Gon's Harem System
Chapter 169: Day two

Chapter 169: Day two

The next day training yards hummed under the climbing sun, dust settling over the straw dummies and open fields, the air warming with each passing hour

IRune-circles glowed along the edges, etched into the dirt, their soft blue light pulsing steady and strong

The mages gathered near the center, swords and gear in hand

The training master paced in front, his scarred face set, voice cutting through the chatter

"Enough steel, now it’s magic. Runes for power, range, whatever you can pull. Split up, get to it!" His good eye flicked over them, expectant, and the group broke apart, drifting toward the circles

Gon moved with a handful of mages to a rune-circle near the dummy line, his sword still in hand from earlier

The rune on its blade, a faint scratch near the guard, caught the light, and he ran his thumb over it, feeling a low hum buzz up his arm

He’d swung it plenty already, now it was time to see what this thing could do

He stepped into the circle, boots scuffing the dirt, and held the sword out, focusing on the rune

A flicker ran through it, small, sharp, like a spark jumping a gap

He swung, a short cut at the air, and the blade flared briefly, as his phantom slash activated

He reset, swinging again, keeping the cuts short and tight, chest level, then shoulder

The rune hummed louder each time, a steady vibration he could work with

He didn’t push it, just tested the feel, learning how it moved

The master had said power boosts or range, so he angled the next swing outward, aiming past the circle

A faint pulse shot from the blade, rippling the air a few feet before fading

Good enough for now

He’d figure out the limits later, build on it step by step

His arms were still warm from the dummies, but this was different, magic took focus, not just muscle

Around him, the yards shifted

A mage near the fields knelt by a rune-circle, hands pressed to the ground, sending a crackling line of sparks across the dirt

Another swung a staff overhead, a rune on it glowing red, the air snapping with heat

Gon watched for a second, then turned back to his own circle, swinging again, short, controlled, the rune flaring just enough to bite the air

He liked the hum, the way it added weight without slowing him down

Three days of this, he’d get it down, piece by piece

The sun climbed higher, shadows shrinking, and Gon stepped out of the circle, shaking out his hand

He headed toward a cluster of rune-circles nearby, where a few mages were already at work

That’s when he saw her, a tall mage with dark hair tied back, standing in her own circle, hands steady over a rune etched deep in the ground

Lena, he’d learn later, but for now she was just a figure moving with clean precision

She pressed her palm down, and the rune sparked, bright, sharp, a bolt of light shooting out to nick a dummy ten feet away

It smoked where it hit, a clean burn, no mess

Gon stopped, sword resting at his side, watching her reset and do it again, same spot, same mark, like she’d measured it

Impressive, he thought, and stepped into the circle beside hers, lifting his blade

He tried it himself, focusing on the rune, swinging short like before

A small flare jumped out, weaker than hers, grazing the dirt a few feet off

Close, but not there

He glanced her way, catching her eye as she straightened up

She nodded once, a quick acknowledgment, then stepped closer, looking at his grip

"Keep your grip loose," she said, voice calm, no edge

"It flows better that way, less fight, more push." She mimed it with her hand, fingers relaxed, letting the motion carry

Gon adjusted, loosening his hold, and swung again, short, outward

The rune flared brighter this time, a thin pulse stretching further, kicking up dust where it landed

Better

He nodded back, meeting her steady gaze

"Thanks," he said

"You’re good at this." Her lips twitched, not quite a smile, but enough to show she heard him

"Practice," she said, stepping back to her circle

She pressed the rune again, sparking it with that same clean shot, dummy smoked, right on target

Gon watched her a second longer, liking her focus, calm, no rush, just results

He swung once more, copying her tip, and got another flare, stronger now, hitting the edge of a dummy

It charred a little, straw curling black

Not bad

The yards kept moving, mages testing runes, some stumbling, others getting it right

A guy near the dummies cursed as his rune fizzled, smoke puffing up uselessly

Another sent a wild arc from her sword, too wide, clipping a post instead of the target

Gon stayed with his circle, swinging again, short, tight, the hum steady in his hand

Lena worked beside him, her rune sparking every few beats, each hit landing where she aimed

He matched her pace for a bit, trading swings and flares, feeling the rhythm settle in

Mid-morning rolled in, the sun hot overhead, dust sticking to his arms

He stepped back, lowering his sword, letting the rune’s hum fade

Lena did the same, brushing dirt off her hands, and gave him another nod, this one lingered, like she’d sized him up and didn’t mind what she saw

He liked that too, her quiet way, the way she handled the magic without fuss

Three days of this, and he’d keep her in sight, see what else she could do

The master’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and loud

"Keep it moving, power or range, pick one!" Mages shuffled, some switching circles, others sticking to their spots

Gon stayed put, lifting his sword again, swinging short, chest level, then out

The rune flared, a pulse stretching a little further each time, hitting the dummy’s edge

He’d build on it, bit by bit, like the steel work earlier

Lena sparked her rune again, bolt nailing the same burn mark, clean, precise, no waste

He swung once more, feeling the hum climb up his arm, stronger now

The flare shot out, charring the dummy’s arm, small, but solid

He lowered the blade, wiping sweat off his forehead, and glanced at her

She was already resetting, hands steady, focused

Good to know, someone who knew her stuff, didn’t mess around

The yards buzzed around them, runes popping, dust swirling, but Gon kept his eyes on his circle, then hers, swinging again, short, sharp, practical