Hello, everyone!

I apologize very much for the late post. I ended up being dragged around for most of the day, and so was unable to post until today.

I am also pleased to inform you that this story now has its own website: https://sorashiroublog.wordpress.com/

...which also has something to do with the late post.

I will be uploading the chapters to both of these sites from now on.

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The Thunder Cat growled: a deep rumbling sound which was true to its name. It was growing more and more annoyed that its attacks were being frustrated at each turn.

Thera watched it carefully as she ran.

It looked elegant as it ran, more like it was dancing, than running. The steps were quick, but Thera still saw a pattern begin to emerge.

Circular motions…circles? No, more like three-quarter and half circles. As Thera watched, she started to copy its way of running.

As she faced a tree ahead of her, she thrust out her foot as if she would go straight through it, and then thinly dodged around it using a half-circle step.

The Thunder Cat launching itself at her again. This time, Thera was a bit too slow. The tips of its claws grazed her arm, sending a painful jolt through her body.

This is no good. I need to concentrate more, and get faster, or else I won't be able to keep dodging the attacks.

Thera focused upon the stepwork, copying the Thunder Cat's running method more closely.

As she got better at it, her speed began to pick up. This method didn’t slow her down, or divert her path. Now she could truly run in a straight line.

But, it was not just on flat surfaces. The circular motions worked as easily on the rougher pieces of the terrain as well.

Within minutes, Thera was running as fast as the Thunder Cat, maintaining the distance between them. But Thera felt that this was not the fastest she could go. She grinned as she sped up the tempo of the dance, like the shifting of gears on a car.

The Thunder Cat screamed its frustration as Thera soon left it behind.

As she ran out of that stretch of jungle, she stopped, panting, and closed her eyes, burning the pattern into her mind. Since it was the Thunder Cat who taught her, she named this move [Thunder Cat Lightning Steps].

When she opened her eyes, she suddenly saw Master Thales in a spot which had definitely been empty beforehand.

“Very good. You cleared that in ten hours and thirty minutes: a new record among my students. At her fastest, Laura only managed to make it at eleven hours and fifty minutes.”

Thera nodded.

“It seems we can move ahead of schedule. The first lesson is completed. You have learned how to be as swift as the wind. With that, you have passed the second requirement.”

“Eh?” Thera felt confused. “But I thought I had already met all the requirements.” She glared at Master Thales.

“Who said that? I only said that I would test you to see if you were ready to learn from me. I never said that you had met all the requirements. Oh, by the way, the first requirement was being at Green class, or above, and under fifteen years of age.”

Thera thought for a bit. “What is the next requirement?” She asked.

“Encompassing Shadow and Light is the next requirement. But, before we get to that, why don’t you sit down first, while we wait for Laura? She’s got an hour and a half left before I have to go and find her.”

Thera’s eyes widened. “You sent Laura in there too?! But I just met a Thunder Cat on my way here! She’ll be in danger!” Thera was about to jump back into the jungle, but Master Thales grabbed her by the cloak.

“WAIT. Unlike you, I didn’t send her in there unarmed. She has a sword, a bow, and some beast repellant bombs. Of course, her grades drop if she uses any of them, though.”

Thera started growing angry. “And the reason why you didn’t give me any?”

Master Thales didn’t look her in the eye. “Of course it was because I knew you could make it through without them~.” His mouth quirked into a condescending smile as he looked upwards, towards the treetops.

Liar. You completely forgot to prepare them for me, didn’t you! Thera accused from the depths of her soul. But, she couldn’t say anything; she actually had made her way through the forest without dying, according to what Master Thales claimed.

A pain in her arm reminded her that she had been injured. It seemed the numbing sensation had worn off. She rolled her sleeve up to take a look.

It was simply a small scratch, but it had started to swell.

“A Thunder Cat, you said? It sure looks like that. I’m surprised you got away with just a scratch. The Thunder Cat’s mark has been known to incapacitate many a brave man.” Master Thales said as he also examined the wound. He took out a few leaves and a strip of cloth.

“Tie that around the wound, and don’t touch it from now on. That will take you at least a day to heal completely, even with the aid of medicine.”

“Understood.” Thera replied.

“ ‘Understood’? What are you trying to be? A soldier?” Master Thales fussed.

“No.” Thera replied, a slight smile on her face.

“Surely you must be at least curious?” Master Thales prodded.

“I am. But asking more questions will not provide me with any concrete answer. Besides, there are some things which are can only be understood after having experienced them. So I am better off just waiting until it is time for the second test.” She replied honestly.

"Moreover, when the time comes that you acknowledge me as your student, it will not be too late, then, to ask you questions regarding cultivation and martial arts."

Or, rather, that’s something I only just realized. She thought to herself.

