Chapter 15 — Kaelen’s Copying Ability Terrifies

The training courtyard was quiet, almost unnaturally so. Aric faced Kaelen, sword in hand, heart pounding with anticipation. Today’s lesson was different—Kaelen had promised to show him something few had ever witnessed.

“Observe carefully,” Kaelen said, unsheathing the Morphblade. The blade shimmered faintly, reflecting the sunlight. “What I am about to show you is not just power, but the result of years of understanding, observation, and adaptation. Pay attention.”

Aric nodded, tightening his grip. “Yes, Master Kaelen.”

Kaelen moved first, striking with fluid, precise movements. Aric blocked and parried, but Kaelen flowed around him, anticipating his reactions perfectly. Every feint Aric tried, Kaelen countered seamlessly. Every new technique Aric attempted, Kaelen adapted instantly, replicating the move with uncanny perfection.

Aric’s eyes widened. “M-Master… how…?”

Kaelen stopped, standing perfectly still, blade lowered. “What you just saw was not magic. Not instinct alone. I study, observe, and copy. Every opponent has a style, a rhythm, a flaw. I do not invent— I adapt. I reflect. That is the power of the Mirrorblade.”

Aric’s breath caught. “You… you can copy perfectly? Every move?”

Kaelen nodded. “Almost every move. But power without understanding is meaningless. Copying is only useful if it teaches you something. That is why I train you—to learn not just technique, but the thought behind it. A true swordsman adapts, innovates, and understands. Copying alone will not win battles.”

Aric’s grip tightened around his sword. “I… I want to be like that someday. To fight with skill and understanding. Not just raw strength.”

Kaelen stepped closer, voice calm but intense. “Then remember this—skill without discipline is dangerous. Confidence without control is fatal. Observation is the foundation, adaptation the path, and understanding the key. You can copy a move, but can you master it? Can you make it your own?”

Aric bowed his head, absorbing the weight of the lesson. “I will learn, Master Kaelen. I will study, adapt, and make every technique my own.”

Kaelen sheathed the Morphblade. “Good. Passion alone is not enough. Skill alone is not enough. Only understanding can make you truly formidable. And only then can you face the threats beyond these walls—monsters, demons, and warriors who seek to challenge the kingdom.”

Aric’s eyes sparkled with determination. “I understand. I will not forget this lesson.”

Kaelen nodded, a faint approval in his golden eyes. Today was not just a lesson in skill—it was a lesson in philosophy, discipline, and the very heart of swordsmanship.

Outside the training yard, the wind carried whispers of distant forests and unseen dangers. But within the quiet walls of the Silver Wyverns, a young prince’s resolve had solidified, guided by the calm, terrifying mastery of the Mirrorblade.