"Huff, huff" Seth breath heavily, something that was now a constant occurrence as he laid tiredly in the ground, and like always Vince was there looming over him, his hands folded.
"Eleven laps around this forest, and you're already breathing like a dying animal tsk, tsk maybe I should increase the intensity of your training to improve your physical state." Vince shook his head.
"No rest yet," Vince said flatly. "You've got combat drills."
Seth groaned. "Can't we save that for tomorrow? Or never?"
Vince dropped a wooden training sword beside him. "The enemy won't wait for you to stop whining, and neither will I."
Reluctantly, Seth pulled himself to his feet and picked up the sword. The weight felt familiar now. He didn't quite remember learning how to wield a sword in this life, but his body moved like it did- muscle memory from a past he wasn't sure he was ready to fully embrace.
They stepped into the open field where the grass had been beaten flat from many such training sessions. Vince took his stance- relaxed, yet razor-sharp. Seth mirrored him, bringing his wooden blade up.
"Let's see how much you remember today," Vince said, eyes narrowing.
And then he struck.
The first blow came fast, but Seth parried it just in time. Sparks of instinct kicked in as he pivoted to the side, avoiding a follow-up strike. Vince didn't let up, launching a quick flurry of strikes meant to test Seth's footwork, balance, and patience.
Seth blocked and dodged, breathing steadily- just like Lin Jie would've. Every clash of their swords echoed across the field. It was a dance- one Seth had lived before in another life, and one he was slowly beginning to relearn.
Vince pushed forward with a sudden, downward strike. Seth sidestepped, spinning low, and swept the legs an unorthodox move, but one that caught Vince by surprise. He stumbled slightly, enough for Seth to press the advantage and go for a thrust.
But just before the tip connected, Vince twisted and disarmed him with a sharp flick of the wrist. Seth's sword clattered to the ground, and in a flash, Vince had his own blade pointed at Seth's chest.
"Not bad," Vince said, lowering his weapon. "That sweep was new."
"Improvised," Seth replied between heavy breaths. "Guess I'm adapting."
Vince gave a small nod, the faintest hint of approval on his face. "Keep that up, and you might actually survive Thornspire."
Seth cracked a grin, brushing the sweat from his brow. "You almost sound like you're getting soft on me."
Vince smirked. "Don't get used to it."
"I'll make a mental note to increase the difficulty of our combat lessons since you're improving so much," he added, this time with a visible smile.
For some reason, that didn't feel like a compliment to Seth. It likely meant broken bones were back on the schedule.
A week had passed, and just as Vince had hinted- whether intentionally or not, Seth had shown noticeable improvement. His familiarity with wielding a sword had grown significantly, a skill made easier thanks to the lingering memories of Lin Jie.
Although he still couldn't properly execute a full sword technique without risking injury due to his lack of sufficient internal force, he had flawlessly memorized the basic movements. They were now etched into his mind, almost second nature.
His greatest improvement, however, was physical. The frail, weakened boy who once struggled to run a few laps without gasping for breath was gone. In his place stood someone with real endurance and even a subtle, growing resistance to cold. Still, when compared to other Force Bearers, his achievements remained average at best.
After absorbing the Force Gathering Pill now part of his daily routine thanks to Vince's constant supply- Seth was preparing to leave, his training for the day complete, when Vince suddenly called out to him.
"There will be no training for the rest of the week. Use the time to thoroughly practice everything I've taught you," he said without warning.
Caught off guard by the sudden announcement, Seth asked, "Why?"
"I need time to prepare a test for you, a revenant hunting test," Vince revealed.
Seth opened his mouth to ask the reason behind this unexpected decision, but Vince cut him off before he could speak.
"Before you ask why, the answers will come in due time- on the day of the test," he added, giving Seth no chance to argue before vanishing into thin air once again.
*****
Not long after, Seth found himself back home with nothing to do. His thoughts wandered back to his earlier interaction with Vince. For some reason, the sudden announcement of the impending test had left him uneasy.
When he had first encountered Vince at the trial grounds, the man had come across as strict, serious, and taciturn. But after weeks of training together, Seth had begun to understand the reserved knight better. Vince was quiet and composed when the situation demanded it, especially around others but with those he was familiar with, he revealed a more cheerful and even caring side.
Seth wasn't naïve enough to think Vince was helping him purely out of kindness or sympathy. It was clear that Vince's actions were tied to some past connection with his father. Still, that didn't mean he had to go the extra mile. Yet he did- and that, in itself, meant something to Seth.
All of this only added to Seth's nervousness about the test. Vince's sudden seriousness was unsettling- because, as he had come to learn, Vince was the kind of person who only got serious when the situation truly called for it.
As Seth pondered what the upcoming test might involve, he was distracted by the rhythmic clacking of hooves and the creaking of a moving carriage.
Turning away from the entrance of his cottage, he found himself facing a luxurious-looking carriage pulled by two brown horses. Seated at the front was a coachman dressed in a sharp, blue-colored uniform.
Seeing the carriage parked before him, Seth couldn't help but wonder what something so extravagant was doing all the way out here in the outer region- especially one bearing the emblem of Blackthorn.
His curiosity didn't last long. Moments later, the carriage door swung open, and a young man, likely around Seth's age, stepped out.
He had jet-black hair and striking red eyes- a common trait among the more distinguished members of House Blackthorn. His attire was finely tailored and unmistakably noble, and despite the afternoon heat, both his hands were gloved in dark leather. Standing just behind him were two armed men, whom Seth quickly identified as bodyguards.
"Hi Seth, it's been a while…" the young man said with a smile.
"Casper," Seth murmured, recognizing the voice.