POV: Rygar Adoldia
Nina advanced against Jino Britz with great speed.
Her small, yet extrely trained body moved with razor-sharp precision.
Her strikes were direct, fast, and carried the weight of months of hard work.
Every step she took was laden with determination, and I could see in her gaze the burning desire to surpass herself.
The reason for this intensity ca from 8 months ago, when Eris arrived at the Sword Sanctuary.
I was there on the day Eris was accepted into the advanced warriors' dojo; I rember she was irritated at not being able to train in the central dojo alongside Ghislaine and .
Even so, Eris was already an extrely skilled warrior and left a trail of defeated opponents behind in the advanced dojo.
Those who were once at the top were crushed one by one, and among them was Nina Farion. The girl was shocked by her defeat, sothing she had never experienced before at her age.
In the following days, she wandered aimlessly, confused and silent.
However, that changed when she went to speak with Gall Farion and saw our training fight.
The shock of losing to Eris had already been a hard blow, but upon seeing a boy her age facing the very Sword God, her mind simply refused to accept reality.
From what I understood, she classified as a mystical existence, an incomparable being, sothing beyond comprehension.
At least, that's what she reported to the Sword God when she got ho.
However, as the days passed and she observed interacting normally with Eris, her perception began to change.
I wasn't an unattainable entity, and Eris, who was a year younger than her, was a wild one who could read, write, and even conjure magic. That confused her more than anything.
How could soone like Eris be stronger than her? How could she have abilities that she herself did not master? That didn't make sense in Nina's mind.
That confusion eventually turned into determination the more she saw Eris training without slowing her advance for even a second.
Nina began training with a dedication never before seen.
Her days were filled with constant battles, rigorous studies, and endless challenges.
As I had told Eris to find a training partner, they soon beca close.
She challenged Eris countless tis in the three months that the girl trained in the advanced dojo, and when Eris was promoted to the Sword Saint level and left the advanced dojos, the girl redoubled her efforts.
Now, at 14 years old, the sa age as , she was just one step away from reaching that level as well.
Initially, I thought of helping her, as I saw great potential in her as a rival for Eris, but now I realize that won't be necessary. Nina was forging her own path.
However, there was sothing even more absurd happening before my eyes. While Nina and Jino fought, my gaze turned to the boy.
He was... peculiar.
Jino Britz wasn't soone who stood out at first glance.
His presence was muted, and if I hadn't paid attention to him, he probably would have gone unnoticed.
My interest in him began when Nina started dragging him into her training sessions.
He was four years younger than us, only 10 years old, aning he had already been an advanced swordsman since the age of 9, perhaps even before that.
That, in itself, was already impressive, but not enough to be considered sothing absurd at the Sword Sanctuary.
What caught my attention was the speed of his growth.
Nina was experiencing an evolution surge; she had her talent to support her and was training with an almost obsessive dedication to reach Eris.
However, at a certain point, when I looked at them again after about three months, Jino had almost caught up to Nina again.
That was shocking. No, it was alarming.
I began to observe him more closely.
Whenever he trained with Nina, his face maintained an uninterested expression, as if he were just going with the flow.
He didn't seem to have a clear ambition, nor did he demonstrate a burning passion for the sword. Yet, he was growing. Growing at a fast pace.
After analyzing him for a while and observing his interactions and conversations, I ca to a conclusion: Jino Britz was growing because he didn't want to be left behind. It was as simple as that.
Before, he and Nina led a group of children inside the Sword Sanctuary. He was second in command.
However, when Nina suddenly distanced herself from the group and began focusing exclusively on training, Jino followed her. And when he realized he was falling behind, he started to put in a little more effort.
That was when I realized the truth. This boy, who seed uninterested and apathetic, possessed a monstrous talent.
Even without any grand ambition, without a higher goal.
He simply did not want to be left behind by Nina specifically. And that need, that silent instinct to keep up with Nina, made him evolve at a rate that bordered on the absurd.
What kind of talent was that...? It was as if he were destined to grow, no matter what he did. Perhaps it was just a twist of fate that such talent was given to soone without ambition.
---
Rygar watched the two young swordsn for a few monts, knowing that if he wanted to recruit them for the Iron Legion, he would have to act while they were still young and impressionable.
However, it wouldn't be an easy task. Nina was the daughter of the Sword God, and Jino, of a Sword Emperor.
Taking the two best talents of the new generation of the Sword Sanctuary wouldn't be simple. Still, Rygar wouldn't give up without trying.
