Crackle.
Morbia threw Kain over herself, crashing his back onto the hard, wooden floor. The slam echoed around the empty training room.
"Not good enough. I fought better at ten than you do now. Just a disgrace!" Morbia exclaimed as she kicked him.
At the last moment, Kain managed to put up a block, yet the impact threw him back.
Cold blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, bruises and sparse cuts covering his body. He looked worse than a chop.
A shadow fell over him, Morbia's intimidating gaze never leaving him for a second.
"What happened? It's been three days, but you've barely gotten better. What's the point of asking me for training if you're mediocre?"
Kain paid no attention to her words, rising slowly. He was used to this by now.
"Hah, isn't that the point of training? If I were as strong as you, I wouldn't be here. Moreover, you are exceptionally strong. Mere martial mentors can't compare to you."
"You're overpraising me. I'm a newcomer just like you!" She stepped forward, her fist headed for his stomach.
Kain set up his palm, the recoil traveled through his body, then he blocked the punch coming from the right.
The hail of attacks continued. All Kain could see was Morbia's shuddering frame as she struck from every direction. Her every move, kick, and blow was calibrated to not give Kain even a moment's rest.
Eventually, he missed his knee and crumbled to the ground.
Morbia loomed over him, her arms crossed on her chest.
"Hah, looks like I lost again." Kain scratched the back of his head. "I need to get much better before I return to the Astral Dimension. There are a lot of problems waiting for me there that need to be solved."
"What...?" Her eyes went wide. "Are you going to make another run?"
"Come on. Are you gonna tell me you're surprised to hear that? I'm sure you'll be back as well."
"Sure, but my situation is different," she muttered as she averted her gaze. "Those people who were after you. I saved you, but I know nothing about them except that they are incredibly powerful."
Kain nodded.
"That's why it's so important for me to become stronger."
"But, aren't you content with just staying a Keeper? That status and a job in the tower is enough to ensure a good life for yourself and-"
Kain's serious gaze prevented her from finishing her sentence.
"Will you say that enough? Morbia, because of the Keepers' weakness, I've lost the people closest to me twice. My life has been turned upside down, throwing me into the worst of hardships.
"No doubts, I should thank my luck that I'm still alive, unlike my friends and parents..." his gaze filled with gloom. "That's why I realize that being a mere Keeper is not enough."
Kain raised his gaze.
"I must become an Awakened, reach the Blighted Rank, that's the lowest threshold. And... Though I don't know this for sure, it seems the effect of Mark and Traits works in two worlds. In that case, I won't be able to sleep peacefully ever until I get rid of the pursuit."
After a few moments, Morbia nodded weakly.
"I see. You've made your decision, but I hope you're not going to take the first call of Astral Scripture. I'd hate to think I'm training an idiot."
In response, Kain shook his head.
"Of course not. I will use my time to the best of my ability to be as prepared as possible for my second trial. The third call takes anywhere from three months to one year. The more time I have, the better."
"Good."
Little did Kain know that things never went according to plan, especially in his case.
...
Training with Morbia took up only part of Kain's day.
Some things had to be done on his own.
Fortunately for Kain, the Stellar Fortress had everything he needed. If he wanted a chamber where he could practice alone, he just had to report it to Lurra or any military officer.
He was surrounded by concrete walls, targets, and a few dummies of various shapes and sizes. Nothing outstanding, but more than enough for a beginner.
Every time Kain started his solo training, the first thing he did was hit the concrete slab.
BAM!
His fist smashed into the center.
A few cracks separated from the point of impact, as dust crumbled down, but that was it.
Despite Kain's steadfast expression, he was in pain. The skin peeled off his knuckles, blood showing among the tiny rips.
"Hmm, each time the result gets better and better." Kain clenched and unclenched his fist. "Morbia knows exactly what she's doing. I could hardly gain much muscle in three days of good food, it's not about my physique, it's about technique."
BAM!
Kain promptly committed another punch.
'More than that,' he thought, watching the trickle of blood. 'My blood is cold, but it doesn't freeze everything when touched. Is it all about my control or the runes filling my body?'
Besides physical strength and technique, he was also trying to improve his control over the energy flowing in his body. For a Keeper, this was the most important indicator of strength. It was what allowed a frail-looking man to bring a huge bear to the ground with a single sweep of his hand.
No muscles could do that, but the runes had no barrier.
Toward the end of the training, Kain always used the Codex.
Now, the crimson cross floated above his hand.
A single drop of blood floated above the thorn that pierced his palm.
"I can strike with both my fist and my palm. It changes the area and power of the ice blast. But, so far, I have not been able to come up with anything new!"
Kain's fingers tensed as he tried to impact the drop, copying Aurora's movements, the way she created ice spears.
Splash.
The blob exploded, leaving only a slight chill on his skin.
"No, I won't accomplish anything this way. I need clues. I need to understand..." Kain looked at the crimson cross. "Where are you coming from, my Order - the Forbidden Treasure?"
As the train of thought raced through Kain's mind, he found himself surrounded by darkness.
In the middle floated a dark cross flowing in blood, the core slowly beating.
That was not what caught Kain's attention.
"What is it?" Kain muttered, staring at the red circle below, slowly expanding and chasing away the darkness.
The world was created out of emptiness.