After the first day of hellish training, Leo, who felt like he couldn't even stand properly, was returning to his dorm.
The sun had just set, and the scenery throughout the estate was truly breathtaking.
Leo sat near the trunk of a tree and leaned against it. He was trying to digest what had happened today and how his days would go from now on.
He stared at the vast estate, imprinting the scenery into his mind. He had never seen anything like this before. After all, he had lived in a poor village on the outskirts, so there was no way he could have seen such a place.
He slowly closed his eyes.
The air brushed against his cheeks, which were slightly bruised from the training, but it didn't hurt as much as before.
Time passed.
Leo opened his eyes again.
He slowly got up and started walking toward his dorm. After reaching there, he fell onto the bed and drifted into sleep almost immediately.
The next morning—
Kael arrived at the training ground as usual.
Just like yesterday, the trainees were already there, doing their morning routines.
Leo sat in the same place as before, quietly observing the people sparring.
Then, suddenly, a familiar trainee approached him.
"You're still here."
Leo immediately recognized him.
He was the same boy who had humiliated him the day before.
Leo looked at him and replied,
"What does it matter to you?"
The boy stared at Leo keenly, as if trying to figure something out.
Just what is special about him for Sir Kael to train him personally…?
He asked,
"How do you know Sir Kael?"
Leo looked at him calmly.
"What does it matter to you what my relation is with Sir Kael?"
The trainee frowned slightly, clearly irritated.
"Do you know how many people wish to be trained by Sir Kael? He doesn't even look at people who don't have talent. And then there's you… someone who couldn't even withstand a single blow from a wooden sword."
Leo could feel the irritation in his voice.
He replied,
"There is no relation between us. He is just helping me because I helped Mister Aldric once."
The trainee was taken aback.
This boy… he looks like a skeleton… helped Sir Aldric? And now Sir Kael is training him personally?
After a brief pause, the trainee spoke again.
"My name is Ryan. What's yours?"
Leo was slightly surprised by the sudden change in tone.
"…Leo."
Ryan nodded.
"Well then, Leo… since you're being trained by Sir Kael, do you mind sparring with me every day after your training?"
Leo was momentarily surprised.
"Spar… with you?"
Ryan smirked slightly.
"Yeah. Or are you scared?"
Leo stayed silent for a moment.
His body still remembered yesterday.
The pain.
The exhaustion.
The way he kept falling.
But he didn't look away.
"…I'll do it."
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Leo simply nodded.
Ryan let out a small laugh.
"Alright then."
At that moment
Kael arrived.
The training ground gradually fell silent.
Ryan stepped back.
"Looks like your hell is starting again."
He walked away.
Leo stood still.
His body tensed slightly.
Kael's eyes landed on him.
"…Come."
Leo walked forward immediately.
"Stand."
The same command.
Leo adjusted his posture.
His legs were already feeling weak.
Kael observed him.
"…Again."
Training began.
Just like yesterday
no explanations.
No rest.
Only commands.
"Stand."
"Wrong."
"Again."
Leo fell.
Again.
And again.
But this time
he got up faster.
Not because he was stronger
but because he didn't want to stay down.
Time passed.
The sun rose higher.
Sweat covered his body.
His breathing became heavy.
His legs trembled uncontrollably.
But
he stood.
Again.
Kael noticed.
But said nothing.
Hours passed.
By the time Kael stopped
Leo could barely stand.
"…Enough."
Leo didn't respond immediately.
"…Come tomorrow."
Kael turned and left.
Leo stood there for a few seconds.
Then—
his body gave out.
He dropped to his knees.
"…Damn…"
Before he could rest
"Hey."
Leo lifted his head.
Ryan stood there.
Holding two wooden swords.
He threw one toward Leo.
"…You said you would."
Leo stared at the sword.
His entire body screamed at him to stop.
To rest.
To not move.
But
he still reached for it.
Slowly.
His hand trembled as he picked it up.
He stood again.
Barely.
Ryan looked at him.
"…You really are stupid."
Leo didn't reply.
Ryan stepped forward.
"…Let's go."
Without warning
he attacked.
Leo's eyes widened.
He raised his sword clumsily.
Clack!
The impact pushed him back.
His arms shook violently.
Another strike came.
This time
he couldn't react.
The wooden sword hit his side.
"Ah—!"
He fell.
The sword slipped from his hand.
"…Pick it up."
Leo stayed down for a moment.
His breathing was uneven.
His vision slightly blurred.
But
he reached for the sword again.
He stood.
Again.
Ryan attacked.
Leo blocked
barely.
For a split second
he held it.
Then
he fell again.
"…Too slow."
Leo clenched his teeth.
He stood again.
Again.
And again.
Each time
he failed.
Each time
he fell.
But
he kept getting up.
Ryan watched him more carefully now.
The smirk on his face had faded slightly.
"…Why are you trying this hard?"
Leo didn't answer.
He just tightened his grip.
Ryan attacked again.
This time
Leo moved.
It wasn't clean.
It wasn't correct.
But
he moved.
The strike still hit him
but not completely.
Ryan paused for a moment.
Leo fell again.
But his hand
still held the sword.
Slowly
he pushed himself up.
His legs shaking.
His body exhausted.
But his eyes
were different.
Not empty.
Focused.
"…Again."
Leo said.
Ryan looked at him.
Then smirked slightly.
"…Fine."
The spar continued.
Until the sun began to set.
By the end
Leo couldn't stand properly anymore.
He collapsed to the ground.
Ryan looked at him silently.
"…You're still weak."
A pause.
"…But not as useless as yesterday."
He turned and walked away.
Leo stayed on the ground.
Breathing heavily.
His entire body in pain.
But his mind
was clear.
I won't stay like this…
The thought came quietly.
But it stayed.
I can't go back.
His fingers tightened around the wooden sword.
Even though he had no strength left.
He held it.
Tightly.
As if letting go
meant losing everything.
The sky slowly darkened.
And for the first time
Leo didn't feel lost.
He felt like
he had taken a step.
A small one.
But real.