As the horizontal Wind Slash flew through the air, it struck the tree near the middle—but it wasn't strong enough to cut it through.
Icarielstumbled back and fell onto the ground, frustration written all over his face. "That's the 32nd time I've failed. Damn it…" he muttered.
The sun was already leaning toward the afternoon sky.
"Don't be impatient," the voice said calmly. "Look at the middle of the tree—exactly where I told you to cut. Focus only on that point. Don't worry about your surroundings—your White Sense handles that for you. Your only job is to cut. There. Nothing else."
Icariel clenched his jaw.
"Yeah, I know but like you said...I've got White Sense—and I can draw in mana while casting. So why shouldn't I just go all out every time? What's the point in holding back?"
The voice paused for a moment, then relented.
"Fine. If your Wind Slash isn't strong enough when you control the mana output, then try casting it with as much power as you can. Let's see what happens."
Icariel stood up again, dusting himself off.
"Nice." His lips curled into a sharp grin.
He locked his eyes on the middle of the tree, inhaled slowly, and let the mana flood into his body.
With one clean, focused motion, he swung his arm.
FWWHH—The Wind Slash sliced forward, hitting the tree exactly where the voice had instructed.The tree shuddered—then cracked in half and fell to the forest floor.
"I did it!" Icariel called out. "See? That's way better!"
But then—crack… crack… crash!
Four more trees toppled over beside the one he'd meant to hit.
"Oh… shit."
Silence.
Then, suddenly, the voice asked something unexpected:
"Tell me. Will you always live alone?"
Icariel blinked. "What?"
"Even though you're too young to think about that… being lonely—it's fearful, isn't it?"
Icariel looked down, brushing dirt off his fingers."…I guess so. If I didn't have you, I think I would've been crushed already by everything that's happened."
The voice continued:
"Then think about this. What if, in the future, you find yourself in a real fight… and you're not alone? What if your allies or friends are close to your enemy—and the only way you know how to cast Wind Slash is like this? Powerful, uncontrolled. Sure, you'll kill your enemy…"
"…But you'll kill your friends too because you couldn't control and master it."
Icariel stood there, frozen in place. The thought was unsettling.
He'd always valued his own life above all. He knew he feared death deeply—had always done whatever it took to survive. If others were beyond saving, he could accept that. Even if they could maybe be saved, he still wouldn't want to risk his own life to make that possible.
But… to kill them himself, even unintentionally? To take someone he cared about down with an enemy?
He saw Fin's face. Galien's. Irena's smile—even in death. Thinking sacrificing them like that.
He couldn't do something that heartless.
At least… not yet.
"I don't have that kind of resolve," Icariel muttered, eyes still on the fallen trees. "And you know that."
"I do," the voice said softly. "That's exactly why I'm telling you this—and why I'm training you like this. So if a situation like that ever happens, you won't make such a mistake."
The voice paused briefly before continuing.
"Unlike your flame spells, which are deadlier in raw damage, they need time to spread. Flames start small and grow over time. Your water spell? It only kills if someone is successfully trapped inside. You have full control over it."
"But the Wind Slash? You've already seen what it can do."
Icariel nodded slowly.
"That's why I told you to go all out earlier. When you pour more mana into the slash, the power increases—but so does the range and the speed. That's what makes it dangerous."
"In this scenario,"the voice continued, "you'll train the three key elements: speed, aim, and power. You already nailed the aim when you cut that tree exactly where I told you. So let's keep going."
A faint smile curved on Icariel's lips. "You never teach me something useless."
"Never," the voice replied. "Now," it added, "give the spell only half the mana you used before. Focus on your aim this time."
"Fine."
Icariel focused, summoning the mana but holding back. He extended his hand toward another tree and cast the spell with precision.
Fshhh—
A horizontal, thinner Wind Slash flew out—smaller but sharp.
Crack—
The tree split at the center and dropped cleanly to the ground.
"See?" the voice said. "It's not hard when you're patient. And when you respect what your power is capable of."
