The Village of Liria woke early with excitement humming in the air.
The sun cast long beams through the morning mist as the four young soul sword disciples—Eren, Kael, Lyra, and Reina—stood at the foot of an old stone path that led up a quiet hill.
At the top stood a modest stone structure overgrown with ivy and age, yet its presence carried weight. This was the Skill Hall—a relic of an era when Soul Sword Masters walked these lands.
Elder Ender led the group with slow, reverent steps, hands behind his back.
> "The Skill Hall was built over 300 years ago," he explained. "It holds techniques passed down by ancestors—some easy to grasp, others so fierce that even Sword Kings feared their power."
The children's eyes widened.
> "Today," Ender continued, "each of you will choose skills aligned to your soul swords. Let them resonate with your instincts… not just your pride."
As they entered the building, the stone door groaned open, revealing shelves carved from mountain rock. Ancient tomes, scrolls, and soul crystals floated gently, glowing faintly as if recognizing the presence of new wielders.
Eren paused. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, he felt it.
A cool breath across his skin. A whisper.
His Ice & Water Dragon Soul Sword flickered into view at his side without being summoned—its translucent form glowing faintly blue, the mist coiling around it like a guardian.
A scroll on a pedestal pulsed.
Eren stepped toward it. Words shimmered into view:
> Mist Creation — Control the battlefield with dense mist. Use it to obscure vision and create illusionary clones. Confuse, evade, or strike with precision.
He placed a hand over it. The scroll vanished into a wisp of blue light that merged into his body.
Then another scroll pulsed from the next row.
> Flying Ice Swords — Four blades of soul-forged ice orbit you. Each can be guided by will, creating mid-range attack and defense options.
Eren took it without hesitation. His instincts agreed.
The third scroll shimmered high on a marble pedestal, bound in water-like light:
> Water Slashes – 1st Form — Thirty-six consecutive strikes born from flowing movement. Only those who understand rhythm and pressure can master it.
He touched it, and the scroll burned cold as it entered his core.
His hand trembled slightly.
> "This one... will take time."
Finally, in a corner resting on a misty pedestal, a faint scroll called him again.
> Mist Steps — Step into the fog. Your form will blur. Movement becomes silent and swift. Perfect for repositioning or avoiding deadly strikes.
Eren accepted it.
His four chosen skills now settled deep within him, bound to his soul sword. Each one felt like a different scale of the dragon that slept inside him.
---
Meanwhile, Kael stood before a rack crackling with energy. His Thunder Soul Sword gleamed with electric arcs dancing along its edge.
He grinned as one scroll called to him instantly.
> Thunder Slash — A single explosive cut charged with thunder energy. Devastating on impact, deafening in execution.
"Perfect," Kael whispered.
Another scroll throbbed nearby.
> Lightning Movement — Move like lightning. Short bursts of acceleration allow near-instant dodges and sudden attacks.
He clenched his fists with excitement and absorbed it.
The last scroll he picked was sheathed in coiled lightning bolts.
> Lightning Armor — Cloak your body in lightning energy. Reduce physical damage and reflect light strikes back at attackers.
Kael turned to Eren after absorbing his skills, a competitive glint in his eye.
> "Now we're even more equal, Eren."
Eren gave a light chuckle, eyes calm as always. "We'll see about that."
---
Lyra and Reina moved through different sections. Lyra gravitated toward nature-based techniques. She chose Verdant Vines, Leaf Dance Steps, and a healing-based sword skill called Nature's Embrace.
Reina, with her Flame Soul Sword, selected Flame Wheel Slash, Burning Pulse Armor, and Flare Blink, a short-range teleport in a burst of heat.
As they regrouped at the exit, Elder Ender looked at each of them with pride.
> "Now you've taken another step. You hold not just swords—but skills. From here on, it's not talent alone that will define your growth, but discipline and heart."
Then he added with a half-smile:
> "And as promised… Brann is waiting at the training grounds. Don't keep him waiting. He hates that."
Kael groaned. "We're not even getting lunch?"
> "You'll get lunch if you survive."
They all laughed—Eren too, quietly but truly. It felt like the beginning of something real.
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