Even with his back turned, he could feel his fathers glare as if it was burning into his skin. The grip around his neck got tighter and tighter.

Sir Gorou threw him into the stone ground. The air abruptly left Tsugi's lungs upon impact as he bounced off the ground. Tsugi opened his mouth but air refused to enter his lungs.

Tsugi's eyes widened with fear. He could see his father wind his arm back into the air, into a fist. Sir Gorou's eyes filled with anger and disgust. The fist starts hurling down towards Tsugi's face.

Tsugi shuts his eyes tight and rolls out of the way just in the nick of time. Sir Gorou's fist met with the ground right next to Tsugi's ear, letting out a loud crack as the stone broke, causing a high pitch ringing in his ear. Tsugi quickly got to his feet, slightly disoriented from the ringing. Although his back hurt, air has now returned to his lungs as he stood clutching his chest, and stared at his father. Sir Gorou, now oozing murderous bloodlust, charges at Tsugi.

Tsugi turns and runs. He dashed and turned corners throughout the giant castle. Sir Gorou's thunderous footsteps right behind him at every turn. The footsteps get louder and closer. Tsugi could feel it coming, he slid and turned toward Sir Gorou. He crossed his arms in front of him to block, as a rock hard fist blasted him down the hall.

Tsugi bounces off the hard ground and slides to the end of the hallway. Sir Gorou quickly advanced and proceeded to hurl kicks at Tsugi as he curled into a fetal position.

"You think running away will work!" Sir Gorou's shouts echoed through the castle. "You're better off doing what I told you and learn to hide!"

Tsugi clenched his teeth with blow after blow. He felt a hand grab a handful of his hair and drag him down the hallway. Bright flashes of light could be seen from the window that briefly lit up the dark hallways. The wind howled and whistled as they came in through the open windows and crevices.

Tsugi got dragged through the long hallways as they turned corners and eventually ended up outside. Sir Gorou picked up little Tsugi with one arm and swung him onto his strong broad shoulder. Sir Gorou climbed up the steep grassy hill and onto a rocky cliff looking over the castle below.

On the cliff, sat a long iron pole nailed into the ground. Sir Gorou threw Tsugi to the ground and chained him to the metal pole with shackles. Sir Gorou then turned and left without a word.

The wind was strong as it flung dirt and grass. The blades of grass would cut Tsugi's skin, sending blood droplets into the wind. He could see the faint lantern lights from the castle and village grounds

The dark clouds start to pour buckets of water down on Tsugi. A flash of lightning stretched across the sky followed by roaring thunder that shook the ground.

A flash of light, allowed the world to come into view, but sent a sharp pain that radiated down his back and throughout his whole body.

"Aaaaahhhh!" He threw his head back and screamed in agony through gritted teeth. His vision went dark and he passed out for a short moment.

He opened his eyes again, but it was too dark. He could only see faint lights in the distance. Rain continued to pour onto his drenched body. He saw another flash of light and looked up just in time to see the lightning strike the iron pole he was chained to. As if seeing it in slow motion, he could see it touch the tip of the pole as it came rushing down. It touched his skin and he could feel it spread like wildfire. Agonizing pain shot throughout his body, he tensed and screamed, passing out again, only to wake up and have it repeat again...and again.

***

Tsugi heard small rocks and dirt move under approaching footsteps. The wind had stopped and the rain, now only drizzling. Too exhausted to move, he kept his eyes closed, and waited for blows to come.

Instead, with a click in the chains, his hands were free and he fell to the ground with a thud. A warm hand scooped him up into its arms and carried him away. He can smell a sweet fragrance of honey and chamomile, along with an earthy aroma of sage before losing consciousness.

He awoke back in his straw bed. His body ached and burned, but it wasn't as bad. He looked out his window, the sun hadn't risen yet. As exhausted as he was, his body automatically knew when to get up. He groggily got ready and left for the storage shed.

When he arrived Mare was already there waiting for him.

"You're on time." She said, handing him the ax. He looked up, but he could only see her shadowy figure. He followed her through the dark to the pile of wood. "The sun isn't quite up yet. Why don't you sit down for a bit. I will wake you when the sun is up."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

With no strength in his body to do anything he trudged over to the grass, plops to the wet floor and falls asleep.

"Young Master Tsugi? Wake up young master." Tsugi stirs awake to a towering shadow, the sun just barely risen behind it.

"Mare?" He jumped to his feet, afraid his father would find out. "I'm s-sorry, I didn't m-mean to fall asleep! P-p-please don't t-tell anyone!"

"Calm down young master." If I said anything, I would get in trouble too. After all, I was the one who told you to rest." She picked up his ax and handed it to him. "Come."