Icariel nodded, eyes narrowing with renewed focus.
"Now," the voice said, "focus on the places I tell you to hit. Let's refine your precision."
"Yes," Icariel answered.
And so, two days passed.
The boy trained nonstop, sweat clinging to his face, arms sore, but his aim improving.
Then the voice spoke again. "Now. The branch to the left. The middle of the tree on your right. And the tree behind you—cut it at the bottom."
Without hesitation, Icariel moved, shifting position swiftly as he cast his spells.
Fsshh— Fshhh— FSHHH—
Three clean Wind Slashes cut through the air. They weren't too large—but sharp and deadly. Each slash hit the exact mark the voice had given him.
"Perfect." The voice sounded satisfied. "You've now mastered the aim and power control of the Wind Slash. The last part of your training—will be about speed."
"Speed?" Icariel tilted his head.
"That's right" The voice grew more serious now. "You will learn to control the speed of your slashes. One spell slower. One spell faster. You'll launch them together—and have the faster one catch up to the slower one."
"That sounds… kinda crazy."
"Exactly. It'll be your trump card—something no one will see coming."
"So… how do I do it?" Icariel muttered, eyes narrowed.
"Easy," the voice in his mind replied calmly. "You remember how fast, strong, and wide your Wind Slash became when you unleashed it at full power and cut down five trees at once?"
Icariel nodded.
"Now that you've gained full control over the spell's output, here's what you're going to do. Attack a tree with a controlled Wind Slash. The second you do, immediately follow it up with another full-powered Wind Slash. Can you do it?"
"I'll try," Icariel said, exhaling.
He focused. One hand raised, palm open. He locked his aim onto a tree.
Fshhh—A controlled Wind Slash shot forward—clean, precise.Then, without even a breath in between, Icariel cast again.
Fshhhhh—A second, much wider and faster Wind Slash roared through the air.
The two spells raced side by side for a brief moment—then collided midair just before reaching the tree. The clash made a chaotic mess, disrupting both slashes, scattering wind wildly in all directions.
"They canceled each other out," Icariel noted, watching the tree still standing.
"Exactly," the voice said.
"That method can be used as a bluff. With precise calculation of distance and timing, the spell will vanish before impact—confusing your opponent. But that's not your trump card."
"Then what is?"
"Now," the voice said, "cast the controlled spell again—but this time, feed it a bit more mana. Make it slightly stronger and faster. Then unleash your full-power version right after, just like before."
Icariel steadied his breath and did exactly that.
Fshhh—The first slash—sharper than before—cut through the air with speed and accuracy.
Fshhhhh—The full-powered slash followed, only a hair slower.
The first slash reached the tree first, slicing it perfectly at its center.
A split second later, the second one hit the same cut—but widened it dramatically, ripping the tree apart and sending fragments flying.
"Amazing…" Icariel said, panting heavily.
Even though his mana was replenishing thanks to White Sense, the toll on his body was clear. Muscles ached. Sweat ran down his chest. His breathing was ragged.
Still… the result was worth it.
"This is a real trump card," he whispered.
"For the next two days, you'll train that technique—refining how you use it in different situations. And more importantly, getting your body used to the toll it takes." the voice replied.
"As you said," Icariel nodded. "Just… let me breathe a little first."
Time passed.
The next day came. The sun rose high and bright.
And the day fell into night.
Shirtless, with a skinned rabbit in his hand, Icariel walked slowly through the moonlit forest. The light from the full moon bathed the trees in silver. The sky was cloudless, clear, and beautiful—full of glittering stars.
"Tomorrow's the last day of training," he said to himself.
"And I've managed to learn the speed technique of Wind Slash. Water won't work the same way… but with Flame Spear, I think it's possible. I'll need to test it later."
Then—A sound.
A scream.
Sharp. Distant. Real.
Icariel's body froze.
"What was that?"
He turned his head sharply in the direction of the sound, eyes focused, every sense alert.