The next morning, Zaraf woke up alone.

  He blinked a few times and looked around.

  Gray was nowhere to be seen.

  He sat up slowly.

  On the small table beside the bed was breakfast… and a folded letter.

  Zaraf picked it up.

  To Zaraf,

  After eating, come to the guild and ask for the training grounds.

  I will be there.

  — Ben

  Zaraf read it twice.

  “…So it starts today.”

  He quietly finished his breakfast, washed up, and stepped out of the room.

  In the hallway, he saw Makima cleaning.

  Sunlight slipped in through the wooden windows, illuminating her long black hair.

  He paused.

  She noticed.

  “…What is it?”

  “Where is Gray?” he asked.

  “He went to meet Shin. He said he’ll come back later.”

  “I see… Thanks for the meal. I’m heading out.”

  Makima continued wiping the table.

  Then, in a softer voice—

  “Good luck.”

  Zaraf glanced at her.

  “…Thanks.”

  And left.

  When he arrived at the guild, he approached the receptionist.

  “Excuse me, where are the training grounds?”

  “Ah! This way, sir!”

  She guided him outside, toward an open field behind the guild.

  Under a large tree, Ben sat calmly with his eyes closed.

  Zaraf stepped forward.

  “…Hello. I came as you asked.”

  Ben opened his eyes slowly.

  “You know… without your companion, you won’t go far.”

  Zaraf froze slightly.

  “…What?”

  “Settle your business first,” Ben said calmly. “Then come back to me.”

  Zaraf understood.

  Without another word, he walked toward a distant tree and sat down.

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  He took a deep breath.

  “…Bell.”

  Silence.

  “Are you there?”

  A few seconds later—

  A soft light formed.

  A portal opened.

  Bell stepped out.

  Her expression was cold.

  “What do you want now?”

  Zaraf lowered his head slightly.

  “…I’m sorry. I acted without fully understanding what you were trying to protect me from.”

  Bell crossed her arms.

  “So now you regret not listening?”

  “…No.”

  She narrowed her eyes.

  “No?”

  “If I hadn’t done that… she might have—”

  “But you don’t regret it,” Bell cut in. “Yet you’re apologizing. For what?”

  Zaraf hesitated.

  “I—”

  “First you ignore my warning. Then you do exactly what I told you not to do. And now you stand here with that sorry face.”

  Zaraf blinked.

  “…Your way of speaking changed.”

  Bell frowned.

  “So what? Can I not be angry? Or do you think a princess shouldn’t behave like this?”

  Zaraf scratched his cheek awkwardly.

  “I… kind of thought you wouldn’t.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I imagined you more… composed.”

  Bell looked offended.

  “Being born a princess doesn’t mean I’m different from others.”

  Zaraf smiled faintly.

  “…It’s not bad.”

  She blinked.

  “What?”

  “It feels more normal. More… real.”

  Her anger softened slightly.

  Zaraf looked at her seriously.

  “I wanted to say this properly. Thank you… for everything you’ve done for me.”

  Bell’s eyes widened slightly.

  “And I hope you’ll stay by my side for a little longer.”

  Bell looked away.

  “I-it’s my duty. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not favoring you or anything.”

  Zaraf chuckled quietly.

  “Right.”

  She cleared her throat.

  “So… you’re really going to train under him?”

  “Why? Is there something wrong?”

  “Well… when it comes to training, he kind of…”

  Zaraf smiled confidently.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  Bell studied his eyes for a moment.

  Then she sighed.

  “Fine. I believe an idiot like you can survive it.”

  Zaraf grinned.

  “Thanks.”

  The portal opened again, and she disappeared.

  Zaraf returned to Ben.

  Ben looked at him.

  “Have you decided?”

  “Yes… Master.”

  Ben nodded once.

  “Your training will have three parts each day.”

  “Three?”

  “In the morning, you build your body. Physical strength. Stamina. Discipline.”

  “In the afternoon, I teach you elemental control.”

  “And before night… you gain battle experience.”

  Zaraf thought for a second.

  “…It sounds manageable.”

  Ben smiled slightly.

  It wasn’t a warm smile.

  “Then begin with exercise.”

  He stood up.

  “I’ll return in the afternoon.”

  Ben left him alone on the training grounds.

  Morning passed with sweat and pain.

  Sit-ups.

  Squats.

  Push-ups.

  Running.

  Again.

  And again.

  Zaraf forced himself to continue, taking only short five-minute breaks.

  From afar, Ben observed quietly.

  “So you’re serious.”

  By afternoon, Zaraf’s body felt like it was burning.

  Ben returned.

  Zaraf stood up, breathing heavily.

  “I… am… ready.”

  “It’s your first day building your body,” Ben replied calmly. “Rest for ten minutes.”

  Zaraf clenched his fists.

  He hated how weak he felt.

  But he understood.

  If his body collapsed, his focus would too.

  After resting—

  Ben spoke.

  “Every creator has one core element. That is their true power.”

  “It has three levels.”

  “Three?” Zaraf repeated.

  “Yes.”

  Ben raised his hand.

  Red flames ignited.

  “In the first level, you control natural wind. You shape it and use it.”

  “But it is still ordinary wind.”

  “If another creator with wind exists, they can control or disrupt your attacks.”

  Zaraf listened carefully.

  “In the second level,” Ben continued, “the wind becomes one with you.”

  The red flame in his hand shifted.

  It turned blue.

  The heat intensified.

  “This is my second level.”

  “This fire belongs to me alone. Even if someone else has fire, they cannot control it.”

  Zaraf’s eyes widened.

  “So how do I know I’ve reached the second level?”

  “Your element’s appearance changes. Its feeling changes.”

  “It requires deep understanding and discipline.”

  Zaraf nodded slowly.

  “And the third level?”

  Ben’s expression grew serious.

  “The third level cannot be forced.”

  “It awakens under specific conditions.”

  “You must be in the creator state. In an extreme situation. When your energy and element fully align.”

  “Then you can access your strongest form.”

  “But no matter how hard you try… you cannot activate it at will.”

  Zaraf inhaled deeply.

  “…Understood.”

  He sat beneath a tree and began circulating wind around his body.

  Slowly.

  Carefully.

  Ben corrected his posture.

  “Don’t force it.”

  “Let it flow.”

  Hours passed.

  When Zaraf finally stood up, sweat clung to his face.

  “It feels… refreshing.”

  Ben looked at him calmly.

  “Now comes battle experience.”

  Zaraf blinked.

  “…Battle?”

  “You fight me. With body and element.”

  “?!!”

  Zaraf looked at Ben’s broad, muscular build.

  He’ll kill me…

  But he didn’t step back.

  He remembered Rough.

  Remembered freezing under pressure.

  Remembered being powerless.

  He straightened his posture.

  Wind gathered lightly around him.

  Ben cracked his neck.

  “Prepare yourself.”

  His eyes sharpened.

  “You’re about to get your bones broken.”