Chapter 113: The First Step
Chapter 113: The First Step
Lyra remained seated with her legs crossed, her breathing slow and steady as she continued the circulation Andras had taught her.
The first trace of Battle Energy had formed within her Battle Heart.
It was incredibly faint, barely more than a thin strand of denser energy moving alongside the mana coursing through her body.
Yet to Lyra, it felt like something far greater.
It was proof.
Proof that she had taken her first step onto the path of a warrior.
She carefully maintained the circulation, afraid that if she stopped paying attention, the newly formed Battle Energy would disappear.
Then Andras’s voice reached her.
"That’s enough. Stop now."
Lyra immediately obeyed.
Rather than abruptly cutting off the circulation, she gradually slowed it, allowing the remaining mana to settle naturally before opening her eyes.
Andras sat nearby, watching her with his usual calm expression.
"You’ve succeeded for the first time," he said. "There’s no reason to push yourself any further tonight. Your body hasn’t adapted to Battle Energy yet. Continuing would only put unnecessary strain on you."
Lyra nodded.
"Understood, Young Master."
A smile slowly spread across her face.
She couldn’t stop it.
She had actually done it.
For so long, becoming stronger had been nothing more than something she wished for. After the assassination, that desire had become even stronger.
She remembered the helplessness she had felt that day.
She had wanted to fight.
She had wanted to protect Andras.
But her strength hadn’t been enough.
She didn’t want to experience that feeling again.
Lyra lowered her gaze toward her hands.
I’m still weak.
She knew that.
Compared to Andras, she was nowhere near strong.
Perhaps she would never reach his level.
But that didn’t matter.
I don’t need to become as strong as the Young Master.
Her fingers slowly curled into fists.
I just need to become strong enough to protect myself.
If another enemy appeared, she didn’t want to remain helpless behind him.
She wanted to fight.
She wanted to survive.
And, if the opportunity ever came, she wanted to become strong enough to protect the person who had given her a chance to change her life.
A warm feeling spread through her chest.
Today, I finally took my first step.
Lyra looked up.
Andras was watching her.
For a moment, she simply stared at him.
An overwhelming happiness suddenly filled her heart.
Before she could think about it, Lyra leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss lasted only a moment.
When she pulled away, her face immediately became warm.
"I... I’m sorry, Young Master."
Andras looked at her quietly.
Lyra lowered her head.
"I was just too happy. I wasn’t thinking."
There was embarrassment in her voice.
Andras studied her for a moment before his expression softened slightly.
"It’s fine."
Lyra cautiously raised her eyes.
"You’ve taken your first step onto the path of a warrior," Andras said. "That’s something worth celebrating."
Her eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Then consider tonight a celebration."
Lyra’s cheeks grew warmer as she understood his meaning.
The rest of the night passed quietly behind the closed doors of their room.
---
Morning arrived sooner than Andras expected.
Pale sunlight slipped through the curtains and gradually filled the room.
Andras opened his eyes and sat up.
Lyra was still asleep beside him.
He glanced at her briefly before getting out of bed.
After washing and dressing, he left the room and prepared for another day at Ambrose Academy.
By the time he arrived, the academy grounds were already bustling with activity.
Students moved between buildings in small groups, conversations filled the courtyards, and the distant sounds of weapons striking training dummies echoed from the combat grounds.
Andras made his way toward Class A.
When he entered, Seraphina was already seated.
She looked toward him.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Andras took his usual seat beside her.
Seraphina studied him for a moment.
"You look tired."
"I didn’t sleep particularly well."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"That’s unusual."
Before Andras could answer, the classroom door opened.
The conversations gradually faded.
A woman stepped inside.
She appeared to be in her early thirties, with long chestnut-brown hair tied loosely behind her shoulders. Her refined features were complemented by sharp green eyes that seemed to notice even the smallest details in the room.
She wore the academy’s dark-blue instructor robes. Several leather-bound books and small monster-identification tools hung from the belt around her waist.
Unlike Professor Alaric’s relaxed demeanor or Professor Draven’s intimidating presence, she carried herself with quiet confidence.
She placed several books on the teacher’s desk before turning toward the class.
"My name is Professor Marissa Everhart."
She picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her name across the board.
Then, beneath it:
MONSTER STUDIES
She turned back toward the students.
"Most of you have probably already encountered monsters."
Several students nodded.
"Some of you may have even fought them."
Her gaze swept across the classroom.
"But knowing how to fight a monster and understanding a monster are two very different things."
She walked toward the center of the classroom.
"Today, we’re going to focus on the second."
Marissa opened one of the books.
"Monsters aren’t simply oversized animals. They possess unique anatomy, instincts, magical properties, and behavioral patterns. Some species rely almost entirely on physical strength. Others possess abilities that make them considerably more dangerous than their appearance suggests."
She closed the book.
"And if you don’t understand what you’re fighting, your strength may not matter."
Andras listened quietly.
I’ve already killed monsters before.
He remembered several of the creatures he had encountered since arriving in this world.
Until now, monster hunting had seemed relatively simple.
Find the weakness.
Exploit it.
Kill the creature.
But there was a difference between knowing how to kill something and knowing how to kill it efficiently.
More importantly, Andras realized that his knowledge had a limit.
He had read Rise of the Sword Hero from beginning to end. He knew many monsters that appeared throughout the story—their abilities, habits, weaknesses, and even some of the circumstances surrounding their appearances.
But there had to be monsters he had never heard of.
If he encountered one in the future, his knowledge of the novel wouldn’t help him.
That made this class considerably more valuable.
Professor Everhart closed her book.
"Rather than spending the entire lesson looking at drawings, we’re going somewhere more useful."
