The carriage rattled softly as it rolled over the beaten path, the gentle sway almost lulling me into a daze. I sat across from my parents, looking outside the window, I saw the small group of personal guards escorting us in front and behind.

Father sat with his arms crossed, staring out his own window with a thoughtful expression. Mother, on the other hand, was inquiring about my time at the capital.

"Did you enjoy your time in the city, Alex?" She asked.

I returned her smile. "Yeah, it was fun." I answered, choosing not to mention the part where Ariel almost got abducted by thugs.

Father leaned back in his seat, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "You spent quite a bit of time with Princess Ariel, didn't you?"

"Yeah," I nodded, staring out the carriage window as the landscape passed by.

"What did you think of her?" he asked, his tone casual, but there was something more in his question.

"She's nice," I replied, thinking back to the city tour. "She showed me around the whole place. Seems like she knows every corner of it."

Father raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Do you like her?"

I turned to him, a bit confused. "I do."

"No, I mean, 'like' like her."

Before I could even process what he meant, Mother lightly smacked him on the shoulder. "Dear, he's too young for that," she said with a chuckle, shaking her head.

Father chuckled in return, rubbing his shoulder. "Just kidding. But still, it's good that you two got along. That's important."

I shifted in my seat, unsure how to respond. Ariel was a friend and my cousin, and while I liked her company, I hadn't thought about it in the way Father implied.

"By the way, did you find out why we were invited in the first place?" I spoke out, looking at my parents.

Both Father and Mother exchanged uneasy glances, the silence between them stretching longer than it should have. "It's... nothing for you to worry about, son," Father finally replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Mother also nods reaffirming me, and so I decided to drop it.

I could only speculate on the matter. Since it was the king himself who called us, perhaps it's stuff pertaining to the governance of our town? Things that concern the Asura family maybe? Other than that, I have no clue, so there's no use in thinking about it further.

The carriage continued to roll on, the silence filling the space between us once again. Glancing out the window, I see that we are entering a dense forest, our hometown should be just on the other side.

We moved along and without warning, the carriage then jolted violently as a sudden impact rocked it from the side. I was thrown against the seat, grabbing the edge of the cushion to steady myself. The horses whinnied in panic, and the vehicle skidded to a halt.

"Monsters!" one of the guards shouted from outside, his voice cutting through the chaos. The unmistakable sound of steel being drawn followed, along with the guttural growls and shrieks of something inhuman.

"Monsters?" Father uttered.

I leaned over to catch a glimpse of what was happening outside. Dark shapes darted between the trees lining the road, their guttural growls sending chills down my spine. The guards were already in formation, holding the creatures at bay with swords and spears, but I could see the tension in their movements. These weren't just wild animals, they were monsters, and they were attacking in broad daylight.

"But... this makes no sense." Father muttered again, more to himself than to us.

"They never come out in daylight," Mother added, her voice shaking slightly.

Father leaned back, his face growing more serious. "Something's not right. They shouldn't be this bold. Not unless something, or someone is driving them."

I expected mother to refute and call him out for being paranoid as she usually does, but surprisingly, she seemed deep in thoughts, as if she's also thinking the same as father is.

We could hear the sounds of the battle outside, the clash of steel, the snarling of monsters, and the shouts of the guards giving orders. My heart raced, but I stayed rooted to my seat.

"Shouldn't we help?" I asked, my hand instinctively reaching for the wand strapped to my side.

Father placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "Stay inside, Alex. Let the guards handle it. That's what they're trained for."

I glanced at the window again, watching as one of the monsters, a large, wolf-like beast lunged at a guard, only to be struck down by his spear.

The carriage shuddered violently as another impact rocked its frame, the situation outside growing grimmer by the second. And it didn't take long for the situation to take a turn for the worse.

My pulse quickened as I suddenly heard the chilling scream of one of the guards being cut down. His cry echoed in the forest, making my stomach twist with fear and the inside of the carriage suddenly felt suffocating.

They were dying. People were dying in front of me.

I could help.

But I wasn't moving.

Every instinct screamed at me to act. I had magic, I had power. I could make a difference, but something inside me was keeping me locked in place. Fear? Doubt? It didn't matter. All that mattered was that I was doing nothing while others fought and bled.

As another guard was cornered by one of the beasts, I clenched my fists. The frustration hit a breaking point, a wave of heat surged through my body. I couldn't just sit here and watch any longer.

"I have to help!" Ignoring the dread pooling in my gut, I burst out of the carriage, my wand clutched tightly in my hand.

"Alex, no!" Mother's voice rang out, full of panic. "Get back inside!" I ignored my parent's pleas.

