Raiden wasn’t enthusiastic about traveling. Although he recognized that moving around could be beneficial in many ways, his commitment to his herb business was an issue. The care and attention required for his pursuits were crucial, and he felt a strong sense of responsibility to maintain this aspect of his life. This dedication made him hesitant to divert his focus away from the herbs he cultivated and studied.

Compounding his reluctance was the social discomfort he experienced due to his black hair. Outside his village, his appearance was met with suspicion and dislike, which made social interactions difficult and annoying. The negative attention he received from people who were not familiar with his background or the cultural significance of his hair further dampened his enthusiasm for travel. This prejudice created a sense of alienation, making him feel unwelcome in many places beyond his home.

Together, these factors made Raiden’s perspective on traveling more about managing the challenges it posed rather than seeking out new opportunities. While he understood that travel could open up new possibilities, the practical demands of his herb business and the social hurdles he faced due to his appearance made him more inclined to stay close to home.

"If you aren’t going, I guess leaving Iri to go alone is too bad of an idea," Lenore said.

"What? Why?" Iri asked, clearly indignant.

"You have proven my point just now, too impatient and harsh," Lenore said. "With Raiden around, he would look after you, and you would feel less prone to messing up as well, which would keep the good image of an older sister."

Iri groaned in exasperation, and she couldn’t say anything about that without digging her grave further. Still, Lenore smiled a bit and then let out a sigh.

"I was just joking. Although you are naive in many aspects, I am sure that you won’t make many mistakes since you are our kid," Lenore said, showing a serious expression. "We can only send so many skilled warriors to help the people from Lunaria learn how to use Aura Force , and you are among the top when it comes to that."

Despite knowing that Iri is proficient in the healing path, Raiden was puzzled by her apparent lack of demonstrated proficiency in other paths. This arose from a couple of points.

Raiden knew that Iri had consistently showcased her talent in the healing path, which raised questions about whether she had skills in other paths that she simply hadn’t revealed. This could suggest that Iri might possess a broad range of abilities but has chosen to concentrate on healing for personal or strategic reasons.

Raiden also wondered about the rationale behind Iri’s focus on the healing path. He was unsure if she had intentionally limited her use of other paths or if she possessed untapped potential in them. Still, he wanted to try to understand his sister’s approach to her skills and responsibilities. In any case, Iri grinned, but she didn’t say anything that could be used against her.

"Well, that is all for now. Let’s rest... these last few weeks have been too long," Lenore said while massaging her right shoulder.

They didn’t want to force Raiden to do anything since he didn’t show interest in the world outside... that was good considering his past, but that was also worrisome. Staying in one’s zone of comfort was never a good thing. Progress is only made when one challenges himself as much as possible.

Raiden knew that, so he began to reconsider his approach... all in order to make sure that Iri would be fine outside the village. She was almost seventeen, but she was still technically pretty naive. Still, she wouldn’t have always the backing of her parents.

Raiden realized that Lenore’s strategy was focused on her broader vision for the village’s future. He began to understand that Lenore’s decision to involve younger warriors is not merely about immediate needs but reflects a deliberate attempt to shift the village’s modus operandi. By focusing on younger, more adaptable individuals, Lenore aimed to change how the village approaches its challenges and interactions with the outside world.

The adaptability of youth plays a crucial role in this strategy. Younger warriors are often more open to new methods and environments, making them better suited to handle the demands of missions that might keep them away from the village for longer periods. Their flexibility allowed them to adjust more easily to the evolving needs and circumstances, aligning with Lenore’s goal of preparing the village for a more dynamic and challenging future.

By training and deploying younger warriors who can effectively manage prolonged absences and adapt to diverse situations, Lenore is preparing the village for future challenges. This approach shows a significant shift in the village’s operational methods, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and resilience in a rapidly changing world.

"I guess I can’t fall behind, huh?" Raiden thought while staring at the ceiling of his room. "I should prepare for this as well... first of all, I need to outsource my business. I guess the best idea is to talk with other healers who might find my plants high quality."

It was a bit troublesome to change his methods now, just when he was about to make them more stable, but it couldn’t be helped. With those thoughts in mind, Raiden fell asleep.

When morning came, Raiden started his day with a bit of training... now that he was more used to the mental strain, he decided to improve the training method a bit. Instead of having some longer training sessions, he decided to have shorter ones whenever his energy was full.

So, pretty much every thirty minutes, Raiden would stop everything he was doing and suddenly focus his control of Aura Force on his head. Doing that without much concentration made him tired again, but while he failed in the beginning, he soon began to get used to it, and his chances of success increased as well.

Eventually, Raiden was able to use his Aura Force until it was completely depleted on his head after one week. That was still a bit tiresome, but it was decent progress... it looked like Altria had realized that as well, and she called him to show the results.

"Come here too, Javier," Altria declared. "Show your progress of your new techniques."

Altria, who had previously given the impression of being a laid-back and approachable teacher, surprised everyone by revealing a more adventurous and daring side in her teaching approach. She decided to make Raiden and Javier duel and demonstrate their techniques even though they weren’t fully developed. This approach was quite risky, as it put them in a position where their unfinished skills could be exposed to criticism or failure. However, Altria’s decision to push them out of their comfort zones was intended to encourage growth and resilience.

Javier, in particular, seemed thrilled by the challenge. His excitement indicated that he was eager to prove himself and perhaps use this opportunity to close the gap between himself and Raiden. Altria’s unconventional teaching methods were clearly designed to stimulate their competitive spirits and drive them to refine their abilities under pressure.

"All right, only use your new techniques, nothing else," Altria declared.

That was going to be a problem since Raiden’s perception would only work well with his speed and not by itself alone... while Javier’s speed would be very effective, even more so when he showed some faster progress recently. They didn’t exchange much information regarding their new techniques since they new that this could happen again.

"Start," Altria declared.

As the duel began, once again, Javier sprang into action with impressive speed. He charged directly at Raiden, his movements powerful and deliberate, aimed at overwhelming his opponent with a forceful approach. However, just as it seemed like he was going to engage Raiden head-on, Javier made a surprising and sudden shift. Instead of continuing his direct assault, he abruptly altered his course and began sprinting sideways.

This swift change caught Raiden off guard. He attempted to pivot and follow Javier’s new trajectory, but he quickly found it challenging to keep up. Javier’s steps were light and nimble, enabling him to maintain a rapid pace and navigate the arena with ease. This agility came from his unique technique: he focused his training on channeling his energy into his feet to enhance his movement speed. By concentrating his force in this way, Javier was able to accelerate quickly and change direction seamlessly.

Javier’s technique allowed him to move with exceptional speed and agility, making him a difficult target for Raiden. His ability to shift directions rapidly and maintain high velocity showcased his mastery of mobility already. This strategic approach was designed to outmaneuver Raiden, leveraging speed and agility to create openings and exploit weaknesses rather than relying solely on physical strength. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

When he reached Raiden’s back and saw the opening, he charged with all his might, and Raiden was unable to turn around fast enough...