The students exchanged curious glances.
Marissa smiled.
"Stand up."
Several students immediately became interested.
"Where are we going, Professor?"
"You’ll see."
She picked up her books.
The students followed her out of the classroom.
Instead of heading toward the central academy grounds, she led them toward a large stone building on the eastern side of the academy.
The farther they walked, the fewer students they encountered.
Eventually, they reached a massive iron gate.
Several magical formations had been engraved into the surrounding stone walls.
Andras immediately recognized them as defensive formations.
So this is where they keep the monsters.
Professor Everhart placed her hand against a small crystal beside the gate.
The formations activated.
A faint hum passed through the stone.
The iron gate slowly opened.
Beyond it lay a vast enclosed area.
It was nothing like the ordinary academy grounds.
Tall reinforced walls surrounded several large habitats, each designed to resemble a different environment.
One section contained dense vegetation.
Another was filled with artificial rocks and caves.
Farther away, Andras could see what appeared to be a small lake surrounded by thick vegetation.
The students stared in amazement.
Professor Everhart looked back at them.
"Welcome to Ambrose Academy’s Monster Research Grounds."
Questions immediately began flying from the students.
"How many monsters are kept here?"
"Are they dangerous?"
"Can they escape?"
Everhart raised a hand.
"One question at a time."
The students quieted.
"These creatures are used for research, magical studies, and practical training. The academy maintains strict containment procedures, so you don’t need to worry about a monster suddenly wandering into the student dormitories."
A few students laughed nervously.
Everhart turned toward one of the habitats.
"Our first subject is nearby."
She led them toward a reinforced observation platform overlooking a large enclosure.
The students gathered along the railing.
Then something moved among the trees.
Branches snapped.
Leaves rustled.
A massive creature emerged from the vegetation.
It resembled a wolf, but it was far larger than an ordinary animal. Its dark-gray fur was marked with faint blue patterns, while two sharp horns curved backward from its skull.
Several students immediately tensed.
Everhart pointed toward it.
"This is a Frosthorn Wolf."
The creature raised its head.
Its eyes immediately focused on the students.
"Don’t let its size fool you," Everhart continued. "Frosthorn Wolves are highly territorial predators. They possess excellent hearing and can detect changes in mana within their surroundings."
She gestured toward its horns.
"The horns aren’t merely weapons. They also function as mana-conductive organs."
Andras’s gaze sharpened.
So the horns aren’t just decorative.
"When threatened, the Frosthorn Wolf can channel mana through them and release a concentrated burst of frost."
One student raised his hand.
"Professor, what’s its weakness?"
Everhart smiled.
"Good question."
She pointed toward the creature’s chest.
"The Frosthorn Wolf has thick muscle and reinforced bones, but the area beneath its lower ribs is considerably less protected."
She indicated the location.
"The heart and several major blood vessels are located there."
The students listened carefully.
"If you’re strong enough to break through its defenses, that is one of the most efficient places to strike."
Andras memorized the location.
Lower ribs.
Everhart continued.
"However, getting there isn’t simple."
The Frosthorn Wolf suddenly moved.
It lowered its body.
Its muscles tightened.
Then—
It lunged toward a training construct inside the enclosure.
The creature crossed the distance in an instant.
Its horns flashed with blue light.
Bang!
The construct was struck and thrown several meters backward.
Several students gasped.
Everhart remained calm.
"That’s why knowing its weakness isn’t enough."
She pointed toward the wolf.
"You must understand its attack patterns."
The creature circled the damaged construct.
"It prefers to attack from an angle rather than directly. When hunting in the wild, it uses its speed to force prey toward obstacles before striking."
She paused.
"If you understand that behavior, you can predict where it will move."
Andras’s expression became more focused.
That’s the real value of this class.
He had killed monsters before, usually by relying on overwhelming strength or exploiting obvious weaknesses.
But understanding their anatomy and behavior could allow him to fight more efficiently, spend less energy, and reduce the risk of injury.
And more importantly, it could help him deal with monsters he had never encountered before.
Professor Everhart led them toward another enclosure.
This one contained a large reptilian creature covered in dark scales.
"This is a Stonehide Lizard."
She began explaining the structure of its scales, the defensive properties of its hide, and the vulnerable joints beneath its limbs.
The students asked questions as she demonstrated how the creature moved and reacted to different stimuli.
Andras remained attentive.
He wasn’t interested in memorizing monster names for their own sake.
He wanted practical information.
Their vital points.
Their attack patterns.
Their reactions to injuries.
The abilities they relied on.
The movements that revealed their intentions.
And, ultimately, the most efficient way to kill them.
After demonstrating the creature’s behavior, Professor Everhart turned toward the students.
"You’ve spent enough time reading about monsters."
She gestured toward the enclosures surrounding them.
"From now on, I want you to learn by observing them directly."
Her eyes moved across the group.
"Watch their movements. Study their bodies. Pay attention to their behavior."
She paused.
"And when you eventually fight one..."
Her expression became serious.
"...don’t waste your strength trying to overpower something you could have understood instead."
Andras’s eyes narrowed slightly.
That’s a lesson worth remembering.
Professor Everhart turned toward the next enclosure.
"Now, let’s see whether any of you can identify the weakness of the next creature without me telling you."
The students immediately followed her.
Andras walked alongside Seraphina, his gaze fixed on the creature ahead.
Monster Studies had genuinely caught his interest.
Not because monsters were unfamiliar to him.
But because he knew the limits of what he knew.
If there were creatures he had never encountered before, he would learn about them.
If there were weaknesses he didn’t know, he would discover them.
And if he ever had to fight one—
He would know exactly how to kill it.