The training had lasted for hours, stretching far beyond what Kumuna had anticipated. The once blazing sun had dipped below the horizon, casting hues of deep oranges and purples across the sky.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6mJ7EJuxo
Kumuna’s body screamed in exhaustion, his muscles aching from the relentless drills, the endless sparring, and the never-ending corrections from Orwin. Despite this, he stood his ground, his stance wobbly but determined. His breath came in sharp, ragged pants as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVYOQYYmwY
Orwin, who had barely broken a sweat throughout the entire session, observed him carefully. His sharp golden eyes traced the subtle shakes in Kumuna’s stance, the way his shoulders sagged slightly from fatigue.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybRVaGgu3e
“Alright, kid,” Orwin finally said, lowering his own stance. “That’s enough for today.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEyzwrL9Hi
Kumuna huffed, rolling his shoulders. “Tch… I’m not done yet.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdeFzoQ1bH
The moment the words left his mouth, his legs buckled.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SFPhAYlug
His body lurched forward, but before he could hit the ground, Orwin caught him, gripping his arm firmly but gently.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBXFoT7Ly9
“Hey.” Orwin’s voice was calm, steady. “I said that’s enough.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ492pUfToI0
Kumuna gritted his teeth, his body shaking as he tried to steady himself.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5xwETOrA5
Orwin sighed and placed a reassuring hand on Kumuna’s shoulder. “Look, I get it. You don’t wanna stop. You wanna keep pushing yourself until you drop.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmLpdpX8se
Kumuna remained silent, his jaw tightening.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjEJYbTKs0
Orwin’s grip on his shoulder tightened slightly.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUbAdbQNCu
“But you gotta remember what I told you.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGahPgcOJSf
Kumuna finally looked up at him, eyes still filled with stubborn determination.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqDxGVdvjQ
Orwin nodded firmly.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB4gSsru6x
“A warrior isn’t just brute strength. He’s not just skill. He’s the balance of mind and body.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQgzW1V9uu
Orwin smirked slightly, his tail flicking behind him. “And that means knowing when your body’s hit its damn limit and accepting it.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAblYe1at8
Kumuna felt his tense shoulders loosen. His breath finally evened out.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXjsvI0lkU
He let out a tired chuckle. “…Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFFSrJhIR2
Orwin stepped back, allowing Kumuna to regain his footing as they began walking back toward the castle entrance.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwVbwWZohy
As they reached the grand stone steps, Orwin’s golden eyes drifted upward, fixing on a lone figure standing beneath a nearby tree—watching.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgrvwrHQZr
Kai’Zen.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJJUl7lDf5
Orwin stopped in his tracks.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT5yNbqfMS
“Kumuna, go on ahead,” he said, his tone lighter but firm. “I’ll catch up.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZf1FTqXXx
Kumuna blinked at him, then followed Orwin’s gaze—he barely caught the silhouette of the warlord standing in the shadows.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilbGc20dyU
His expression soured slightly.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2lqm3bOmz
“…Tch. Fine.” He rolled his shoulders before dragging himself toward the entrance, disappearing inside.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmZr0zHf9R
Orwin turned, his sharp gaze locking onto Kai’Zen.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVq0bKlp8I
“Seen enough?”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM99a9CxEB1
Kai’Zen stepped forward, his arms crossed. His face was unreadable, but the tension in his jaw was evident.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1FmzeHseS
“You’re too soft on him.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFS1ZSd05j
Orwin didn’t react, his tail swaying slowly behind him.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiNOFw5p5g
“You coddle him,” Kai’Zen continued, stepping closer. “You train him too gently. The boy lacks discipline, lacks respect, and yet you praise him for every small step like a child taking his first walk.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkAFZtbqNX
Orwin sighed through his nose.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUoaIAZyoJ
“We made an oath to train the hero, not beat him into the ground,” Orwin replied, his voice calm, but firm.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYwp8fanwN
Kai’Zen’s eyes narrowed. “And you think I’m trying to beat him into the ground?”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uyRkKNXOH
Orwin crossed his arms, mirroring Kai’Zen’s stance. “Aren’t you?”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oTYvswAWs
Kai’Zen exhaled sharply, clearly agitated.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX0UNVbson
“The world isn’t kind to the naive, Orwin. If we don’t drill that into him now, he won’t make it past a month—let alone five years.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCGIvVL9IT
Orwin was silent.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLE0KKiBkI
Kai’Zen’s gaze hardened. “I won’t waste my time training someone who’s too arrogant to see how weak he truly is.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaUmzuIwIt
Orwin finally spoke.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeA2YM02sb
“He’s not like us.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9wOugwk1a
Kai’Zen tensed.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO7HAI9lbU
Orwin took a slow step forward, his voice quieter, but heavier.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bcPmmkehV
“We were born into this,” Orwin said, his golden eyes flickering. “From the moment we could walk, we trained. We fought. We knew what war was before we even understood what peace meant.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX1In8yRW7
Kai’Zen’s fingers twitched slightly at his side.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGdyP4Rfqn
“But Kumuna? He came from a world that doesn’t prepare you for this. He wasn’t raised for war. And yet—he’s still here.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL8QLLAS9j
Kai’Zen’s jaw ticked.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0FBpk4oJB
Orwin exhaled. “You don’t have to like him, Kai. You don’t have to coddle him like I do.” His gaze hardened. “But at least try to see things from his perspective.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ROzgQRLWG
Kai’Zen remained silent.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9FmXIB2fU
Orwin turned away.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4n0ktJoJn
Before he left, he glanced back one last time.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzeJohcBeJ
“Just… think about it before you write him off.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡManQCVOV0c
And with that, he disappeared into the night, leaving Kai’Zen alone.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hoJBff4O8
The warlord stayed there, unmoving, staring out into the darkness.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauuxBbEPxd
His fists clenched at his sides in irritation but something made him calm down, he took a moment to think.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdWK2ILbMp
Orwin’s words gnawed at him, refusing to be easily cast aside.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOYGf9e2WJ
He exhaled sharply through his nose. This was a mistake. The gods had made a mistake. The boy was reckless, undisciplined, and far too naïve to truly understand what was at stake.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJODV6jGz6z
And yet…
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvm3mJjMs7
Kai’Zen’s gaze flickered toward the empty training grounds in the distance.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzZq2vSpG8
Kumuna had stayed. He didn’t quit. Even after being knocked down, after struggling, after failing time and time again… he kept standing back up.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNe93dxuAA
Kai’Zen closed his eyes for a moment.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphHAfKxrX1
Then, his lips curled into the faintest smirk.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcU20JLCX7
“Tch. Stubborn brat.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibruoaiHjX
With that, he turned sharply on his heel and disappeared into the shadows.
