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My name is Eniel Tensia, a demihuman. I lived with my father Orken Tensia who was the town blacksmith, and my only family left until the day we were attacked by bandits.

It was an ordinary day, the moment they attacked; almost every men were killed while the women and child were kidnapped. My father knew how to use a weapon because of his blacksmith job and after killing a few bandits tried to escape with me in the forest.

However, the bandits didn't want to let us escape, not after killing a few of theirs men. We ran in the forest; we may be demihumans but we are still far slower than horses, when they almost caught with us, my father told me to escape alone and fought against them.

I ran in the forest, I didn't know where I was running, but I ran; after a fews moments, the bandits chased after me, I heard theirs horses approaching, I heard them calling me to stop, insulting me, menacing me.

But I didn't stop, I didn't know for how long I ran, but I arrived in front of a strange cavern; it was an immense one with claw mark all around it, it surely belonged to a monster.

While I was hesitating, I could hear the horses getting closer to me. I had to choose between living a life as a slave, or dying devoured by a monster... I was tired, hungry, crying and out of breath; I knew what awaited me, I wanted to put a stop to this life... I entered the cave.

What I came across inside the cave was an immense sleeping grey dragon, I was scared; I knew I was going to die by entering the cavern, but being here, right in front of that mighty beast, I couldn't move.

I forgot about the bandits hunting me, but they didn't forgot me; they followed my trail and entered the cavern with their horse. The sound made by the horse woke up the dragon, but my attention wasn't drawn by the dragon, but by what one of the bandit had in his hand; but father head.

While I was crying, the dragon annoyed by the intruders displayed his power by burning all of the bandits with a blue fire breath.

The bandits who destroyed my village and killed my father were easily killed, not even ashes remained of them.

I looked at the dragon, I felt his stare on me too, I knew that he was going to kill me if I tried to run, but he was at the same time going to kill me too if I didn't do anything.

I story I heard from my father, about a woman who was offered as a sacrifice to a dragon and spared by singing to him all the night. It was a stupid story, but it was better than dying... Even if I had nothing left, I don't know why but I still didn't want to die.

I sang; at first my voice didn't come out, but I gathered my courage and gave it my all, the dragon's eyes seemed to say 'Is she stupid?' , but I didn't care, I was going to die anyway so I didn't stop. The look in the dragon's eyes turned cold again and I knew he was going to kill me. But someone's voice saved me.

??? : "Mommy, Daddy..."

The voice belonged to a half; a dragon half with pure silver hairs which became black at the end, the half was dressed in a red dress which stopped at her knee, and the skin showed by the dress was snow white.

The girl was protected by the dragon. It was the feeling it gave me, the dragons are known to kill all their half child; but this one protected her.

When I looked at the girl, she seemed to shine; she was younger than me, around four, no five. I completely forgot about the dragon and approached her, I don't know why, but it was as if I was drawn by her existence.

When I arrived in front of her, I noticed her cheek were moist; she cried while she was sleeping. My hand was drawn by her hair, I lightly touched them and an angelic smile appeared on her face.

At that moment, something in my heart changed; I wanted to stay by this child side, to protect her.

I who lost everything that day, my family, my home, my place; also found on this night  a found a new meaning to my life. I will stay by this girl side and protect her from anything and anyone who want to hurt her.

It was on those thought that I fell asleep.

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When I woke up, my body felt tired and my breath was rough; I felt a hand on my ears petting them, after a few moments the hand went to my tail.

That hand was skillfully stroking it, it was a pleasant feeling, I slowly opened my eyes to see what was going on and saw the girl from yesterday stroking my tail with a half asleep blissful expression.

Looking at her face made me remember everything that happened yesterday, her smiling face is really pretty. I was entranced by her face until the pleasant sensation coming from my tail made me snap out of it, I couldn't support it anymore and retrieved my tail from her hands.

She slowly looked around her and then completely woke up.

Girl : " Verlox, who is she?" " She asked to a strange man who wasn't here yesterday.

Verlox? : "I don't really know, she came in the cave last night with pretty noisy people who I chased out. I wanted to throw her out too, but for some reason I think she should stay here for a while."

