapting them to his body.

  The fight lasted longer than he expected. Yuki was persistent, precise, and brave, but Akira’s abilities gave him the advantage. As the duel continued, he predicted her moves more easily, copied her techniques more smoothly, and combined them with his own strength.

  At one point, he exploited a small opening in her guard, knocked the staff from her hands, and pinned her to the ground—firmly, but without hurting her.

  “It’s over,” he said, breathing heavily. “I won.”

  Yuki lay on her back, staring at him with wide eyes. Her heart pounded violently, her breath uneven. She felt no physical pain—but she felt fear.

  “He’s so strong… he could break me… I’m completely helpless…”

  Akira noticed her expression and immediately stepped back.

  “I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I didn’t mean to go too far. Are you okay?”

  “I am…” she answered softly, though her voice trembled.

  That evening, Yuki was withdrawn and quiet. Akira tried to start conversations, but she responded briefly. When night fell and he drifted to sleep from exhaustion, Yuki quietly stood up. She packed her belongings, fighting back tears.

  She approached where Akira was sleeping and watched him for a long time.

  “I’m sorry…” she whispered. “You mean too much to me for me to risk being afraid of you one day.”

  She turned and disappeared into the darkness of the forest, carrying with her fear, confusion—and a hidden love.

  I apologize for not publishing the chapter yesterday, even though I said I would. I’ll do my best to post more consistently and be more precise with my schedule moving forward.

  AnimeKing980