It was the first sunlight of dawn. Samuel, Lira, Grandma Dotty, and the rest of the people from Andromeda were finally done with the preparations for the Festival of the Living. The atmosphere in the bathhouse backyard was thick with the scent of cooked food, freshly baked bread, and the festival desserts.
Lira stretched backward, a wide yawn escaping her mouth. Her eyes, usually so bright, were heavy with exhaustion from the overnight cooking. "I'm going to bed, Grandma Dotty," she mumbled while stumbling, her tone thick with sleep. She was practically sleepwalking. Another young woman, seeing her state, stepped forward and gently took Lira's arm, guiding her upstairs to one of the guest rooms that had been assigned to her.
Only Samuel remained unfazed. He stood amidst the remnants of the long night's work, completely unaffected by the lack of sleep. He had no need for it... his energy reserves felt boundless. Thanks to his God-like powers.
"I think you all should rest," Samuel exclaimed, his tone quiet and clear.
Everyone else in the kitchen, still wiping down tables or gathering stray utensils, turned to him. They looked surprised by his enduring energy. Most of them were clearly ready to collapse.
"I will take care of the rest," Samuel added, gesturing to the remaining cleanup.
Grandma Dotty and the others nodded, their expressions a mix of relief and mild awkwardness. They muttered their thanks and slowly dispersed, leaving him alone to finish the work.
It took him another hour to clear everything away. The kitchen was finally stainless, every surface wiped clean, every pot and pan put back in its place. He was the only one in the vast backyard now, the silence of the early morning settling around him. He wiped his hands on a nearby towel, the fabric was rough against his skin. Then, he proceeded to head upstairs, directly to his own guestroom.
The door closed behind him with a soft click. He walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, the mattress pressed in slightly under his weight.
"Aegirion," he called out, his voice a low command.
It appeared from his skin, and a soft wave of energy vibrated around him, an energy only he could perceive. "I would like you to activate," Samuel continued, "Dual Spectrum."
Dual Spectrum was one of Samuel's new abilities, a unique power that functioned as a mental training ground. It transported Samuel's consciousness into a simulated reality, where it could replay any beast or monster Samuel had previously defeated. To return to his physical body, Samuel had to fight and defeat them all again within the simulation.
Samuel had recently found himself growing restless from sitting around, knowing his journey to the Blue-Crest Kingdom would not be easy. He understood that he needed to train more, to push his limits, and especially to master his five recently acquired abilities.
As he finished his command, the world around him went pitch black.
He woke up instantly, finding himself not in his guest room, but in the familiar, dense forest of Eldoria, the home of the True Blood Giant, exactly as he remembered it. The trees were massive and gnarled, their branches heavy with moss and algae. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of damp earth and decay.
In front of him, the ground trembled. The Thalindra Queen materialized, her form distinct and terrifying, like before. Her black scales reflected under the simulated light, marked with intricate golden patterns. Her crimson eyes and her four sharp horns curved from her head. Behind her, thousands of her reptilian children emerged from their invisibility illusion, their forms shifting into focus, their rough scales scraping against each other as they prepared to charge forward.
The mental training ground was surprisingly realistic. The details, the sounds, and the very feel of the air were indistinguishable from reality. Thanks to his new power, "Dual Spectrum," he could finally train without drawing attention or causing actual explosions that might harm his surroundings. Here, in this simulated space, he could fight as freely as he desired.
"Come at me," he declared, a challenging grin spreading across his face. He activated the mental training ground's command system, and the horde of reptiles, following the simulation's parameters, rushed toward him.
He met the first wave with a powerful strike, activating "Hand of War." A surge of dark red energy erupted from his palm, slamming into the leading reptiles. Their bodies splattered against the swampy walls of the simulated forest, leaving streaks of yellow blood dripping down the simulated walls.
"Let me try you out," he uttered intensely, his smile widening into a more dangerous, grin. "Cry of a God!"
Another of his new powers...
His jaws dislocated with a sickening crunch, audibly changing their form, stretching impossibly wide. He felt every bit of the pain in the simulation, a sharp agonizing pain that grounded him in the realism of the training.
From his disfigured mouth, a huge shockwave of sound erupted, a sonic roar that ripped through the forest. Half of the horde of reptiles in front of him were instantly vaporized, leaving behind only dust and a ringing silence.
