Another five days had passed.
Velren had never once faltered in his training. Swing after swing, strike after strike, he pushed through the exhaustion. Each day was the same—slicing his katana through the air, all while his muscles were screaming in protest, yet he never wavered.
Gramps, ever so laid back, continued to give his rare words of advice, though they came sparingly.
"Your stance is off. Fix it."
"You're too stiff. Relax."
"Tsk. Swing again."
But despite the curt guidance, Velren slowly began to notice the changes within himself. His hands, once calloused from hunting, were now scuffed and sore in ways they had never been before. Yet, alongside the pain, he felt his posture shifting and his stance firming. The swings that once felt forced were beginning to flow naturally, as if the blade was becoming an extension of himself.
Fenrir and Skoll often kept him company during training, their presence were a welcome distraction. They talked about trivial things, past hunts, and the oddities of Gramps' habits. Even as Velren swung his katana, their conversations kept him grounded, offering him a sense of normalcy amidst the grueling training.
Still, progress was slow.
Until today.
***
Evening had settled over the forest, casting long shadows over the land.
Inside the hut, Gramps was seated in the dimly lit library, deep in meditation. With a steady breathing, he let himself drift into the vastness of his own thoughts. But soon, it was time. He always called it around this hour—the moment to stop Velren's training for the day.
Rising himself, he stretched his limbs, letting out a slow breath before grabbing a bottle of booze and walking toward the door outside. As he pushed it open, a sound reached his ears.
Laughter.
"Finally!!!"
Gramps arched a brow at the unexpected noise. Stepping outside, he found Velren sprawled on the ground with his katana lying beside him, his chest was rising and falling with heavy breaths.
The old man approached, looking down at the exhausted boy with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Have you finally gone insane from all that swinging?"
Velren, still panting on the ground, turned his head slightly and grinned.
"No... but I gained a new skill."
That caught Gramps' attention. He crouched beside him, gleaming his eyes with curiosity.
"Oh? What's your Codex showing?"
Velren lifted his arm, bringing up the translucent interface before his eyes. The system's familiar text flickered into view.
[N3w Sk1ll acqu1red]
[Mast3ry 0f the Sw0rd]: Fundam3ntal und3rstand1ng 0f blad3 w1eld1ng, 1mpr0v3d c0ntr0l, and fluid strik3s. [Needs Further Update!!//]
Velren stared at the flickering text, still catching his breath.
"Something… about me… understanding... the sword," he muttered between gasps, rising and falling his chest rapidly.
His arms felt like lead, and he barely able to twitch his fingers due to exhaustion, yet a sense of accomplishment rushed through him.
Gramps observed him for a moment before standing up, dusting off his robes. He took a deep swig of his booze, then exhaled in satisfaction.
"Good. Then it looks like you're ready for your next training."
Velren looked up at Gramps, still catching his breath.
"Next training?"
Gramps raised a brow.
"What, don't tell me that just being able to wield a sword properly is considered enough?"
He took another swig of booze before grinning.
"Or would you like to take a few days off from training?"
Velren scoffed, sitting up. He grabbed his katana, using it for balance as he pushed himself to his feet. His body ached, and his arms felt heavy, but despite it all, a smirk tugged at his lips.
"You kidding? I'm still full of energy."
Gramps chuckled at that, forming a smirk of his own.
"Cocky little brat."
Then, with a shift in his stance, his expression turned more serious. He rested his bottle down on the ground and crossed his arms.
"Listen up, kid. You've learned how to swing a sword, sure, but a blade in the hands of a warrior isn't just about technique. It's about resonance. Connection."
He tapped a finger against Velren's chest.
"You've got Ka, your life force. That same force runs through every living thing. But a weapon—"
He gestured to Velren's katana.
"—is lifeless on its own. Just steel. Cold and unfeeling."
Gramps then extended his hand toward Velren.
"Lend me your katana for a moment."
Velren handed it over. The old man held it up to the fading evening light. He ran a calloused hand over the steel, nodding slightly.
"If you flow your Ka into your weapon… then it becomes something more. It becomes an extension of you."
Lifting his blade, he exhaled slowly. A faint pulse rippled through the air as the steel seemed to hum, a barely visible aura coiling around it like mist.
"This is Ka Infusion. A technique where your Ka is directly channeled into your weapon, enhancing its properties and unlocking abilities beyond raw steel."
The aura flickered briefly before he let the energy fade, handing the katana back to Velren.
"With Ka Infusion," the old man continued.
"You're not just strengthening your weapon. You're creating a conduit—a way to manifest your Vital Crest through it."
Velren furrowed his brows.
"A conduit?"
Gramps nodded.
"Think about it. Normally, your Vital Crest and its branches—your Vital Echoes—are limited to your body, right? But with Ka Infusion, your weapon becomes an extension of that."
He gestured at the katana in Velren's hands.
"That means if you've got multiple Vital Echoes, you can use some of them through your sword alone. Whatever your Crest allows, you can channel it directly into your blade."
Velren looked at his katana once more. A weapon that carried his Ka—his very essence. The idea alone sent a shiver of anticipation through him.
"How do I do it?" he finally asked, gripping the hilt tighter.
Gramps, already reaching for his bottle, took a long swig before answering.
"Just like when you meditate," he said, wiping his mouth.
"But this time, instead of letting your Ka roam freely around and inside of you, focus it. Channel it into your sword."
Velren nodded slowly, rolling the thought over in his mind.
Gramps turned away, waving a hand lazily.
"And if you thought your last training was long and hard, this won't even compare. So, good lu—"
"I… did it."
The old man froze mid-step. He turned his head slightly, furrowing his brow.
"What's that now?"
Velren, still staring at his sword, repeated himself. His expression was caught between disbelief and confusion.
"I… did it."
Unseen by Gramps, his Codex flickered to life, displaying a simple yet momentous notification:
[Ka Infus1on: Succ3ssful]