"What are you going to do with those sticks?" Kayn asked, raising an eyebrow.

The elf held one of the branches, letting the other drop to the ground. A gust of wind suddenly began to blow, and the branch in his hand floated, spinning slowly in the air.

"As you can see, I used magic with this branch. Since my affinity is wind, I can make the stick fly. But that's not the important part."

The branch that had been floating descended gently until it landed softly on the ground. Finn picked up another stick from the earth. He held it for a few seconds, and then a golden aura began to surround it, shining brightly for a moment. Kayn watched, impatient, to see what would happen this time. However, after a few seconds, the light faded, and the branch remained unchanged.

What did you do?" Kayn asked, examining the stick closely. "I don't see any changes."

"If that's what you think, take it and throw it at that tree over there," Finn said, handing him the stick.

Kayn frowned, doubtful. He didn't understand what Finn intended. Surely, the branch would break upon impact. Even so, he took it and hurled it with force toward the trunk ahead. The result was not what he expected.

To his surprise, the fragile branch had embedded itself entirely in the tree, sinking into the wood as if it were a blade of steel. Kayn turned to Finn, seeking answers.

"How did you do that?"

"I imbued the stick with my own anima. It's a technique known as the 'empty weapon technique.' Thanks to anima control, you can strengthen almost any object, imbuing it with great power. Even a simple stick can become a lethal weapon, as you've seen."

"That's so cool!" Kayn exclaimed excitedly. "So, can I do it too?"

"Of course you can," Finn replied, focusing his anima in his hand, which began to glow as before. "This energy flowing through our bodies allows us to enhance our physical abilities. A strong anima also boosts magic. Over time, different schools of anima control have emerged, developing techniques that, even today, can rival magic itself."

"I want to learn to use that power too."

"Are you sure? The training will be very hard, and you might not even get results."

"I'm willing to risk my life if it means becoming much stronger," Kayn replied with determined eyes. "I didn't obtain a guardian in the binding ceremony. If this is all I have left to get stronger, then I'll do it."

"I like your attitude. I'll be happy to be your mentor."

Kayn nodded enthusiastically, though he hesitated for a moment. He stared at Finn's pale face and pointed ears. His excitement had made him forget who stood before him.

"Are you really okay with this?" Finn tilted his head, not fully understanding the young man's question. "I'm human, and you're an elf. We're supposed to hate each other. Does it really not bother you to train me?"

Finn remained silent for a few moments, letting the quiet settle. Then, suddenly, he burst into laughter, leaving Kayn confused.

"Are you really asking me that after I saved you?" Finn said, smiling. He approached Kayn and placed a hand on his hair. "I've never believed in that discrimination against other species. And I'm sure you don't either."

"No…" Kayn admitted, feeling a bit ashamed. "So, where do we start?"

"Running."

"Huh?"

Before he could process it, the elf disappeared in a gust of wind that rustled Kayn's hair. Blinking in confusion, he spotted Finn far off in the green plain.

"You won't begin until you catch me!" Finn shouted from the distance.

"What?!" Kayn exclaimed.

Without wasting another second, he took off after him. The fresh grass crunched under his boots as his feet pounded the ground with determination. The morning sun bathed the landscape, and a gentle breeze caressed his face.

He used to run with his father every morning as part of their training. His endurance was good, and his legs were used to the effort. However, chasing Finn felt like trying to catch the wind itself. The elf moved with swift, fluid motions, barely touching the ground.

"How can he be so fast?" Kayn wondered, pushing himself to run faster. His lungs burned, but he refused to give up. The gap between them seemed insurmountable. Finn occasionally turned back, throwing playful glances that spurred him to keep going.

Finally, Kayn managed to get close, but just as he was about to reach him, Finn somersaulted backward, leaving Kayn staring up at the sky. Finn took off running again, leaving the young man stunned.

"Get back here!"

As they continued, the landscape changed. They passed a winding river, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the sky and birds flying in formation. They crossed an old wooden bridge that creaked under their weight. Forest animals peeked out from the bushes to watch the unusual race.

