It was still dark, maybe around three in the morning.
Our fire is lit up again, with our plates just beside us.
The wind had grown harsher, cutting through the cloak wrapped around my shoulders and chilling me down to the bone.
Even with my shirt and outer layer, it felt like the cold crept in from the soles of my feet and spread through my entire body.
I could hear faint footsteps nearby—the knights on patrol, walking without their horses.
Their pace was steady, deliberate.
I guessed they were using lanterns to light the way, in which I concluded it just because that's what I've read in the stories in my world.
The wind howled louder, and that's when I woke up—shivering slightly, but grateful.
I hadn't meant to fall asleep.
I'd planned to do push-ups and sit-ups after dinner, to make up for the lack of training. But I must've been more mentally drained than I realized. The moment I lay down, my body gave in, and sleep took over instantly.
We're really staying until sunrise, huh?
"I wondered what time it is." I mentally noted.
I looked around and saw Commander Galen, with his sword lying on the tree just beside him.
So, he sleeps after all.
Honestly, I thought he'd be joining the patrolling knights or something more… active.
Wasn't exactly looking forward to watching him doze off.
But hey—here we are.
"Will I wake him up if I move from where I'm standing?" I questioned myself, glaring at him nervously.
I thought that, if I moved—that'll be the end of me. He was stressed and all mentally drained as well after telling that story.
But I really wanted to do something productive, so I grabbed and put my cloak back on, and quietly, very quietly I started walking away from where we were camping.
Didn't get too far.
I took a quick look at my profile and leveled up Speed.
[Speed: 8 ➤ 9]
"Chopping down fifteen branches gave me 20 EXP—just enough to level up my Strength."
"Then, I believe that exercise should do the same thing as well."
I checked out the system and scrolled down.
I was hoping it had some kind of workout routine for my path—but no luck.
"Looks like the system wants me to be resilient on my own, find my way to flourish my path."
"Well, just like those I've read in web novels."
"Maybe 50 push-ups and 50 sit-ups should do fine for now."
Just when I'm about to put my cloak in my inventory, the system appeared.
[Push-ups 0/50 = 35 EXP (Strength & Endurance)]
[Sit-ups 0/50 = 40 EXP (Endurance)]
"Huh? Well, that's very surprising..."
"Looks like the system can..."
"Read my thoughts? Or maybe it's recording them?"
I'm not sure what's happening, but whatever this is, it's making things a lot easier.
The first thing I did was push up; it was fascinating because I did it without stopping.
Then I took a quick break, and I drank the remaining water while standing.
After I'm finished with the sit-ups as well, I did a two-minute plank.
[Push-ups 50/50 = 35 EXP (Strength & Endurance) Completed]
[Sit-ups 50/50 = 40 EXP (Endurance) Completed]
[EXP's are added to your stats]
I leaned my back against the tree and sat quietly.
The wind after a good workout felt comforting — cool, steady, just enough to ease the heat off my skin.
My legs were pounding; I'm clearly not used to training them.
"Maybe I should go back."
I assumed that the sun was going to rise any minute now.
Once I came back, Commander Galen was awake, he cleaned up our messes and bagged up our supplies.
I stood stupidly beside the tree, I should've finished it soon, I thought.
I was so embarrassed that it just froze me in place.
"You're back."
"Come and unleashed our horses from the trees."
I followed his order, and once we I'm done, we hit the road again.
We'd been riding for a long time now—it must be around noon.
The area we're in looks completely different: on one side, the trees are barely clinging to life; on the other, they're lush and full.
The grass is wet, though it doesn't look like it rained.
The farther we go, the hotter the sun feels.
I pulled up my hood and asked Commander Galen if we still had water.
"No, we're almost there don't worry."
I was catching my breath, mouth opened while waiting for my sweat to fall off my face.
This world just became more bizarre.
We kept moving forward.
But all of a sudden, Commander Galen stopped.
"What's wrong?"
He stared blankly at the path ahead.
No monsters.
No people.
Just an open field of grass, with trees lining one side.
I was curious.
Without a word, he raised his left hand in front of his face, toward the empty space ahead.
Just as I was about to ask if something was wrong, a barrier-like shimmer began to reveal what the grassy field really was.
"Let's go. This is the place," he said.
I was completely stunned—but I followed him anyway.
I didn't say a word until he finally did.
"That's his house." Commander Galen pointed to his left.
"A house?" I am slowly going insane because there's no house there.
"Where?" I looked at Commander Galen.
"There."
Just as I was about to say there's nothing there, I looked back to where he pointed—and saw a cabin, a pig farm, and three horses.
