In the backyard of Hikari's house, the sun was nearing the horizon, casting its final rays and enveloping the place in a warm orange hue. Mirai stood in the center, her eyes fixed ahead with sharp focus, as if the world around her had completely stopped. She gripped the Sword of the Weapon Master with a steady hand, surrounded by five iron balls arranged in a circle with her at its center.

  Nearby, Hikari and Seijiro stood watching in silence, their gazes fixed on her.

  Mirai stomped the ground forcefully. The earth shook beneath her feet as the balls rose into the air in unison. In an instant, she transformed the sword into a long staff, wielding it skillfully. She then spun in a wide, fluid motion, striking the balls one after another with lightning speed.

  The balls hurtled back toward her, but she didn't hesitate. Her mind remained clear and calm. She moved the staff lightly to deflect three balls at once, the sounds of impact echoing like a continuous buzz, yet her focus never wavered. As a fourth ball approached, she transformed the staff back into a sword and parried it with a sharp strike, sending it flying.

  The assault continued without pause, but Mirai was ready. Every step was calculated, every strike measured. When four balls rushed at her simultaneously, she maintained her composure. The sword transformed into a dual-bladed weapon, and she spun her body to deflect all four at once, the collisions shaking the air around her with force.

  In seconds, the weapon shifted into two small daggers in her hands, which she used to parry two more balls with the same speed and precision. There was no hesitation. The balls came from every direction, but she anticipated every move, analyzing the angles and redirecting the strikes with a speed that made it look effortless.

  After a full minute of continuous defense, the balls began to slow, then fell to the ground one by one, the thud of their fall filling the yard with a heavy sound. Mirai took a deep breath, standing straight, her eyes on the now-still balls.

  "That was amazing!" Hikari exclaimed in admiration as he approached her, his face filled with astonishment.

  Seijiro added, "You've exceeded my expectations, Mirai. I didn't expect you to reach this level so quickly."

  Mirai turned to them, a smile gracing her lips. "I couldn't have done it without your training." She then asked, "But I've only trained for a year and a half. Is that considered fast?"

  Seijiro replied, "Of course. It took me nearly eight years to reach this level."

  He then added seriously, "But there's something important. Your spiritual powers have developed, but slowly. It was your innate physical strength that allowed you to succeed. When you use the sword, its sharpness won't be at its peak. You need to focus on developing your spiritual powers as much as possible."

  Mirai nodded in understanding, her face showing her determination. "It's difficult for demons to develop spiritual powers, but I'll do my best to improve."

  "There's no need to rush it," Seijiro said. "Your innate powers are on a completely different level. Take your time."

  Mirai stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Seijiro-san, shall we spar now?"

  Seijiro smiled confidently. "I don't mind. But I don't want to discourage you. You won't be able to win."

  "That's fine," Mirai said. "I just want to see how much I've progressed."

  "Alright then," Seijiro said. "I'll fight you with my full strength."

  Each of them grabbed an ordinary sword. They stood facing each other, then began the fight.

  **Three minutes later...**

  Mirai lay on the ground, gasping for breath, with Seijiro standing over her. He smiled and said, "Your level has clearly improved."

  Mirai replied in a tired, panting voice, "I'll need fifty years just to land a single hit on you... Are you even human?"

  Seijiro chuckled lightly. "I started training with spiritual powers when I was six, and I've trained every day for forty years. It won't be easy to defeat me."

  Mirai stood up slowly, catching her breath. Fatigue was etched on her face, but enthusiasm still shone in her eyes.

  Hikari called out from a distance, "The sun is about to set. Let's go inside and continue tomorrow."

  The three entered the house after a long day of training. Mirai felt exhaustion weighing on her body, but a sense of satisfaction spread within her, pushing her to continue.

  The next day, Mirai woke up before sunrise. Despite the soreness still lingering in her muscles, she was driven by enthusiasm. She put on her training clothes and headed to the backyard. The air was cool and refreshing, and a light fog covered the ground, giving the place a stillness that aided focus.

  She reached the yard, where silence reigned. She stood quietly, closed her eyes, and began to focus her spiritual powers, taking a deep breath and feeling the energy flow within her.

  After a short while...

  "Good morning, Mirai." Mirai opened her eyes to see Rin standing before her with a calm smile.

  Mirai replied, "Good morning, Rin-san."

  Rin said gently, "You're up early today. It seems your passion for training is endless. How strong are you aiming to become?"

  Mirai smiled, scratching her head with a hand that trembled slightly from the cold. "Honestly, I aspire to become unbeatable."