Exhaustion eventually overcame Kayn. His legs grew heavy. Unable to continue, he stumbled and fell to his knees, planting his hands on the ground to catch his breath. He let himself collapse onto the soft grass, staring up at the clear sky.

Finn stopped a few meters away, turning back with a serene smile on his face. He walked calmly toward Kayn, as if he hadn't been running at all, and stopped in front of him.

"You're a cheater," Kayn managed to say between gasps, lifting his gaze to meet the elf's eyes. "I'm sure you were using magic. There's no way you're that fast."

Finn smiled, clearly enjoying Kayn's frustration. His carefree demeanor reminded Kayn a little of his father.

"Good observation. I've been using wind magic to propel myself. I thought it would make it easier for you to catch me if I did that instead of strengthening myself with anima."

Wait, he could go faster than that? Seriously?

"Anyway, I never intended for you to catch me," the elf added, sitting down on a nearby rock. "I just needed to tire you out a bit."

"Why would you need me to exhaust myself before training? That makes no sense."

Finn interlocked his fingers, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Before we begin, you need to understand something fundamental," he said, placing a hand on his chest. "Anima is a radiant energy that resides in our bodies and flows through us at all times. Even right now, it's dispersed everywhere."

"Flowing through my body?" Kayn murmured, holding his hands in front of his face and examining them curiously. "I don't see anything."

"Don't worry, you will," Finn replied. "As I mentioned earlier, when anima isn't infused with mana, it's much more unstable. To use this power properly, you need to keep it under your control at all times. And the first step is to become aware of your anima. In other words, you need to feel it if you want to use it."

"Feel it? How am I supposed to do that?"

The elf stood up, extending a hand to help Kayn rise.

"Humans have a natural aptitude for this, so I don't think it'll be too difficult for you. We'll start with a simple exercise." He pointed to a large rock beneath the shade of a nearby oak tree. "First, I want you to sit there."

Kayn took Finn's hand and stood up, his legs still trembling slightly. He walked to the rock and settled onto it, feeling its cold, smooth surface beneath him.

"Now close your eyes and focus on your senses. Try to feel the energy flowing within you. Don't worry if you can't sense it right away—this is just the first step."

Obeying, Kayn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. At first, he only noticed the air filling his lungs, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and the gentle whisper of the wind brushing against his skin. But after a few minutes, something else began to emerge. A warm sensation coursed through his body, startling him and causing him to lose focus. Surprised, he opened his eyes.

"Well?" Finn asked, watching him closely. "Did you feel it?"

"Yes… It was like a faint flame warming me from the inside."

"Congratulations. You've managed to sense your anima."

"That was easier than I thought," Kayn said, a hint of arrogance creeping into his voice. Finn didn't seem bothered.

"Don't get too comfortable. The real training starts now," Finn murmured with a mischievous smile Kayn didn't notice.

"Now that you've sensed your anima, the next step is learning to control it without losing focus. To do this, I need you to compress all that energy into a single point in your body. For now, try to gather all your energy in one place. You'll need to maintain it for a full minute."

Kayn nodded and closed his eyes again. He tried to feel the warm sensation from before. The energy began to move within him, swirling like a turbulent river flowing in multiple directions. Controlling it proved more challenging than he had anticipated. He took a deep breath, attempting to calm the storm.

He began guiding the anima to a single point, forming a luminous sphere within himself. However, the energy wavered and fluctuated as if it had a will of its own, resisting his control.

"I think I almost have it…"

A sudden sharp pain in his head shattered his concentration. The blow caught him off guard, destabilizing his anima. The energy dispersed chaotically through his body, leaving him breathless and staggering forward.

"What are you doing?" Kayn exclaimed, rubbing his head and glaring at Finn in disbelief.

"You mustn't lose focus for even a second. If I see your anima starting to become unstable, even slightly, I'll hit you. Understood?"

"Couldn't you have told me that before you hit me?" Kayn protested.

"What fun would that be?"

