Chapter 19: Changing The Plan (1)

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, Mizan and Ark prepared to continue their journey. Ark finished off the other half of the boar from the previous day and then asked Mizan to hand over his bag so he could store it in his storage ring. Mizan, delighted by the offer, eagerly handed it over. However, his enthusiasm quickly waned when Ark pulled out what looked like a set of bracers and leg guards from the storage ring and handed them to him.

"Wear these," Ark instructed, his tone calm but firm.

Mizan took the items with a puzzled expression. "What are these for?" he asked. But the moment Ark released the items into Mizan's hands, he nearly toppled over. The unexpected weight made him stumble, and he let out a startled yelp as he struggled to regain his balance. A sinking feeling crept over him.

Ark's lips curled into a faint smirk. "They're weighted gear to help with your training," he explained. "You'll wear them at all times from now on—no exceptions. Even if you're fighting or in danger, they stay on."

Mizan's brows furrowed as he processed this. Before he could protest, Ark added, "Also, you must avoid using your ability. If it activates subconsciously, you'll need to focus your mind and suppress it. This is as much about mental discipline as it is physical training."

Then, Ark's tone shifted, growing serious. "I won't force you to do any of this. The choice is entirely yours. If you truly want to get stronger, though, understand this: the road ahead won't be easy. You'll struggle. It'll be painful—so much so that there will be days when you'll want to quit and live a normal life. And there will be times when you'll face death itself. To overcome all of that, you'll need the resolve to push through every obstacle."

Ark paused, his gaze softening slightly. "If you don't think you can handle it, you should turn back now. It's still early."

Mizan stood frozen, Ark's words echoing in his mind. Surprisingly, despite the horrific night he had just experienced and the oddity of the mysterious person before him, something unexpected stirred within him. Instead of fear, it was curiosity about the vast, mystical world beyond, coupled with a burning desire to prove himself—not to anyone else, but to himself. A fire lit in his heart, and slowly, he nodded, a determined expression replacing his hesitation.

He strapped on the bracers and leg guards. The moment he tried to move, he realized just how heavy they were. Each step felt like wading through mud. "Isn't this… a bit too much?" he asked sheepishly, glancing at Ark.

Ark stroked his chin, as if considering the question seriously. Then, with a flat expression, he said, "No."

Mizan almost tripped over his own feet at the blunt response. Before he could say anything else, Ark looked up at the sky and remarked, "It's going to rain soon."

Mizan blinked, then glanced up. The sky was perfectly clear, the morning sunshine bright and warm. Birds chirped merrily in the distance. "Rain? There's not a cloud in sight," he said incredulously. "And it feels like spring—even though it's winter," he muttered under his breath.

Ark ignored his skepticism. "Anyway," he said, "we're picking up the pace. Running through the forest with weights will help build your physique—killing two birds with one stone."

With that, Ark began striding ahead, his movements smooth and fluid. Though he wasn't running, his pace was brisk, and his steps seemed unnaturally light, as if he were gliding just above the ground. Mizan struggled to keep up, his legs already aching under the added weight.

As the gap between them widened, Mizan gritted his teeth and pushed forward. The struggle was real, but deep down, he couldn't deny the flicker of excitement. This was just the beginning.

***

After a few hours of walking, Ark reached a small grove filled with trees bearing fruit that resembled apples. He stopped under the shade of one, plucked a fruit, and casually took a bite. Chewing leisurely, he turned to glance back in the direction he had come.

It wasn't long before a figure appeared in the distance—a boy staggering toward him. Mizan, drenched in sweat, was barely holding himself together. "Wait… please… senior… Ark… I… can't…" he gasped, each word interrupted by desperate gulps of air. His legs wobbled beneath him as he leaned forward, hands braced on his knees, struggling not to collapse.

When he finally reached near Ark, he didn't bother with pleasantries. Instead, he fell backward onto the ground, arms and legs sprawled out as he lay on his back, chest heaving. "Please… let me… take a break," he begged between gasps.

Ark looked down at him, his expression unreadable as he took another bite of his fruit. "Your stamina is terrible," he said flatly, the words cutting like a whip.