  Rin's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then she smiled calmly. "Reaching such a level requires indescribable effort. Seijiro and I had a great desire to develop our powers; we believed that individual strength was more important than anything. But eventually, I reached a point where I realized I could rely on others."

  Mirai pondered this for a moment, biting her lower lip, then said, "You know, I've always wondered something. You and Seijiro-san are strong enough to destroy an entire kingdom if you wanted. Don't you get bored of this quiet life? You could do so much."

  Rin smiled kindly, looking at the ground for a moment as if lost in memory. "I understand how you feel. Seijiro and I were just like you in our youth. We traveled between kingdoms and fought many battles. But when Hikari was born, our priorities changed. The desire for battle faded. Now we live a quiet life and only fight when we must. I find my happiness in this simple life."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Rin looked at Mirai for a few moments, her eyes full of concern, and continued deeply, "When Hikari lost his powers, it was incredibly hard on him. He tried to hide his feelings from everyone, but he couldn't fool us. We saw him trying fruitlessly to regain his strength, and his spirit was slowly being crushed."

  Rin paused, taking a slow breath. "Seijiro and I knew that staying here would destroy him. If Seijiro hadn't suggested that he go on adventures and leave the village, he might never have found himself again. We knew he needed new challenges, not just to regain his strength, but to discover other sides of himself."

  Rin smiled warmly and added, "So, we let him go. We knew he would face difficulties, but we trusted his judgment. He's not reckless, and he knows how to handle risks."

  Mirai smiled in understanding, a warmth spreading through her chest. "I understand now. Hikari is wise and cautious, and I'm so happy I met him. If it weren't for him, I'd be dead."

  Rin replied with a warm smile, "I'm happy you met him, too. When we saw him using the new abilities you helped him discover, he had the same smile as the day he first used the Phoenix Wings."

  Rin looked at the sky, which was beginning to brighten with the first rays of the sun. "That day was very special for us. Seeing Hikari smile like that put my heart at ease. Thank you, Mirai."

  Gratitude washed over Mirai, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She looked at the ground for a moment, then raised her head and said shyly, "You don't have to thank me. Hikari deserves more than I could ever offer."

  At that moment, they heard footsteps approaching. They turned to see Hikari. He said jokingly, "Talking this early? Are you two planning a fight?"

  Rin laughed, waving a hand dismissively as she walked away. "Not exactly." She began walking toward the house, then turned back with a friendly look. "I'll leave you two to enjoy your time."

  After Rin left, Mirai turned to Hikari, taking a calm breath as her muscles tensed slightly.

  "Well, Hikari, the time is right. Just as Seijiro-san advised."

  Hikari replied with an understanding smile, "I was about to suggest the same thing. You've reached the peak of what you can achieve with physical strength. Now it's time to focus on your spirit."

  Mirai pondered for a moment, her fingers intertwining. She then asked in a quiet, curious voice, "Are you enjoying yourself here, Hikari?"

  Hikari was surprised for a moment, his eyes widening slightly, but he answered after a short pause, "I think so. What about you?"

  Mirai smiled lightly. "I've enjoyed my time here since the first day. And training with your father has opened up new horizons for me. Things I never imagined before."

  Hikari smiled in relief. "I'm glad to hear that. I was afraid you might be bored, or that you were forcing yourself to stay."

  Mirai laughed softly. "Quite the opposite. I found something valuable here. But... do you want to return to adventuring soon?"

  Hikari answered, enthusiasm showing in his eyes, "Of course. We can leave whenever you're ready."

  Some time passed before Seijiro arrived, and he began training Mirai until sunset.

  The following days passed quietly, with Mirai training to develop her spiritual powers from morning until evening, feeling slow but tangible progress.

  One evening, everyone was sitting around the dinner table. Steam rose from the hot food, and the aroma of the soup filled the room with a comforting warmth. Hikari ate in silence, while Rin and Seijiro exchanged quiet conversation and faint smiles, discussing their day.

  Suddenly, Mirai broke the silence in a calm tone. "There's something I want to talk about."

  The conversation stopped, and all eyes turned to her. Rin looked at her expectantly, while Seijiro said gently, "What is it, Mirai?"

  Mirai took a deep breath, her fingers resting on the table to steady her hand. "First, I want to thank all of you for everything. The training here was more than a wonderful experience. It taught me so much, and I enjoyed every moment of it. But... I don't think I need to stay here to continue my training."

  Rin placed her spoon gently on the table, smiling with understanding. "Do you mean you two will be leaving the village soon?"

  Mirai nodded. "Yes."

  Hikari added calmly, "We came to this decision a while ago, and I think the time has come to move on."