It's only now that I noticed something was missing, something big... something you  wouldn't miss even if you tried... Where is the dragon?

Girl : "You, what is your name? " The girl asked me, I was so concentrated looking for the dragon that I didn't hear them talk.

Eniel : " My...my name is Eniel, wh..where is the dra...dragon from yesterday? " I asked them; she should know where he went.

Verlox? : "It would be me..." He replied, how can he be a dragon? Wait, I heard that high level dragon can use transformation magic.

Eniel : "Dragon can take human form?"

Verlox? : "There are a lot of think you mortal don't know about us or even magic..."

Eniel : "I.. I see"

Veralox : "I will go get some clothes for you later, for now you will have to stay with your ragged dress."

Eniel : "Thanks"  I said in a weak voice.

I was surprised that the dragon didn't want to kill me or chase me out, but taking care of me.

Veralox : "For now, I need to speak with Shina, you should stay here for a while, you can run away if you want, but you have more chance to survive by staying here than traveling aimlessly in the forest."

Eniel : "Okay..."

I went sitting at a side of the cave and sat against the wall. So that girl's name is Shina, he told me that I could run away if I wanted, but I have nowhere else to go. My home and place are gone, my father is dead, I have nothing left... And I already decided to stay by this girl's side.

I looked at them talking while thinking how I should convince them to let me stay with them, after a fews minutes they came back to me. Looking at her smile somehow made me happy, I couldn't stop my tail from wagging.

Shina : "Hey, If you don't have anywhere to go... Will you follow me?"

Her question surprised me, I was thinking about how to convince them to let me stay with them, but it was useless.

Eniel : "Follow...you?"

Shina : "If you don't have anything left, I will take care of you... You can think of me as a friend, or as a sister" She replied with a dazzling smile

Eniel : "Sister?..." I replied weakly, I couldn't stop my tears from falling from my eyes.

Yesterday was the day I gained a new meaning to my life, today is the day I gained a new family. I strongly hugged her and began to cry, I felt like if I let her go I would wake up in the forest, alone without anything.

After finishing crying Verlox called me to talk about the future, I was reluctant to let Shina go, but he said it was important.

I walked with him where Shina couldn't hear us.

Verlox : " Eniel, today Shina will be going to a school, you can't join her yet. "

Those stabbed my heart, I gained a new family and I was supposed to let her go?

Eniel : " I don't want ! " I protested, but he kept his calm and looked at me seriously.

Verlox : " Tell me, your village was attacked by simple bandits right ? "

Eniel : " Y-Yes. " I answered as I recalled all what happened.

Verlox : " If those bandits catch you and Shina, what will you do? " He calmly asked.

Eniel : " Protect her. "

Verlox : " How will you protect her ? You couldn't protect your village from those bandits and you want to protect her ?! "

His words were full of truth, and that truth is bitter... I indeed want to protect her, but I don't have the strength to do so.

Eniel : " W-What should I do then? "

Verlox : " While she is studying at her school, I will train you, I will make you strong enough to protect her against anyone. After that you will be free to stay with her as long as you wish. "

I want to stay by her side, but at the same time I want to protect her.

Eniel : " Okay... "

Verlox : " Good, you look tired, you can go and sleep for now; I brought enough food for you to last for two weeks. It is the time I will stay with Shina to make sure she is safe. Meanwhile I want you to start training your body. "

I followed his instruction and went to sleep, I know two weeks is a long time, but I think it's indeed better to be sure that Shina will be safe there.

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Since they left my everyday life was running in the forest for a few hours, doing sit-up and push up. I always pushed myself through my limit, before leaving Verlox also told me that he made sure there would be no monster around the cave.

Because I pushed myself past my limit, I ate more than a normal human; when I began to run out of food Verlox finally came back in the morning two weeks after they left with some a pants, a shirt and some food.

He first looked at the result of my training, I only started training two weeks ago, but because of the intense effort I made, my body started to get stronger.

