The golden rays of the sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Arthur's room. He lay motionless on the bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, a deep frown creasing his brows. The memories of yesterday clung to him like an unshakable shadow. His father's words, harsh and cold, echoed in his mind. "You are no longer my son."
With a weary sigh, he sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. The weight of his failure pressed down on him, but he wasn't ready to stay defeated. Not today.
His body moved on instinct as he dragged himself to the bathroom. After a quick shower, he splashed cold water on his face, the chill doing little to numb the ache in his chest.
When he stepped into the dining room, the smell of fresh bread and stew filled the air. Liana, Mira, and Luca were already setting the table, the quiet hum of their morning routine familiar and comforting. Without thinking, Arthur rushed forward to help, his desire to feel useful overriding his uncertainty.
"I've got it," he said, reaching for the tray of dishes.
Liana looked up, her brows furrowed in concern. "Arthur, you don't need to do this. You're a noble."
Arthur shook his head, a soft but determined smile on his face. "You're giving me shelter. This is the least I can do to help."
After a brief hesitation, Liana sighed and handed him the tray. Arthur placed it on the table, his gaze meeting Mira and Luca's as they greeted him with bright smiles. But Arthur couldn't bring himself to smile back.
"Good morning, Arthur!" Mira chirped.
Arthur forced a small smile. "Morning."
Luca eyed him carefully, his expression suspicious. He exchanged a glance with Mira, who whispered something to Liana. The woman simply nodded. "Don't worry about him. I'll handle it."
The silence over breakfast was deafening, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Luca tried to crack a joke, but it fell flat, and the awkwardness only deepened. When they were done, Arthur quietly gathered his dishes and retreated to his room. The thoughts of failure, of his father's rejection, clawed at him.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Liana stepped inside, her expression soft yet determined. She sat beside him, her eyes gentle. "I know what happened," she said. "Elizabeth told me everything."
Arthur's fists clenched, his body stiffening. "Then you know I'm a failure."
Liana cupped his chin, lifting his face to meet her gaze. "No one is a failure. Failure breeds growth. A true sword mage doesn't give up. You fall, you rise, and you move forward." She stood, her voice firm but kind. "Leave the past behind, Arthur. Focus on the present and the future."
With that, she left. Her words lingered in the air, echoing in his mind. Arthur clenched his fists, his frustration turning into quiet determination. What am I doing, sulking like a child? I wasn't like this before.
He exhaled sharply, a fire igniting within him. There's still time before the exams. I'll train. I will get into Sage Academy.
Without wasting a second, he bolted out of his room, rushing past Luca and Mira, who looked at him with confusion.
"He's back," Luca murmured.
Mira turned to Liana, her voice filled with curiosity. "What did you say to him?"
Liana smiled softly. "Exactly what he needed to hear."
Arthur sprinted through the house, bursting through the door and into the open air. The vast landscape stretched before him, and with each step, his heartbeat grew louder. He ran into the forest, his body moving on instinct as the familiar trees surrounded him. When he stopped beneath a towering oak, he took a deep breath, his shoulders rolling in anticipation.
"This should do," he muttered, setting up his exercise routine. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats. His muscles burned, but he pushed through, every movement a step toward his goal. With a fallen branch in hand, he began to practice his sword form, each swing slicing through the air.
"HAH!" he shouted with each strike, the sound of his wooden sword cutting through the air like a blade.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted his concentration.
"Oi! Shut up! Can't a man research in peace?"
Arthur froze, his grip tightening on the branch. His eyes shot up toward the source of the voice, and he saw a man with shaggy brown hair and piercing yellow eyes sitting on a thick branch, peering through a telescope. His clothes were disheveled, his grin mischievous.
Arthur followed the man's gaze, and his jaw dropped. The man was watching a group of girls splashing in the river.
"You perverted old man!" Arthur shouted, shaking the tree violently.
The man yelped as he tumbled off the branch, crashing to the ground with a thud. He rubbed his head, his face twisted in irritation. "Who the hell are you calling old, brat?!"
Arthur jabbed a finger at him. "You were spying on those girls!"
"Spying?" The man scoffed, brushing off his clothes. "This is research! I was merely appreciating God's most perfect creations."
"Disgusting," Arthur muttered, rolling his eyes.
The man smirked. "Tch, kids these days have no taste."
Arthur scowled. "Perv."
The man's eye twitched. "What did you just say?"
Before Arthur could react, the man lunged at him with surprising speed. "Come here, you little brat!"
"Gah!" Arthur turned and bolted, the man hot on his heels. As they ran, Arthur's gaze caught something—a dark shape shifting behind the bushes. He skidded to a stop, his eyes narrowing.
