Growth

Kazuya sat beneath the old oak tree, staring at the open spellbook in his hands. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the clearing, but his focus was unwavering. The day's training had left him sore, but he was finally making progress—or so he hoped. His fingertips still tingled from his last failed attempt at conjuring fire, and he could still hear Orin laughing in his head.

"Boy, if you keep forcing the energy like that, you'll end up setting your own eyebrows on fire!"

Kazuya sighed. He had come a long way from the weak, fumbling newcomer he once was. His confidence was growing, but so was the weight of the knowledge he carried. The cycles of death and rebirth were something he couldn't speak about, something he carried alone.

Lilith sat across from him, sharpening a small dagger. She hadn't asked him why he suddenly seemed more determined lately, but he could tell she had noticed. Her keen eyes missed nothing.

"So, what's the plan now, oh wise and mighty mage?" she asked, amusement lacing her voice. "Gonna set another tree on fire?"

Kazuya smirked, flipping a page in his spellbook. "Actually, no. I thought I'd aim for something smaller this time. Maybe just a leaf."

Lilith chuckled. "Progress, huh?"

"Something like that."

Just as he was about to attempt another spell, a distant shout caught their attention. It was coming from the direction of the village, urgent and panicked. Kazuya and Lilith exchanged a glance before quickly getting to their feet.

They ran toward the village, where a crowd had gathered near the central market. The sight that greeted them made Kazuya's blood run cold. A young boy, no older than ten, was being dragged through the streets by two guards clad in the signature silver armor of Eldora's enforcers.

"Please! I didn't steal anything!" the boy cried, his small frame struggling against the guards' grip.

An older merchant sneered. "Liar! I saw you! You tried to take bread from my stall."

Kazuya clenched his fists. He had been in that same position once, helpless and accused. He knew how this would end—public humiliation, maybe even severe punishment. He took a step forward, but Lilith grabbed his arm.

"Kazuya, don't," she whispered, her voice urgent. "You can't change how things work here. Not yet."

His jaw tightened. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to intervene, but she was right. Eldora was strict, and mercy was not a common practice. The strict laws had been set in place to keep order, and any deviation was met with harsh consequences. The council who governed the kingdom rarely took pity on lawbreakers, no matter their circumstances.

But something was different this time.

A familiar figure approached—the captain of the guard, a man Kazuya had seen in his past loops. He had been there when Kazuya had died, time and time again, enforcing the laws with an iron fist. If Kazuya interfered now, it would put him in the captain's sights.

Still, he couldn't just watch.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, shrugging off Lilith's grip. "Wait."

The guards turned to him, brows furrowed. The captain narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

Kazuya met his gaze, his mind racing. He needed a reason—something believable. "I saw the whole thing. The boy was just looking at the bread. He didn't actually take it."

The merchant scoffed. "And who are you to vouch for him?"

Kazuya kept his expression neutral. "A witness. And I know for a fact that accusations without proof can lead to wrongful punishment. Do you have evidence?"

The merchant faltered, glancing at the guards. The captain studied Kazuya for a long moment before sighing. "Let the boy go."

Kazuya barely kept his relief from showing. The guards hesitated before releasing the child, who scrambled to his feet and ran off. The merchant grumbled but didn't argue.

Lilith crossed her arms as the crowd dispersed. "You took a risk."

Kazuya exhaled. "Yeah, I did. But it was worth it."

Orin approached from the side, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Boy, you keep sticking your neck out like that, one day someone's gonna cut it clean off."

Kazuya smirked. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Orin raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

As they walked back to their training ground, Kazuya knew he had drawn attention to himself. He knew that this world had rules, that Eldora was not a place where justice always prevailed. But if he was stuck in this world, if he had to keep reliving it, then he would at least make a difference where he could.

He wasn't just surviving anymore. He was starting to live.