Edrin was dreaming about something important.
Specifically, a life where nothing was trying to kill him.
It was a very peaceful dream.
It did not last.
A sharp sound cut through the night.
Edrin's eyes snapped open.
He didn't understand why at first.
He just… moved.
His body rolled to the side—
Just as something slammed into the ground where he had been sleeping.
The impact shook the earth.
Edrin blinked up at the dark sky, heart racing.
"…I wasn't awake," he said breathlessly. "I wasn't even awake."
"Now you are!" Ronan shouted.
Edrin scrambled to his feet, grabbing his sword without thinking.
That part—
That part surprised him.
"I grabbed it," he muttered.
Lyra stood ahead of them, her magic already glowing, lighting the clearing in flashes of pale light.
Three figures circled them in the darkness.
Not like before.
These moved quietly.
Deliberately.
Edrin squinted. "…Why are they sneaky now?"
"Because they're learning," Lyra said.
"I don't like that they're learning."
One of the Invaders darted forward—
Fast.
Edrin reacted instantly.
He stepped aside—
Clean.
No stumble.
No panic.
The strike missed completely.
Edrin froze for half a second.
"…I did that," he said.
"Keep doing it!" Ronan shouted, clashing with another Invader nearby.
"I will! I think!"
The second attack came.
Edrin turned—
Dodged again.
Smoother this time.
More controlled.
"…Okay," he said, a little louder now. "Okay, I can do this."
Lyra noticed immediately.
"You're faster," she said.
"I was asleep!" Edrin replied.
"Your body isn't waiting for you to think anymore!"
"That feels dangerous in a different way!"
Another Invader lunged.
Edrin moved.
Not away—
But around.
His footwork was still clumsy—
But intentional.
The attack missed.
Edrin swung in response.
Missed.
"…Still working on that part!" he said.
Ronan laughed. "You'll get there!"
"I hope so!"
The third Invader circled behind him.
Edrin didn't see it—
But he felt it.
A shift.
A presence.
He turned—
Just in time.
The strike grazed past him as he ducked.
"…That wasn't luck," he said quietly.
"No," Lyra replied. "It wasn't."
Edrin tightened his grip on the sword.
His breathing steadied.
Not calm.
Not confident.
But focused.
The Invader attacked again.
Edrin stepped forward—
Inside its reach.
His swing connected—
Not the core.
But closer than before.
The creature recoiled.
Edrin blinked. "…I almost did it."
"Again!" Lyra called.
Edrin nodded.
"Right. Yes. Again."
The Invader lunged—
Edrin moved.
Clean.
Fast.
No hesitation.
He didn't fall.
Not this time.
His sword struck—
A flash of light.
The core shattered.
The creature dissolved.
Edrin stood there, frozen.
"…I didn't fall," he said.
Ronan finished off his opponent nearby, glancing over with a grin. "You didn't."
Lyra lowered her magic, watching Edrin carefully.
"That was deliberate," she said.
Edrin looked at his hands.
Still shaking.
But steady enough.
"…I didn't trip," he repeated.
The last Invader lunged toward him.
Edrin turned—
Dodged—
And this time—
He didn't hesitate.
He stepped in.
Swung.
Hit.
The core shattered.
Silence fell over the clearing once more.
Edrin remained standing.
Sword in hand.
Breathing hard.
"…I did that twice," he said.
"Yes," Lyra said.
"Without falling."
"Yes."
Edrin stared at the ground.
"…I don't know how I feel about this."
Ronan laughed. "You're improving."
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…That might be worse."
Lyra almost smiled.
"Get used to it," she said.
Edrin sighed.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
The fire had long since gone out.
The night was quiet again.
But something had changed.
Not just in the Invaders.
Not just in the world.
In him.
For the first time—
Edrin didn't win by accident.
And that realization?
Was far more terrifying than anything else.