"Gotcha!" The man grabbed Arthur's collar, tugging at his ears. "Now apologize—"
Arthur flailed his arms. "Wait! Look—"
"Pfft, relax. That's just a shadow of a rock or somethi—" The man turned, lifting the leaves.
A massive bear's face emerged from the foliage, its eyes glowing with rage.
The man's face went pale. "Oh. Oh, sh—"
The bear roared, shaking the ground beneath them. Arthur screamed, but the man's voice joined in.
"AAAHHH!" they both shouted in unison, sprinting like their lives depended on it.
"Run faster, brat!"
"Maybe if you weren't so old, we'd be faster!"
They burst through the trees, but the bear's thundering footsteps echoed behind them. A small cabin loomed ahead. They raced toward it, desperate to escape the beast's fury.
Arthur's breath came in sharp gasps. "We can't just break in—"
"You moron, this is my house!" the man shouted.
The bear's heavy footsteps grew louder as they reached the door. Arthur dove inside, rolling into the cabin just as the man slammed the door shut behind him. Both of them collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath.
The man peeked through the window. "Coast is clear," he muttered, his voice shaking.
Arthur glared at him. "Who the hell are you?"
The man smirked. "More importantly, what were you doing out here?"
Arthur straightened, his irritation clear. "I was training to become a sword mage."
The man snorted. "You? You don't even know how to hold a stick properly."
Arthur's temper flared. "Then let's fight, old man!"
The man raised an eyebrow, amused. "Fine. Time to teach you some manners."
They grabbed wooden sticks, and the fight began. Arthur swung first, but the man effortlessly disarmed him with a swift strike, knocking him to the ground.
Arthur groaned, his pride wounded. He scrambled to reach his weapon, but before he could, the man pressed his wooden sword against his throat.
"Dead," the man said simply.
Arthur clenched his jaw in frustration. "Damn it…"
The man grinned. "Your stance is weak. You're full of openings." He stepped back, adopting a strong stance. "Watch."
Arthur sat up, focusing on the man's movements. Every motion was fluid, precise, and full of power. He mimicked the stance, but the moment he tried to swing, the man smacked his hands with the sword.
"Too stiff."
Arthur flinched. "Ow!"
The man sighed, shaking his head. "Again."
Arthur readjusted, trying again, each movement a little smoother. His muscles screamed for rest, but he kept pushing. Sweat dripped down his face, and his body trembled with exhaustion, but he refused to stop.
The man stretched, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Alright, keep at it. I've got important biological research to conduct."
Arthur paused, his frustration boiling over. "You mean spying again?"
The man scoffed. "It's research. Stop talking and keep swinging."
Arthur growled but obeyed, his determination rising with each swing. Time seemed to stretch, the sun dipping lower in the sky. Hours passed. His body screamed for rest, but Arthur ignored it. He was getting stronger.
Finally, the man returned, yawning. "Oh? You're still at it? I forgot about you."
Arthur wiped sweat from his forehead. "I think I'm getting the hang of it."
The man smirked. "Don't get cocky just because you can swing a stick now."
Arthur gritted his teeth. "Then let's test it!"
He grabbed his wooden sword, ready to prove himself. The man chuckled, drawing his own weapon.
"Alright, come at me."
Arthur charged with all his might. The clash of their swords rang out, the energy of each strike crackling in the air. The man tested him, swinging low, high, and every angle in between. Arthur blocked and parried, his movements sharper than before.
But the man was too quick. In an instant, he flicked his sword upward, knocking Arthur's weapon from his hands.
"It's over," the man declared.
Arthur bowed his head, acknowledging his defeat.
The man smirked, tossing Arthur a rice ball. "Eat."
Arthur hesitated. "I can keep going."
The man immediately smacked him on the head with his wooden sword. "Idiot. A sword mage needs to know when to rest."
Arthur rubbed his head, a pout on his face. "Fine…"
He ate the rice ball, the hunger in his stomach dissipating. But as soon as he finished, he stood tall.
"I'm ready."
The man nodded. "Summon your blade."
Arthur froze, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. But nothing happened.
"Uh…"
The man's eyes widened. "YOU CAN'T?!"
Arthur lowered his head, his disappointment clear. "I did before… but now, nothing."
The man rubbed his chin. "So you did manifest a blade once. Interesting."
Arthur clenched his fists. "I want to summon it again. I won't give up."
The man's expression softened, just for a moment. "He could be useful in my research development."
He extended his hand. "I'm Kael. What's your name, brat?"
Arthur stood tall, his eyes burning with determination. "Arthur."
Kael grinned. "Fine. Come tomorrow. Training starts then."
Arthur smiled, a glimmer of hope igniting in his chest. Tomorrow, he would try again. No matter what, he would summon his blade.