Camping

A few days later.

When Tyr pushed open the door and entered the dormitory, Avia was packing her luggage.

Thanks to a suggestion from the mages of the White Magic Tower, who believed that relaxing the mind required a peaceful environment and that the Sword Prison was too oppressive for healing, they had been granted an opportunity to go outside.

Camping. The instructor had notified them during training today that they would be allowed to go out and rest for three days.

“Avia, we're only going out for three days. There's no need to bring so many things. Besides, wouldn't carrying all this be inconvenient for camping?”

Tyr looked at the massive bundle Avia had packed. The bag was actually taller than he was.

“It is no problem, Young Master. You can leave these to me.”

Avia stood up and effortlessly lifted the massive bag with just one hand.

Alright then. Tyr fell silent, having almost forgotten that this was a world with transcendent power. These things wouldn't pose any burden to Avia at all.

“Young Master, is there anything you would like to bring along?”

“No, you've already done a wonderful job.”

...

“I never used to think much of it, but now, just taking a casual stroll through these mountains and forests feels like I've arrived in heaven.”

In the mountain forest, Silas stretched his body, breathing in the fresh air that lacked even a hint of the Sword Prison's oppressive atmosphere.

“It is indeed nice.”

Even Tyr felt a sense of rebirth after leaving the Sword Prison.

In his past life, Tyr had a comrade who was a submariner. He had once described the life underwater, the oppressive environment, and the sheer physical exhaustion.

Back then, although Tyr knew they undoubtedly had it rough, he wasn't a submariner himself and only had a vague concept based on his comrade's description.

But during his two-plus months in the Sword Prison, he felt he had fully come to understand that feeling.

Although the trait of his Innate Sword Heart prevented his mind from being clouded, the oppressive environment of the Sword Prison and the agonizing training still left him feeling physically and mentally exhausted.

At this moment, the morning mist had not yet dispersed. The gentle, fragmented light bathed the entire mountain forest in a clear, moist morning glow.

The dense green canopy layered upon itself, filtering out the harsh sunlight from outside, leaving behind only dappled, soft golden shadows.

A cool breeze swept through the treetops, brushing against Tyr's face and bringing a trace of chilliness.

Tyr loved feeling the wind when he was tired. The moment the cool breeze washed over his body, it gave him a sensation of his mind and body being cleansed.

“Brother Tyr, the air here is so wonderful.”

Sevira skipped along by Tyr's side, a bright, sunny smile gracing her face.

“Yes. After all, this is deep within the Dragonfall Mountain Range. People rarely come here, so the environment is perfectly pristine, making the air naturally clean.”

Who else besides the members of House Callis would know that what occupied the deepest depths of the terrifying Dragonfall Mountain Range was not some powerful magical beast, but rather House Callis's training base?

Not just Tyr and the others, but all the reserves were looking around with faces full of excitement.

These sights, which they wouldn't have even deigned to look at twice in the past, actually appeared so beautiful in their eyes today.

“Alright, let's choose this spot.”

Instructor Ed, who was walking at the very front, looked at the surrounding environment and decided on the campsite.

“Everyone, gather around.”

Just as the reserves were wondering what they should play to pass the time later, they heard Ed's command to gather.

Just as everyone was looking forward to Ed dismissing them, they heard him speak.

“I will now demonstrate a footwork technique. Your task for the next three days is to achieve a basic mastery of this footwork.”

“Ah? Weren't we supposed to come out and relax today?”

Upon hearing that there was actually a task today, some of the reserves in the group immediately began to wail in despair.

“Is this not relaxing enough?” Ed looked at the line of reserves. “How do you want to relax? Do you want to play-act as heroes and demon kings with wooden sticks like those commoner children in the towns?”

No one in the group spoke, but their resistant expressions were already glaringly obvious.

Of course, not everyone was resistant to practicing footwork.

For instance, Silas and his two companions. Back when Tyr's raw strength was inferior to theirs, he had still pinned them to the ground and beaten them.

Aside from his bizarre fighting style, the other factor was his footwork.

Facing their reckless charges, Tyr had been able to easily dodge all of their attacks.

They had long since coveted footwork-type martial arts. Hearing Instructor Ed say he was going to teach them footwork, whatever desire they had to relax was instantly thrown to the wind.

“Watch closely.”

Ed raised his head and swept his gaze over them. The next instant, he took a step forward, and his figure vanished from everyone's sight.

Yet in just the span of a single breath, his figure reappeared in the same spot, holding a handful of leaves in his hand.

As he opened his hand, the leaves drifted away with the wind.

Suddenly, Tyr felt like there was something on top of his head.

Reaching up to brush his head, a leaf appeared in his hand.

Startled, Tyr quickly turned to look at the other reserves in the group, only to find that every single one of them had a leaf resting on their head.

By now, the other reserves had also noticed the leaves on their heads, and expressions of shock and horror appeared on their faces.

Immediately after, Tyr scanned the surroundings. Finally, at a distance of a hundred meters away from their group, he spotted a bare tree branch.

The leaves on it had been completely plucked clean, forming a stark contrast with the other lush green branches around it.

“Whew...”

Tyr took a deep breath. In that single breath just now, Instructor Ed had first traveled a hundred meters away to pluck a branch clean of its leaves, then immediately returned to the group and placed a leaf on each of their heads.

Most crucially, Tyr had not felt anyone passing by his side at all.

Under normal circumstances, no matter how fast an object moved, it would always generate airflow. The faster the speed, the greater the airflow.

And as long as airflow was generated, others would definitely be able to sense it.

Yet just now, not only did Tyr fail to see Instructor Ed's figure, but he didn't even feel any airflow from Ed passing by his side.

Then, Tyr looked down at his surroundings. From the traces on the grass, it was clear that they were only left by the young reserves. Among them, there were absolutely no traces left by someone of Instructor Ed's build.

In other words, when Instructor Ed passed by him just now, not only did he generate no airflow, but he didn't even leave a single trace.

“What I demonstrated just now is one of House Callis's ultimate techniques, 《Baina》.

“What is Baina? Using one's magic power to connect with all things in heaven and earth, integrating their power into oneself to become a part of them—this is Baina.”