With trembling hands, I raised my wand and summoned all the fire magic I could muster. A ball of flame erupted from the tip, surging forward and slamming into one of the monsters, reducing it to a smoking heap.

For a fleeting moment, I felt a rush of triumph and a sense of achievement, but it didn't last. As I spun to face the next creature, something slammed into me before I could react. The force of the blow knocked the wind out of my lungs, and I was sent sprawling onto the ground, pain radiating through my side. I gasped for air, clutching my ribs as I looked up.

The monster loomed over me, its glowing eyes locked onto mine. It snarled, baring jagged teeth as it raised its claw again, ready to strike.

I felt something warm trickle down the side of my face. Confused, I reached up with a trembling hand and touched my forehead. When I pulled my hand away, I saw the vibrant red liquid coating my fingers. My blood.

A wave of terror surged through me, freezing me in place. My limbs felt like lead, the fear gripping me so tightly that I couldn't even move. My heart pounded in my ears, and for the first time, I truly felt helpless.

Move, move!

I screamed at myself, I acknowledged the threat that was right in front of me, but my limbs wouldn't budge. The beast's massive claw raised high above me, ready to strike. I could only stare, wide-eyed, as the moment seemed to stretch into eternity.

Move, do something, or I'm going to die!

Die?

I'll die?

What will happen if I die?

My heart pounding, my thoughts racing, my very instinct told me to run, to do something, anything, but I was completely frozen.

Just as the claw began its descent, a flash of silver tore through the air. A powerful gust of wind blew past me, and the next thing I knew, the beast staggered backward, blood spraying from a deep wound across its chest. A blur darted past me, I see a figure, moving impossibly fast, weaving between the monsters and guards alike.

Before I could fully process what was happening, one of the monstrous wolves let out a terrible, pained howl, collapsing to the ground in a heap. Standing over it, poised with grace and precision, was an elf woman.

Her long, blonde hair flowed behind her like a banner, and in her hand, she held an estoc, its thin, pointed blade gleaming in the daylight. In her other hand, a small, round buckler flashed as she effortlessly deflected a swipe from another creature, spinning to deliver a swift, piercing thrust to its heart.

The woman was a blur of movement, each strike precise and calculated. She moved with such speed and elegance that it was almost like watching a dance. The monsters, sensing the new threat, turned their attention toward her, but she was ready.

With one quick motion, she pivoted on her heel, slashing at another wolf-like creature that had lunged at her from the side. Her estoc found its mark, and the beast dropped to the ground. The few remaining monsters hesitated, as if unsure whether to continue the fight.

"Who...?" I utter out of amazement, my breath taken away by the sight of her sheer skill and prowess.

As if sensing our bewilderment, the elf woman turned her head slightly, her sharp, reddish eyes meeting mine for a brief moment. She gave me a small nod, then turned back to face the remaining creatures.

With a flick of her wrist, she parried an attack from a third monster, her buckler clanging against its claws. Then, in one fluid motion, she drove her estoc through its throat, ending the battle as quickly as it had begun.

Silence fell over the road. The monsters lay scattered around the guards, who were catching their breath, still on edge. The elf woman stood in the midst of the carnage, unscathed, as if the battle hadn't fazed her at all.

My parents rushed out of the carriage and tended to my side, mother turned my face towards her as she started to heal my injury with a simple healing spell.

While I can feel the pain in my head slowly heal, I take a good look at my savior. The first thing that went through my mind is how beautiful she is.

Her golden blonde hair cascades in soft ringlets, while her reddish-brown eyes seemed to be gleaming. Her long, pointed elf ears peek out from her hair.

Meanwhile, father stepped forward towards the mysterious elf woman, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution. "Who are you?" he called out, his voice carrying over the quiet.

The woman turned slowly, her posture relaxed now that the threat had passed. She sheathed her estoc with a practiced motion and approached us with the same grace she had fought with.

"I'm Elinalise Dragonroad," she said, her voice calm but strong. "An adventurer. It seems you needed help."

He steps closer to her, extending a hand in thanks. "You have our gratitude, Lady Elinalise. We owe you for that timely rescue."

She smiled faintly, but there was a mysterious air about her. "No need for thanks," she replied, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer. "I only did what needed to be done." She winks playfully.

As Elinalise turned to leave, Father called out to her again, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, Lady Elinalise, where are you heading?" His tone was polite but laced with interest.

The elf woman paused, glancing over her shoulder. "I'm traveling to the next town over to the north. Avelis. My destination is not far from here."

Father raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Avelis? That's exactly where we're headed."

