Chapter 86 - 086: Whatever it takes

The next morning, Rylan was already awake when Anaria entered the room.

He was sitting near the entrance, tightening the leather straps around his wrists. Kenai was beside him, while Kai was checking the condition of the weapons they had brought with them.

Anaria stopped when she noticed Rylan trying to stand "You’re already preparing?"

Rylan looked at her. "The challenge is only a few days away."

"That doesn’t mean you should forget that you’re still recovering."

"I haven’t forgotten."

He pushed himself to his feet, but his movement was slower than it should have been.

Anaria noticed immediately.

She walked over and looked at him carefully "You’re still hurting."

"I’m fine."

"You’re not."

Rylan gave her a tired look.

Anaria placed a hand against his side. He flinched slightly.

She frowned. "Your injuries are not stable, but you’re not fully recovered yet."

"I know."

"Then don’t push yourself too hard."

Rylan nodded.

Anaria brought out some herbs from her bag and prepared them before applying them carefully to the areas that were still tender. She didn’t have anything that could instantly restore his strength, but she could help his body recover properly and keep the pain under control.

Rylan remained still while she worked.

Afterward, he moved his arm and tested his side.

"Better?"

"A little."

"That will have to do for now."

Kenai stood up. "Then we should start with something light."

Rylan nodded.

The three men moved outside.

Anaria stayed nearby with Ana, who was resting against her chest. The baby had been unusually quiet that morning, but after a few minutes, she began moving her little arms and making small sounds.

Anaria looked down at her "You’re awake again?"

Ana responded with another small sound.

Anaria smiled and adjusted the cloth around her.

Outside, Kenai and Kai began testing Rylan’s movements.

"Don’t rush," Kenai told him as Rylan moved across the open space.

"I know."

Rylan raised his arm to block Kai’s strike.

The impact pushed him back several steps.

Kai immediately lowered his hand.

"You’re slower."

Rylan looked at him.

"I know."

Kenai watched him carefully. "Your balance is also different."

Rylan took a breath before trying again.

This time, he managed to avoid Kai’s attack and moved around him.

Kenai nodded. "That’s better."

Rylan continued for several minutes, but the strain eventually became obvious.

Anaria watched from nearby.

She could see that Rylan was strong, but he wasn’t fighting at the level he probably had before Zane’s attack.

After another exchange, Rylan stepped back and caught his breath.

Kai lowered his hands. "Enough for now."

Rylan shook his head. "Again."

Kenai stopped him. "Rest first."

Rylan looked annoyed but didn’t argue.

He sat beneath a nearby tree while Anaria walked over "You’re going to make your injuries worse if you keep doing that."

"I need to know what I can still do."

"And you’ll find out gradually."

Rylan looked down at his hands "I don’t know how strong Zane is anymore."

That caught Anaria’s attention "What do you mean?"

Rylan leaned against the tree "The last time we fought, I knew how he moved. We grew up together. I knew his habits, his strengths, the way he attacked."

He looked toward the forest "But that was before I left Wolfrine."

Kenai sat down beside him "You think he’s now stronger?"

Rylan nodded "Zane was already powerful when I left. If he’s been using his power this entire time, then he’s probably stronger than he was when he attacked me."

Anaria looked at him "And you think that could affect the challenge?"

"It could affect everything."

Ana suddenly began fussing against Anaria’s chest.

Anaria looked down and gently patted her back "She probably needs to eat."

Rylan watched her.

Anaria took Ana inside and fed her before returning outside.

Rylan continued training with Kenai and Kai, but it quickly became obvious that he was still not at his former strength. His injuries had stabilized, but his body tired faster than before.

After another exchange, Rylan stepped back and caught his breath.

"Don’t hold back too much," he told Kenai.

Kenai frowned. "You’re still recovering."

"I know. But Zane won’t hold back."

Kai looked at him. "You still remember how he fights?"

"I remember enough," Rylan replied. "But I don’t know what he’s capable of now."

Anaria looked at him. "You think he’s stronger?"

Rylan nodded slowly. "He was already strong when I left. If he’s been using his power all this time, then I can’t assume he’ll fight the way I remember."

Anaria became quiet.

Rylan had fought Zane before, but this time would be different.

He just didn’t know how different.

They continued preparing for the rest of the morning, but Rylan kept his training controlled. Anaria checked his injuries whenever he pushed himself too far, and Kenai and Kai adjusted the exercises to match his current strength.

By evening, Rylan was tired but stable.

He sat near Anaria while Ana slept quietly against her.

The challenge was approaching.

Rylan looked toward Wolfrine in the distance.

He had spent so long trying to forget his past that he had never considered what it would be like to face Zane again.

Now there was no avoiding it.

He knew his brother.

He knew how dangerous he had been before.

And after everything that had happened, Rylan could no longer assume that the Zane he remembered was the same man he would face at the Royal Stone Ground.

If Zane had truly grown stronger, then the challenge would be much more difficult than Rylan had expected.

Anaria noticed his silence "What are you thinking about?"

Rylan looked at her "Zane."

She looked at with a concerned look "What about him"

"I need to be ready for whatever he’s become."

Anaria nodded and held his hands"Then don’t worry much, we’ll prepare for anything that comes our way"

Rylan looked down at Ana sleeping peacefully against her chest.

For now, he had a few days. He intended to use every one of them.