The silence stretched, thick and unbearable.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Satoshi's words still hung in the air, as heavy as the executioner's blade he once wielded.
I couldn't look at him.
I couldn't look at Reilan, whose hands had barely loosened from his sword.
I couldn't look at Lelyah, who hadn't moved since she stepped forward.
I couldn't even look at Calamitas.
Instead, I stared down at my own hands, fingers curled tight, nails biting into my palms.
"If you don't do this, they'll kill you too."
My breath felt shallow.
"They told me they were proud of me."
My stomach twisted.
I should say something. Anything.
But before I could force a word from my throat—
[Notice: Additional Hoshino Records Unlocked.]
My pulse spiked.
Great Sage's voice chimed softly in my head, cutting through the lingering weight of my father's confession. The words hovered in my thoughts, cold and clinical.
[Would you like to access the recovered data?]
For a moment, I hesitated.
Did I?
Did I really want to know?
I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in my throat.
"Not now."
The response was instant.
[Acknowledged: Records will remain accessible upon request.]
A sharp exhale snapped me back to the present.
I lifted my head just in time to see Dad shifting his weight, his stance finally loosening. His fingers flexed at his sides—one final release of tension before he turned away from Calamitas.
His eyes met mine.
And I saw it.
The exhaustion.
The pain.
But most of all—the unspoken message.
"Don't ask me anything else."
And I didn't.
Not because I didn't want to. But because I already knew he wouldn't answer.
He inhaled slowly, then turned on his heel, walking past Mom without another word.
No one stopped him.
Not Reilan. Not Calamitas.
I watched his retreating form, feeling something deep in my chest twist violently.
Then—
"This is enough."
Mom's voice was steady. Smooth. But it wasn't a suggestion. It was a command.
Calamitas let out a quiet hum, tilting her head slightly, as if considering whether she wanted to keep pressing.
Then, she sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll be nice for now. Let the man process his grief. I did just remind him that his entire bloodline was wiped out by his own hands."
Lelyah's gaze turned sharp.
"Watch your tongue, Calamitas."
Calamitas grinned, slow and unrepentant. "Or what? You'll kill me? You wouldn't even try."
Lelyah didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she held her gaze steady, unflinching.
And for the first time, Calamitas' smirk faltered.
Not in fear.
In realization.
Her eyes flickered—just for a second. Just enough for me to catch it.
She was evaluating something. Calculating.
Then—
A chuckle.
"Oh, I see now."
Lelyah didn't react.
"You're just like him, aren't you?"
The words were casual. Light. Almost mocking.
But something inside me clenched.
Lelyah's expression didn't waver.
"Enough."
This time, her voice left no room for debate.
Calamitas clicked her tongue but let it drop.
She turned her attention back to me, but before she could speak—
"Reilan."
He stiffened at the sound of my voice.
I didn't look at him, but I knew his eyes were on me.
"Go check on my father."
A pause.
Then—he exhaled, his grip on his sword finally easing.
"Understood."
I heard the quiet shuffle of his footsteps as he turned, following the same path Satoshi had taken.
Now, it was just me, Lelyah, and Calamitas.
The weight in the room shifted.
Calamitas' attention remained on me, her golden eyes glinting with something unreadable. I felt it before she even spoke—whatever she was about to say would be a problem.
"So, little one—" she started, voice dripping with amusement, "are you ready for your first lesson?"
Lelyah's expression remained unreadable, but I caught the slight shift in her stance—subtle, but poised. Ready.
"You're starting now?" she asked smoothly, though there was an edge to her tone.
Calamitas' grin widened. "Why not? No time like the present."
My fingers twitched at my sides. After everything that had just happened, the idea of launching straight into training felt... abrupt.
Yet, at the same time—something inside me agreed.
I inhaled slowly. "What do you want me to do?"
Calamitas' eyes gleamed. "Simple. Survive."
Before I could process her words, Mom moved.
Fast.
One moment, she was standing beside me. The next—her fist was already flying toward Calamitas's back.
A sharp crack filled the air.
Golden light wrapped around her hand, coalescing into an aura so intense that it momentarily illuminated the room. The force behind the strike sent a concussive ripple outward, shaking the furniture.