Elinalise turned fully to face us now, her expression calm yet thoughtful. "Is that so?" she said quietly.

Father gave a thoughtful nod, his eyes narrowing slightly in consideration. "In that case, since we're headed the same way, why don't you join us? There's still space inside the carriage." He then looks towards mother. "Would that be fine, dear?" She only gave a smile and a nod.

Elinalise seemed to ponder the offer for a moment. Then, with a small nod, she said, "Very well. I'll accompany you for the rest of your journey."

Father smiled, clearly satisfied with her decision. "Good. It's settled then." After we get seated, he then gestured for her to enter our carriage and she took the seat next to me.

With that, we continued our journey, the carriage rolling forward once more.

We resumed our journey, the atmosphere quiet as we all seemed to be recovering from the ambush.

I found my gaze drifting toward Elinalise. There was something about her presence, strong yet graceful that kept drawing my attention. Each time I looked, my curiosity grew.

Suddenly, she glanced over and caught me staring, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "This is your kid, yes?" she asked, her tone lighthearted.

Mother nodded, and she gave me a little nudge. "Yes, this is our son. Go on, Alex, introduce yourself."

"H-Hi," I stammered, my voice barely more than a whisper. "I'm Alexander A-Arias Asura." The words tumbled awkwardly from my mouth, and I cringed internally.

Why was I suddenly so nervous? My heart sped up, and I could feel the heat rising to my face. Am I actually blushing? Of all times, why now?

Elinalise's lips curled into a small, amused smile as a soft giggle escaped her. "So cute," she said, her voice teasing yet gentle. "I bet he'll grow up to be a fine young man." She reached out and tousled my hair, much rougher than the way Mistress Frieren used to do it, though not unpleasant.

I blinked, not quite sure how to respond. The embarrassment and warmth were mingling in a strange way that left me speechless. All I could do was sit there, awkward and red-faced, as she settled back into her seat, seeming pleased with herself.

"You're young, but you can use magic." She remarked. I looked at her, wondering how she knew. "I saw you use fire magic earlier. It's quite impressive for someone so young."

"T-Thanks..." I cursed myself for stuttering again. "I had a good teacher."

***

A while later, we finally reached the outskirts of our hometown. The familiar sights of stone houses, bustling streets, and the towering old clock tower at the center of town greeted us. The sun hung low, casting a warm, golden glow over everything as we entered the town square.

The carriage slowed to a stop outside a quaint inn. "This is my stop," Elinalise announced as she gathered her things with the same effortless grace she had shown during the fight, stepping out of the carriage and onto the cobblestone.

"Thank you again for your help," Father said as he got out briefly to see her off. "We might not have made it without you."

She smiled, a glint of something playful in her eyes. "Just doing what I can." Then, turning her attention to me, she gave a small wave. "Take care, Alex. I'll see you around."

I nodded. "Bye, Miss Elinalise." I managed to say, sounding more composed than before.

With a wink, she disappeared into the inn, and the carriage started moving again. I watched through the window as she faded from view, wondering if we'd ever cross paths again.

As we rolled through the streets, the familiar landmarks of home filled my vision, the baker's shop, the old marketplace where I used to run errands for Mother. A wave of relief washed over me, and by the time we approached the gates of our manor, a sense of calm had finally settled in.

The large iron gates creaked open as the carriage rolled into the courtyard. The grand manor loomed ahead, its stone walls and tall windows bathed in the fading sunlight.

"Home sweet home," I muttered under my breath, feeling the comfort of familiarity surrounding me.

Father glanced at me with a soft smile. "It's good to be back, isn't it?"

I nodded, stepping out of the carriage as one of the servants rushed forward to help with the bags. The manor seemed quieter than usual, but there was a warmth to it, a sense of safety after everything that had happened.

As we entered the grand hall, Mother, who had been quiet throughout most of the journey, finally spoke. "It's been quite the trip," she said, glancing between Father and me. "But now, we can relax for a bit."

I couldn't agree more as I went straight up to my room. My room was just as I left it, untouched, with the soft evening light filtering through the window, casting long shadows across the floor.

I sat on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath. It felt good to be home, but my mind kept drifting back to the events of the past few days. Meeting Princess Ariel, the tour around the city, the sudden monster attack, and then Elinalise. So much had happened in such a short time, and I hadn't had the chance to process it all.

But out of all things, one particular memory stuck with me. During the ambush, I came face to face with one of the monsters, and I froze up.

Why? Why did I freeze up? I'm more than capable of fighting it, I know my magic is powerful enough, so why did I freeze up like a deer caught in headlights?

