I walked back home. There was nothing to do after that incident. Nothing but hope for Arnold's well-being. I didn't even say goodbye to the others, as I walked with heavy steps. I didn't even bother with a meal, as I was too tired for that. I might've not fought as fiercely as the others, but none of the others are suffering from a guilt as heavy as mine.

And without even bothering to do anything else, I fell asleep on my bed, hoping today was just a bad dream...and yet, I saw the wolf. I saw that scene again...his screams...his blood...except this time, there was nobody else. Just me...the wolf...and my friend's corpse.

And after maiming Arnold until I couldn't even recognize him, he slowly stepped towards me. Step by step, and even as I fled, the distance never grew. And then it lunged at me, at my throat.

I instantly woke up, with cold sweat dripping from my forehead."Calm down Reynald. That was just a dream. Just...just a dream..." I mumbled to myself, over and over, to try to fall asleep again.

Yet before I knew it, the sunlight hit my face, forcing me wide awake. I couldn't sleep tonight. But yet...that dream...that experience...there was one thing it taught me.

"I'm a weakling and an idiot." I spoke to myself, still drowning within my own regret... but I knew nothing was permanent. Any change can be forced upon anybody... and out of everybody, there was just one single person that could help me with these two issues.

I put on my trainee clothes, and grabbed the wooden sword as I walked outside of my house...before my body reminded me of one thing.

Seconds later, I walked back out of my house, with bread in hand so I will not die from starvation. And so, I made my way towards that familiar place...knowing I was a dead man walking, even if it was not through starvation.

I was the second person to arrive to that place. The first, was the only being scarier than the great wolf, the Asura teacher, Gerald, who was doing push-ups with a rock half as big as myself on his back.

"One thousand nine hundred ninety seven..."

"One thousand nine hundred ninety eight..."

"One thousand nine hundred ninety nine..."

"Two thousand."

He said to himself. Does he ever sleep? I don't know. If he was cruel to the students, he wanted to kill himself due to how strict he was.

Yet, I was already at the point of no return. "Teacher?" I said, already feeling my legs shake a little.

“What is it?” He replied, as he got up, as if the rock weighted nothing. I gulped a bit, still nervous.

“I...I am weak. I am not good with the sword, nor at the battlefield...” My mind replaying the scene, of me being so helpless, and the guy who saved me nearly dying for it, when it was my own stupidity who causde such incident.

"...And you come here, filled with regret from yesterday, wanting to avenge him?" Gerald asked. Even his voice was enough to make me scared, as he seemingly was in a worse mood than usual.

"No. I don't wish for revenge on the wolves. I wish to not fail again. You said it once. The strong protects himself...the stronger protects the others...the strongest protects himself and others. I want to be the strongest." I knew being the strongest, winning against even Gerald was impossible. But yet, what I wished, is to protect others while not dying.

His frowned and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Kid...you're being too serious for your age. Don't let worries swallow you so soon." He said, for once, not trying to push me to my limits.

But yet...even after hearing his words, I refused to back down. “Teacher. I won’t change my goal. Please train me to not be helpless again.” I said. I didn't know why these words came out of my mouth...but yet, they did. I was directly opposing my teacher's words.

“As much as I ask, you'll not give up, will you?” He said, only for me to nod.

He could only let out a sigh. "...Alright, alright.First, I wish to see what you're capable of." as he drew his training sword from the sheath hanging on his waist. Since it was a wooden sword, it wasn’t going to be as lethal as a normal one, but yet it was going to earn me a few broken bones..

I now drew my sword as well. “So we’re sparring, teacher?” I replied. Even if it was a training sword...I felt like this was more dangerous than the great wolf I've seen in the woods.

“Yes. Now get ready.” He replied, getting in a battle stance. I also took the same stance he taught me…and we both stared at each other for a few seconds, analyzing each other's stance. His steps, his movements...it felt like there was no wasted movement at all. I was envyous of such stance, which was a sign of true experience.

Gulping, I decided it was time for the first move in the fight. I jumped towards him, using my sword to try to hit his head. Yet...he just stared at me, as if he didn't believe what he saw.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Then he simply waved his own training sword sideways, knocking me out of the air, and onto the ground. I swore I heard a rib or two cracking from this single motion, taking the air away from my lungs, as I stared up in the air. Everything was blurry.

