[A Few Days Later]
"Alright, Neron!"
Lilith spoke, her tone light and airy, as if she were explaining the simplest of lessons.
"Today, we're going to see just how far you've come. Magic, martial arts, and your ability to combine them... Let's see what you've got."
The desert winds whipped against Neron's face, his dark hair sticking to his sweaty forehead as he watched Lilith, standing across from him with a lazy smile. Her pale skin seemed untouched by the sun, her white hair shimmering like a halo around her face as she casually adjusted the black eyepatch over her right eye.
Despite the oppressive heat and the desert landscape surrounding them, the woman appeared as if she were in a completely different world—a world where nothing could harm her.
Neron clenched his fists at his sides, taking a deep breath. He had spent the past few days trying to master what she had taught him—casting spells, training in hand-to-hand combat, and attempting to merge them into a fluid form.
She had concentrated her attempts in refining everything he already knew, and since he was a fast learner, things were moving at a productive pace.
Still... the results so far were far from spectacular. His powers, though formidable in their own right, had proven insufficient when pitted against Lilith's overwhelming skill and ability to manipulate magic at will.
Lilith raised her hand, and with a snap of her fingers, a gust of wind stirred around them, causing the sand to swirl at her feet.
"Come at me whenever you're ready."
Neron felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He could feel the weight of her gaze, calculating, assessing. He wasn't sure whether she was bored or simply enjoying the spectacle of his struggle. Either way, this time, he wouldn't hold back.
~FSHUUUUU!~
He drew upon his Original Magic, his fingers twitching with anticipation.
He could feel the familiar pulse of energy coursing through him, the rush of power as he prepared to slow down time for his target. His first attempt had been somewhat crude, the time manipulation a bit jagged and unreliable.
But today, he was going to make it work.
He concentrated hard, pushing his will into the spell. Time began to bend, the world around him slowing down. The wind faltered mid-air, and the grains of sand seemed to hang suspended in the atmosphere, as if frozen in time.
Neron sprinted forward, his body a blur of motion, faster than ever before.
~WHOOOSH!~
He made it within striking distance in mere seconds, ready to land a decisive blow. His fist was aimed at Lilith's face—surely, with the time distortion in his favor, he'd have the upper hand.
But as his fist shot toward her, Lilith's hand moved with a fluid grace.
This was a battle of wits.
Neron took another step forward, but this time, he didn't rush. He moved carefully, watching Lilith closely, searching for any hint of weakness, any small opening in her defenses. He could see the way she tilted her head slightly, as if she were waiting for him to make the first move.
He decided to make a feint, pretending to strike low with his right fist while his left hand prepared a spell. The moment she shifted her attention to the right, he would strike with a quick burst of magic from the left.
But just as he was about to execute the plan, Lilith's eyes flashed with an almost predatory sharpness. She knew exactly what he was thinking. With a mere flick of her wrist, she redirected the force of his strike, sending his arm spinning out of control.
At the same time, her foot swept out to catch his ankle, and in an instant, he was on the ground, pinned beneath her.
"Better, but still not enough," she said, her voice calm and measured. "You thought you could catch me off guard, but I've already anticipated your every move."
Neron's mind raced as he struggled beneath her, but she wasn't even exerting herself. She was playing with him, guiding him, as if she were teaching a child how to hold a weapon. Every move he made was countered effortlessly.
His magic fizzled before it could even get close, and his martial arts strikes were rendered useless by her superior technique and agility.
"Listen," she said, leaning down so that her face was mere inches from his. "I've been watching you, Neron. You have potential. But potential means nothing if you don't know how to use it. I know what you're thinking... I'm too strong, right? Right? Wrong!"
Neron shook his head and sighed.
"You're the one who is weak. You can't even land a single hit on me. You've got raw power, but it's useless if you don't know how to wield it."
The boy's heart sank as he heard the truth in her words.
He had known all along that he was inferior to her, but hearing it from her directly made it feel all the more real. The frustration he had been suppressing finally bubbled to the surface, and for a moment, he wanted to lash out, to scream at her for being so dismissive.
But then he remembered something. Lilith was not his enemy. She was his teacher, and her harsh words were meant to push him, to force him to become better.
Neron closed his eyes, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He had no choice but to accept the truth. He was weak—far weaker than he had imagined. But that didn't mean he couldn't grow stronger.
He would learn.
He had to learn.
"Fine," Neron muttered, his voice filled with quiet determination. "Teach me. Show me how to do this."
Lilith's lips curled into a smile. "That's the spirit. But know this, Neron—there's no easy way out of this. I'm going to break you down and rebuild you from the ground up. And only then will you be able to face the real challenges ahead."
She stood up, offering him a hand. Neron took it, feeling the coolness of her touch as she pulled him to his feet.
"Now," she said, her smile widening. "Let's begin your real training."