The two men stared at the beautiful mountain range as they rested and sipped on tea.

Arne looked at the greenery, before his eyes eventually landed on Emil.

The boy looked somehwat distressed. He was lacking in talent, as a magician, and as a swordsman.

It must've been devastating to him.

Arne's lips moved up and down. It wasn't entirely Emil's fault. He himself hasn't been too patient with him, he wasn't a good teacher to him, or so he felt.

Right now, he felt like he needed to encourage him somehow, but was at a loss for words. He wasn't too used to this.

When he taught at the Academy, he didn't need to take his students' feelings into consideration. All he needed to do was to slap them with the cold harsh truth, and wait for them to man up. It took some time, but they all came around eventually. They were talented and brilliant kids.

But he couldn't treat Emil the same way.

He couldn't tell him he was a talentless swordsman, that he wasn't gonna make much progress in the path of the sword and that he should give up.

He knew Emil was passionate about swords, he took after his father. No, perhaps he wanted to be like his father.

He couldn't shatter his hopes and dreams.

"Emil."

Arne started speaking.

"Yes Uncle?"

Emil responded, his face attentive.

Arne paused briefly, as if searching for the right words.

"I'm, Sigh."

"I'm sorry for getting unnecessarily mad earlier."

a look of surprise appeared on Emil's face. An apology was something he never expected from someone like Arne with his fiery temper and pride.

"I tried being like him, your father.

I'm sure he would've taught you well if he was here, I'm sure you'd have been flourishing under his guidance.

But...

But I'm not him. I'm not as good. Me and Piers, both of us. We're trying to fill the place of your father, something we couldn't do for the past several years. Something we'll probably never be able to do.

we still try our best, but I guess, I'm not as good as Piers, or your dad, when it comes to kids. Hahahah."

Arne chuckled bitterly.

"I just want you to know that, whatever happens, we both care for you, and wish you the best, you know?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Arne locked eyes with Emil.

Emil could read the honesty in his eyes, his genuine words, his unusually soft tone.

He could tell he cared.

But he still went out of his way to tell him verbally. It mustn't have been easy for someone like Arne, but he must've felt a need to do it.

Emil was at a loss for words. He wasn't confronted in a situation like this before, so he wasn't sure how to respond.

Eventually, he came to one conclusion.

Honesty was the best response when it came to those you truly held dear, when it came to family.

"Thank you Uncle Arne. I know just how much you care for me."

After pausing for a while he continued.

"And me too. I'm gonna try my best, not to let you, Uncle Piers, or mother and father down.

I won't let you down."

A long silence ensued as the two men ran out of things to say. They didn't need to say more, their few but honest words were more than enough to convey their feelings.

Arne didn't let the silence linger for long.

"That's the spirit my boy, that's the spirit. Now get up! You still have a lot to learn!"

His loud and vigorous words filled Emil's ears as he extended his hands towards him.

Grabbing it, Emil was lifted to his feet, ready to tackle his challenges again.

"Oh."

He was suddenly reminded of something.

A wine bottle appeared in his hand.

"Uncle Piers gave me this yesterday, he said it energizes me. I should probably have some now."

"En, go ahead."

Arne nodded as he watched Emil take sips from the bottle.

As he was nodding, his eyes started to bulge.

'wait a second, that's not the right bottle, Piers mixed the medicine wine and the alcohol wine!'

"Emil stop!"

But it was already too late, he'd stored the bottle in his ring after having his fill.

"Take out the bottle, give it to me."

Emil cocked his head.

"Wha?"

At this moment, a strange sensation engulfed his body. It was hard to explain,

like he was drunk but sober, and sober but drunk. most importantly though, he felt light-headed.

it wasn't a feeling he disliked.

"Hmm, what's going on?"

He felt like his thoughts were clearer, and that he could think faster. Not to mention how light and in-control of his body he felt.

"Boy, boy, are you alright?"

Arne yelled as he shook Emil. that wine wasn't made for ordinary people. It was made for powerful magicians like himself. A single sip of it could knock a grown adult man down, let alone Emil!

"What is it Uncle Arne? I'm fine?"

"You're fine my ass! That much wine can knockout a bull, let alone you, i have to take you to the infirmary!"

"Infirmary? Are you crazy?"

Emil frowned.

"Leggo of me old man, i wanna go back to practice."

Arne was stunned, who was this kid calling an old man?

No, to begin with, that tone and that voice, Emil would never normally speak that way. He was drunk!

By the time Arne came to himself, Emil was already raising his sword, intent to slash at the tree again.

*Swoosh*

Arne's jaw dropped to the floor.

A clean and deep cut, dozens of times better than what he pulled off prior to this.

"Tsk, what's this? This ain't good enough it ain't good enough!"

Emil grunted and raised his sword again.

*Swoosh*Swoosh*

Emerald Reflection battered the tree and cut it into pieces. Yet Emil still wasn't satisfied and moved on to the next one.

Arne witnessed as each strike got faster, stronger and more precise than the other, each cut penetrating deeper and deeper into the tree.

Emil's stance, technique and execution were on point and clearly, he was drawing power from every inch of his body to output that kind of strength from his weak and tiny physique.

After a few dozen slashes, the sword stopped at a quarter of the tree's trunk, not penetrating any further.

"Hah, guess this is as far as it goes. Imma need to get stronger."

Emil looked over at Arne, who was watching him with a slack jaw from a distance.

"How much longer you gon' stand there and watch old man? Come on, what's next?"

Arne came to himself, his brows furrowed.

"Who are you calling and old man?"

*Bang*

A clean hit landed itself on Emil's head, sending him toppling over for a good few meters.

"Oww, Oww! What the hell was that for? I ain't lyin, you're an old man in the flesh!"

*Bang*

Another hit, much stronger than before was sent in Emil's way.

He weaved in pain for an entire minute, but didn't dare open his mouth again. Only a teardrop escaped his eye.

'I'm being abused QwQ.'

"Stop lazing around and get up already, didn't you wanna train?"

Emil jumped from his spot and grabbed his sword.

"Right on!"