But—
Calamitas didn't flinch.
A thin, nearly invisible barrier of Brimstone ignited just in time, stopping the impact mid-air. Heat crackled against the shimmering light surrounding Lelyah's fist, the two forces colliding in a silent, burning standstill.
Neither woman moved.
Neither woman blinked.
The room felt like it was holding its breath.
Then, the barrier shattered.
Light burst through the flames—but in the last possible second, Calamitas tilted her head, letting the attack just barely graze past her cheek.
A faint glow of seared flesh lingered for an instant before it healed—as if she had never been hit at all.
Calamitas finally turned, her smirk curling wider as she reached up and touched her cheek.
"Hm." She studied the lingering sensation, tilting her head in mock thoughtfulness. "That almost tickled."
Lelyah didn't react.
"If you wish to train my daughter, do it where I allow it," she said smoothly, her voice carrying absolute authority.
Calamitas' grin widened.
"So polite about it," she mused, flexing her fingers lazily. "You could've just asked nicely, dear Lady Tomaszewski."
Lelyah's golden eyes sharpened.
"I don't ask."
The heat in the air spiked.
A slow, deliberate exhale left her lips before she finally relented, stepping back.
"Fine, fine. No need to burn down the house. Lead the way, Matriarch."
Lelyah didn't spare her another glance. She simply turned and strode toward the exit.
Calamitas followed, her posture casual—but her gaze flickered toward Lelyah's back, something calculating in her expression.
I took a slow breath before stepping after them, my pulse still pounding from the confrontation.
Behind me, Great Sage's voice hummed in my mind.
[Observation: Lady Lelyah Tomaszewski's combat proficiency is categorized as 'High-Tier.' Efficiency in magic-enhanced physical strikes is significantly advanced. Probability of victory against Calamitas: 47%.]
I swallowed hard.
Mom only had a 47% chance against her?
And yet—she wasn't afraid at all.
I glanced at my mother's back.
Just who was she before she became Lady Tomaszewski?
Whatever this training was about to be, I needed to be ready.
Because if Calamitas was serious…
I might not survive it.
The training grounds loomed ahead, a vast open space designed for battle drills. The moment we crossed onto the field, I felt the shift in the air—this was a place where fights happened.
And I was about to be in one.
Calamitas stretched lazily, rolling her shoulders. "Mm. Nice little battlefield you've got here. Not bad for noble training."
Lelyah ignored her. She turned slightly, eyes sharp.
"Your magic type and element. State them."
Calamitas blinked, then grinned, stretching her arms over her head. "Straight to business, huh?" She cracked her neck, flames briefly flickering around her fingertips. "Fine. Melee-type. Element? Brimstone."
I felt my breath hitch.
Brimstone?
Even without Great Sage's input, I knew what that meant. Not fire. Not magma. Brimstone.
Fire that didn't burn normally. That ate away at flesh, mana, and even reinforced materials at a rate far more devastating than conventional flames.
I'd heard stories. Brimstone wielders weren't just dangerous—they were walking natural disasters.
My mother's expression remained unreadable. But I caught it—the way her fingers curled slightly. Like she had already anticipated something like this.
Calamitas smirked, tilting her head toward me. "Want me to go easy on you, kid?"
I inhaled slowly. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
"No."
That was the only answer she was getting.
Her grin widened. "Good. Then let's begin."
A pulse of heat flared around her, the air distorting from the sheer energy pouring off her body.
Before I could react—
[Notice: Combat Analysis Activated.]
[Calculating… Match Probability: Chiori Tomaszewski Victory - Less than 1%.]
I felt my heart skip.
…Less than One percent?
[Adjusting parameters. If defensive survival is considered, the probability of lasting more than one minute: 1.82%.]
Even with survival factored in, I barely had a chance to last longer than a minute?
That was how vast the difference was.
I swallowed hard, pushing the fear down.
Calamitas wasn't just stronger than me. She was someone I couldn't beat in a million years.
But that didn't mean I wouldn't try.
I exhaled sharply, grabbed a training sword and stepped onto the training field.
Calamitas cracked her knuckles, watching me with open amusement. "Show me what you've got, little anomaly."
