"Kael," Sir Dorian's voice called out. "It's time for training."
Kael nodded, got up from the bed, and followed Sir Dorian. As he stepped through the door, a cold air brushed against him from the hallway.
His footsteps were steady as he walked down the corridor. The manor was lively, servants attended their tasks, guards were stationed at crucial entrances, and the occasional murmurs.
Kael was still digesting everything that was going on inside his head, and it would take some time. He managed to calm his thoughts and concentrate on the present moment.
Though Kael had spent countless hours in the manor, his gaze still caught on the details around him, as if seeing them through new eyes. It might have been Lucas's memories, making everything feel both familiar and oddly new.
Kael walked toward the courtyard, where the sound of swords striking echoed faintly. The training grounds were lively, with knights in the middle of sparring and instructors guiding newcomers.
They arrived at the secluded training ground reserved for the family. The training ground held only two figures: him and Sir Dorian. As he stood there, Kael could almost feel the weight of every expectation bearing down on him.
"Begin."
Sir Dorian's voice cut through the silent training ground.
Kael sat down, letting out a slow breath as he relaxed his posture. He focused on the mana flow within his body, mentally running through Sir Dorian's instructions.
"Focus. Take control of the mana and let it flow through your veins."
Like what he did this morning, he took control of his mana, and it began to flow. A small smile curved his lips.
Sir Dorian, standing nearby, watched with a measured gaze. As he saw Kael's progress, a brief smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Now guide the mana towards the center of your chest." Sir Dorian instructed.
He took a deep breath and visualized the mana flow. He directed the flow, towards the center of his chest.
He focused intently, feeling the subtle resistance in his body as the mana flowed. It was as if his body had to adjust to the power, and every moment required his full attention.
"Good," Sir Dorian said quietly, though his voice was still sharp. "But don't force it. Now try to compress it into a single point."
Kael slowed down and slowly compressed it into a single point. Soon he noticed that the center of his chest was slowly getting hotter. He steadied himself, pushing through the sensation until it subsided.
When he felt the mana stabilize he opened his eyes. His heart was pounding, his training clothes soaked with sweat, and a heavy exhaustion settled over him, as though his body was about to collapse.
The sun was gone, and darkness had settled over the training ground.
Sir Dorian stood a few paces away, his arms crossed, watching him with a neutral expression, as always.
"You have taken the first and most challenging step, with a little time and effort you will awaken your core."
Kael swallowed and nodded, though his body screamed for rest. His limbs felt heavy, every breath coming slower, but beneath the exhaustion, there was a lingering sense of satisfaction.
Sir Dorian studied him for a moment before speaking again. "Go rest. It will take a few days for your mana to recover."
Kael let out a deep breath, his shoulders loosening as he lay back on the cool ground, eyes fixed on the dark sky.
A few moments later, he managed to gather enough strength and got up. He was beyond exhausted, but he still forced himself to take a shower.
The shower was a product of Manatech, using mana that powered many conveniences in this world. After the shower, Kael collapsed on the bed.
...
The first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow across Kael's room. He groaned quietly, stretching slowly as the warmth of the morning sun settled over him.
Thanks to training that lasted almost the whole day he managed to keep his mind clear. But now, his thoughts were all over the place. The memories of Lucas and Kael intertwined, merging their emotions and habits in a way that left him uneasy.
As he rolled out of bed, an old instinct nudged at him. He wanted to go for a run, just as he has done almost every morning in his past life. But at the same time, he wanted to go to the training field and start his sword training as he has done every day for the last two years.
It was an odd feeling. It was strange, knowing himself so well and yet feeling like a stranger in his own skin. Two lives, two sets of habits, two different people—forced into one body.
He paused.
After a few moments he decided to go for a run and try to clear his head. Running has always kept his head clear.
...
Kael stepped out of the manor, a cool breeze brushing against his skin. The sky was painted in soft blues and warm oranges, the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon. As he stretched, he took a moment to appreciate the quiet beauty of the morning. The manor was still, with only a few servants moving about, starting their day.
He started at a steady pace, his footsteps falling into a familiar rhythm against the cobbled path. But soon, he started noticing something weird.
His past self, Lucas, had run to build endurance, slow and steady. Kael's body, however, had been trained for speed and agility. Before he even realized it, his steady jog had picked up speed, his strides lengthening, his breaths coming sharper. By the time he noticed, he wasn't just jogging anymore. He was sprinting.
Why am I sprinting like I'm being chased by a bear?
He tried to slow down, but his legs had a mind of their own. Every few strides, his body naturally shifted as if preparing to dodge an invisible attack. His instincts were all over the place.
I was just trying to enjoy a quiet morning run, not dodge imaginary threats.
Then it happened.
His foot landed on a loose patch of dirt. His still-tired legs wobbled. And before he could react—
Thud.
Kael found himself on the ground sprawled.
For a second, he just lay there, groaning into the dirt. "Right. Two lives, one body. Still getting used to that."
Kael wiped the dirt from his clothes, trying to regain some dignity.
"Young Master?"
Kael stiffened.
He turned his head and spotted one of the younger servants. Elias, a boy about his age. He was holding a laundry basket, and his face betrayed a barely contained grin.
Kael let out a long sigh. "Not a word, Elias."
Elias grinned. "Of course, Young Master. I wouldn't dream of speaking about how you just kissed the dirt."
Kael sat up, brushing dirt off his face. "It was a tactical fall."
Elias nodded sagely. "Ah, of course. A highly advanced combat maneuver.
I'm sure Sir Dorian will be impressed."
Kael shot him a glare. "You're enjoying this too much."
Elias shrugged, still grinning. "I have to take my entertainment where I can find it."
A second voice chimed in. "Should we send for a healer, Young Master? Or perhaps a shovel, if you'd like to dig yourself deeper into the ground?"
Kael turned to see another servant, an older woman named Mira, standing nearby with a broom in hand. Unlike Elias, she didn't bother hiding her amusement.
Kael sighed again "You're both cruel."
"We prefer 'dedicated,'" Elias said, tossing the laundry basket onto his shoulder.
Kael shook his head but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. At least someone was having fun this morning.
Mira finally waved him off. "Go on, Young Master. Wouldn't want you getting ambushed by another stray pebble."
"Funny," Kael muttered, stretching out his legs before jogging off again.
He could still hear their soft laughter fading behind him, but it didn't bother him. Maybe having people around to laugh with wasn't so bad after all.