Verlox : " Better than I thought... Look like we'll be able to start sword training now. "

Verlox took me deeper in the forest and took a branch of tree lying on the ground, in his hand the branch transformed into a wooden sword which he gave me.

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When I took the sword in my hand, it was really heavy, it weighed around 15kg, I barely managed to keep the sword in the air.

Verlox : " Before tomorrow do 1000 swing. " He coldly said as he went back to the cave.

I tried to do a swing as he said, but I couldn't lift the sword higher than my body, and when I swung the sword I couldn't stop it from touching the ground.

I knew I couldn't make any true swing, so I kept doing those incomplete swing, after I did 10 of them I was panting, but I still continued. I soon reached the 50; I was sweating and couldn't feel my arms anymore, but I continued, it was all for the sake of protecting Shina.

By noon, I managed to do 200 swing, I couldn't feel anything in the upper part of my body, my hands were trembling and full of blood; the pain was horrible, but I didn't let go of my sword at any moment, neither did I take a break. Verlox came back and gave me some foods, he looked at my hands and showed a grin.

Verlox : " Good you didn't give up, I ll come back tonight to give you your dinner. " He simply left as fast as he came.

After finishing eating, I once again took the sword and started to swing it.

Once I managed to do 300 swing, I realized that the sword became lighter, it was still heavy but I felt that the 15kg became 10kg. I never stopped swinging the sword, when the sun began to set, I was at 500 swing. I knew it was impossible for me to make the 1000 swing, but I persevered.

Verlox came again to give me some food, the sun was already set and I was around 650 swing; he left as soon as he gave me the food without saying a word.

Once again I ate the food and started to swing the sword once more, after an hour I reached 750 and once again realized that the sword became lighter, the first time it also happened after Verlox gave me some food; did he add something to it ?

The sword now weighted the same weight as a normal sword, I easily swung it and managed to finish the 1000 swing before the day ended; the only thing who made me continue this training was the image of Shina's smile. It was after the last swing that Verlox once again appeared.

Verlox : " You are pretty interesting, I didn't really expect you to manage to do finish it today. "

Eniel : " Didn't you help me by adding something to the food ? "

Verlox : " You realized huh? I infused the food with some of my mana, it only improved the growth of your body strength; it do anything else, it is your will which made you finish this training. For now let me heal you, after that go sleep, we'll continue your training tomorrow. "

After he healed me I felt that something changed in me, I was too exhausted to realize it but my body grew really stronger; I went back to the cave I almost collapsed, even if I was healed, my body and mind were still tired, I almost instantly fell asleep.

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Two weeks passed since I started my training, everyday Verlox added something else, the second day for example he gave me new boots which weighted around 30kg and made me run in the forest all day. The third day it was my pants, the fourth it was 10 ring, one on each finger.

After those two weeks I was covered from head to toes in weights, but I didn't feel them anymore; each time Verlox gave me some food the training became easier and I also managed to finish any exercise he gave me.

Like I prepared for today's training, but Verlox had other plans.

Verlox : " Your body is strong enough to begin to learn how to use a sword, now all what you will do for those next two weeks is learn how to use the sword and spare with me. "

I followed Verlox out of the cave and we arrived in an open field, he gave me a sword heavier than the first one.

Eniel : " Wasn't my body strong enough? "

Verlox : " Yes, but it doesn't means that you don't have to continue to train it. " I nodded to his words.

Verlox : " Today I will teach you about the stance and how to swing a sword. "

He showed me many stance for different situation and how to swing a sword, I managed to learn how to use any of his technique only by looking at them; Verlox was really surprised and made me learn far more things than he originally intended.

That was how those two weeks passed, I spared many time with him but never managed to hit him even once.

After I finished learning swordsmanship from him, he said it was time for me to get some real battle experience. Verlox took me to another forest, he wanted me to fight against some monster, we arrived in a place which he said was full of C rank monster.

Verlox : " Today you will have to use everything you learned during those two weeks, I won't give you any help so don't die. I will also give you a real sword, you have to kill ten monster today. "

Verlox handed me a sword, it was a katana; after that he disappeared in the forest, but I knew he would just be watching me from afar.

