It began to snow. Frederick thought this was quite odd, considering what precious little he knew about the weather in this world. Is it magic, perhaps? Some kind of special climate, maybe? There is so little I know… I need to learn more, but unfortunately I am not in a position to do so yet. His choices were not the only factors that could change the direction of his own life - others had some measure of control and influence as well, and this was especially true in terms of his environment.

Am I perhaps too greedy? Am I perhaps being too arrogant in thinking I can achieve great things with a bit over eighty years of memories? Perhaps, I don’t possess eighty years of memories at all, and I am merely deluding myself into believing that? Frederick pondered his actions and their results so far. My sister and I have a decent relationship, albeit one expected of child siblings of our ages. Our parents are supportive but also strict, which doesn’t seem out of place to me… but what do I really know? These results could have easily been achieved by any normal child without the memories of an adult. All that they’d need is a small amount of luck to do so.

Frederick thought that this was probably him being too impatient, but decided he’d test this theory regardless during this trip. Father has been silent for quite a while. Frederick observed his environment, trying to sharpen his dull senses. Nothing seemed to come to his attention, but his father stopped walking as they existed the forest and a snow-covered peak stood before them. He drew his sword and turned to face Frederick. What is he doing? Frederick thought, wondering what his father could possibly have noticed that he didn’t. He turned, and there was still nothing, but as he turned to face his father again, his father had already closed the distance between them and was swinging his sword… at Frederick.

Frederick clumsily brought his wooden sword up to smack the blow away, but the weight of his father’s blade was heavy and it sheared cleanly through his petty stick. Frederick used the momentum to duck and roll through the snow and mud just in time to evade the first attack. His father seemed taken aback as Frederick flung what remained of his wooden sword at his father in response to his father’s follow-up attack.

“Ah, clever boy. You must have figured out why I brought you here,” he said, dashing in again. What the hell does he mean?? Frederick flung snow and mud at his father’s face as he leapt aside of his next incoming swing. Does he actually intend to kill me, out of sight of our family? Frederick stood but dug his left foot into the snow and mud, ready to use it as a diversion while his father wiped the mud from his eyes.

“You’re awfully accurate for a child. You must have good aim and eyes to match.”

Frederick smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I never knew filicide was common practice when your son comes of age.”

Edward scoffed. “You think too small. If this was enough to kill you, you wouldn’t survive long after this regardless.”

In other words, this world shows no mercy to the weak. “Understood. So, do I have to kill you?”

This seemed to take Edward aback, but then he laughed. “You, kill me? You’ll be lucky to leave a scratch and survive!”

Tough love it is, then… or so I hope that’s what this is. Frederick had scanned the area for rocks small enough for him to throw but also large enough to deal damage or at least serve as distractions. He waited for his father to make the first move this time, as his father was much faster than him, despite Frederick being faster and stronger than he should be by this age. The blade came down once more, aimed squarely across his carotid artery. A lethal blow, Frederick thought as he dropped to one knee and threw a pebble at his father’s right eye.

Edward brought his sword hand up to block the pebble by reflex, and in that moment, Frederick flung more muddy snow in his face. I have to disarm him, Frederick thought. But how? He is faster, stronger, and a better fighter than I am. I am fortunate that these childish tricks have worked so far, but eventually he’ll lose patience with me, I’m sure. Frederick threw two more rocks, one large enough to injure his father’s face and one barely large enough to leave a scratch, but the former was actually a trap so that the second would not miss its mark.

Edward deflected the first stone, but the second was too close to his left eye already for him to react to, so he shut his eyes tight. The stone hit him on his closed left eyelid, drawing blood. Frederick searched for something sharp enough or large enough that he could use it as an improvised weapon. There were several reasonably-sized pointy rocks in his general vicinity, all requiring him to move at least once more before he could reach them. My only option is to fight like a beast, but one that also knows the next move. Frederick tumbled and grabbed a sharp stone, but knew that wouldn’t be enough by itself to win this battle.

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

However, before he could scan the area again to see what was available, his father had already recovered and charged him again, despite the blood running down his left eye and hindering his vision. “You little shit! It’s time you learned to respect your elders!”