I gripped the hilt of the training sword, adjusting my stance. No magic.
Father's orders.
Until I was given permission, I had to rely purely on technique.
Calamitas watched me with a lazy grin, arms hanging loosely at her sides. She wasn't even pretending to take this seriously.
I tightened my hold on the sword. Fine.
If she wasn't going to respect me—I'd make her.
I lunged.
The tip of my blade cut through the air, aimed straight for her ribs. A clean, direct strike—
She was already gone.
A blur of movement. My sword sliced through nothing.
I twisted mid-step, following through with a second strike—aiming lower, toward her legs. Fast, controlled—
She sidestepped. Effortlessly.
I barely had time to pivot before she leaned slightly to the side, dodging my third swing. No wasted movement. No reactionary shifts. Just pure efficiency.
I gritted my teeth, adjusting my footwork to follow up.
Another slash. A feint. A change in momentum.
She evaded them all.
Too smooth. Too practiced. She wasn't even looking at my sword.
[Notice: Opponent is dodging preemptively. Reading movement before execution. Adjusting strike pattern recommended.]
I didn't need Great Sage to tell me that.
She wasn't reacting to my attacks—she was predicting them.
I adjusted my grip, shifting my stance again—this time, trying to bait a reaction before committing to a strike.
I faked a forward step, my weight pressing into the balls of my feet, ready to pivot—
Calamitas smiled.
And before I could even move—she stepped into my guard.
I barely caught the shift before she flicked a hand forward.
A light tap. Just two fingers against my wrist.
It sent a shockwave of force through my entire arm.
My grip snapped open.
The sword flew from my hands.
I barely registered the loss before her foot swept under my stance.
I hit the ground hard.
The impact stole the air from my lungs, my head spinning as I tried to process what had just happened.
She… she didn't even hit me. She just dismantled me.
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
Calamitas tilted her head, smirking. "Boring."
I coughed, forcing myself up onto one knee.
[Analysis: Opponent is significantly faster. Reaction time delay: 1.37 seconds. Adjustment needed.]
No kidding.
I pushed myself up fully, ignoring the sting in my side.
I couldn't afford to stop.
But even as I steadied my breath, reaching for the sword—
"Come on now, little anomaly."
Calamitas kicked it away.
The soft clud echoed against the training ground.
I froze.
She exhaled dramatically, stretching her arms behind her head. "You're trained well enough. But you're holding back."
I swallowed hard. "I was ordered not to use magic."
Calamitas snorted. "And? Do you think your enemies will wait for orders before they tear you apart?"
I clenched my jaw.
"Let me guess," she mused, tapping a finger against her chin. "You were taught patience. Control. Discipline."
She grinned, all sharp teeth and amusement.
"You do realize that's why you're losing, right?"
I stiffened.
Before I could answer—
She moved.
Fast.
I barely caught the blur of her form before her foot connected with my side.
A clean, brutal kick.
I felt my ribs rattle. My vision spun.
Before I even hit the ground—
She grabbed me by the collar.
She yanked me forward, forcing me to stay upright.
The heat of her Brimstone magic crackled faintly around her fingertips, though she didn't ignite it.
She didn't need to.
Her strength alone was enough to keep me in place.
"You're too used to fighting like a noble," she murmured, voice almost mockingly kind. "Polished. Precise. But out there?"
She leaned in slightly.
"Precision gets you killed."
I swallowed hard, trying to force down the raw frustration boiling in my chest.
I knew I wasn't winning this. I knew the gap was too wide.
But this—this was humiliating.
Calamitas clicked her tongue, finally releasing me. "Tch. You've got instincts, but you're too afraid to use them."
I exhaled sharply, gripping my arms to steady myself.
[Recommendation: Adapt. Conventional training will not be sufficient.]
I grit my teeth. "I know that."
Calamitas arched a brow.
"Do you?"
She tilted her head toward my discarded sword. "Pick it up. Again."
I hesitated.
Not because I wanted to give up—but because I knew it wouldn't make a difference.
I had no chance of winning like this.
And I hated that.
I inhaled slowly. Focus.
If I was going to fight, I needed to change something.