We finally got so close and started dropping from our horses.
Commander Galen knocked at the door.
The door began to open slowly, but there was no one.
Just as he was about to grab the door handle, someone descended behind us, catching "us" off guard, or so I thought...
I jumped in shock, and Commander Galen—still holding the handle, face serious—said...
"You haven't changed a bit."
"Sulien"
Commander Galen called out his name and it left me an expression.
So, this was his former comrade, huh?
Sulien grabbed him by the shoulders.
"You haven't changed a bit either, moron."
The voice was teasing, almost playful—enough to make Commander Galen's expression turn even more stone-cold.
"Say did you brought the dish of that one market lady I told you about few weeks ago?"
"Yes, I did, now would you get your hands off my shoulder." In an intimidating tone, Commander Galen is really annoyed.
"Come on! You're always cold with everything, for an old buddy..."
"How about we settle our score later after I eat it."
Sulien then grinned and patted Commander Galen's back while laughing horrendously.
Uhm…"
I glanced at Commander Galen's face, starting to worry about the guy.
A few seconds passed, and without a word, he crushed the door handle in his grip.
"Dear Heavens... I just fixed that one!"
"I'll fix it myself later." Commander Galen replied, with eyes twitching.
Just as Sulien was about to say something else, he looked at me.
He smiled—soft, almost familiar—and then extended a hand toward me.
"Welcome Dear traveler."
"The name's Sulien Garrett, a former Knights of Peace, and a comrade of yours truly, Commander Galen."
Commander Galen turned sharply toward us; his eyes locked onto Sulien—still furious.
"You're too formal, that doesn't fit you a bit."
"Sure, sure!"
"But wipe that face off first."
"We don't want to scare our guess, no?"
Sulien moved forward.
"Come in, make yourself at home!"
We entered his home, and I say, everything inside was organized very well. There are weapons and potions on the left, they were stacked according to their rarity, I guess?
Despite its weathered appearance, the oak wood house was surprisingly beautiful.
The interior was warm and inviting, with the earthy scent of aged wood mingling with the subtle freshness of the outdoors.
Though fragrances didn't exist in this world, the air inside felt alive—like a harmonious blend of nature's raw, untouched essence.
We sat down and he handed us water.
I drank mine as soon as I held it.
When I was about to ask for another, the water surprisingly came back.
"Don't bother asking another one Kid, it's magically binded."
"It will refill on its own." Sulien said, while looking at Commander Galen's sack.
I was simply amazed; I kept drinking until I was satisfied.
Sulien sat down on the ground at the other end of the room, just beside his yard's door.
He devoured the food Commander Galen brought in the blink of an eye, as if he hadn't eaten in days.
"YUMM!!"
"Say Galen, let's check that lady out once I decided to pay a visit again, yeah?"
"Just don't go weirding her off just like last time." Commander Galen replied, his arms crossed, and his eyes closed.
Sulien chuckled.
I just sat down and reading the information about the D+ Monster Commander Galen killed.
So, their race is called Korkads, huh?" I muttered, thinking back to what Commander Galen had explained.
Apparently, they originated from the Realm of Wind. Known for their speed and resilience against harsh weather conditions, Korkads were built to endure the elements.
Unlike the typical monster I'd faced, they weren't particularly skilled with weapons—at least, not in the traditional sense.
Their main weapon was their claws, sharp and deadly. However, that only applied to the more advanced forms of these creatures. They are never intelligent as well.
What was even more fascinating was their lifespan—they could live for centuries, far beyond that of the previous monster. They could also appear at any time, day or night, blending seamlessly into their surroundings.
I continued reading and analyzing the plan in case this monster ever appeared again, mentally preparing for the worst.
But as I was lost in thought, Sulien suddenly appeared right in front of me, snapping me out of my concentration.
"You good kid? You seemed you're in your zone right now."
"What's up?"
"Nothing, I just nodded off for a bit from the heat while we were traveling, but I'm fine now."
Sulien then just hummed and told me to follow him outside.
"Why?"
He looks at Commander Galen.
"He's asleep?"
"Yeah, we don't want to wake up that bastard. The last time I did…"
Sulien covered his mouth, tears streaming down his face in a funny way, as if he was remembering a time when he had woken Commander Galen up—and something unpleasant had happened because of it.
We made our way to his yard and sat down on the wooden floor, with his house providing us with shelter from the sun.
"Galen rarely brought visitors, you must be special to him in some way."
"No Sir, we just met like 2 days ago, and many things already happened."
"I see..." Sulien looking at the sky with his feet moving back and forth.