The sun climbed higher in the sky as Kayn repeated the exercise over and over, failing each time and earning another hit from Finn. Fatigue began to take its toll, but he refused to give up.

At one point, he felt he was close to succeeding. His breathing was heavy, and sweat dripped down his forehead, but he remained focused. Finn stood beside him, watching closely for any sign of fluctuation in his anima. Just as Kayn thought he had finally succeeded, the energy wavered for a moment.

Damn it.

"Twenty seconds."

Without hesitation, Finn delivered another blow, this time to Kayn's abdomen. The impact completely disrupted his concentration, causing his anima to scatter violently throughout his body.

"I almost had it!" Kayn shouted in frustration. He struggled to stand, searching Finn's face for some hint of approval, but found only the same impassive expression.

"That's enough for today," Finn said, standing up from the rock he'd been sitting on. "You've been overusing your anima."

"What are you talking about? I'm fine."

He tried to get to his feet, but his legs gave out beneath him. Exhaustion coursed through his body, forcing him back to the ground.

"See? That's what happens when you fail to control your anima's flow. It escapes your body without serving any purpose, draining your energy. Before you can wield that power, you need to control it so nothing goes to waste." Finn turned, heading toward the house. "Come on, you'd better rest. That wound of yours won't heal if you keep pushing yourself."

Kayn watched Finn's back as he walked away. He knew the elf was right, but frustration and fatigue clouded his thoughts. Accepting defeat, he decided it was best to stop for now.

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold. Kayn pushed open the door to the house, and a warm, comforting aroma enveloped him, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. He had been too focused on training to think about food.

He collapsed into a chair at the worn wooden table. Finn approached and placed a steaming bowl of stew in front of him, much like the one he'd had that morning.

"Eat something. You need to regain your strength."

Kayn nodded silently, taking the spoon with trembling hands. The warm steam brushed against his face, but before taking his first bite, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. He remembered dinners with his family, the shared laughter, and the warmth of home—now distant echoes. A hollow ache settled in his chest. He lifted his gaze and saw Finn sitting on the old sofa, a newspaper in his hands.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Kayn asked.

"Don't worry about me. You worked hard today, so you need it more than I do. Besides, I'm not that hungry."

"It's still not enough," Kayn muttered, stirring the stew as he watched the chunks of meat and vegetables swirl in the broth. "I need to push myself harder."

"You shouldn't pressure yourself so much. Controlling your anima isn't something you can master overnight."

A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the crackling of the fire. Kayn sighed, glancing at the dancing flames and losing himself in thought. After a moment, he spoke without taking his eyes off the fire.

"There's something I've been wondering... Why do you live here alone? I thought elves usually lived together in hidden forest villages."

Finn stared at the newspaper for a few seconds, seemingly ignoring Kayn's question. Finally, he set it aside, leaning back against the sofa.

"I used to live in an elven village not far from here. But that was a long time ago."

"Why did you leave?"

"We simply didn't share the same views. I felt that if I stayed any longer, I would regret it sooner or later," Finn replied.

Kayn remained silent, sensing he had touched on a sensitive topic, but he still wanted to know more about Finn.

"Did you ever think about going back?"

Finn sighed, looking out the window where the first stars were beginning to appear.

"I tried, but the place I left behind no longer exists. I have no idea what happened to my companions. Maybe the village was destroyed, or they moved to another forest. Perhaps it's better this way. I don't mind how things are now."

Kayn nodded, understanding Finn's situation. He set aside his questions and focused on finishing his stew. When he was done, he stood and headed toward the door leading to the bedroom. Before crossing the threshold, he glanced back at Finn.

"Good night."

"Rest well," Finn replied, setting down the newspaper. "Tomorrow will be another tough day."

Kayn offered a faint smile and nodded. He stepped through the door and entered the bedroom. The space was simple but cozy: a bed with thick blankets, a small window letting in the moonlight, and a table with an unlit candle.

He sank onto the mattress, feeling every muscle protest from the day's training. Closing his eyes, his mind remained active, replaying the events of the day.

"Tomorrow, I'll get it right."