  Seijiro looked from Hikari to Mirai thoughtfully. After a moment, he said, "I was wondering when you'd make this decision. Staying here was beneficial, but I know your spiritual training can continue wherever you go." He then asked, "Have you decided on your destination?"

  Mirai answered, "We haven't planned that yet. We might just see where the road takes us."

  Seijiro smiled. "Well, I have a suggestion. What do you think about heading to the Kingdom of Lorasin? Traveling to another kingdom could be an exciting adventure."

  Mirai and Hikari exchanged a look, the idea intriguing them. Though they hadn't planned the details, exploring the Kingdom of Lorasin sounded thrilling.

  Rin smiled softly. "Then, let's enjoy the rest of the evening. Tomorrow, you'll start your new journey."

  The night passed in a calm atmosphere, yet everyone felt the weight of the coming farewell. In those warm moments, each of them began to prepare for the parting in their own way.

  With the first light of dawn, a light fog embraced the ground, and the village air was fresh. Hikari and Mirai stood in front of the house, ready to leave.

  Seijiro came out with Rin, who was carrying a small bag. Rin approached Mirai with a tender smile, offering her the bag. "This is a magical bag. It may look small, but it can hold a lot."

  Mirai took the bag, smiling gratefully. "Thank you." Unable to hold back her feelings, Rin stepped forward and hugged Mirai tightly. "I'll miss you so much." Mirai smiled, whispering, "I'll come back one day. I promise."

  Seijiro turned to Hikari. "Be careful on your way." Hikari nodded. "Don't worry, we will be."

  They shook hands with Seijiro, while Rin tried to hold back her tears, her eyes glistening.

  Mirai and Hikari began to walk away from the house. Rin smiled, looking at Seijiro with a hopeful gaze. "The first time Hikari left, he came back with Mirai. Do you think next time... he'll come back with our grandchildren?"

  Seijiro laughed softly, placing his hand on Rin's shoulder. "Maybe. But the important thing is that they return safely. The rest will come in time."

  As they walked slowly along the stone path, they met an old woman named Yuko, who was coming out of her house to gather herbs. She looked up, saw them approaching, and said with a smile, "Good morning. You're up early today. Where are you going?"

  Hikari and Mirai exchanged a glance. Hikari smiled and said, "Good morning, Mrs. Yuko. We're actually leaving today."

  Yuko's eyes widened in surprise. "Leaving? Now?" Mirai nodded. "Yes, we've decided to start our journey today."

  Yuko stepped toward Mirai and squeezed her hand gently. "You'll always be in my memory, my dear. I'll never forget how you saved me when I fell from the cliff while gathering herbs. I wish you a safe journey."

  Mirai smiled as she bid her farewell, and they continued on their way. On the path to the public square, they met a group of children.

  Among them, a girl named Lisa spotted them and waved. "Hello! Are you getting ready for another training session today?"

  Hikari stopped and looked at her with a smile. "Actually, no. We're leaving the village today."

  Lisa was taken aback, shock showing on her face. "Leaving? Now? I didn't know you were going."

  Mirai answered calmly, "Yes, it was a decision we made after a lot of thought. I had a wonderful time here, but it's time for us to continue our journey."

  Lisa smiled hesitantly, trying to hide her sadness. "I wish you a wonderful journey." She then said to Mirai with a warm smile, clutching her necklace, "Thank you so much, Miss Mirai, for finding my lost necklace."

  "You're welcome," Mirai said. "Goodbye, Lisa."

  After saying their goodbyes, they continued toward the village gate. As they drew closer, villagers who had heard the news of their departure stopped to talk to them. Ken, the farmer, approached from his field. "Thank you, Mirai, for helping me and the neighbors when the hurricane destroyed my field."

  Then came a young man named Haru. "I'll never forget how you helped me repair my house after the storm damaged it."

  Hikari and Mirai continued walking through the village as more people gathered to say farewell. Everyone felt a mix of sadness and surprise. In her year and a half there, Mirai had become far more than just a passing guest. She had helped countless people with their daily troubles, and her influence was felt in every corner of the village. Their gratitude was clear in their eyes and their words.

  As they neared the gate, voices calling out farewells and wishes for a safe journey rose around them, while they walked onward, toward the unknown.

  Mirai felt the weight of their words in her chest, but she was also filled with the warmth of their gratitude. At the gate, she and Hikari exchanged a calm glance, then took their first steps into the world beyond. A chapter of their lives had closed, but the road ahead was open, promising new possibilities, waiting adventures, and a world they had yet to discover.

  (To be continued)