The morning sun rose lazily over Songrim, casting a golden hue over its stone walls. Jang Uk stirred awake, groaning as he clutched his head. His fever had finally broken, leaving him drenched in sweat but alive. 

"You've been sleeping long enough," Mu-Deok quipped from the doorway. She had her arms crossed, looking as stern as ever. 

Uk chuckled weakly. "I almost died, you know." 

"Not good enough," she retorted, tossing him a cloth.

"You're not going to unsheathe the mage's sword by whining. Get up. We're training." 

In the training yard, Mu-Deok's sharp instructions echoed against the stone walls. 

"Ryusu is not about strength," she barked as Uk fumbled with the sword. "It's about flow. Like water." 

Uk grumbled, his swings heavy and clumsy. "Water's boring. Can't I just smash my way through?" 

"You'll smash your way into death," Mu-Deok shot back. 

Their banter was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Crown Prince Go Won, his entourage trailing behind. The air grew tense as he stepped forward, his presence demanding attention. 

"Jang Uk," Go Won called, his voice sharp.

"Bring me Jang Gang's sword. Until the next Gwangju is chosen, it belongs to the royal family." 

Uk turned, gripping his sword tighter. "It's not yours to take." 

Go Won smirked, unsheathing his blade.
"Then I challenge you to a duel. Let's see if you're worthy of holding it." 

Meanwhile, Seo Yul, Hae-rin, Dang-gu, and Cho-yeon were en route to Songrim. 

"I don't understand why we're rushing," Dang-gu complained, adjusting his robes.

"Uk always finds a way to make a mess of things." 

"Because he's Uk," Yul replied simply. 

Hae-rin, walking slightly ahead, shook her head. "And because if we don't, it'll be a disaster for all of us. Again." 

Hae-rin arched a brow at Cho-yeon. "You seem worried about him." 

Cho-yeon gave her a sidelong glance. "I'm worried about what kind of chaos we'll find this time." 

At the duel, Go Won struck swiftly, his movements precise and practiced. Uk barely managed to parry, his steps faltering. Every clash of their swords pushed him further back, sweat dripping down his face. 

"Is this the best you can do?" Go Won sneered.

Uk gritted his teeth, lunging forward in a desperate attack, but Go Won easily sidestepped, disarming him in one fluid motion. Uk stumbled to the ground, defenseless, as Go Won raised his blade for the final blow. 

"Stop!" Mu-Deok's voice rang out. She darted forward, hurling the contents of a chamber pot across the ground. The foul-smelling liquid splashed everywhere, startling Go Won and forcing him to jump back. In his haste, he accidentally crossed the duel's boundary line. 

The crowd fell silent. 

"You've lost, Your Highness," Mu-Deok announced with a smirk. 

Go Won's face twisted with anger. "You insolent—" 

Before he could finish, Jang Uk stepped forward. With a burst of energy, he unsheathed Jang Gang's sword. The blade shone brilliantly as Uk swung it, slicing clean through Go Won's sword. 

The crowd gasped as Uk's arm suddenly moved uncontrollably, fueled by the overflowing energy surging through his body. He swung wildly, his strikes erratic and dangerous. Go Won stepped back, his expression a mix of fear and anger. 

"Jang Uk, stop!" Mu-Deok shouted, but her words didn't reach him. 

Hae-rin and Yul exchanged a worried glance before rushing forward. 

"Hold him!" Hae-rin cried as she tried to block one of Uk's wild strikes. 

"Are you insane?" Dang-gu yelled as he dodged Uk's blade. 

Cho-yeon, standing nearby, suddenly remembered her binding bracelet. "We can use this!" she shouted, quickly removing it from her wrist. 

"What are you waiting for?" Hae-rin urged. 

With Yul and Hae-rin working together to restrain Uk's arm, Cho-yeon managed to slip the bracelet onto his wrist. The moment it latched, the wild energy coursing through Uk's body came to a halt. 

Uk staggered, the sword slipping from his grasp as he fell to his knees, gasping for breath. 

"Is he okay?" Dang-gu asked, cautiously approaching. 