As I lay staring at the ceiling and pondering my actions, my eyelids grew heavy, and before I realized it, sleep quietly overtook me.

.

.

.

.

.

When I opened my eyes, I was back in the forest, surrounded by dark, looming trees. Everything felt wrong, eerie, the air was thick, the ground beneath me shifting like shadows. The low growls of the monsters echoed from every direction, making my heart race.

Suddenly, one of them appeared, its glowing red eyes locked onto me. I tried to move, but I couldn't. My legs were frozen, just like before. My wand was in my hand, but it felt useless.

The monster's claws were raised, ready to strike. I wanted to run, to shout, but nothing came out. I could only watch as it got closer and closer, my body refusing to move.

"Alex!" I heard my mother's voice faintly, but it felt far away, distant. She wasn't here. I was all alone.

The claws swung down, but just before they hit me, everything burst into flames. The fire spread fast, swallowing the trees and sky, burning everything in sight. The monster was gone, but the fire didn't stop. It was everywhere, and I knew it was my fire.

I noticed that my hands were wet, and I looked down to see that my palms were covered with blood, causing me to gasp as I felt my heart beating faster.

I stood there, helpless, as the flames grew out of control. I tried to stop them, but they just kept growing, burning everything. The heat was overwhelming, closing in on me.

.

.

.

.

.

I woke up with a gasp, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was still and dark, but my skin felt hot, the memory of the fire and the monster's claws still fresh in my mind.

A nightmare...?

A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. "Alex?" Mother's voice called from the other side. "Dinner will be ready soon. Come down when you're ready."

"A-Alright, coming." I replied as I took some time to calm my breathing. I took one last look at the window, my mind still swirling with thoughts of what had happened before heading downstairs.

I entered the dining room to find my parents already seated and enjoying their meal. Without a word, I slipped into my usual seat, where my plate was already waiting for me, and started eating. The quiet clinking of silverware was the only sound between us, but my thoughts were elsewhere, still haunted by the nightmare.

"You look a bit shaken, dear," my mother suddenly said, her voice soft yet perceptive. She had a way of noticing things others might miss, especially when it comes to me. "Is everything alright?"

I hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile. "It's nothing, Mother," I said, hoping to brush it off. "Just a bad dream, that's all."

She studied my face for a second longer before nodding, accepting my answer for now. With that, she turned back to her meal, and we lapsed into silence once more, each of us wrapped in our own thoughts as we ate. The unease still lingered, though I tried my best to hide it.

***

The next few days were relentless. Every night, the same nightmare haunted me, pulling me back to that moment in the forest.

No matter how tired I was, sleep brought no peace. Instead, I would find myself face to face with the same monster, its claws raised, the burning flames always closing in around me.

I could never escape it. Even during the day, I felt on edge, the weight of the nightmares clinging to me. Every quiet moment, every shadow in the corner of my eye, brought the memories back. I couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness, that overwhelming fear of being frozen in place, unable to act.

It was only a brief moment of my life, but it just wouldn't leave me.

I expected it to be gone by now and I would be back to living my life like normal, but no. It had been five days since the incident, but the memory was still fresh in my mind. Every detail was still vivid, the feeling of being completely frozen in fear was still there, and it's starting to affect my daily life.

I find myself too scared to even leave my room. The only time I went anywhere else is downstairs to eat with my parents, and even then, I sometimes have one of the maids to bring my food up to my room. I've also been neglecting my daily magic practice ever since returning from Ars. And today is no different.

I let out a tired yawn, the weight of sleepless nights pressing down on me. Slowly, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. My body felt heavy, the exhaustion settling into my bones.

Rubbing my eyes, I tried to push the memories aside, but they lingered, stubbornly refusing to fade.

This can't go on. I have to do something. I need to prove to myself that I'm not helpless. But how? The weight of this powerlessness is suffocating, dragging me back to memories I'd rather not revisit.

This feeling, it's too familiar. It's the same helplessness I felt in my past life, when I was too afraid to take risks, too scared to step out of my comfort zone. A pathetic, cowardly boy who let fear rule his life. I swore to myself I'd never be that person again, and now here I am, teetering on the edge of that same weakness. The thought that I really haven't changed, that I'm still the same even after all that I've been through, it infuriates me. The frustration clawed at me, gnawing deep inside.

I can't live like this. Not again. That was when I made the decision, I had to do something. Anything...

***

That night, when everyone was asleep, I made up my mind. I grabbed my wand, slipping out of my room without making a sound. The moon hung high in the sky, its light spilling over the quiet town as I made my way toward the forest at the outskirts of the town.

