They then sat together in the living room.
Ian reached for the package and handed it to her. "This is from your mother."
Axilya took it, her fingers tightening slightly around the parcel. A flicker of emotion passed through her expression, so brief it was almost imperceptible, before she put package inside her storage bracelet. "I see. Thanks for delivering it."
Her gaze settled on Myrra. "How was your journey to Rulmose?"
Myrra leaned slightly against the table, exhaling. "Shorter than expected, and it was smooth."
Axilya gave a slight tilt of her head. "I suppose it would be."
A brief silence settled between them. There was familiarity, yet an unspoken distance, neither unnatural nor forced, simply a reflection of the paths they had walked. There had never been a reason for them to interact much before, but now, standing here, it was clear that circumstances had shifted.
Axilya crossed her arms. "I assume you're settling in well?"
Myrra gave a small shrug. "Getting there. There's a lot to figure out."
A small hum of acknowledgment came from Axilya.
A brief awkward silence settled between them before Myrra finally spoke. "I wanted to ask you something."
Axilya met her gaze, waiting.
"I've been reconsidering my path," Myrra admitted. "I was originally set on Etherforging, but now… I need something more versatile. Something that balances self-defense and arcane circuitry."
Axilya studied her for a moment. "There are a few options that might suit you. For arcane circuitry, the most important factor is mental energy. If you want a path that incorporates both self-defense and strong mental foundations, your best choices at Rulmose are Psion, Wizard, or Mystic Knight. Those three have proper specializations here."
Myrra considered the options. "Which one would you recommend?"
Axilya exhaled softly. "That depends on what you want. I'd suggest attending a few introductory classes for each. Since the new session has just started, some of them are open to everyone. You'll get a clearer idea after experiencing them firsthand."
Ian, listening to the exchange, considered the suggestion himself. Maybe I should check some of them out too. It wouldn't hurt to learn more about the different paths here… even if just for reference.
Myrra nodded, taking in the information. Her gaze then drifted to the Claymore strapped to Axilya's back. "What about you? What path do you follow?"
Axilya's expression remained steady. "Innate Sword."
Myrra's curiosity deepened. "Can I see it?"
Axilya studied her for a moment before, in one fluid motion, she unsheathed the Claymore.
Myrra reached for the hilt, gripping it firmly with both hands. The moment she tried to lift it, her arms tensed, and she faltered. The weight was far heavier than she expected. She gritted her teeth and tried again, but she couldn't even raise it an inch.
Axilya watched with a knowing expression. "Takes more than just strength to wield it properly."
Ian watched as Myrra struggled with the Claymore, unable to lift it even an inch. His curiosity piqued. "Let me try."
Axilya handed it over without a word. Ian wrapped his fingers around the hilt, tightening his grip. He braced himself and poured all his strength into lifting it. His body had been strengthened through the Eldritch Path, his physical resilience, durability, and recovery had improved drastically. But raw strength? That wasn't its primary focus. Even so, it had still amplified his physical power. His muscles strained, arms tensed, every fiber of his body resisting, but the sword didn't budge.
His brows furrowed. So brute force won't work…
Shifting his approach, Ian closed his eyes and activated Mindbloom. Immediately, his perception expanded. The sword wasn't just metal, it carried an intricate energy flow within it. He focused, letting his senses align with the weapon's resonance. The energy pulsed, moving in subtle currents, and he adjusted himself to it. Slowly, his grip shifted, no longer fighting against the weight but moving with the energy.
Then - boom
The sword lifted. But in that moment, a sudden surge of energy exploded from the blade, sending a shockwave through the room. The force shattered a table, knocked over a chair, and even cracked part of the floor beneath him. Ian quickly let go, stepping back as the Claymore crashed down with a heavy thud.
A stunned silence filled the space.
Axilya's eyes widened. She had expected him to fail. Strength alone wasn't enough, she knew that better than anyone.
She herself was First Order, and the Claymore had been crafted for her, imprinted to respond to her presence. Other First Order warriors could barely wield it with raw strength. Typically, only someone in a Second Order Strength-based Path could properly handle it, their enhanced physique allowing them to move such a weapon with ease.
The other way… was through resonance. But that required something far more intricate, an innate connection to the weapon's energy flow, an ability to align one's presence with the blade itself.
To do that, one needed to truly examine the flow, to perceive and align with the intricate patterns embedded within the weapon.
But how could someone who wasn't even First Order see through the flow patterns she had carved into the blade?
Yet Ian had done it.
Myrra blinked, looking at the shattered table and cracked floor. "…Broken."
Axilya exhaled, then smirked. "Why don't we take this to my training facility?"
Both agreed, and they quickly made their way to the facility.
The place was massive, an expansive open space with reinforced ground designed to withstand intense combat. Energy-distribution nodes were embedded into the floor, ensuring stability, while barriers along the perimeter suggested additional shielding capabilities. The sheer scale of it was staggering, and to think this was private, belonging to Axilya alone.
Axilya walked ahead, her voice casual. "I'll add you both to the recognition system so you can use it whenever you want."
Ian and Myrra immediately shook their heads. "No, that's not.."
Axilya waved a hand dismissively. "Vulre told me a lot about you two." She glanced at Ian. "Thanks for looking out for him." Her gaze softened slightly, though her usual composed expression quickly returned. "So, consider this my way of repaying that."
Ian hesitated. He wasn't one to accept favors so easily, but having access to a private facility like this… it was too good to refuse. "…Alright," he said reluctantly. "I won't say no."