Hae-rin knelt beside Uk, her voice soft. "You need to control yourself, Uk. This power isn't just yours to wield recklessly." 

Later, back at Songrim, Uk stood before Park Jin, flanked by Hae-rin, Yul, and Dang-gu. 

"You fought the Crown Prince and destroyed his sword?" Park Jin's tone was cold, his gaze piercing. 

Uk avoided his eyes, his jaw tight. 

"He unsheathed the mage's sword," Dang-gu interjected. "That's something, isn't it?" 

Park Jin's eyes flicked to Hae-rin. "And you? What do you think?" 

Hae-rin hesitated, then spoke firmly. "Master Park, Jang Uk's actions may be reckless, but his potential is undeniable. If he had proper guidance—" 

"Potential without control is dangerous," Park Jin interrupted, his voice heavy with disapproval. 

Uk stood before Park Jin his expression determined. Having unsheathed Jang Gang's sword earlier, he was now being tested for control over his newfound power.

"Show me your swordsmanship, Jang Uk," Park Jin commanded, his tone a mix of authority and curiosity.

"Uncle, he's still learning," Dang-gu warned, stepping forward.

But Park Jin raised a hand to silence him. "No excuses. A mage must wield their sword with precision and discipline."

Uk hesitated, glancing at the band on his arm. "If I remove this, I can't promise I'll stay in control."

"You have no choice," Park Jin retorted.

"If you want to be trained as a mage here, prove that you're capable."

Reluctantly, Uk reached for the binding bracelet on his wrist. Cho-yeon, standing nearby, bit her lip nervously. "Master Park, maybe we should—"

"It's necessary," Park Jin interrupted firmly.

The moment the bracelet slipped off, a wave of energy radiated from Uk. His breathing quickened as his hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. The others stepped back instinctively, feeling the raw power emanating from him.

Uk raised the sword, his eyes unfocused as the energy within him began to take over. He swung wildly, the blade slicing through the air with terrifying speed and force.

"Uk, stop!" Hae-rin shouted, moving forward, but Yul held her back.

"He's not in control," Yul warned, watching Uk's erratic movements carefully.

Uk's strikes became more unpredictable, and before anyone could intervene, his blade pierced forward, slicing straight through Park Jin's shoulder.

The yard fell silent. Park Jin staggered, gripping his shoulder in shock as blood seeped through his robes.

"Uncle!" Dang-gu shouted, rushing to his side.

Uk froze, his sword still extended. His eyes widened in horror as he realized what he'd done.

"I... I didn't mean to..." Uk stammered, his voice trembling.

Hae-rin and Cho-yeon moved quickly. Cho-yeon reached for her bracelet, ready to bind him again, while Hae-rin stepped in front of Park Jin protectively.

"Uk, put the sword down," Hae-rin said firmly, her voice steady despite the chaos.

Uk shook his head, the energy surging through him too overwhelming to contain. "I can't control it..."

As Uk's energy flared up again, Cho-yeon threw her binding bracelet to Hae-rin, who managed to secure it around Uk's wrist with Yul's help. The moment it clicked into place, the energy receded, and Uk collapsed to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground.

Park Jin winced but managed to stand with Dang-gu's support. "His power... it's beyond anything I've seen," he muttered, his voice laced with both awe and concern.

"He needs guidance," Hae-rin said, her tone sharp. "You can't expect him to control something like this without proper training."

Park Jin nodded reluctantly, glancing at Uk.

"You're reckless, but you have potential. If you want to stay, you must learn control."

Uk looked up, his face pale and drawn. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you."

Park Jin placed a hand on his good shoulder. "Then prove it. Show me that you're worthy of being trained here."

That night, Mu-Deok and Uk prepared to leave Songrim under the cover of darkness. 

"You're really going to run?" Hae-rin asked as she caught up with them, her expression a mix of frustration and concern. 

Uk gave her a faint smile. "It's not running. It's training." 

Hae-rin sighed, stepping closer. "You'd better come back in one piece, Jang Uk." 

He nodded, a rare seriousness in his eyes.

"I will." 

As they disappeared into the night, Hae-rin stood watching, her thoughts swirling.