"Well, that doesn't really apply to what I said."
My eyes widened in curiosity.
I was completely bewildered—what other reason could there be? I questioned myself.
"He probably sees something in you."
"Something in me?" I asked, looking at him confusedly.
"Yeah, he probably saw you fight or something."
A flashback of the fight with a Ravgar suddenly flashed in my mind.
Could it be that Commander Galen had been there all along, watching me? The thought lingered in my mind, unanswered.
"You could say that..." I replied.
"Well, that can be the most rational reason."
"You see that man... wants to quit the Knights of Peace."
His words then left a shocked expression on my face.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll let him tell you the reason on his own. It will be better that way." he said and followed with a soft laugh.
"I also think that you have what it takes to be a great swordsman."
"Even though I just met you, my instinct is telling me that you are."
My expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief, as Sulien's sudden declaration that I could be his student hit me like a cold gust of wind. I froze, my thoughts scrambling.
I stared at him, and he locked eyes with me, unblinking, as if daring me to speak.
I was about to ask why, but the words caught in my throat.
"Let me show you something."
Sulien stood up, his movements deliberate as he stepped in front of me.
For a moment, the air was thick with silence, the kind that hangs heavy before something momentous happens.
With a fluid motion, Sulien raised his arm above his head, fingers curled as though grasping something unseen.
It was clear he wasn't holding anything, yet the way his body tensed suggested he was preparing for something.
Then, in a low and commanding voice, he uttered a chant—one that seemed to make the very air quiver.
Without warning, a sword materialized from the wind. I couldn't see it, but I felt it—its presence tangible in the air around him. It was there, an ethereal blade forged from nothing but the wind itself, and Sulien wielded it as though it had always been in his grasp.
With a serious expression etched on his face, Sulien swung the sword in a smooth, decisive arc. The air around him rippled as the blade cut through it, unleashing a fierce wave of wind. I could feel it wash over me, the pressure building in the atmosphere.
The gusts tore through the trees ahead, slicing through their trunks with an almost effortless precision. Branches flew in every direction, falling like shattered pieces of wood. It was a clean cut—no jagged edges, just the sharp, flawless execution of raw power.
It left me speechless.
"Again, pleasure to meet you kid..."
He shifted his face towards me.
Followed by the system appearing.
[Analyzing Target's Profile]
[Analyzing]
[Analyzing]
[Target's Profile has been completely analyzed, feel free to check it now]
I looked at him with complete awe, he just grinned there while still gripping the wind sword.
[Sulian Garrett — Profile Scan Complete]
Name: Sulian Garrett
Age:39
Class: Traveler, Former Knights of Peace #2
Path: Wind
Tier: Dangerous B++
Skills:
V. Unidentified
VI. Unidentified
VII. Unidentified
VIII. Unidentified
Abilities: (Not available at your current level)
Items Information: (Not available at your current level)
[Access Denied: Insufficient clearance to view full profile of target.]
[Profile View Ascension unlocked at Level 6]
Unlocked Features:
• View Target's Abilities
• View Target's Item Information
"Be my student kid, I'll help you get strong."
"But do me a favor..."
"A favor?" I curiously asked myself.
With an even wider grin, Sulien raised the invisible blade and pointed it straight at me. His eyes locked onto mine—sharp, unwavering, and full of intent.
"Don't you waste this oppurtunity."
And then… everything went quiet.
Inside me. Around me. The world itself seemed to hold its breath.
For the first time, I had a mentor—someone who could help me shape this raw force inside me, mold it into something real.
Something powerful.
I didn't look away from him. Not even for a second.
And in that silence... I stood.
A fire lit in my chest, slow at first, then raging. The winds around us stirred—growing stronger, wilder—as if they, too, could feel the shift inside me.
I clenched my fists, my heart pounding with purpose.
With a steady voice and unwavering eyes, I spoke—not to him, but to myself, to the world.
"I won't."
This wasn't a vow.
This was a pact.
A deal with a storm itself.
This training might break me.
Or it might cause something far more dangerous.
But one thing was certain.
I will become stronger.
"But first—prepare us dinner. I can't cook, you know?" Sulien said flatly.
Just like that, the air shifted.
The intense silence—the burning resolve, the storm in my chest... gone. Shattered by that one line.
I stood there, completely frozen.
Not because of the wind nor because of some overwhelming emotion.
Just... awkward.
"On it..."
"Ingredients are all there kid!"
"DON'T ADD TO MANY VEGETABLES ALRIGHT??!" then chuckled stupidly as I walked back inside the house.