Hachir's Surprise

A breeze swept through the space between Ryan and Hachir.

Hachir looked at Ryan's hand. "Using the Sword of the Vishanti must be exhausting."

"Exhausting?" Ryan considered the unfamiliar word.

With Steel Body as his foundation, exhaustion was something he almost never experienced anymore.

The unfamiliar word made Ryan frown.

Hachir smiled knowingly and began to instruct him. "I understand. Powerful Magic always takes a toll. Look, you're so dizzy you're frowning."

That didn't sound right to Ryan, so he shook his head.

The gesture made Hachir frown instead. "That can't be right," he sighed. "Ryan, do you feel as tired as you would after running a marathon?"

Ryan glanced down at his legs. He wasn't tired at all. What was this man talking about?

Unable to make sense of Hachir's words, he shook his head again.

Now Hachir was at a loss for words. "Surely it takes some effort."

"No. I could use the Sword of the Vishanti several more times."

"Really?" Hachir had thought he'd had enough surprises for one day, but Ryan was even more extraordinary than he'd imagined.

He trembled, patted his chest, and said, "I'm getting old. The future belongs to you youngsters—no, Ryan, it belongs to you."

"..." Ryan didn't even know this man. He turned to the Guard.

Only then did he learn that this was the teacher the Guard had found for him.

After collecting himself, Hachir struck up a conversation with the Guard. They talked back and forth.

Hachir spoke first. "This Sorcerer is a monster. How am I supposed to teach him?"

"Teach him everything you know," the Guard suggested.

Hachir hesitated. "Is Ryan really human? His Magic Talent is astonishing. If you hadn't told me, I'd never have known Kamar-Taj had a Sorcerer like him."

"I was just as