With a slight sigh, he deactivated his magical eyes and openly approached the two. Both Nina and Jino turned, surprised.
Nina, upon recognizing him, broke into a wide smile and took a few steps in his direction, but soon stopped and tried to hide her excitent, quickly regaining her composure.
They had spoken several tis before, and Rygar had helped them with training tips, which made them see him as a respectable senior.
Nina, however, seed to show an even greater interest, although Rygar hadn't paid much attention to that.
"How are you?" he asked, with a slight smile. "Have you already gone to see Ezkalor and Skoll?"
Nina's eyes sparkled with excitent, and she replied animatedly:
"Yes! We went! The Iron Legion people took us!"
Jino, for his part, also beca a bit interested, after all he had never seen a Red Dragon and a Wolf of that size, even more so dosticated; there was a spark of curiosity in his gaze.
"How did you ta them?" he asked, intrigued.
Rygar smiled, crossing his arms.
"That's a trade secret," he replied enigmatically. "Only my organization knows the thod."
He let the words hang in the air for a mont, allowing the curiosity to deepen before changing the subject.
"Anyway, Jino, I spoke with your father and he allowed to take you on the small expedition I am going to undertake."
Jino seed hesitant for a brief mont, but his gaze soon shifted to Nina. She had already confird that she was going and clearly wanted him to go as well.
He had never left the Sword Sanctuary before and, although he didn't know what to expect, the idea of exploring the world beyond the sanctuary's limits didn't interest him much. After a mont of reflection, he replied in a subdued manner:
"Okay."
Rygar nodded, satisfied, and then turned his gaze to Nina.
"Nina, Aisha also asked to invite you to her first birthday, which will be in a few days. You'll go, right?"
Nina smiled broadly and shook her head affirmatively.
"Of course! I'll be there."
Rygar smiled, pleased with the response.
"Great. Continue your training. See you soon."
With that, he walked away, leaving the two young swordsn in their training.
----
At the Farion family ho.
Rygar was silent in the middle of the dojo. Reida Reida was in front of him, her short golden sword unsheathed. The atmosphere was silent, and Gall Farion watched without saying a word.
The essence of the Sword God Style was to strike with a long blade as quickly as possible.
There were many techniques within this style, but the main and most powerful was the Longsword of Light, and within this philosophy, there were three general stances.
The first was a mid-range stance, the basic stance of the Sword God Style, capable of countering any technique.
The second was the high stance, an aggressive stance, suitable for those who break through the opponent's technique and push them back.
The last was the draw stance, a defensive stance, used by those who read the opponent's technique and perceived the perfect mont to attack.
Essentially: those who read the opponent preferred the draw stance; those who broke through the opponent preferred the high stance; and those who didn't specialize in either preferred the mid-range stance.
Eris, who had an innate sense of rhythm and actively sought to break through her opponents, preferred the high stance.
Ghislaine, with her keen sll and hearing as part of the feral folk, excelled at reacting instinctively and preferred the draw stance.
The Sword God could fight from any of the stances with equal proficiency.
Rygar, for his part, generally opted for the draw stance or the high stance.
He was currently in the draw stance, eyes closed, trying to find a way, a single mont of opening that would allow him to invade the space of the reigning Water God.
But every ti he thought about attacking, he hesitated. His body said that advancing would be like running toward death.
His breathing remained rhythmic until, in a single instant, his ears trembled imperceptibly.
His eyes opened, and he advanced at his highest speed towards the opening he had seen. His confidence was unshakable.
However, as soon as he got closer, he felt as if he had been swallowed by a soft cloud.
Reida's sword moved slowly, deflecting Rygar's blade by re centiters before striking him with the unsharpened part of the weapon, forcefully throwing him to the side.
Everything happened in a single instant.
Reida was smiling, amused. Rygar, nursing the bruise on his arm, asked while looking at the Sword God:
"Do you really know a way to get past her defenses?"
Gall Farion only smiled enigmatically. At that mont, a woman entered the dojo carrying three cups of tea and so snacks. It was Catelyn Farion, Gall's wife.
"I brought so snacks, everyone!" she said.
Reida smiled and replied:
"Thank you very much, Catelyn."
Rygar approached, taking one of the cups.
"Haah... If Orsted can do half of what you do with the Water God Style, I'm still far from being able to beat him."
Reida pondered for a mont. "I believe he can... but I don't know what his limits are in that art."
Gall Farion laughed out loud.
