“So you want to know what I’ve learned? Regarding what?” Dreiki said with his chin up.

“Let’s start with the simple things. What did you learn of the Tibur?”

Dreiki looked off to the side in recollection, “They are a trusting and kind people who accept all comers.”

“Is that all?”

He shook his head, “They are neither a monolith, nor are they everything they appear. There are good people in the Tibur, but at the end of the day, they still withhold information from children before they risk their lives in the siren ceremony.”

“Such as?”

“I feel we would have been better prepared to fight back against the Oskuutor if we had more than their folktale to work with. Or if they trained us in the Ux techniques necessary to kill the Oskuutor.”

“And why do you think they didn’t? Was it to watch you suffer?”

Dreiki paused. That did not feel like the correct answer, “While I was there, I got the sense that the Oskuutor were toying with us. If we knew how to kill them, they likely would not have toyed with us.”

Savekio nodded, “Part of your ignorance is to protect you, in a way.”

“Still. It’s a cruel way to determine who can be a hunter and who cannot. No matter how I look at it, there are better ways to prepare us for monsters.”

Savekio stroked his beard, “And what have you learned of the other nobility?”

“They’re horrible.” Dreiki said, “But once again, they aren’t a monolith. There is good within the bad. Many of them have a high concept of honor. Although it’s not usually afforded to Noxa.”

“Is that so? Have you made allies with either party?”

He nodded, “I have. Although my secret inevitably came out to some in the end.” Dreiki looked around, “Should we be moving further away? What if we are pursued?”

Savekio waved his hand dismissively, “Shiira has handled the rest, and they won’t be able to track us to this cave. We are safe here. So your secret had to come out? Judging by the fact you’re still alive, you must have had true allies. Were your allies exclusively Tibur?”

“Not exclusively, although I don’t know if I could have called my noble allies friends. I think I could call some of the Tibur my friends, though.”

“Interesting.”

“My question is” Dreiki continued, “why do you want to know about all of this? Was I supposed to be running some sort of reconnaissance or spying?”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Savekio shook his head, “You were not. I merely desired to know your impression of the factions. You pass.”

“How so?”

“No disciple of mine should view the world in black and white. In the future, you may meet them as allies again, or you may cross blades. Regardless, you will not meet them with hatred. That is my impression.”

Dreiki thought of the prospect of meeting someone like Tadios or Kaara as an enemy on the battlefield. He didn’t like it.

“Are you resolved to potentially fight those you’ve made friends with here one day?”

“Only if it is unavoidable.”

“That is the correct answer. Tell me Dreiki, do you know the difference between an ax and a sword?”

Dreiki looked at him bewildered, eliciting a laugh from Savekio, “I suppose by the look on your face that’s a ‘no’. Or rather, you believe it’s too simple of a question that you don’t realize what I’m actually asking.”

“Obviously I know the physical differences between the two weapons, but-”

“Ah, that is where you’ve already answered wrongly. An ax is a tool which can become a weapon. A sword is a weapon. What happens to a sword during peacetimes?”

Dreiki paused, what was this question?

“It’s a simple answer, don’t overthink it.”

“A sword is put on display, or held on the hip.”

“Correct. In other words, it is not used, but it is kept around. Either to rust away, or to be pulled from its sheath when war starts again. What happens to an ax during peacetimes?”

“You chop wood with it?”

Savekio nodded, “Indeed. Beyond merely chopping wood, an ax has a great deal of uses in war, but it will always be useful during peacetime too. An ax can be used to build and destroy, but also to kill. A sword can only kill and has no purpose without war aside from decoration and decadence. In other words, I want you to be an ax, not a sword. Sharpen yourself for more than just fighting, so that you can live your life and find purpose in both war and peace.”

“In other words, that is what the next few lessons are about.” Dreiki said.

Savekio grinned, “You catch on quick. Before that, though, tell me how much you’ve uncovered about Ux.”

Dreiki pulled the dagger from his hip, “I lived through the story of spears, shields, and daggers. If anything, it allowed me to understand ringing the bell against the Malaki a bit better.”

“And what was your understanding?”

“Malaki cannot be killed by returning their malice. They are horrible creatures with no redeeming qualities who seek only to inflict pain and death. However, that does not mean we should become them in order to destroy them.”

Savekio nodded, “It seems that dream has matured you a bit.”

“The scrolls too. I’ve solved a few of their stories as well.”

Savekio raised a brow, “Shiira filled me in on that part. It seems you were lucky enough to intercept the scrolls from some adventurous children who found it before I did.”

Dreiki nodded, “What are your connection to those scrolls?”

“That is an answer you’ll have to find on your own. You could even call it a test question.” He smirked, “Regardless, those scrolls are important to the next phase of your training. Many of the stories will give you scenarios for which to persist in the face of unimaginable odds. The fact that you’ve solved more than one of them this early is proof enough you are worthy of being my disciple. You’ve passed this test. Now I can answer any lingering questions you might have.”

“Aren’t you going to ask me about Dekadimus Alveridan?”

“And why would I?”

“Because he was the one who was supposed to be your disciple before me, wasn’t he?”