Samuel's jaws snapped back to their normal position, the pain receding just as quickly as it had happened. He laughed a deep, full laughter that echoed through the decimated battlefield. Then, he stopped instantly, his focus shifting.
"Art of War," he called out, preparing for his next move as the Thalindra Queen herself, her powerful form now clearly visible, rushed towards him. But the power did not activate. Nothing happened.
"Aegirion," he questioned. "Why did the power not work?"
Aegirion's familiar voice responded directly in his mind, clear and concise, "Art of War is a power that cannot be used in the mental training ground. It requires an external component not present in this simulation."
"Hmm. Okay," Samuel uttered, a hint of frustration in his voice, but also understanding. He made a mental note of the limitation.
Now He needed a different approach. "Periodic Poltergeist!" Samuel declared. His form shimmered, and then he vanished from sight. He became invisible, soundless, and his every movement was now completely undetectable.
With this newfound advantage, Samuel systematically moved through the remaining reptilian horde, dispatching them with swift, silent attacks. This time, it was easy. Too easy. He moved through the last of them and then stood alone on the simulated battlefield.
"Increase the numbers," Samuel commanded the training ground. "Ten million reptiles, and one million True Blood-Giants."
In this mental training ground, Samuel had absolute control over the amount and type of creatures he could summon. The forest floor rippled, and new waves of enemies materialized, filling the landscape to the horizon. This time, the challenge would be significant.
He fought for what felt like months within the mental training ground. Slash, cut, jump... his body moved with precision, dodging blows, delivering fatal strikes. He regenerated over 70,000 times, each instance of simulated damage and subsequent healing bringing with it a rush of pain, refining his endurance and resilience. He fought until every single one of the ten million reptiles and one million True Blood Giants had been defeated.
Then, the world went black again.
He woke up back in his guest room, his body and the bed beneath him completely soaked in his sweat. His heart beat violently against his ribs, adrenaline still coursing through his body.
He heard the faint sound of music playing from downstairs, a cheerful, rhythmic melody. He pushed himself up, walked to the window, and looked out. The sun had already set. It was sundown, and the festival had begun.
A knock sounded at his door. "Samuel, it's me, Lira, open up!... Why aren't you answering? Hey... open up..." Lira's voice sounded worried, a touch of panic in her tone.
Samuel opened the door. Lira stepped inside, her eyes immediately falling on his sweat-soaked clothes and the damp bed.
"What happened?" she asked, looking around the room with concern. "I was knocking for a while... no response. Are you alright?"
"Yes," Samuel responded, his voice still a little rough from the training-induced adrenaline. "Let's leave it at that."
Lira stayed quiet for a moment, looking away, then back at him.
"Anyway, what about the Festival of the Living?" Samuel finally asked.
Silence...
Samuel noticed her quietness, a clear sign she had been waiting for him. He softened his voice. "Sorry for making you worry...Come on, let's go and enjoy the festival. You worked really hard for it, so we shouldn't waste any second." He reached out and gently patted her head.
She blushed slightly, a red flush spreading across her cheeks. "Hmmm," she replied cutely.
Samuel and Lira went downstairs together. The bathhouse courtyard had been transformed. Lanterns glowed with lights, music played from a small band, and the aroma of the cooked food filled the air. People laughed and chatted, gathering around tables laid with the dishes they had prepared.
They ate, enjoying the various flavors. Then, as the music swelled, Samuel and Lira found themselves drawn into the dancing. The steps were simple, a communal rhythm that everyone could follow. Lira moved with a natural grace, pulling Samuel in. At first, he was stiff, unaccustomed to such open expressions of joy. But Lira's easy laughter and gentle nudges helped him relax. He found himself smiling, genuinely moving with the music, the warmth of the communal celebration seeping into him. He even managed a few spins that made Lira giggle. It was a simple, pure moment of connection.
Later in the night, as the celebration began to wind down, Samuel found Grandma Dotty. "Grandma Dotty," he uttered, "Lira and I will be leaving tomorrow."
She smiled and nodded. "I understand, Samuel. You have your own journey to undertake. The bathhouse will always be here for you." Her eyes held a knowing kindness.
It was a lovely night, filled with unexpected moments of warmth and connection. Yet, even as he danced and laughed, Samuel couldn't help but think of Emma. He wished his sister was here. She would have loved this experience... the music, the shared food, the vibrant community, and she would have been great friends with Lira. The thought of her brought a familiar mental ache, a reminder of what was missing even in the midst of all the celebration.