The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

Growth

September 28th, 1809

Seven months had passed since Xavier began training to master the art of RealmHeart. With each grueling day, his abilities grew sharper, yet the struggle had been anything but easy. Now, as the crisp autumn air whispered through the training grounds, the young prodigy stood, his aura gradually fading as he let the ethereal glow of RealmHeart dissipate.

Turning to Alcmena, who sat nearby with a bowl of roasted nuts in his paws, Xavier declared, "I've finally mastered it. Staying in my RealmHeart state now takes much less energy and focus."

He clenched his fists and exhaled, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. "But I still hate the fact it took me this long to finally master this transformation."

Alcmena, nonchalantly popping another nut into his mouth, shrugged. "Well, it took that long because your body needed time to adjust to absorbing more ethereal energy than it's been used to for years. Transformation isn't just about skill; it's about foundation."

He smirked, adding with a playful tone, "Don't get so worked up about how long it took. Just like a mighty blade needs to be folded countless times to achieve perfection, you needed time to forge the balance between resilience and strength."

Xavier sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. But now that I've mastered RealmHeart, will you finally teach me about the other stages you mentioned?"

Alcmena tilted his head, pretending to think. "Oh yeah, that!"

Xavier groaned. "What do you mean, 'Oh yeah, that'? You made it sound like the next stages were crucial!"

Alcmena's golden eyes gleamed mischievously. "Let's leave those stages for later. First, it's time you learn to wield my abilities."

Xavier's eyes lit up. "Finally! Did it really have to take this long for you to start teaching me?"

Alcmena's ears twitched as he replied, "Oh, shut it, kid. The only reason it took so long was because you needed to fully control RealmHeart before even thinking about channeling my powers."

Xavier's lips curled into a teasing grin. "So, what are we waiting for, Master? Are you also going to teach me how to wield the powers of Excalibur?"

Alcmena raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with confusion. "What do you mean, teach you? You've already used Excalibur's powers."

Xavier froze, the teasing tone dropping from his voice. "Wait—what? I've already used Excalibur's powers? When?"

"Do you remember your fight against that bandit leader?" Alcmena asked.

"Yeah...?" Xavier replied, frowning slightly.

"Well," Alcmena continued, "in those final moments, before you wiped out those bandits like they were nothing, you somehow managed to activate Excalibur's core ability. That's why the sword suddenly started glowing so intensely, and you heard that church bell ringing out of nowhere."

Xavier's eyes widened, excitement overtaking his confusion. "Wait, that was Excalibur? I thought I was hallucinating or something! That's insane!"

Alcmena gave a small nod, crossing his arms. "It was no hallucination. You tapped into Heroe's Residual, Excalibur's greatest gift."

"Heroe's Residual?" Xavier asked, leaning forward. "What does it do?"

Alcmena's gaze sharpened, his tone steady as he explained, "Heroe's Residual is not merely a power—it is the essence of hope itself. Hope doesn't guarantee triumph; it ensures you'll rise again, no matter how dire the circumstances. With every blow you endure, every step you take, Excalibur grows stronger, reflecting your will to keep fighting. In your hands, the sword chooses not just a warrior, but a beacon for all who would follow you."