I entered the forest, I should be afraid, but for some reason my heart is cold and calm; if it was the old me I would be crying and running away, but I trained hard in order to be able to be by Shina's side.

After a few minutes I came upon a 'Garl', it's a red gorilla which is around the size of a normal man.

The Garl charged at me fearlessly think of me as an easy prey, I unsheathed my katana and cut his neck, separating his head from his body and covering me with his blood.

I didn't bother looking at the body and just continued to walk, a few meters after I came this time upon a group of eight Garls, those monster's strength come from their number.

The Garls smelled the blood of their dead friend on me and attacked me; but I simply walked dodged each of their attack from a paper thin distance and responded to each of their attack with a slash of my katana killing four of them and cutting one of the arm of all the remaining one.

The remaining Garls tried to run away, but I was faster than them and killed them all.

Some seconds after I killed them another monster came, it was a 'Foas'; a bird around my size, but it's true strength lie in his sharp claw. He flew in my direction trying to cut me with his claw, but my katana just cut him and his claw in two.

One after another more monster came attracted by the scent of blood, I indifferently killed all the monster who came after me, they kept coming all the day and when the sun finally set; I was sitting on the top of a mountain of corpse, looking at the sky and remembering the girl for who I am fighting.

Eniel : " I ll protect you... "  I said looking at the horizon.

When the sun rose in the sky, all monster were looking at me from afar; I could see some of them trembling when I looked at them, they were terrified and some even ran away. Verlox came to me and took me back to the cavern, he didn't say a single word until we arrived.

Verlox : " You managed to exceed my expectations, it is now time to give you your real weapons. "

Eniel : " Isn't that katana my weapon ? "

Verlox : " No, it is only something I brought from a city, this will be your real weapons. " He said as he gave me a red jewel.

Eniel : " With this stone ? "

Verlox : " Hahaha, you think I would ask you to fight with a stone? No this jewel is called 'Soul Weapon', after dropping some blood on it, it will fuse with your soul and allow you to create the weapon who suit you the best "

I took my katana and cut my hand, I then took the jewel in my injured hand and covering it with my blood. The stone began to emit a crimson glow and turned to a red dust, the dust then came toward me and disappeared when it touched my body.

I felt something strange grew in me, once I fully absorbed the stones the image of two weapons appeared in my mind. Blood began to flow out of my injured hand, it took the form of two katana, I lost all strength in my legs because of the lose of blood and fell to the ground.

Verlox : " You can rest for today, making your soul weapon take a lot of energy, we will start to spar with real weapon tomorrow. "

After he finished speaking, I fell asleep.

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Tomorrow is finally the day I meet with Shina, and also my last day of training; Verlox said today we wouldn't spare, but test my will.

He brought twenty four men, I recognized those men, they were the bandits who attacked my village.

Verlox : " I want you to kill them all, it will be the first time you will kill an human, but don't hesitate, because they won't hesitate to kill you. "

Bandit : " If we kill that girl you will really let us go ?! " One of the bandit said crying.

Verlox : " If you manage... "

The twenty four bandits charged at me, they destroyed my life... but I wasn't angry, I was calm. When I met Shina I threw previous life away.

They all tried to stab me with their sword, but I dodged all of their attack, they are slow; before I was scared by them, I was powerless against them, and here I am toying with them...

I unsheathed the katana on my back and cut one of them in two, all the bandits froze at this sight. I slowly walked toward them and another one tried to stab me, I cut his sword and then separated his two arms from his body.

While I attacked the second bandit I didn't stop walking, they all once again tried to charge at me, but I cut them one after the other; only one was left and it was their leader.

Leader : " D-DON'T COME NEAR ME YOU MONSTER ! " He cried.

He tried to run away, but I just charged at him and separated his upper half from his lower half.

I was now among the bodies of the twenty four bandits who attacked my village.

Verlox : " You didn't even hesitate to kill them... you can rest for today, tomorrow we will go to your new school. "

I left toward the cave with only the image of one girl in the head, Shina.

Eniel : " The time had finally come... Shina. "

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