Everything was soaked from the storm. Although his body didn't hurt as much as he expected it to, he still struggled to get much improvement in the one log he's been working on.

"Here you go, Young Master Tsugi." Just like the previous day, Mare hands him a potato and waterskin.

Tsugi smiled at Mare and accepted it without question, breaking it in half and handed one half to her. They sat down on the log and enjoyed their half potatoes together.

"Thank you." Tsugi said as he carefully bit into the potato.

"What are friends for?"

Tsugi froze. ‘Friend?’

Tsugi has known Mare for a long time, but how can an adult and someone that powerful, consider a tiny weakling like him as a friend? His heart fluttered, a toad in his throat and tears welled up in his big bruised eyes. This giant beautiful creature of a person had considered him...a friend.

Well into the day, Tsugi's progress was slow and exhausting. His body was heavy and he just couldn't find any strength. Too afraid of Sir Gorou, he didn't stop and kept swinging the ax.

"Lord Gorou has summoned you to his office." A knight dressed in silver armor approached Tsugi by the storage shed. Tsugi placed his ax down and followed him.

Tsugi took deep calming breaths. Intense fear always courses through him at the mention of his father. Although it doesn't always result in a beating, just the thought of it was enough torture. Sir Gorou would always summon him and check on his progress in training. When his results in training didn't go well, he would surely get a beating. Tsugi was sure the knights knew about it and were laughing at how weak he is.

They headed into the main castle and through the long corridors until they came upon a large wooden door.

"He's waiting for you." The knight turned around and left. Tsugi approached the door and knocked as hard as he could, trying his best not to sound weak.

"Come in." A deep voice came from inside. Tsugi pushed open the heavy door with all his might, swallowing hard, he was trying to hide his fear.

"You have summoned me, My Lord?" He tried hard to control his stutter and he dared not call him father. He walked into the giant office and stood before Sir Gorou's desk.

"How's your strength building coming along?" Sir Gorou scribbled away without even glancing up.

"I have made...progress, but I still have...a long way to go...My Lord." Tsugi tried hard to speak as clearly and as maturely as possible.

"Go meet Bjorn in the training ring. I expect to see results when I come back from the Royal Kingdom." His eyes glared at Tsugi threateningly.

"Yes, My Lord." Petrified, Tsugi stared at the floor for a long while.

"Get out." Sir Gorou commanded. Tsugi promptly bowed and left.

***

"Dead." Sir Bjorn stood over Tsugi with a wooden sword at Tsugi's throat. "Again!" He barked. He stepped back and allowed Tsugi to stand. Tsugi grabbed the small wooden sword with his shaking hands and stood up. "Hold it like you mean it!" He scolded him. Tsugi raised his tired arms in front of him. "Come."

"Yaaahhh!" Tsugi screamed and charged at Sir Bjorn, but he simply deflected the wooden sword like it was nothing, all while rubbing his face in irritation.

Sir Bjorn disarmed Tsugi again and again, "Dead."....."Dead."....."Dead."....."Dead." Sir Bjorn's voice was dull from boredom.

Tsugi was on all fours, panting as sweat dripped from his nose to the dirt ground, which happily soaked it all up.

"We'll pick this up again tomorrow." Sir Bjorn picked up the wooden swords and returned to the castle. "Meet me here every evening after your strength training."

Tsugi collapsed to the floor. ‘Every day?’

Sir Gorou's words rang in his head, 'I will not have someone as weak as you be my child!'

‘He's the commander of the Royal Knights. Of course he would be ashamed of someone like me. Maybe, if I get strong enough, he will treat me better, and I will no longer be beaten.’

Tsugi hardened his heart with determination.

The determination diminished over the next few weeks. He still showed no progress and fear started to seep in. Sir Gorou could be back any day now.

"Dead." Sir Bjorn clenched his teeth in frustration. "Why did I have to be stuck behind doing training?" He mumbled under his breath.

The wind picked up and dark clouds started to cover the starry sky.

"Yaaahh!" Tsugi screamed and swung the sword like a mad man.

"Yeah! Get angry!" Sir Bjorn's eyes lit up with excitement.

Tsugi swung harder and faster. ‘I will not get another beating!’

Tsugi got disarmed again and knocked to the ground. Sir Bjorn stood over him with the sword pointed in Tsugi's face. Rain started to drizzle into the arena. "Better, but too erratic." He stepped back. "Again!"

"Let me." Sir Gorou marched into the Training ground dressed in his silver armor, helmet under his armpit and big sword tied to his waist.

Dread immediately filled Tsugi's heart.