Frederick stabbed his father through his boot as he approached and raised his sword, but the strike didn’t penetrate deep enough to deal any permanent damage. However, his father let out a gasp, clearly not expecting this maneuver. I have to keep him guessing, or it’ll be over before I can do anything. Frederick wasted no time darting away before his father caught his balance, but his father seemed less than amused. He threw his sword blade first where Frederick was running to, and then tackled him. “You think you’re better than me, huh? Apologize, you little shit!”

Frederick noticed a sharp stone nearby, but couldn’t react before Edward punched him in the face full-force. He’s actually going to kill me! Frederick began to panic as Edward bloodied and bruised his face, his young teeth coming loose from his father’s blows. He bit into his father’s fish with all his might but his father seemed only mildly annoyed as he freed his fist. However, this gave Frederick the opening he needed.

He grabbed the nearby sharp rock and drug its tip across his father’s face as quickly and forcefully as he could, leaving a bleeding gash across his father’s right cheek. As his father recoiled a bit, Frederick brought both legs in and used all of his strength to kick his father full-force in his family jewels.

His father fell down now, clutching his groin and gasping for air. Frederick took the rock and started bashing and stabbing his father with it repeatedly, not allowing him a chance to react. It’s kill or be killed now. I can’t lose or I’ll die! However, despite Frederick’s vicious and relentless attacks, his father managed to recover enough to swing his left arm, brutally flinging Frederick into the snow with a strong blow to the side of his head. His father went and grabbed his sword as Frederick’s vision overlapped, causing him to feel dizzy and to see multiple copies of his father. Damn, it’s over. I’m dead.

His father brought his blade up with the point facing down, ready to run it through Frederick’s skull as he lay helpless. Frederick closed his eyes tight, not wanting to see his own father kill him. Forgive me, Ver. I couldn’t keep my end of the bargain.

A solid thud, then nothing. Nothing? Frederick opened his eyes, seeing the blade of his father’s sword protruding from the ground. “That’s my boy. You’re not quite there yet, but you have potential, for sure.”

Frederick looked up, astonished. “What?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself, son. You pass. You get to come of age earlier than planned. You’re a man now.”

All that was just a test? He almost died! Not to mention, he almost killed his own father in the process! “Are you… are you insane?” Frederick asked in shock. “I thought this was a battle to the death for sure! I almost killed you! What if you’d been a bit weaker? Veronica wouldn’t have a father right now!”

Edward stood up, pulling Frederick to his feet in the process. “If I’d been weak enough to lose to you, or you were strong enough to defeat me right now, your mother would have explained what came next. And you would be the one in charge of protecting your sister.”

Frederick paused. “What of your injuries? Those will surely hinder you for a while. Those are not small scratches, and there isn’t a healer in town right now.”

Edward smiled. “You are my pride and joy. Don’t disappoint me, son,” he replied, flipping his sword and handing it to Frederick hilt-first. “You’ll cover us on the way back, right? This sword shouldn’t be too heavy with your strength.”

Frederick sighed, accepting the sword and giving it a few test swings. Surprisingly, it’s not too much heavier than my wooden sword was. It feels like swinging a one-pound blade in my old world. “What animals do we have to worry about seeing?”

“No wolves yet as it’s too early in the season, but maybe a stray coyote pack or two. All you need to do is injure a few and they will likely flee. They don’t like prey that can fight back.”

Frederick stared at his father, who seemed to be breathing heavily still. It seems our fight wore his stamina down. I am back to breathing normally, so it’s likely he doesn’t recover very quickly from fatigue. “I understand, you can count on me, father. Wasn’t there something I needed to know here? My purpose, or whatever?”

Edward shook his head. “Your purpose can’t be revealed by such a simple test. You need to visit a Cathedral for that. The archbishop of any cathedral should be able to divine your path.”

So this was to merely prepare me for the journey, then… “Okay then. Should I lead?”

Edward smiled with pride because of his son’s progress. “Yes, son. Lead on.”