Progressions

As Rei and Lyla walked back toward the house, the setting sun bathed the world in a symphony of oranges and pinks. The gentle evening breeze whispered through the trees, carrying the floral fragrance of blooming wildflowers. The scene was serene, a moment of peace after a long day filled with revelations.

Meanwhile, in the yard, Thomas and Kaiser stood near the training posts, deep in conversation. Thomas, ever the stoic, appeared troubled. His brows were furrowed, and his arms were crossed tightly across his chest as he stared at the ground.

Kaiser, always observant, tilted his head and studied his old friend with concern. "What's on your mind, Thomas?" he asked, breaking the silence. "You seem...off."

Thomas hesitated, his jaw tightening. Finally, he sighed, a mix of frustration and vulnerability lacing his voice. "I'm worried," he admitted, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Rei's growing stronger every day—faster than I expected. It's incredible to see, but..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

"But what?" Kaiser pressed gently.

"But I feel like I'm falling behind," Thomas confessed, his voice quieter now. "I'm proud of him, of course, but I can't help feeling...inadequate. Like soon, he won't need me anymore."

Kaiser regarded him for a moment, his expression softening. Then, with a grin, he clapped Thomas on the shoulder, the sound breaking the tension. "That's nonsense, Thomas. The fact that Rei's growing so much is because of the foundation you've given him. But if it's really eating at you, then you know what to do."

Thomas raised a brow, his curiosity piqued.

"Train harder," Kaiser said, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "You're a great warrior, Thomas. Maybe Rei's growing, but that doesn't mean you can't grow too. Push yourself. Use his progress as inspiration. And who knows? Maybe you'll surprise him."

Thomas was silent for a moment, the weight of Kaiser's words settling over him. Slowly, a small smile crept across his face, and he nodded. "You're right. I've been looking at it all wrong," he said, his voice steadier now. "Thank you, Kaiser. I needed that."

A man came to Thomas and said "We sent a report to the guild about the bandit incident that happened." Hearing that news Thomas's expression became serious and he said "Yeah good work you can go now."

Rei and Lyla emerged from the tree line as their conversation wound down. Rei's face lit up at the sight of his father and Kaiser, though he caught the tail end of the discussion. Something in Thomas's posture—his renewed resolve—filled Rei with pride.

Turning to Lyla, Rei grinned sheepishly. "I'm sorry I keep calling you Luster. Old habits, you know," he said with an apologetic shrug. "But I'll get it right from now on. Lyla."

Lyla squeezed his hand, her smile soft and full of warmth. "You can call me anything," she said gently, her voice tinged with quiet happiness. "As long as it's you, Rei, I don't mind at all."

After a month the report about the incident soon reached the king. generally, these reports would be handled by the central body however this report was special. The king sat in his office and read the same report continuously. He muttered, "Abnormal, how is this possible there are no records of it." He closed his eyes and opened it, he did this 3 more times. the king said "No matter how much I look it's an anomaly or might it be something else?" he clapped once and a man appeared. The king said "Go check this town and report to me everything you find not a speck of detail should be left. The infrastructure, the education, the relationships between kids and families, and the leading star of the village." The man said, "Leave this to me, my lord." and with that, he disappeared.

The king looked at the report again. The report did not state any actual power of Rei on the contrary it severely downplayed Rei's role in battle and even downplayed the power the kids showed by writing that the kids ran away from the bandits until the adults reached them but the King could only look at the name Rei. "Rei, who is this man." He closed his eyes and opened them again then he muttered "He should be average nothing noteworthy so why is he showing signs of talent."

As the seasons shifted and the months flew by, Rei found himself growing in ways he had never imagined. His mind, sharp and insatiable, absorbed the intricate languages of Xeltron and Kezar, spoken in the nations encircling Astria. With each passing day, he delved deeper into their grammar and vocabulary, broadening his understanding of the world beyond his homeland.

However the spy of the king still had not reached despite the early arrival of the report. It was because the birds carried the reports sending them quickly from one place to another.

Rei's body, transformed as he dedicated himself to rigorous training. Young muscles honed themselves into tools of precision and strength. He mastered the fundamentals of countless weapons—the fluid rhythm of the chain, the unerring precision of the bow, the sheer power of the hammer, and the spear's lethal finesse. Each practice session brought him closer to his goal, though he knew the road to true mastery stretched far ahead.

But it was Rei's spirit arts that underwent the most profound evolution. He learned to command the primal elements with increasing ease. He was trying to make Fire blasts and ember strikes. He created fire by using the concepts of Chinese fire pistons and some other knowledge he got from Earth though he was not able to perfect it, it remained in work in progress state.

Lyla started taking an interest in plants since she watered the plants around your yard. you wrote a book about the mechanisms and different types of plants present and gave it to her. you did not write about the names of plants since plants here might be different from the plants on earth.

During this time of learning about plants, Lyla revealed her own burgeoning skills. With remarkable focus, she began using her Qi to manipulate plant growth. Though her progress was slower than Rei's, it was no less impressive—after all, Lyla wasn't a reincarnated soul like him. Her efforts were entirely her own. Rei was fascinated as he watched her coax plants to grow and bend according to her will. Together, they delved into the mysteries of plant sorcery which Rei named wood sorcery, researching its principles and applications.

Their collaboration bore fruit—literally and figuratively. By accelerating the natural digestion and life cycles of plants, Lyla's abilities advanced steadily. With her guidance, Rei discovered wood sorcery himself, merging his elemental skills with newfound knowledge of life energy however it too was a work in progress.

One crisp morning, Rei experienced a breakthrough that left him breathless with excitement. The next level of his sword technique, the Central Sword Style, Earth Form, Verse 2, revealed itself to him. His blade now moved with a fluid grace he had never achieved before. Each parry was a masterpiece of precision, deflecting strikes effortlessly. He was one step closer to mastering the art of the sword, his journey toward perfection unfaltering.

Kaiser, meanwhile, remained a formidable force on the training grounds. Already a master of Earth Form, Verse 3, his swordsmanship was unparalleled. His strikes carried an almost mythic power, each cut a demonstration of skill refined through relentless practice. Watching Kaiser train inspired Rei, pushing him to envision the day he would stand as an equal to his mentor.

Lyla, too, was immersed in her own pursuits. Her delicate hands worked tirelessly on a secret project, stitching and weaving with an intensity that captured Rei's curiosity. Though she refused to reveal her creation, Rei could see the love and care she poured into it, each movement a reflection of her gentle yet determined spirit.