The carriage moved again, the sound of wheels rolling over dirt steady as if nothing had happened. The tension from the fight didn’t disappear completely, but it settled into something quieter. No one joked for a while. Even Liam stayed silent, leaning back against the wooden frame as he replayed what he had just seen.

Dory sat near the opening, his eyes forward, but his mind was elsewhere.

’...That wasn’t normal...’

He adjusted his glasses slightly and glanced at Sirene. She had returned to her seat, her posture straight, her expression calm like the fight had never happened. There was no sign of strain, no heavy breathing, nothing.

Just control.

Dory studied her for a few seconds before speaking.

"Can you teach me?"

The question made a few heads turn.

Liam blinked. "Teach you what? How to scare people without trying?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Maya smirked. "He means fighting."

Sirene looked at Dory, her gaze steady. "Why?"

Dory didn’t hesitate. "Because I need it."

"That’s vague," she said.

"It’s enough."

Lola leaned back slightly. "You’re serious?"

"Yes."

Sirene stayed quiet for a moment, watching him like she was trying to read something deeper.

"You’re not a fighter," she said.

"I know."

"Then why start now?"

Dory folded his arms. "Because I don’t want to rely on others for everything."

Horg gave a low grunt from the front. "Good reason."

Liam scratched his head. "You sure about this? You don’t even like sweating."

"I like staying alive more," Dory replied.

Maya let out a small laugh. "Fair."

Sirene shifted slightly in her seat. "Fighting is not something you learn in a day."

"I’m not asking for a day," Dory said.

"And you think you can handle it?"

Dory met her gaze. "I think I can try."

There was a pause.

The carriage continued moving, the sound of the horses filling the silence.

Finally, Sirene spoke again. "I can show you the basics."

Liam leaned forward. "Wait, you agreed just like that?"

"It’s not a big deal," she replied.

Maya raised an eyebrow. "You don’t seem like the type to teach."

"I’m not," Sirene said. "But he asked properly."

Dory nodded once. "That’s enough."

Lola smirked. "Don’t expect her to go easy on you."

"I won’t," Dory replied.

Dano looked curious. "What kind of training is it?"

Sirene answered simply. "Footwork. Balance. Awareness."

"That sounds boring," Liam said.

"It’s not," Horg cut in. "It’s the only thing that matters."

Dory leaned back slightly, thinking.

’...Footwork... balance... awareness...’

He glanced at his hands.

’...Kinetic Precision should help...’

Then his eyes shifted back to Sirene.

"There’s something else."

"What?" she asked.

Dory tilted his head slightly. "Why didn’t you use magic?"

That question changed the mood a little.

Liam looked up. "Oh... yeah."

Maya crossed her arms. "You didn’t use any."

Lola added, "Not even once."

Sirene didn’t answer immediately.

She looked ahead, her expression unchanged.

Dory continued. "You’re a knight. You should have access to it."

"I do," she said.

"Then why not use it?"

Liam nodded. "Yeah, wouldn’t that make it easier?"

Horg let out a quiet chuckle. "Not everything needs magic."

Dory didn’t look away from Sirene. "Still. You didn’t even consider it."

Sirene finally turned her head slightly.

"Because it wasn’t necessary."

Maya frowned a bit. "That’s it?"

"Yes."

Dory adjusted his glasses again. "Explain."

Sirene leaned back slightly, her voice calm. "Magic takes energy. Not just physical, but mental. Every time you use it, you spend something."

Liam blinked. "Like stamina?"

"More than that," she said. "Control, focus, timing. If you rely on it too much, you lose efficiency."

Horg nodded slowly. "She’s right."

Dory listened carefully.

’...So it’s not free...’

Sirene continued. "Those bandits were not worth it. Steel was enough."

Lola smirked. "You’re saying they weren’t even worth magic?"

"Yes."

Maya laughed quietly. "That’s harsh."

"It’s the truth," Sirene said.

Dory rested his chin lightly on his hand.

’...So magic is a resource... not something to waste...’

He looked at her again. "How much can you use?"

Sirene shrugged slightly. "Depends."

"On what?"

"Situation. Opponent. Time."

Liam groaned. "That’s not helpful at all."

"It’s not meant to be," she replied.

Dory stayed quiet for a few seconds, thinking through it.

’...She didn’t even feel threatened...’

He exhaled softly.

"Then what does it take for you to use it?"

Sirene didn’t answer right away.

The carriage rolled forward, the trees slowly thinning as the road widened again.

After a moment, she spoke.

"When it matters."

"That’s still vague," Maya said.

Sirene glanced at her. "You’ll know when you see it."

Liam shook his head. "I don’t like that answer."

"No one asked if you did," Lola replied.

Dory let out a small breath, leaning back slightly.

’...So she’s holding back most of the time...’

He looked at his hands again.

’...And I’m just starting...’

The gap was clear.

But it didn’t bother him.

If anything, it made things simpler.

"Then teach me," he said again.

Sirene nodded once. "When we stop next."

"Good."

The conversation eased after that. The tension from earlier faded little by little, replaced by a quieter focus. The road ahead was still long, but the group felt more settled now.

Liam stretched again. "I still can’t believe you beat all of them alone."

Sirene didn’t respond.

Maya smirked. "Get used to it."

Horg kept his eyes on the road. "Valerius is not going to be that easy."

"No one said it would be," Dory replied.

The carriage continued forward, the sun slowly moving across the sky as the journey went on.

Dory closed his eyes briefly.

’...Fighting... magic... politics...’

He exhaled.

’...One step at a time...’

Sirene’s voice broke the quiet again, calm and steady.

"I can definitely use magic, at a certain rate of course. But why waste them on petty thieves."

Dory sighed. ’She isn’t wrong.’

It was clearly evident, the bandits were not magicians or whatever this world call the people related to the supernatural. Actually, Dory would love to learn magic one day, that if he’s giving the privilege to of course.

"That can wait. First Valerius"