Not long after arriving in the village, Leon had noticed an older man who seemed different from the rest of the townsfolk. He was quiet, always watching from the shadows, but his presence was commanding. The villagers referred to him in whispers as **Old Man Kael**, a reclusive hermit who once fought in wars long past.

One evening, after the group had returned from a sparring match in the woods, Leon found himself wandering to the outskirts of the village, where Kael lived alone in a simple cabin. Something about the man intrigued him—perhaps it was the way he moved, with a grace and precision that reminded Leon of the warriors he had seen in battle. Or perhaps it was the quiet strength he carried, even in his old age.

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Leon knocked on the door, and after a long pause, Kael opened it, his piercing eyes scanning Leon with a look that sent a shiver down his spine.

"You’re not like the others," Kael said, his voice gravelly but calm. "What do you want?"

Leon hesitated for a moment before answering. "I want to learn. I want to be stronger."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "And why should I teach you?"

Leon clenched his fists, his mind filled with images of Garrett’s death, of the kingdom’s soldiers slaughtering innocent people. "Because if I don’t get stronger, more people will die. I can’t let that happen."

For a moment, Kael said nothing, his eyes studying Leon’s face. Then, with a sigh, he stepped aside and gestured for Leon to enter. "If you want to learn, boy, you’ll have to prove you have the strength not just to fight, but to endure."