The first rays of dawn crept over the eastern mountains.
The valley awoke slowly.
Birds sang from the treetops.
The river flowed peacefully as mist drifted above its surface.
Standing in the center of the training ground, Kieran inhaled deeply before exhaling in one smooth breath.
His silver hair swayed gently with the breeze.
Five years old.
Yet his posture was already remarkably steady.
Crystal stood opposite him, carrying two wooden swords.
She tossed one toward him.
"Catch."
Kieran instinctively reached out.
Smack.
The wooden sword struck his forehead before falling to the ground.
"Ow..."
Crystal simply folded her arms.
"What did you learn?"
Rubbing his forehead, Kieran looked down at the sword.
"I... wasn't paying enough attention."
"Good."
She nodded.
"The battlefield never warns you before danger arrives."
Kieran picked up the wooden sword.
"This time..."
"I'm ready."
Crystal smiled faintly.
"We'll see."
Without warning—
Whoosh!
Her wooden sword shot toward him.
Startled, Kieran hurriedly raised his own.
Clack!
The impact forced him back three steps before he tumbled onto the grass.
Crystal waited patiently.
"Again."
Kieran climbed back to his feet.
"...Again."
---
For the next two hours...
The same scene repeated itself.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Every strike from Crystal was simple.
No techniques.
No Magna.
Just perfect fundamentals.
Yet Kieran failed to block nearly all of them.
By noon...
He lay flat on the grass.
His arms felt like jelly.
"I... can't move..."
Crystal walked over and looked down at him.
"Good."
"...Good?"
"If you can still stand comfortably after training..."
"Then you haven't trained."
She offered him a hand.
Kieran accepted it with a sheepish smile.
---
After lunch...
Crystal placed both wooden swords aside.
"Today wasn't about learning the sword."
Kieran blinked.
"...It wasn't?"
"No."
"It was about learning yourself."
She picked up the fallen wooden sword.
"A sword is honest."
"It shows every flaw."
"When you hesitated..."
"You were struck."
"When you became impatient..."
"You lost your balance."
"When you became frustrated..."
"You stopped thinking."
She handed him the sword once more.
"Never blame the weapon."
"The weapon merely reveals its wielder."
Kieran looked thoughtfully at the wooden blade.
"I understand."
Crystal smiled.
"No."
"You understand the words."
"The meaning..."
"...will take years."
---
That evening...
As Kieran practiced the basic stance alone, a familiar voice echoed from nearby.
"Too stiff."
The black tiger emerged lazily from between the trees.
Kieran brightened.
"Big Tiger!"
The Beast Lord's ears twitched.
"...I have a name."
"But Big Tiger sounds nicer."
"..."
The tiger sighed.
"My name is Kael."
Kieran grinned.
"Hello, Big Kael."
Crystal couldn't suppress a quiet chuckle.
Even Kael's whiskers twitched in resignation.
"I shall pretend I didn't hear that."
The Beast Lord watched Kieran's stance.
"Your shoulders are tense."
"Relax them."
Kieran blinked.
"You know swords?"
Kael snorted.
"I've hunted for over seven hundred years."
"A claw."
"A fang."
"A sword."
"A spear."
"The principles of battle rarely change."
Kieran immediately adjusted his posture.
Kael nodded.
"Better."
Crystal glanced toward him.
"I didn't expect you to teach."
"I didn't."
Kael replied flatly.
"I merely dislike watching poor form."
---
Over the following weeks...
Training became part of Kieran's daily life.
Morning.
Physical conditioning.
Afternoon.
Reading.
Evening.
Meditation.
Night.
Listening to Crystal's stories.
Not stories of heroes.
But stories of mistakes.
Practitioners who became arrogant.
Kings destroyed by pride.
Monarchs who forgot compassion.
One evening, Kieran asked quietly,
"Mama..."
"Were you ever arrogant?"
Crystal was silent for a long moment.
Then she smiled bitterly.
"Yes."
"I believed I could protect everyone."
"I believed strength alone was enough."
Her emerald eyes drifted toward the distant mountains.
"I was wrong."
Kieran noticed the sadness hidden in her expression.
He didn't ask another question.
Instead...
He quietly moved closer and rested his head against her shoulder.
Crystal looked down at him.
Then gently ruffled his silver hair.
"...Thank you."
---
A few days later...
The peaceful valley was interrupted by an unfamiliar roar.
Kael immediately sprang to his feet.
Crystal's expression hardened.
From the northern cliffs...
A massive boar covered in black crystal charged into the valley.
Its crimson eyes were wild.
Its body was riddled with deep wounds.
Behind it...
Three armored men pursued with weapons drawn.
"Stop it!"
"It can't escape!"
The boar let out a desperate squeal as blood stained the grass beneath its feet.
Kieran's expression changed.
"...It's hurt."
Crystal immediately placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Stay behind me."
Her emerald eyes narrowed.
For the first time in years...
Humans had entered their hidden sanctuary.
And something told her...
This meeting would change far more than the tranquility of the valley.
End of Chapter 10