Hero of war : The divine beast

**before they know it One Month had past**

The garden behind the cabin was alive with the gentle hum of nature: the rustling leaves, the chirping birds, and the rhythmic thud of wood striking wood. Kael stood in the middle of it, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving as he leaned on a wooden training sword for support.

Ellia stood a few feet away, her arms crossed and her expression stern, though a hint of pride gleamed in her eyes.

"Are you done, or do you want to try again?" she asked, her voice carrying the sharpness of a commander and the warmth of an older sister.

Kael wiped his brow, his lips curling into a defiant smirk. "Giving up? You've got the wrong person."

Ellia chuckled softly. "Then pick up your sword and show me."

Kael gripped the wooden weapon tighter, his arms trembling from exhaustion but his resolve unbroken. He charged forward, swinging with all his might.

With a single step, Ellia sidestepped his strike and twisted her wrist, effortlessly disarming him. The wooden sword clattered to the ground.

"Again," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Kael bent down, retrieving his sword. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Sis… do you have any tips? Something to help me get better?"

Ellia paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "It's not exactly a tip, but it's something that's saved me more times than I can count."

Kael tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his tired eyes. "What is it?"

"Never parry an enemy's blade with your own," she said, her tone serious.

Kael frowned, gripping his wooden sword tighter. "But isn't that how you block attacks?"

Ellia shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "In a duel, maybe. But in a real battle? Parrying ties up your blade. You don't have time for that—not when there's chaos all around you. Your weapon isn't meant to defend; it's meant to strike."

Kael's brow furrowed as he tried to absorb her words. "Then… how do I protect myself?"

Ellia's smile grew. "You dodge."

"Dodge?" Kael repeated, his voice tinged with doubt.

Ellia crouched slightly, resting her hands on her knees as she met his gaze. "It's faster. Smarter. And it leaves your weapon free. Let me show you. Come at me again. This time, I won't fight back—I'll just show you how to evade."

Kael nodded hesitantly, repositioning his wooden sword. Determination flickered in his eyes as he took a deep breath and charged.

Ellia moved like water, her steps fluid and efficient. She sidestepped his first strike with ease, leaning slightly to the side. Kael, frustrated, followed up with a sweeping horizontal slash, but Ellia simply stepped back, her movements smooth and deliberate.

Sweat dripped down Kael's face as he leapt forward, pouring everything into a downward strike. His wooden blade smashed into the ground, throwing up a small cloud of dust.

Ellia dodged effortlessly again, but this time, Kael stumbled forward. He let go of the sword with one hand, his body leaning precariously as if he were about to fall face-first.

But it wasn't a stumble—it was a feint.

Kael whipped his free arm toward her, aiming to catch her off guard. Yet before he could follow through, Ellia stepped forward and grabbed him by the arm, thinking he was truly falling.

Kael froze, his face a mixture of annoyance and disappointment. "Sis… that was my counterattack."

Ellia blinked, realizing her mistake. She averted her gaze, an embarrassed chuckle escaping her lips. "Well… uh… good effort?"

Kael sighed as she helped him upright. "It's not a good effort if you don't fall for it…"

Ellia grinned, ruffling his hair. "Hey, at least you're thinking creatively."

Kael shook his head, brushing her hand away. He took a step back to steady himself, but his legs gave out, and he dropped to the ground with a groan.

Ellia crouched beside him, her expression softening. "You've gotten stronger, you know."

Kael gave her a skeptical look. "Stronger? I just tripped."

Ellia crossed her arms, looking upward as if searching for the right words. "Well… your footing's improved."

Kael narrowed his eyes at her. "I just *fell over*. How's that better footing?"

They locked eyes for a moment, both wearing identical deadpan expressions.

Then, without warning, they burst into laughter. The fatigue, frustration, and tension melted away in the warmth of their shared amusement.

As their laughter faded, Kael leaned back against the ground, staring up at the sky. "You're a terrible teacher."

Ellia smirked, lying back beside him. "And you're a stubborn student."

---

As they lay in the grass, Kael turned to Ellia. "Sis, do you know what magic is?"

Ellia raised an eyebrow. "Magic? That's a big topic. Why do you ask?"

"I just… I've read about it," Kael admitted. "it said magic is like air—something we need to survive."

Ellia leaned back, resting on her hands. "That's what they used to believe, a hundred years ago. But it's not true. You *can* live without magic. But…"

"But what?"

"There's a price," she said. "Without magic, your body will fight back. The longer you exhaust it, the harder it becomes to survive."

Kael's eyes widened. "Then… how do I use magic?"

Ellia smiled. "Of course I'll teach you. Everyone has magic—it's part of who we are. For humans, controlling magic is as natural as breathing. But for someone like you…"

Kael frowned. "Someone like me?"

"A demi-human," Ellia said gently. "It's different. Your magic is raw, untamed. And… you're older now. Learning to control it won't be easy."

Kael sat up straight, determination flashing in his eyes. "Then teach me."

Ellia chuckled. "You're eager, huh? Alright. We'll start right now."

---

Ellia extended her hand. "Give me your hand."

Kael hesitated but placed his small hand in hers.

"We're going to make a pact," Ellia said.

"A… pact?"

She nodded. "A pact connects two people, unlocking the power within both. It's a bond of trust—and it's not something to be taken lightly, because a person can only make a pact three times in their life."

But there are exceptions,

Excepetions, kael repeated his curiosity glinting in his eyes,

Three exceptions, the first one is *if the person who make a pact with them dies the pact breaks* the second is *if the person who made the pact breaks it,* and the final one is *if the person has a lot of will power then he will be able to pact with more then the people*

Kael asked then did you make a pact?

Ellia nodded I did three of them but two of the people I made pacts with are no longer with us,

Who did you pact with sis?

Ellia answered wearing a sad expression, my mother, my father, and younger sister,

Kael asked where are they now? ,

my mother I don't know same for my father but my sister runs a school in the capital maybe when you grow older I'll have you study there,

We are getting of topic let's make the pact,

Kael nodded solemnly. "Let's do it, then."

Ellia's expression grew serious. "This will hurt a bit. Are you ready?"

Kael steeled himself. "I'm ready."

Ellia bit the tip of Kael's thumb, drawing a single drop of blood. She pressed his finger to the back of her hand, and the blood began to flow in a straight line, glowing faintly. Then she repeated the process with her own blood, marking the back of Kael's hand.

As the marks connected, a surge of energy coursed through them. The veins in their bodies glowed a fiery red, and Kael gasped as a jolt of power overwhelmed him. His vision blurred, and his body went limp.

Ellia caught him before he hit the ground, cradling him gently. She brushed his hair from his face, whispering, "This bond will help you more than you know."

She carried him back to the cabin, laying him on the bed.

"I'll be back soon," she murmured. "Rest for now, Kael. I just need to grab a few things from the camp."

With one last glance at his sleeping form, she stepped out into the fading light.