"The Solarian Edge: Blade of the Astral Realm"

The wind had shifted. Not in the literal sense, but in the way the air carried a different kind of tension now. Training had become more than just a routine—it was an expectation. Kaius had begun to notice the way people watched him. Not just Eira, not just Valen and Theo, but others. Soldiers who once dismissed him now observed with something between curiosity and consideration.

The morning sun barely kissed the training grounds when Eira called for another round. This time, the focus was on endurance. The kind of battle that tested more than just skill—it tested resolve. They ran drills that forced them into exhaustion, where instinct took over, where hesitation meant failure.

Kaius had expected the fatigue, the burning in his muscles, the unrelenting push from Eira. What he hadn't expected was the way his body started to move without thought, how he adapted without needing to force himself to keep up. It was like something had finally clicked into place.

"Don't think, react," Eira instructed, circling him as he faced yet another opponent.

Rael, the veteran who had once looked down on him, had been the one to challenge him today. Their clash had begun as a test, but it became something else. A recognition. Rael no longer fought like he was correcting a mistake—he fought like he was expecting something from Kaius.

The steel of their weapons met in a sharp clash, neither willing to give ground easily. Rael was relentless, his strikes precise, his footwork near perfect. But Kaius was no longer the hesitant figure from before. He wasn't just blocking—he was countering, slipping past attacks, reading Rael's movements and finding openings where he had once seen only walls.

"A faint smirk crossed Rael's face, a flicker of surprise and respect mingling as he pushed forward again. "You're not bad, kid." Finally. He thought."

Kaius didn't respond—not with words, at least. His answer came in the form of a well-placed maneuver, one that forced Rael to step back for the first time. A pause. A shift. Then Rael straightened and let out a breath, lowering his weapon.

"Alright," Rael said, rolling his shoulder. "That's enough for today."

Kaius exhaled sharply, only now realizing how deep into the fight he had gone. Around them, murmurs spread. Valen whistled low, nudging Theo. "Well, look at that. Our boy actually made Rael take a step back."

Theo just grumbled, arms crossed. "He's still annoying."

Eira's gaze was unreadable as she approached. "You're holding your own."

It wasn't exactly praise, but it wasn't nothing either.

Before Kaius could process it further, another figure stepped forward. A soldier he had barely spoken to, someone who had always kept their distance. They didn't say anything—just gave him a small nod before walking past.

Kaius stood still, watching them go. It was subtle, but it was there. The acknowledgment.

Valen clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Well, if you're done basking in your newfound popularity, I say we go steal some food before Theo decides to fight you for real."

Kaius snorted, shaking his head. The tension eased, the shift settling into something new, something almost comfortable. And yet, he knew—this was just the beginning.

Eira was still watching him. She always was.

"Rest while you can," she finally said, her tone calm but firm. "Tomorrow, we push further."

And just like that, the weight of what was to come settled in. The training, the battles—this wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about becoming something more.

Kaius wasn't sure what yet. But he would find out soon enough.