Axilya's smirk deepened. "Good."
She stepped to the center of the facility and rolled her shoulders, then turned to Ian. "Well, what do you think about giving it a test run."
The implication was straight forward. Let's fight.
Ian also stepped forward.
Axilya's hand moved to the hilt of her Claymore, but then she let go. "No weapons. I'll not use the first order level strength."
Ian didn't take that as arrogance. The path of Innate Sword focused entirely on combat, it is known as one of the strongest offensive paths. And let's not ignore the fact that Axilya was First Order. If she used her full strength, it would take an instant for Ian to get handled… or worse.
A low beep sounded as the facility registered the match. Myrra stepped back, watching closely.
The moment the signal chimed -
Axilya disappeared.
Ian barely had time to react before something slammed into his guard. He braced, skidding back, the sheer force sending a tremor through his arms.
Fast.
She hadn't just moved; she had vanished from his sight, only to reappear mid-strike. Ian barely caught her movements, but he recovered fast, shifting his stance.
Axilya's attacks came like a storm; sharp, calculated, and relentless. Each strike tested his reflexes, his endurance. She wasn't even using her full strength, yet Ian could feel the sheer difference in their level.
But he wasn't about to just defend.
He shifted, channeling Mindbloom, his awareness sharpening as he focused on her movements, the energy she left behind with each step. If he couldn't match her speed, he would predict her next move.
Axilya lunged again, this time, he saw it.
Ian twisted, dodging by a hair's breadth and countering with a precise strike aimed at her side.
But the moment his attack was about to land..
Axilya caught his wrist, effortlessly redirecting his force, using his own momentum against him. Ian was sent tumbling across the floor before he twisted midair and landed on his feet.
She smirked. "Not bad. You can use your weapons. You know"
Ian exhaled. She's on a whole different level. But his mind was already analyzing, adjusting.
His usual tactics were of no use. Architect Assembly worked best when he could manipulate his surroundings, reshape the battlefield to his advantage. But the reinforced floor? He couldn't disassemble it. He didn't even know what material it was made from. That alone cut off a major part of his strategy.
The metal block he carried? Using it as a standard weapon was pointless against someone like Axilya . He needed something faster, more adaptable. The hand bandages were an option, but limited. He needed something new.
A spark of energy pulsed through him as he activated Architect Assembly, this time guiding the material with a different intent. The metal blocks dissolved into metallic threads , reforming around his arms in overlapping segments, almost like adaptive armor, shifting plates that could harden or soften based on movement.
Axilya's smirk returned. "Now that's interesting."
Ian didn't give her time to analyze further. He lunged forward, this time not just attacking, but adapting.
As his fist shot forward, the segmented armor on his arm hardened at the last second, adding unexpected weight and impact. Axilya twisted her body, narrowly dodging, but Ian followed up immediately, shifting the density of the armor mid-motion. His next strike came faster than before, forcing her to block instead of evade.
A dull thud echoed through the training facility as her forearm met his.
But Ian wasn't done. Instead of retreating, he pressed forward, shifting his footing. He twisted his wrist, sending the material flowing down to his palm, forming a dense, weighted edge. With a flicker of movement, he threw it, aiming straight for Axilya's shoulder.
She tilted her head slightly, ready to evade, until the weighted edge suddenly whipped back. A thin, nearly invisible strand connected it to Ian's hand, allowing him to pull it mid-flight. The moment Axilya dodged forward, the weapon snapped back from behind, curving toward her back in a seamless arc.
Her eyes narrowed..
But she didn't panic. Instead, she twisted mid-step, ducking just enough for the returning blade to graze past her. With a sharp motion, she caught the thread between two fingers, yanking it forward, forcing Ian off balance.
But that was exactly what he wanted.
Instead of resisting, he let himself be pulled, using the momentum to close the distance instantly. At the last second, the material in his hand shifted again, splitting into two. One looped around Axilya's arm, the other swung wide, aiming to trap her from both sides.
For the first time, her smirk widened.
And then; she moved.
A single step. A precise twist...
Gone.
The trap snapped shut on empty air.
Before Ian could recover, a solid force struck his back. Not enough to injure, but enough to send him stumbling forward.
Axilya smirked. "You're pretty good. Forced me to use the speed of First Order…"
Ian exhaled sharply, his muscles tensed, body still adjusting to the aftershock of her last strike. He had expected her to be fast, but not this fast.
"That means you've already won," Axilya continued, twirling a tiny, violet blade between her fingers. It wasn't metal. It wasn't any material Ian recognized. Just pure, condensed energy. "Take this last strike. If you manage to block it without getting hurt, you win."
Ian's breath slowed as he focused. This wasn't just an attack, it was the core of the Innate Sword. A blade born from within, an extension of the wielder's very being.
Axilya flicked her fingers.
The blade vanished.
No, not vanished; moved.
Ian's instincts screamed as he reinforced the metal strands in his hands, condensing them into a solid block of defense. The tiny energy blade pierced through effortlessly, shattering layers like they were nothing.
Too fast...
He barely twisted away in time, the violet blade grazing his side. But before he could even process the near miss...
BOOM!
The energy blade struck the reinforced ground, and a shockwave erupted. A burst of violet energy rippled outward, cracking the surface. The sheer force sent Ian staggering, forcing him to brace himself as dust and debris kicked up around him.
When the dust settled, a deep scorch mark remained where the blade had landed.
She smirked. "Not bad. Not bad at all."