Master Thales was secretly impressed. Most noble children had asked him tons of questions, trying to pick his brain for ways to pass the tests. It seemed that it was a good idea to wait until someone suitable showed up.

But, outwardly, he kept his expression neutral. "Suit yourself." He said.

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Barley bit back a curse as he eased into the hot bath. His whole body was bruised black and blue. Franz might not be a bodyguard, but he could still beat Barley black and blue, even blindfolded, and with his hands behind his back.

I might not be cut out for this. He thought as he sat in the hot water mixed with healing herbs.

According to Franz, he would be completely healed by the next day.

But Barley had just now realized what Franz’s words had meant: that Barley would be in perfect condition to get beaten to a pulp again.

Am I just going to be that man’s punching bag? There’s got to be some way of training that will give me an advantage over that over-powered old fox!

After his bath, Barley lay in bed, thinking about it, before deciding to sleep on it and see if things would make sense in the morning.

He tossed and turned for over an hour, before sitting up. He couldn’t sleep.

Fine! I give up! I guess I’ll just go for a walk!

He slipped out of the house, careful not to wake up his uncle.

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Away up high in the sky, two figures streaked through the night, faster than airplanes, clashing ferociously many times. Each time they clashed, thousands of blows were struck, creating a sound not unlike thunder.

Barley heard the sound of their fighting on his walk.

“Huh? Is that thunder I hear?” He paused listening. The sound of thunder was getting even closer.

“…Maybe now’s not a good time for a walk.” He immediately turned around to go back the way he had come.

If that was thunder, then lightning would soon follow.

It was nearly spring so it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that rain would accompany the thunderstorm. Spring rains were infamous for being ice cold, and Barley wasn’t interested in an impromptu ice bath.

The figures fought back and forth, retreating and advancing through the partially cloudy sky. Hidden by the clouds, millions of blows were exchanged.

Finally, one of the figures fell towards the earth, its body speeding faster than a comet, heading straight for the city.

As its body was darker than black, it was near impossible to spot against the darkness of the clouds, so no one was aware of its approach.

As it was, Barley didn’t even realize that something was approaching until the moment before it hit.

But, strangely enough, there was no impact. The figure entered Barley’s body, but did not come out the other side. All Barley felt was the fierce wind that had accompanied the falling figure.

After checking to make sure nothing was clinging to him, Barley simply assumed that whatever had approached him, had missed, or flown away at the last moment.

I knew it! There must be a storm coming! I need to get home quick, before it starts raining!

He thought to himself as he hurried even faster towards home.

Not long after, the other figure passed over the city, searching for a sign of the first figure. After scanning the area several times, it flew off in a different direction, still searching for the figure.

But it would not find it, for the figure had hidden itself within Barley.

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As soon as Barley returned to his room, he suddenly felt very tired. He immediately lay down on his bed, and fell fast asleep.

Barley found himself in a strange underground place. It was dark. He did not know where he was. But, suddenly, ahead of him, he saw a circle of stone pillars standing upright on top of a hill.

Having nowhere else to go, he walked towards the stones, his feet echoing off the rocky surroundings.

As he reached the circle of stone pillars, he saw that in the center was some sort of altar, or stone table. Upon this table was something whose shape he could not determine. Shadows swirled and danced about it, as if it were surrounded by black flames.

“You are the owner of this body?” A voice echoed from the surroundings.

Barley jumped and looked around at the surrounding pillars. “Who’s there!? Show yourself!” He shouted.

“Now, now: there’s no need to be so cautious. I mean you no harm.” The voice chuckled. “I simply wished to ask a favor of you.” The voice really was coming from all around, to the point where Barley could not tell where it came from.

“What is this favor, then? Speak!” Barley said, relaxing a bit after hearing the voice was not hostile.

“I wish to be allowed to remain here for a while. My spirit has received too much damage for me to move to another suitable hiding spot. Of course, in return, if you have any wishes, then I will not hesitate to aid you.” The voice replied.

“Wishes? Can you make me strong? Really strong? Strong enough to defeat any foes I may cross paths with?” Barley asked.

“Strength, huh? Very well, then! In return for allowing me to remain here, I will help you gain your desired strength!” The voice agreed. “Prepare yourself, boy. Tomorrow night, I will help you acquire the first realm of strength.”

“My name is not ‘boy’! It’s Barley!” he corrected.

“Barley, huh? You may call me, Lute Sverde.”The voice replied.

“R-ru-lrooto Suverude”Barley tried to pronounce the name.

“Lute Sverde. Don’t forget it.” The voice said as his surroundings began to fade.

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Barley awoke that morning to sunlight streaming through the window. He sat up slowly, trying to recall the strange dream he had. Then he realized. Sunlight was streaming through his window…which meant…

“THIS IS BAD!! I’M GOING TO BE LATE FOR SCHOOL!!!”

He yelled as he leaped out of bed.

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