"If it were that easy, kid, soone would have already done it! But, as long as you keep growing at this pace... you definitely have a chance."
Rygar looked at him and asked:
"And you? Do you think you have a chance?"
The Sword God smiled fiercely.
"Hard to say..."
He looked at the sky, thoughtful.
"The Dragon God knows the Sword, Water and North God Style, but if I'm faster than him, none of that will matter."
Reida snorted.
In any case, Rygar knew that for Gall Farion, defeating the Dragon God was impossible. In fact, since the Sword God had encountered the Dragon God before, he probably knew this as well.
Gall continued: "I only encountered him once when I was still a Sword Saint. My skill already surpassed that level, of course, but even so, I completely lost. And I never saw him again after that..."
He looked directly at Rygar, with an intimidating smile.
"But, after that, I never lost another battle either..."
Rygar smiled defiantly.
"You're not going to keep your invincibility for much longer..."
Gall stared at him for a mont before bursting into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
He took a sip of tea and continued speaking:
"You'll be exactly like Reida, brat. No matter how many techniques you create in your Beast God Style, in the end, I'll be faster. I just need one strike."
Rygar returned the smile.
"We'll see..."
Reida remained thoughtful, quietly sipping her tea.
After a mont of contemplation, she sighed and said in a serene tone, yet laden with mories:
"I too only encountered the Dragon God once... A terrifying existence, truly."
Her eyes wandered around the room as if revisiting the past, but soon they returned to Rygar with an expression of doubt. She tilted her head slightly before asking, with one eyebrow raised:
"By the way... why do you even want to kill him? At first, I thought you were just another battle maniac, like Gall. But Ghislaine and the girl Eris also seem to want to see him dead..."
Rygar remained silent for a mont, reflecting on how to answer.
This wasn't sothing that could be explained in a few words.
Gall Farion, until then rely observing the conversation with slight interest, also showed so curiosity, leaning forward, waiting for the answer.
After a few seconds, Rygar took a deep breath and asked in a lower, yet firm tone:
"Do you know a woman nad Eleonora, Master Reida?"
The ntion of the na caused the old mistress's eyes to widen for a brief mont. Her posture, previously relaxed, beca more alert.
"Eleonora?" she repeated, surprised. "You know her?"
Rygar gave a slight smile and replied:
"She is currently the instructor of the Water God Style in the Great Forest... at least, if nothing has gone wrong."
Reida showed a mix of relief and anxiety upon hearing that, but soon she seed to rember sothing important.
Her gaze grew more intense and her voice carried a certain urgency as she asked:
"Do you know where her eldest grandson is? If I'm not mistaken, his na is Eidar."
Upon hearing that na, Rygar felt a tightening in his chest. His expression, which until then had shown a slight hint of nostalgia, closed in lancholy.
A heavy silence fell over the dojo. He lowered his eyes for a mont before lifting his head and beginning to speak about the events that led him to et Eidar.
How they had fought against each other, then stood side by side. How they had traveled together—him, Ghislaine, Eris, Eidar, Aisha, Lilia, Geese, and Skoll—training every day. They were almost like brothers, even without the sa blood.
And then, he revealed the end of his friend.
"The Dragon God killed him without hesitation. Without asking twice, without explanation, and without ti..."
Gall Farion remained silent, but his gaze showed that he understood the weight of that loss.
Reida also stayed quiet for a few monts before sighing deeply. Her eyes reflected genuine sadness as she murmured:
"What a pity..."
She stayed silent for another mont.
"I hadn't heard from Eleonora for many years, but... we had agreed that if my daughter's first child were a girl, she would be promised to little Eidar... I only t him when he was a baby."
Rygar smiled slightly.
"He wouldn't stop talking about it for a single second during our journey..."
The atmosphere remained imrsed in a lancholic mood for a few monts, the mories of Eidar weighing on everyone present.
However, as it always happened among warriors, the conversation soon shifted to sothing more enthusiastic.
They began to discuss different techniques, strategies, and combat styles. Gall Farion also grabbed so drinks stronger than tea.
At so point in the conversation, the atmosphere had completely changed, and both Rygar and Gall Farion were laughing and drinking.
The only one who remained sober was Reida.
When the night was well advanced and the bottles were empty, Rygar finally said his goodbyes.
The cold night wind hit his face, helping to clear his mind a bit. Tomorrow would be an important day. Tomorrow... would be Aisha's birthday.
With that thought, he followed his path back ho.
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