The sky began to turn golden as the sun tilted westward. After walking nonstop for nearly seven hours, Riven and Mira's legs had grown heavy, and their breathing came in shallow bursts. At last, they decided to stop and rest after coming across a small river that flowed between stones and shady trees. The water was so clear that Riven could see little fish swimming lazily across the riverbed.
Without saying a word, Riven crouched at the riverbank, scooping water into his hands and drinking it slowly. The cold liquid brought a refreshing sensation to his parched throat. He then filled his flask to the brim. Mira, who had been walking behind him, plunged her face straight into the water, not caring that her clothes were getting wet. She giggled as the tiny fish bumped into her hands.
Riven sat on a large flat rock, catching his breath and stretching out his stiff legs. His gaze shifted toward Ashtoria, who stood not far from them, staring at the river without a hint of expression. She didn't look tired in the slightest. Even the large wound on her abdomen that had once made Riven concerned... now seemed meaningless.
The memory of his request from a few hours earlier surfaced again. At that time, he had gathered his courage to ask this mysterious woman to teach him how to become a Lawbearer.
Ashtoria hadn't answered right away—she had only stared at him silently, forcing Riven to coax and flatter her until, finally, she nodded reluctantly with a faint blush.
Now, with nothing else to do but rest, Riven stood and walked over to her.
Ashtoria was sitting with her back against a tree trunk, her face expressionless as always. Sometimes, Riven found it hard to believe that this woman could blush or show any emotion other than that icy calm. But he knew... she was hiding many things behind those eyes.
Riven stopped a few steps in front of her, then spoke in a calm voice, "If we keep walking for another two days, we'll reach Dorthlam City."
Ashtoria glanced at him slightly.
"Dorthlam is a large city," Riven continued. "Once we get there, you can report what happened to you. They'll protect you."
He knew this woman was strong, but even a Lawbearer might still feel shaken after being attacked in the middle of the night, alone, and severely wounded. Maybe she was too quiet to admit it, but Riven wanted to offer her some direction. At least a goal, so she wouldn't feel lost.
Ashtoria nodded without a word, just as always.
Seeing that, Riven took a deep breath and sat cross-legged in front of her.
"So before we part ways there... teach me how to become a Lawbearer," he said, locking eyes with her.
The words made Mira, who was trying to catch fish with a wooden spear, pause and glance toward them. Curiosity shone in her eyes. She walked over and stood beside her brother, her face bright with anticipation.
Ashtoria looked at them both. Two strange siblings. But behind their strangeness, there was something warm—something that, for some reason, she wanted to be part of, even if only for a while.
"Very well," Ashtoria finally said, her voice flat but firm.
Smiles bloomed on Riven and Mira's faces.
But then Ashtoria narrowed her eyes and asked in a cool yet piercing tone, "Before I teach you, I want to ask: what do you think a Lawbearer is?"
Riven opened his mouth, ready to answer, but before a single word left his lips, Mira jumped in.
"A Lawbearer is someone with superpowers!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm. "They can shoot fire, fly, heal people! But… I heard you need talent and resources to become one. Do you think we could have powers like that?"
Her voice brimmed with wonder and admiration, like a child talking about her favorite hero. Ashtoria looked at her seriously, as if she were actually considering the answer, not mocking it.
Riven sighed softly, then added his own, shorter and firmer reply, "A Lawbearer is someone who can manipulate and control the laws—just like the name says."
Ashtoria nodded slowly. Her gaze now focused entirely on Riven.
"Then," she asked, in a deeper tone, "what kind of training do you think would allow someone to manipulate and control the laws?"
Riven and Mira looked at each other. They fell silent, trying to think of an answer.
A few seconds later, Mira raised her hand slightly like a hesitant student in class.
"Um… do we have to do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and run 10 kilometers every day?"
Riven rolled his eyes at her answer. "That's from a comic book," he muttered, half-annoyed, half-amused.
But truthfully, he didn't know the right answer either. He had once asked a city guard how to become a Lawbearer, and the answer was simply: "Increase your affinity with the world."
What did affinity with the world even mean? Was he supposed to kiss the ground every day? Or talk to trees?
Even the books he'd read never clearly explained how to become a Lawbearer. They only talked about how powerful, fearsome, and awe-inspiring Lawbearers were—but not how to become one.
Eventually, Riven let out a slow breath and answered honestly.
"I don't know."
Ashtoria watched them in silence for a few moments. Then, in a calm yet commanding tone, she said:
"You need to increase your affinity with the world."
Riven was about to protest, but Ashtoria raised a finger to silence him.
"To achieve that, your body must be forged. Mana is a part of the world, and the world will not allow a weak body to touch it. So, you must strengthen your bodies and gather as much mana as possible inside you."
Riven and Mira exchanged glances.
Ashtoria continued, this time with a sharper tone.
"That's why you'll do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and run 10 kilometers. Every day. For the next few days. I'll be watching you."
Mira immediately jumped with joy, her face lighting up like she'd just won the lottery.
"I was right, wasn't I?! I was right!" she laughed.
Riven could only stare at his sister blankly. Then he turned his gaze to Ashtoria, his mouth slightly open, but no words came out. He couldn't believe his sister's joke had actually become reality.
They really had to do it.
"I'll also teach you how to absorb Mana," Ashtoria continued coldly. "If you survive… I guarantee you'll become an Awakened."
Awakened. That was the first step of a Lawbearer—a sign that someone's body had been acknowledged by the world and could begin using the power of law.
Not everyone could reach that point.
But now, a path had opened before him.
Ashtoria slowly rose to her feet, her eyes gazing at the sun slipping behind the trees.
"You've rested enough, haven't you?" she said coldly. "You can start training now."