An Innate Talent

[A Week Later]

Emerald had settled in nicely in the Brandon household. As a slave under Kai, she was still responsible for much of the housework, but after finishing her chores, she found herself with a lot of free time. The Brandons were nothing like her former master, who had often made her go days without food. Even when she finally ate, it was usually nothing more than leftovers scraped from a pot. The memory infuriated her, and she often fantasized about murdering the man, but her Slave contract had prevented her from acting on those urges. How could she kill a man who wielded knowledge of so many magical weapons and stood three or four times her size?

Emerald dispelled those dark thoughts; they were part of her past now. In the Brandon residence, she felt as if she were being treated well. Three square meals a day, free time—what more could she ask for? She found herself growing fond of her new life, even though it came with its complexities.

"Emerald," Kai called, knocking gently on the door of her room. The green-haired Dragonkin sat cross-legged on her bed, engrossed in a book she had borrowed from the library. As long as she returned it, she wouldn't get in trouble for reading.

"Get your things ready; we're going to start training," he continued.

'Training,' Emerald repeated in her head. Their training sessions weren't really training in the traditional sense; they felt more like one-sided battles. Nevertheless, excitement surged through her veins. "Give me a moment, Master!" she replied, leaping off the bed.

Another reason she liked the Brandon household was that they had taken the time to get her new clothes. She wore maid outfits while working, a few sets of casual clothes for her downtime, and a comfortable tracksuit for training—everything provided by Kai, who insisted it was important for her to have proper attire.

She donned her tracksuit, determination fueling her as she hurried to join Kai outside.

#####

Kai stood in the backyard, watching as Emerald approached. He had stationed himself a few meters away from her, his eyes lingering on her figure. In The Adventurer's Crusade, Emerald had been a formidable character, recognized as one of the strongest powerhouses in the story. However, during the seventh and eighth arcs—the concluding arcs—her power had become insignificant. The vessels had already tapped into their gods' full power, and the war had reached its peak.

Among all living beings, dragons were considered the most powerful due to their limitless potential. They grew stronger through battles, easily identifying and exploiting their opponents' weaknesses. Above all, they were incredibly prideful creatures. Emerald, being a Dragonkin, was a descendant of dragons, much like Dragonborns. However, in the eighth volume, just before the story's end, Emerald found herself in the domain of a dragon, who purified her draconic bloodline after an intense spar.

Despite becoming a pure dragon, Emerald had still been deemed useless in the fight against the Demon Lord, which sparked confusion among fans of the series. After reading further, Kai understood the issue. While she had gained immense power, she lacked the emotional depth needed to trigger her hidden abilities.

Sure, she was stronger after her transformation, but raw strength wasn't enough when faced with supernatural gods capable of tearing apart reality with a mere chant. Emotions had always been the strongest weapon; they dictated behavior and choices. A dragon's fury was among the most terrifying forces in existence, ranking as one of the top ten calamities.

To be on the receiving end of a dragon's wrath was akin to inviting death; they would go to any lengths to ensure your demise. Yet, in Emerald's case, her emotional capacity had withered away over the years of mistreatment, leaving her power dormant.

'But it's not the same here,' Kai thought, raising the wooden sword he held, gripping it firmly with both hands. 'We'll treat her right.'

There were numerous characters within the book, some he could help while others were beyond his reach. But with Emerald, he believed she had the potential to become one of the greatest characters in the novel—one capable of standing on equal footing with the gods if only she could find the motivation to tap into her true power.

"Come at me," Kai instructed, positioning himself confidently. Emerald took her stance a few feet away, her grip on the wooden sword awkward and her stance unbalanced, but Kai had faith in her natural instincts as a dragon to correct her form.

Upon hearing his command, she pushed off the ground and charged at him with all her might. It took a moment for her to close the distance, but when she did, she swung her sword at his head. Kai effortlessly raised his own sword to block the strike.

Emerald's blue eyes widened with determination as she observed his perfect stance and grip. With renewed focus, she regained her footing, emulating the way he held his sword with a newfound intensity.

She channeled energy into her strikes, sending three slashes toward Kai. He easily countered all of them, leaving her open for an attack. In a swift motion, Kai thrust his wooden sword forward, the weapon slamming into her stomach and sending her sprawling to the ground.

Emerald rolled onto her back, momentarily dazed, but quickly pushed herself up, determination flashing in her eyes. She could feel the thrill of the battle igniting something deep within her—a flicker of emotion that had long been dormant.

"Again!" she shouted, her voice fierce. This time, as she charged at him, her posture was better, and her grip firmer. She could feel the rush of adrenaline, the anticipation of the fight. Each swing of her sword felt more instinctual, more natural.

Kai blocked her initial strike but was impressed by her improvement. "Good! You're getting better," he encouraged, though he could see the frustration creeping in when she swung again, missing his defenses.

"Damn it!" she hissed, frustration boiling just beneath the surface.

"Calm down. Focus your energy," Kai advised. "Let your emotions guide your movements."

Emerald took a deep breath, her mind racing. She realized that each swing was not just a move; it was an expression of her will, her pent-up emotions finally finding a way to surface. This wasn't just training—it was her chance to build her strength.

This time, she charged at him with renewed vigor, channeling all her pent-up feelings into her movements. The strikes were stronger, more purposeful, and for the first time since they had begun, Kai found himself actually having to exert effort to block her attacks.

"Now that's the spirit!" he shouted, a smile breaking across his face.

Emerald's confidence surged as she pressed on, her strikes more fluid and powerful. The raw energy of her emotions was coursing through her, amplifying her abilities and allowing her to fight with the ferocity of her dragon heritage.

As the training session continued, Emerald began to feel a change within herself. This wasn't just about combat; it was about rediscovering who she was meant to be. For the first time, she felt a sense of purpose, a spark of hope that perhaps, just perhaps, she could reclaim her past power and reshape her future.

With each clash of wood against wood, Emerald was not just training; she was awakening the true potential within her, one swing at a time.