The sun had just begun to touch the cobblestones of Frostbridge, basking the city in a golden glow as Orion made his way through the streets. The weight of his new sword, a constant presence at his side, was a small comfort against the burden of his thoughts. He walked with the purpose of a man who had things to do, places to be.
The city was waking up, stretching its limbs in the form of shopkeepers and early risers preparing for the day. Children darted between the alleys, their laughter a stark contrast to the grim thoughts that clouded Orion’s mind. He passed them with a nod, a ghost of a smile on his lips, yet his gaze remained distant, fixed on a horizon only he could see.
A small figure broke away from the playful throng and approached Orion, his feet barely disturbing the dust on the cobblestones. “Sir,” the boy called, tugging at the edge of Orion’s cloak with a determination that belied his tender years. “Please, will you teach me?”
Orion stopped, his eyes a pair of steel orbs, cool and detached. “Go back to your parents, child. They should be the ones to find you a teacher,” he responded, his voice even, betraying none of the turmoil that stirred within. He was not the first to approach Orion looking for guidance. Word of his hunting prowess has spread throughout the city but every request for help has been met with denial with Orion deciding to focus completely on his goals.
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The boy stood his ground, undeterred by the dismissal. “I have no one, sir. There is no one to send me to masters or to learn from,” he said, his voice small but fierce, a tiny flame flickering against the coming night.
Something in the boy's words struck a chord deep within Orion—a chord that resonated with the echoes of his own past. He saw himself in the boy, a child of the streets with no one to turn to, whose life had been changed by the kindness of a stranger.
Orion's resolve faltered. He knelt to meet the boy's gaze, his own eyes softening. "What is your name, lad?" he asked.
"Alden, sir," the boy replied, his eyes wide with a mixture of hope and fear.
Orion sighed. "I cannot promise to make you a master, Alden, but I will teach you some things." He saw the boy's eyes light up, a spark that ignited something long dormant in Orion's heart.
"Thank you, sir! I will not fail you," Alden exclaimed, his voice carrying the weight of his newfound purpose.
"We will see," Orion replied. “Meet me here again tomorrow morning, and we will see if your determination remains strong”.