The first day—
Cid failed.
The second—
Failed again.
By the end of the week—
Still failing.
"Again."
He swung. Too slow. Darius knocked the weapon from his hand without effort.
"Your body moves," Darius said, "but your mind lags."
Cid clenched his jaw, picked up the weapon, and tried again.
Days passed. Then weeks.
Cid learned fast. Faster than he should have. Footwork. Awareness. Timing. His body adapted as if remembering skills it had never been taught.
But the lightning never came back.
"Still nothing?" Ava asked.
Cid shook his head.
"Then don't force it," she said. "Power like that doesn't come early."
Darius added, "Sometimes it doesn't come until your first trial is cleared."
Cid frowned. "So I just… wait?"
"For now," Darius said.
One evening—
Cid sat at the edge of camp.
Ria approached quietly.
"You're improving," she said.
"Doesn't feel like it," he muttered.
She sat beside him.
"…You move differently now."
Cid glanced at her.
"You watch people a lot?"
A small shrug.
"Safer that way."
He huffed.
Fair enough.
"Why stay?" he asked suddenly.
Ria hesitated.
"…Because I can't go anywhere else."
She looked at her hands.
"My magic isn't suited for fighting. I slow people down."
Cid frowned.
"Or keep them alive."
She blinked.
"…That's not how people see it."
"Then people are dumb."
Silence.
Then—
A small laugh. Quiet. But real.
Later that week—
A man spoke during training.
"Listen carefully," he said. "These matters…"
Everyone went still.
"When you awaken fully… you gain power."
A pause.
"And a curse."
Cid's eyes narrowed.
"Every ability comes with one. Unique to you. Not predictable."
Murmurs spread.
"If someone learns your curse," the man continued, "they can kill you with it. So you never tell anyone. Not your allies. Not your guild. Not even the people you trust."
That night—
Cid couldn't sleep.
A curse. A price.
He touched the mark at his throat. It pulsed. Slow. Heavy.
By the end of the month—
Cid stood in the training yard. Breathing steady. Body sharper. Stronger. Faster.
But still—
No lightning.
Darius watched from a distance. Always watching. Always thinking.
"You're ready," Ava said.
Cid frowned. "For what?"
She pointed ahead.
A portal shimmered.
His mark pulsed instantly. Harder than ever.
Danger. Real danger.
The next morning, Cid and the rest of the guild entered the dungeon.
The air was different. Thick. Heavy. Alive.
Cid stepped through the portal—
And the world changed.
Stone corridors stretched endlessly. Dim, unnatural light bathed the walls.
The group moved carefully. Disciplined. Experienced.
Cid stayed in the middle. Ria close behind.
Creatures came quickly. Fast. Aggressive.
Cid fought.
This time—he didn't struggle. Movements clean. Precise. Efficient. He adapted mid-fight. Learned as he moved. Survived.
Ria supported from behind. Vines snared enemies. Wounds closed. Quiet. Effective. Underrated.
Cid noticed.
Hours passed. The group pushed deeper. Closer to the boss.
Then—
Something shifted.
Cid felt it first. That same pressure from before. Watching. Waiting.
He slowed.
"…Something's off."
No one responded.
They reached a wide chamber. Open. Too open.
Cid stopped. Turned. Looked at Ava. At Darius. At the others.
"…What is this?"
Silence.
Darius stepped forward, spear lowered slightly—not in readiness, in decision.
"You've done well," he said. Calm. Controlled. Final.
Cid's eyes narrowed.
"…Yeah."
A pause. Then—
"…I figured."
Behind him—
Something moved.
Positions shifted. Not defensive. Offensive.
And in that moment—
Cid understood.
He was never being trained to survive.
He was being prepared.
The Ambush
"You were never meant to leave this place," Darius said.
The words landed without emotion. Like fact.
Cid didn't move. Didn't react.
"…So that's it."
Darius tightened his grip on the spear.
"You're valuable. More than you understand."
Lightning flickered briefly along the weapon. Controlled. Precise.
"But not yet," Darius continued. "Not enough."
Cid's eyes hardened.
"…So you waited."
"Yes. No hesitation. Power grows fastest under pressure. And you…"
A pause.
"…grow faster than anyone I've seen."
The group spread out, surrounding him.
Ria froze, eyes wide. Cid noticed.
"…You didn't know."
She shook her head slightly. Barely.
Darius continued—
"When you're stronger… killing you will be worth more."
A faint smile.
"But if we wait too long…" His eyes darkened.
"…we become the prey."
Cid exhaled slowly. Loosening. Preparing.
"…Then you better hope," he said quietly—
"That I'm still weak enough for you to win."
Behind him—