The streets were empty, and a chill hung in the air. My heart pounded, but I kept moving, my feet carrying me toward the edge of town. If I wanted to rid myself of these nightmares, I had to confront the fear head-on. I had to face the monsters again, and this time, I wouldn't freeze.

As I entered the forest, the silence was deafening. I conjured a small flame to illuminate my surroundings. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sent a jolt through my body, but I pushed forward, deeper into the forest, gripping my wand tighter. I couldn't let the fear win.

Suddenly, a growl echoed through the trees. My breath hitched, and my pulse quickened as I turned to see the source of the sound. Emerging from the shadows, two glowing eyes locked onto me, a beast. Just like the ones from before.

For a moment, I froze again. It was happening all over again. But this time, I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to move. Raising my wand, I channeled my mana, and prepared myself for the fight.

I shot forth a ball of flame at the monster, watching as the fire cut through the darkness. It roared as the fireball struck its side, stumbling back from the impact, but it wasn't enough to take it down. All it did was anger it more.

The beast shook off the flames and charged toward me, its eyes glowing with fury. I panicked, fumbling to cast another spell and in my haste, the fireball missed. I managed to fire off another spell, but this one is even weaker, just a small burst of heat that barely slowed it down.

I cursed myself, I'm better than this, I know I am, I'm a Saint-level fire mage. I've casted spells much more powerful than this over and over during my training, why am I suddenly so weak now? How am I struggling against a common monster?

Taking in a sharp breath, all I could do was backpedal, my legs feeling like they were moving through water as the creature closed the distance.

It happened again, the thumping of my heartbeat, the cold sweat, I was completely frozen in fear again. Nothing has changed, even when I thought I had prepared myself mentally.

Just as it was about to strike, I stumbled backward as I tripped on something and I fell to the ground, my wand slipping from my grasp as the monster loomed over me.

This was it.

I had been stupid to think I could do this on my own.

But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of movement. A blade cut through the air, slashing into the beast's side, sending it crashing to the ground. I looked up, dazed, and saw a figure standing between me and the fallen creature.

"Elinalise...?" I whispered in disbelief.

She stood there, her sword dripping with the monster's blood, eyes sharp and unwavering as she glanced back at me. "What do you think you're doing, kid?"

I swallowed hard, my chest heaving from the adrenaline and fear. "I-I..."

She sighed, shaking her head as she turned to finish off the wounded beast. "You're lucky I was around..." She wiped her blade clean and looked down at me with a mix of frustration and something like concern. "Let's get you back before you do something even more reckless."

As I struggled to my feet, my heart still pounding from the near-death experience, the weight of my own foolishness hit me hard. I wasn't ready to face monsters, even with how good I am with magic.

I glanced at Elinalise, watching how easily she had handled the situation, how calm and controlled she was in the heat of danger.

That's when it hit me, if I really wanted to learn how to defend myself, how to survive in a world full of threats, I needed her help. I know how to cast spells, but lack the means to use them in an actual fight.

I don't like relying on other people. If I could, I'd rather solve this problem on my own, but I don't have much of a choice. I'm out of ideas and out of options.

I took a breath. "Miss Elinalise," I called out, still catching my breath. She had already started walking away, but paused and looked back at me with a raised eyebrow. "Teach me. I need to learn how to fight."

She turned to face me fully, arms crossed, her expression more serious than I'd ever seen it. Her sharp gaze studied me, as if she was weighing my words. "You want me to teach you?" she asked slowly.

I nodded, swallowing hard, the memory of that night still vivid in my mind. "These past few days... I keep having nightmares about that day," I admitted, my voice quieter than I wanted it to be. "I need to learn how to protect myself. I can't keep freezing up when it matters most..."

Elinalise's eyes softened slightly as she listened, but her posture remained firm. "And you think learning how to fight will stop the nightmares?"

"I don't know," I said honestly. "But I can't just sit around and do nothing. I don't want to feel helpless and scared again."

For a moment, she said nothing, just stared at me, weighing my words. Then, she sighed. "This isn't something you can learn overnight, kid. It takes time, discipline, and a whole lot of sweat."

"I'm ready for that," I insisted, my voice steadier now. "Please."

She studied me for another moment, then she let out a sigh. "Meet me at the inn tomorrow, we'll talk more about it there."

"Is that a yes?"

"It's a maybe. This isn't the place to discuss it." She continued. "Now come on, let's get you home before any trouble comes."

She turned and I followed close behind her as we started to walk back towards the town.

Seems like I have to wait until tomorrow to know for sure whether she will accept to train me or not, but hearing that she is considering it is enough to bring me relief for the time being.