The Pact Breaker

Eric folded his arm, watching. "That's not all." Eric muttered.

"You've just taken the first step."

"So what now?" Finn asked as he looked at the blade, still glowing.

"Now, you learn to survive."

Eric stamped his staff to the ground. The ground rumbled slightly, and the stone walls opened apart to reveal a circular training ground.

"Wow!..It looks amazing." He muttered as he looks on in awe.

"This was where your father trained." Eric stated, his voice soft. "Now it's your turn."

Finn stepped into the training ground, sword still in hand.

"First," Eric said, stepping in.

"You must learn to channel the blade."

"How?" Finn replied as he held the sword tighter.

"Not with anger. Not with fear. But with balance."

"Don't force the energy inside of you, but rather feel it and focus." he added.

Finn closed his eyes. He inhaled, then exhaled gently. The blade pulsed in red then stopped.

"Too shallow." Eric said.

"Again."

Finn tightened his grip on the sword, dragging power from deep inside his chest. The blade lit up in red once again—but then the ground split beneath him, and black sparks shot from his arm.

He gasped, dropping the blade and falling to one knee.

Eric knelt beside him. "That's your demon side trying to take over. You can't fight it by resisting. You must control it."

"How?"

Eric stood up. "We start with control."

He tapped his staff on the ground. A blue magic circle appeared. From it, two shadows emerged—faceless, tall and strong warriors.

"These are echoes." Eric muttered.

"They are warriors formed from light."

"Are you serious." Finn groaned standing up wiping his face.

"They won't kill you. But they won't go easy on you either." Eric said.

"Prove you're born for this." Eric added.

"Defeat them."

Before Finn could utter more words, the first warrior lunged at him. Finn blocked with his sword but stumbled backward from the force.

The second came in fast, striking low. Finn jumped, barely dodging, and countered with a wild swing.

CLANG!

The blade hit—but the warrior didn't flinch. He caught Finn's wrist and threw him across the floor.

"Too wild!" Eric shouted.

"Control the energy!...Not the anger!"

Finn stood again, his breath heavy.

The warriors didn't wait. They moved in together. Finn got hit—once on the shoulder, then on the leg. He couldn't stay up. He dropped to the ground, his sword slide out of his hand across the floor.

He growled in frustration, lying flat. The warriors vanished.

Eric walked over slowly. "If you keep fighting like that… you'll die in your first real battle."

Finn sat up, his heart painting. "Let me try again."

Eric raised an eyebrow. "Sure?"

Finn nodded. "Again."

Eric tapped the staff. The magic circle opened again. This time, only one warrior appeared—huge,and it's glow burned brighter.

Finn picked up the sword, he inhaled. This time, the fire in him stirs up —his eyes changing, claws out, horns out, muscles growing stronger. His body glowed faintly red. The blade pulsed.

He was no longer human. He growled.

The warrior charged.

CLANG!

They clashed. But this time, Finn was calm. He measured every step and every swing.

He ducked under the warrior's strike and sliced upward. The blade passed through the echo like it was smoke.

The figure dissolved into the air.

Eric smiled faintly. "Now that's progress."

Finn dropped to one knee, breathing hard.

His demon form faded. The black veins vanished. The horns were gone.

He was human again.

Eric stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Better. But there's still a long way to go."

Finn smirked faintly, wiping sweat from his brow. "Then let's get started."

Eric chuckled. "That's the spirit."

Eric stepped back, his hand still resting lightly on the staff.

"Alright, take a minute." he said.

"Because next round, you're fighting more than just one."

Finn looked up, still catching his breath. "More?"

Eric raised the staff high, the glowing tip pulsed blue.

---

Suddenly, out of the stone walls, three figures appeared, glowing like ghosts. Their shapes formed from smoke. Two held swords, the other gripped a long spear. None of them had faces.

"These are my spirit guards," Eric said.

"I call them out through this staff. They're not real, but they hit hard enough to teach you something."

Finn wiped his face and stood. "Alright then… let's go."

The first spirit lunged. Finn parried the strike. The second swung low—Finn jumped back, but the third spun its spear and cracked it across his ribs.

"Ugh!" Finn grunted, staggering.

They didn't wait. All three rushed him at once. Finn blocked one, dodged the second—but the third caught him in the gut.

THUD!

He flew back as he hit the stone wall.

Eric didn't move. He just watched.

"Again," he said.

"Finn rose to his feet, slower this time, flames burning in his eyes as his blade began to glow faintly."

The spirits came again— fast, but this time Finn moved with them. He ducked, rolled, and struck. His sword grazed one spirit, making it flicker.

Another round of hits came at him. He took one to the shoulder but spun and slammed his blade into the chest of the nearest warrior.

The spirit burst into smoke.

He grinned.

"Two more" Eric said with a nod.

The last two came at him together, Finn focused– He didn't lose control.

The fire in him stares up again, but not too much. Just what he needed.

He blocked one strike, then another—then swung low, cutting through both spirits in one sweep.

They faded.

Finn dropped to both knees. His heart racing.

Eric smiled faintly.

"You're learning to hold it back. Not every fight needs anger."

Finn looked up, he whispered. "What's next?"

Eric turned backwards. "The sword chose you. Now we train your body to keep up with it."

He clapped his hands, and the room shifted. Stone pillars lowered into the ground, forming a smooth flat area. A torch lit at every corner.

"No more magic—atleast for now." Eric said. "Just strength."

"Push-ups. Sit-ups. Running. Balance drills. Your demon blood makes you powerful—but your human side must carry it." Eric added.

Finn groaned. "Great! Now I'm getting charged for gym class?"

Eric laughed. "Something like that."