The sun hung high in the sky, casting its golden light over the vast grasslands. Shadows of three figures stretched long across the ground.
A gentle breeze swept through, rustling the knee-high grass.
Ren stepped forward at a steady pace, his hand resting loosely on the hilt of his sword as he scanned the surroundings.
In the distance, wild boars wandered about, rooting through the soft earth with their snouts in search of roots.
Though they were merely low-level monsters, they possessed powerful legs and sharp tusks that could easily pierce the flimsy fabric of a novice's armor.
For Ren, they were predictable prey. But for the two people behind him, who had never truly wielded a weapon against a monster before, they were no small challenge.
Just like he had been before…
"We'll start with these," Ren said, tilting his head slightly forward. "Pick one for yourselves."
Nautilus swallowed hard, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly but not drawing it yet. Yuna stood close beside him, her small dagger trembling slightly in her grasp.
Ren noticed their hesitation but didn't rush them. It was natural to hesitate before one's first battle.
"Try to strike before they charge," Ren continued, his voice calm but not entirely cold. "If you let them build momentum, their tackle won't be pleasant."
Nautilus took a deep breath and stepped forward, his sword flashing under the sunlight as it left its sheath.
But no matter how refined his stance looked, the faint tremble in his hands betrayed his lack of real combat experience.
Before Ren could say anything, the nearest boar had already sensed the threat. It stopped chewing, ears perked, claws digging into the dirt as it prepared to charge.
Its bloodshot eyes locked onto Nautilus.
"Now!" Ren urged, his voice firm.
Nautilus clenched his teeth, raised his sword, and swung down on instinct. But he was too slow.
The blade only grazed the boar's rough hide, leaving behind a shallow cut. Attacked but not truly hurt, the beast roared and lunged forward with terrifying speed.
Nautilus stumbled backward, barely keeping his balance. Yuna let out a sharp breath, instinctively retreating as well.
Ren had anticipated this. He dashed forward, his sword carving a sharp arc through the air, slashing across the boar's body.
Red pixel fragments scattered, but he didn't finish it off. He merely forced it back, returning the fight to Nautilus.
"Don't be afraid. They only look scary," Ren said, his gaze locked on the monster. "But if you hesitate, they won't miss their chance to strike."
Nautilus panted, sweat beading on his forehead. He gripped his sword tighter, but the hesitation in his stance remained.
Beside him, Yuna wasn't faring much better. She clutched her staff tightly, but her hands still trembled with uncertainty.
"D-Do I really have to fight it?" Yuna whispered, her voice filled with panic.
Ren was silent for a moment before replying:
"If you don't, it'll fight you."
It wasn't a comforting reassurance, but it wasn't cruel either. It was the truth.
"They hit pretty hard."
Yuna bit her lip. Her eyes wavered between fear and hesitation. Ren didn't force her to act, this was a choice she had to make on her own.
The boar had yet to flee. It continued to snarl, its gaze filled with caution and hostility.
Nautilus tightened his grip on his sword, lowering his stance this time, preparing for a real strike.
Ren took a step back, no longer interfering.
Even if it was just a small skirmish, it was still their first battle.
After a rough struggle, both Nautilus and Yuna slowly began to find their rhythm.
At first, Nautilus remained clumsy. His swings lacked power and precision, often missing their mark or nearly throwing him off balance.
He was already familiar with the weight of his sword, every slash had a sense of solidity, thanks to his frequent training at the practice yard.
Unfortunately, the training dummies there didn't move.
The boars, however, reacted to danger. They shifted, dodged, and countered, leaving Nautilus flustered when his attacks missed.
But with every misstep, every failed strike, every moment spent dodging a charging boar, he slowly adapted.
He started reacting faster, no longer retreating purely on instinct.
His footwork grew steadier, and while his swordplay remained rough, it gradually lost its earlier uncertainty.
Yuna, however… struggled far more.
Unlike Nautilus, who at least had the courage to swing his sword, she couldn't even bring herself to attack.
Her eyes were filled with doubt, her breathing ragged as she faced the snarling boar in front of her.
She gripped her dagger so tightly that her knuckles turned white, yet her feet instinctively tried to step backward.
When the boar suddenly charged, she gasped and immediately jumped back, nearly losing her footing and tumbling into the grass.
"Don't run." Ren spoke, his voice not too loud but clear and firm. "If you let fear control you, you won't be able to strike."
