Sanctuary: Safe Haven

"The traditional method to achieve dagger mastery involves striking the vital parts of a training dummy a thousand times, which is still commonly practiced today. However, the method I'll be teaching you is different. My liege, all you need to do is slice this insect in half."

It wasn't until after Vorgrim's words that Canna truly understood the immense difficulty of training with daggers—far harder than he had ever imagined. At first, the idea of simply slicing an insect brought a sense of relief. But as soon as a fly-sized insect materialized, his confidence began to falter.

He gulped and stared at the tiny creature buzzing around, its erratic flight making it a nearly impossible target. The task suddenly seemed daunting, and Canna felt a surge of doubt about his ability to complete it.

Canna's grip tightened on the daggers as he followed the insect's unpredictable movements. It darted left, then right, hovering momentarily before zipping upward. His eyes struggled to keep up, and he realized just how precise and quick his strikes would need to be. Canna couldn't help but wonder if he had made the right choice.

The weight of the daggers in his hands felt reassuring, yet the task seemed insurmountable. Was he truly capable of mastering this skill?

Vorgrim observed him closely, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Precision and patience, my liege. The key to dagger mastery is not just strength, but the ability to control and anticipate your movements."

Taking a deep breath, Canna tried to steady his nerves. He honed in on the insect, shutting out all distractions. With a swift flick of his wrist, he made his first attempt. The blade sliced through the air but missed its target by a hair. The insect continued its erratic dance, seemingly mocking his effort.

Canna felt a rush of frustration but quickly pushed it aside. He couldn't afford to be distracted. He remembered Vorgrim's words and reset his stance, grounding himself in the present moment. Every miss revealed more about the insect's flight pattern and refined his sense of timing.

The dungeon around them was silent except for the faint buzzing of the insect and the occasional swish of the daggers cutting through the air. With no natural light to guide him, Canna had lost all sense of time. The oppressive darkness seemed to amplify every sound, making the buzzing and the swishes echo ominously through the stone corridors.

Minutes felt like hours as he continued to strike, each attempt honing his skills further. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but his resolve never wavered. He could feel the subtle shifts in his technique, the gradual improvement with every swing.

Finally, with one fluid motion, he anticipated the insect's next move and struck. The blade sliced cleanly through the air, meeting the insect in its path. The tiny creature fell, cleaved in half by Canna's precise strike.

He exhaled deeply, a mix of relief and triumph flooding over him. Vorgrim approached, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Well done, my liege. You've taken the first step."

Canna felt a surge of happiness at Vorgrim's praise, but it was short-lived. The next moment felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him.

"You just have to do that a hundred more times, my liege, possibly even more until you achieve the dagger mastery skill," Vorgrim said. As he spoke, hundreds of the same tiny insects emerged from his hand, buzzing around erratically.

Canna's eyes widened in disbelief. "Where do you even get these insects?" he asked, trying to refocus his mind.

"I gathered them on our way back from the dungeon," Vorgrim replied. "I anticipated that you might choose the daggers, though I didn't think you would choose them this early. Good luck, my liege!"

Taking a deep breath, Canna steadied himself, the task ahead daunting yet clear. He tightened his grip on the daggers and prepared to continue his training, knowing that each strike brought him closer to obtaining the skill.

_

The dungeon around them was silent except for the faint buzzing of the insect and the occasional swish of the daggers cutting through the air. With no natural light to guide him, Canna had lost all sense of time. The oppressive darkness seemed to amplify every sound, making the buzzing and the swishes echo ominously through the stone corridors.

Hours felt like days as Canna tirelessly pursued the tiny insects, each one presenting a new challenge. Sweat dripped down his forehead, mixing with the grime of the dungeon floor. His muscles ached, and his eyes strained to follow the insects' erratic movements in the dim light. The flickering torches along the walls cast uneven shadows, adding to the difficulty of his task.

Each strike required precision, and every miss was a harsh reminder of how much further he had to go.

His body screamed for rest, but Canna's determination kept him going. The thrill of learning the skill and the promise of mastery drove him forward. He tightened his grip on the daggers, focusing on the insects, blocking out the exhaustion that weighed heavily on him. His breathing grew labored, and his vision blurred, but he pressed on, driven by sheer willpower.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Canna saw the prompt he had been waiting for:

"You have learned skill 'Dagger: Mastery Lvl: 1."

A wave of relief washed over him, and he couldn't help but smile. The notification was a testament to his perseverance and hard work. He had done it. But as the adrenaline subsided, the full weight of his exhaustion hit him. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. The cold stone floor was a stark contrast to the heat radiating from his overworked muscles.

Slicing a fly-like insect in such dim surroundings had been incredibly challenging. The constant motion of the insects, combined with the poor lighting, had tested his limits. Every muscle in his body ached, and he felt as though he had nothing left to give. Yet, the sense of accomplishment made the pain worthwhile.

As he lay there, trying to catch his breath, Canna used his "Rejuvenating Surge" ability. Warm, soothing energy flowed through him, slowly restoring his mana and stamina. The aches in his muscles faded, and his mind cleared.

Canna slowly sat up, still feeling the aftereffects of his intense training. He glanced at Vorgrim, who stood nearby, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Well done, my liege," Vorgrim said, his voice filled with pride. "You've taken the first step towards dagger mastery."