Mizan's jaw clenched as he cursed inwardly. 'Of course, it's terrible! It's those ridiculous weights you made me wear!' He closed his eyes, too exhausted to argue, and focused on catching his breath.

Rumble!

The sky suddenly growled above them, low and ominous. A cool droplet of rain splashed onto Mizan's face. Then another. His eyes snapped open, and he groaned as the drizzle began to turn into a steady patter.

"Told you it was going to rain," Ark said in the same flat tone, not even looking at him.

Mizan muttered curses under his breath. 'What is he, a weather mage now?'

Ark settled himself under a tree, the canopy offering some shelter from the drizzle. After a moment, he gestured for Mizan to join him. Still catching his breath, Mizan crawled over and sat down, grabbing one of the fruits Ark had picked. He bit into it ravenously, grateful for a brief respite.

For a while, the two sat in silence, the sound of rain pattering against leaves filling the air. Eventually, Ark broke the quiet. "Tell me more about the Skyguard family."

Mizan paused mid-bite, glancing at Ark. "I don't know many details," he admitted after swallowing. "All I know is that the Skyguard family is one of the Four Great Families of the eastern region—and they're said to be the strongest of the four."

Ark nodded, silently urging him to continue. Mizan thought for a moment, then something came to his mind. "Oh, right! As The Four Great Families are direct vassals of the royal family. They say a long time ago, the royal family assigned each of them a specific duty in the eastern region. That's why they're so influential even today."

Ark listened quietly, his expression unreadable as usual, though his eyes glinted with interest. The rain began to pick up, a steady rhythm that soaked into the earth around them, yet neither seemed in a hurry to leave.

"Specific duties?" Ark asked, his tone curious. "Like what?"

Mizan took another bite of his fruit, nodding as he spoke. "If we look at what each family specializes in, we can more or less guess what their responsibilities are. Take the Clearwater family, for example—they control a fleet of war and trading ships. They also manage the empire's biggest port, BrightGaze Port. So, they're basically in charge of guarding the coastline."

Ark hummed in acknowledgment. "Makes sense."

Mizan swallowed and continued. "Then there's the Nightwood family. They manage all the land trade routes in the eastern region—routes that cut through mountains and forests to connect to other parts of the empire. They also run the biggest and strongest escort agency in the east. For years, they've hunted down bandits in the region, and thanks to them, bandit activity here is the lowest in the empire."

Ark gave a small nod, signaling for Mizan to keep going. The boy obliged, his enthusiasm growing. "As for the Skyguard family, their name kind of gives it away. They're the empire's air force. Besides having a powerful army of mages and Vitalists, they've got countless flying magical beasts."

Ark's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Mounted magical beasts as an air force?" He chuckled. "So, is the High Mountains of Argon like their version of an air force base?"

Mizan shrugged. "I don't know. That place is a forbidden land of the Skyguard family."

"Interesting," Ark murmured, taking another bite of his fruit. "And what about the last family—the Ravenleaf family, was it?"

Mizan replied while contemplating, "The Ravenleaf family is the most mysterious of the four. Rumors say they specialize in assassinations and intelligence gathering, and that their operations aren't limited to the eastern region—they supposedly operate even beyond the empire's borders."

Ark raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "If even a thirteen-year-old like you knows these rumors, they're not very secretive, are they?" He chuckled softly.

Mizan frowned, shrugging. "I only heard it from gossip while working at the port. I don't know anything firsthand."

Ark leaned back against the tree, watching the rain drip through the leaves. The boy's information was a mix of speculation and fact, but it painted an intriguing picture of the eastern region's power dynamics. He chewed thoughtfully on his fruit, his gaze distant.

The rain continued to fall, soaking the earth around them, but Ark's thoughts were already elsewhere.

After a moment of contemplation, Ark abruptly stood up, his eyes narrowing as he assessed Mizan. "Your physique and stamina are worse than I expected. Continuing like this won't do," he muttered. "We need to change our plans."

Mizan blinked in confusion but said nothing, unsure of what Ark was referring to.