Yuna bit her lip, her gaze wavering. She knew Ren was right, but logic and instinct weren't in sync.
Her hands trembled as she gripped her short sword tightly, as if trying to hold on to a shred of courage.
Nautilus glanced at Yuna, then, as if to reassure both himself and her, he tightened his grip on his sword and took a deep breath.
No more hesitation. He charged forward, swinging his sword down by instinct.
The blade left a shallow cut on the boar's back. It wasn't enough to cause serious damage, but it was enough to make the beast roar in fury.
Its eyes burned red, its hooves scraping the ground as it prepared to lunge in retaliation.
Yuna saw it, and her heart clenched.
Should she charge in? Should she swing her sword? What if she wasn't fast enough? What if she got attacked instead?
Her breaths came quick and uneven, but the moment the boar moved, she realized.
If she didn't attack, it would attack her.
There was no time left to hesitate.
She gritted her teeth, tightened her grip on her short sword, and threw all her remaining strength into a straight thrust at the boar's side.
Her weapon was shorter than Nautilus's sword, her reach was more limited, but...
She hit it.
The tip of her sword pierced deep into its flesh, making the beast screech in pain. Fragments of red pixels scattered into the air, mingling with the harsh midday sunlight.
Ren stood beside them, silently watching.
They were still clumsy, still inexperienced, but at least, they were truly fighting.
But at the very least... they were far better than he had been. Ren remembered his first encounter with the boars, he hadn't even been able to stop his body from shaking.
His legs had felt like they would give out...
As the final boar collapsed, dissolving into scattered pixels, Nautilus panted heavily. His hands still trembled, but his eyes no longer held panic.
He looked down at his sword, at the pixels floating before him and slowly fading away, as if only now realizing what he had done.
A new sense of confidence took root in his stance and in his gaze.
Yuna, however, remained still, saying nothing.
Her eyes were fixed on the short sword in her hands, as if unable to believe that she had just used it to take a life.
Her fingers trembled slightly, not from fear, but from shock.
Ren watched them, then slowly sheathed his sword.
There was still a long way to go, but at least, they had taken their first step.
Nautilus loosened his grip, his sword tilting slightly. Staring at the fading red pixels, he swallowed hard.
"...It feels... strange," he muttered.
Yuna didn't respond. She was still staring at her weapon, her fingers unconsciously clenching and releasing.
Even though she had slain the beast, the fear hadn't completely left her. It had merely been pushed down, buried somewhere deep within her mind.
Ren stepped closer, glancing over them both. "Are you two alright?"
Nautilus blinked before nodding. "Yeah, just..." He hesitated. "I never thought a fight could be this exhausting."
"That's normal," Ren replied. "You're not used to it yet. Everyone struggles at the start."
Nautilus was silent for a moment before letting out a short laugh. "And this was just a low-level monster?"
Ren didn't answer, instead turning to Yuna. The brown-haired girl had yet to speak, but when she felt his gaze, she flinched slightly.
"You did well," he told her.
Yuna's eyes widened, as if unsure she had heard correctly. "...I did well?"
Ren nodded. "You swung your sword. That's what matters most."
Yuna parted her lips slightly, then bit down, her expression complicated. "...But it was terrifying."
She lowered her head, staring at her hands. "Even though I know this is just a game, the feeling of stabbing something that's alive... it made me shiver."
Ren looked at her for a long moment before exhaling quietly. That feeling, he knew it well.
He had also felt it once. The first time he felt his blade pierce through another being.
Even if it wasn't human, even if it was just lines of code, that moment alone was enough to make his heart tremble.
Nautilus watched Yuna silently before resting a hand on her shoulder. His voice was soft. "You don't have to force yourself. Just take your time and get used to it."
Yuna lifted her head, meeting his gaze. After a moment, she pressed her lips together and gave a small nod. "...Okay."
Ren observed them for a second before turning back toward the open field. "Alright, let's take a short break, then keep going."
Nautilus's eyes widened. "Huh? More?"
Ren's response was calm. "Did you think just one fight would be enough to make you better?"
"...Well, no..." Nautilus sighed, then scratched his head. "Fine, fine. Let's keep going."
Yuna glanced between him and Ren, hesitation flickering in her eyes, but she didn't object.
Ren smirked slightly, then unsheathed his sword once more.
"This time, try being more proactive. We'll keep moving while training. The farther we go, the better."