"The Demons have killed millions of our people. No, tens of thousands. The ground ran red with their blood."
Corvin’s voice shook the little hut.
"For three thousand years, we six Temples have never given up. We have done everything to keep humanity alive, so that one day we can take back our lost land and drive out those cruel, evil Demons. We will fight to our last breath."
He stared hard at Leo.
"Leo Ashford, carve this into your heart. The Demons are our greatest enemy. We hate them more than anything."
His voice was heavy with power.
Even nine-year-old Leo felt it. His blood began to boil.
"The Demons are our greatest enemy. We hate them more than anything!"
He repeated it in the same firm voice.
Corvin nodded.
"We will pour all our strength into driving them out, taking back our land, and protecting our people. Now ask yourself. If one day we can’t stop the Demons from advancing, what will happen to Eldrin Town? To your friends? To your mother? What kind of ruin will fall on them?"
Leo was a smart boy. The moment he pictured it, he shivered. His face turned hard.
Corvin saw it, and his eyes softened with relief. He knew the boy had taken every word to heart.
"That’s enough history for today. Tomorrow, I’ll teach you how the six Temples began. After that, reading and writing. And more about the Demons."
Leo spent the whole morning lost in Corvin’s stories.
Master Corvin was nothing like Master Garron. He taught every kind of lesson. Sometimes in a roundabout way, sometimes straight. His knowledge never seemed to end.
In just one morning, Leo felt like he had learned so much. And he was starting to like Master Corvin.
"Tomorrow morning, I’ll test you on everything I taught today. Now, let’s eat. After that, half an hour of rest."
Corvin said it casually and walked to the wooden table.
Warm energy flowed from his hand. And right before Leo’s stunned eyes, thick, hot steam rose from the food.
A huge bowl of rice. And four big plates of cooked food. Two with meat, two with vegetables.
Leo’s family had always been poor. He had never eaten a meal this good.
His eyes went wide.
Corvin took out two pairs of chopsticks.
"Eat. When you’re done, rest a little."
Suddenly, Leo rushed in front of Corvin.
*Thud!*
He dropped to his knees.
"What are you doing?!"
Corvin snapped angrily. New chapters come out on g.com first.
"Don’t you know? A man’s knees are worth gold! How can you kneel to anyone so easily?"
Leo bowed his head. He stammered.
"Master, I... I..."
"What ’I, I’? One little kindness, and you’ll kneel to anyone? Am I teaching a cowardly worm?"
Corvin’s voice grew harsher.
Leo spoke without lifting his head.
"Master, I have a request. Can I eat a little less every day? So when I go home, I can bring some food for Mama. Mama has never eaten food this good either."
Corvin’s anger vanished at once.
All that fury disappeared like smoke. He stood frozen for a few moments.
Leo’s head was still bowed. So he never saw it. For just a second, his mysterious new master’s lips trembled. And his eyes shone with tears.
Corvin slowly stood up. He opened the door. As he walked out, without looking back, he said,
"Get up and eat. I promise you this. As long as you take my training seriously and meet every demand I make, I’ll arrange food for your mother every single day."
"Thank you, Master!"
Leo jumped up, overjoyed.
As Corvin stepped out, there were a few *clack, clack, clack* sounds, and the door shut.
Leo got up and got ready to enjoy the delicious meal.
Corvin stood just outside the door. He gazed up at the sky.
The words he whispered were meant for no one else’s ears.
"Humility, honesty, compassion, courage, fairness, sacrifice, stubbornness, modesty, justice... what is this boy missing? Was he born a knight?"
When he came back into the hut, Leo had finished lunch.
But he had left half of every plate untouched. And one bowl of rice sat in front of Corvin’s seat.
Seeing him enter, Leo quickly stood and greeted him politely.
"The room behind the next door is yours. Go rest. I’ll call you when it’s time."
"Yes, Master!"
Leo truly felt that Master Corvin was a gift from heaven.
He happily went off to rest.
Half an hour later, Corvin called him.
"From noon until evening, you’ll practice. This is for you."
He handed Leo two dark green Bamboo Swords.
They were lighter than any Wooden Sword Leo had ever used. But even though they were light, the handles felt strong.
Corvin took Leo’s hand. Once more, they leaped down from the mountain top. In no time, they reached the middle of the mountain.
"This is the natural nest of the Owl-Ants. There are thousands of ants inside. They aren’t Magical Beasts. But they are very aggressive, especially to intruders. Don’t forget to use these Bamboo Swords to protect yourself."
That was all he said. Without waiting for Leo to understand...
Corvin kicked him toward the boulder!
Leo screamed as he fell into a dark cave.
His body landed on something soft. Even after falling five meters, he was still awake.
The giant boulder that sealed the cave mouth had been put back in place by Corvin right after he kicked Leo in.
Now Leo could barely see ten meters around him.
Then came a buzzing sound.
*Bzzzzz...*
Leo understood. Countless creatures were flying toward him from every direction.
At that moment, he finally understood what his master had meant.
He began swinging both Bamboo Swords in front of him.
But at Eldrin Hall, he had only learned the most basic cuts and strikes. And now he faced countless angry ants.
In a blink, many of them bit and stung him.
Sharp pain burst through his whole body!
Little Leo cried out in agony. The Bamboo Swords slipped from his hands.
"This is one of the training methods I’ll teach you. And it’s your first test too. If you can’t take it, you can leave tomorrow."
Corvin’s voice reached Leo’s ears.
Leo panicked. But the pain in his body was louder than those words.
His clothes couldn’t stop the bites. And the Bamboo Swords he was waving wildly kept hitting ants.
"I can take it!"
Leo shouted.
The moment he remembered Mama and his master’s words, his courage began to rise above his fear.
He picked up the Bamboo Swords and swung them as hard as he could, again and again, to push back the ants attacking him.
"You can’t see right now. But you’ve only lost your sight. You still have your hearing. Your sense of touch. Even your sense of taste. Use everything that can help you feel what’s around you and grow stronger."
Leo gritted his teeth. Tears ran down his face.
Then, in the pitch dark, he heard something new.
Not buzzing.
A deep, slow breath.
And it wasn’t coming from the ants.