"...We have a long way to go, kid." That was his last words, as he stared back at me, letting out an apologetic sigh...and then I fell unconscious.

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A few hours later...

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I woke up at a familiar place, one I always visited wherever I got badly hurt: Dylis' house, the best healer of the village. I've heard she has enough skill to even be accepted as a healer in the capital, and I can vouch, by my own experiences, that is not an understatement. As I looked at the celling, resting and feeling the soreness of my chest, I've heard a familiar voice.

“Yo. So what sort of monster hit you for you to end up like this?” I heard. Was it...Arnold? I turned to look where the voice came from, to meet with a pleasant surprise: Arnold, still awake and relatively well, even if he had a massive bandage wrapped around his torso to stop the bleeding...and there was a huge red spot on the bandage, right where the stomach is.

"Don't worry, I'm alright. Dylis is the best healer of the town, after all!" Arnold said, laughing. "So, did you try fighting the wolf to avenge me or something?" He...wasn't even unconscious enough to notice the wolf was killed. But now, he was well enough to even joke around about such matters...well, two can play the game!

"Worse. I tried to spar with Gerald." I replied, as I laughed out loud as well. It seems all my worries were for naught. "So how long we've been knocked out?"

"Eh, I don't really know. A day or two, I suppose. I just woke up a few minutes ago." my friend replied, with a small laugh, although that was interrupted by a coughing fit.

"Sheesh! I keep telling you to not laugh that much...yet...yet you never listen to me!" A woman, mid 20s, came inside of the room. She wore a white robe, contrasting with her dark skin and black hair. It was the uniform of the healers' guild after all...even if it is such a sharp contrast from her skin. There were no variants...I hope I at least can get a customized uniform when I begin my job as a knight.

"Yo, Dylis. Any news?" Arnold said, without any concern on his well being, even ignoring the scolding.

The healer let out a sigh. "...Even on the brink of death, you never change." She said, shaking her head as if she resigned herself to Arnold's attitute. "Either way, yes there are some news. Larissa came over and sent you a letter each, along with a gift. Just wait a few minutes for me to grab it." She said, with a small smile as she walked out of the room.

After a minute or so, she came back out, with two letters, along with a box full of flowers.

"Well...she told me that the box is for both of you." The healer said as she placed the box of flowers between my bed and Arnold's bed. "As for the letters, this one is for Arnold, and this one is for Reynald." She said, as she gave us the letters.

I quickly opened the letter, rather curious about what she wanted to tell me. 

 Dear idiot Reinald.

I nearly lost a man already! I know you're feeling guilty, but...but don't get hurt just because you want to be strong! Arnold nearly died, and now you nearly died! So be careful from now on, and don't get hurt anymore, otherwise I'll get really really mad!

PS: I didn't expect you to get hurt right after Arnold nearly got killed, so I only prepared one! Please don't get mad at me for forcing you to share!

-with love, Larissa

I blinked. "So, what is written in your letter?" Curiosity overtook me, as I turned to look at Arnold, who was done reading his.

"The basic stuff. 'I wish you to get well soon, otherwise you'll not be able to enter the knights' academy this year!'. And you?" He replied. It was hard to see whether or not he was joking around, but I decided to be just vague.

"She told me to stop being a suicidal maniac for my ambitions and stay alive." I replied, folding the letter, and putting it in my pocket before anybody else could read it. I know I'll treasure the first letter I've ever received from a girl for the rest of my life.

"Easier said than done." He mumbled back.

I felt offended at it, even if only enough to force me to snark back. "Says the mighty hero who nearly got bit in half."

"Says the pervert who flirted during an adventure."

"I'm pervert but I'm honest. You always trick Gerald during the running exercises.." I replied, with a chuckle.

"You do that too, you shouldn't say that!" Arnold said, laughing...and soon returned to a coughing fit.

And so, against the common sense of staying quiet during the afternoon, resting, we kept laughing and teasing each other, much to Dylis' dismay.

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Author's note: Only now I noticed the 'insert horizontal rule' option in the menu. I am an idiot. On another subject, I was thinking about making this two separate chapters, except, the word count for the second chapter would be too low...and I realized how I'm doing just one chap per week. So! I decided to merge the two chapters for you guys!