"H-hey!"
That was the first thing I have heard from your father. He shouted at the groups of Level Threes training themselves and each other, trying to get their attention, but the only response he got was,
"Scram! We do not want a frail weakling here!"
He was mocked instead. He thought he would be having friends, but it was just inside his imagination. He didn't even have the chance to introduce his name and get to know them. The groups of Level Threes proceeded on training themselves and ignored Escarion.
The eyes of your father were devastating. The hope of him having a friend to hang and train with was instantly replaced by regret and despair. The burning hope in his eyes was instantly burnt out.
He headed to somewhere hidden and I have decided to follow him. It is already lunch that time, but he never had the second thought of skipping his meal. On the contrary, he didn't want to eat his meal as it would just waste his time. He would only eat a piece of apple and drink water from the well everyone drinks at. Most of the time, he would just skip his meal. He only eats during dinner. He never takes a rest even if he's already soaked in sweat, exhausted from the heat of the Sun and his excessive training.
One time, I decided to secretly follow him again, but I accidentally stepped on a twig and made a noise.
"Who is there? S-show yourself!" He nervously shouted. He pulled out the pairs of sickle behind his back and nervously stances in a fighting manner.
I showed myself slowly. As I step forward, he backs out. It's as if he is showing fear towards me. I tried to elaborate on my true intentions, but he never trusted anything I said.
"L-liar!! You're one of t-them a-aren't you?!"
"N-noooo! That's not my intention! It's not what you think it is!"
"Go away! You will never befriend me anyway!!"
It was a long argument. I could barely remember every single word we said, but that's as far as I can remember. All I could remember is that our argument escalated and we have fought like we're enemies.
Your father was extremely weak at that time. If I wanted to, I could just easily stab him and impale him with my sword, but I'm not like that. His fighting technique had full openings, and it was a great disadvantage on his fighting style.
"Die! Die! DIEEEE!! GO AWAY!" your father shouted as he continuously slash his sickle onto me. "You're just gonna make fun of me sooner, right?! JUST GO AWAY AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!"
He would recklessly slash his sickle on my torso. He yells and screams as he tries to slash me. It was a very predictable move I could easily deflect it with my shield and counter it. He tried aiming for my lower body, but his efforts in trying to make me fall were futile. His moves were predictable, even for Level Ones and Level Twos. His fighting skills were that of Level Two, but he was an agile one. He had potential, but he just relied on recklessness and never had any tactics.
He grew tired of trying to slash me over and over and over again, but he never gave up. I was wondering why. But the looks from his eyes were something different. It was something I have never seen before. Something that makes him unique from other students.
Escarion knew he would never defeat me and make me forfeit, but he never stopped slashing me. The determination burning from his eyes was scorching hot. He lacks strength and tactics, but the determination from his eyes was his saving grace.
Escarion finally grew exhausted and stopped slashing his sickle. He fell on his knees, catching his breath. Sweats drip from his chin. The moment he passed out, I was surprised by what I have seen.
My shield was busted and broken. It was as if his sickle impaled my shield. Had Escarion continued to slash his sickle, that means I have finally met my doom. That's when I knew Escarion was something different. I tried to wake him up and make him drink water, but he is fast asleep. I pulled Escarion into a nearby tree casting a shade enough to protect us from the heat of the Sun.
It was rather futile to make him wake up. It's been thirty minutes since he passed out, and I'm worried he will be unconscious for a long amount of time.
I left him sitting under the tree casting a shadow that protects him from the heat of the Sun. Before leaving, I made sure to give him my meal. It was a sandwich filled with melted parmesan cheese with a slice of ham in the middle of the sandwich. It was inside a bag along with grapes I carefully picked from my father's farm. I also made sure I gave him water fresh from the well since I am worried he will be extremely thirsty once he wakes up. And before leaving, I left a note on a lengthwise paper written by a feather of a pigeon I have also picked:
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
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"Greetings, my fellow Level Three Escarion.
I deeply apologize for secretly following you into a private place only you should know. I should apologize for invading your privacy. I left you my meal - my peace offering for what just happened. I pledge that this will not happen again. I am looking forward to our future friendship and your sincere apology. I hope you will enjoy this meal I have given to you.
- Sincerely apologizing,
Caeruleus."
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Three hours have already passed, and I decided to go to check your father and your father's place for the last time. Your father, Escarion, had just woke up from his deep slumber. He checked the bag beside him, curious about what does it contain. He took out a paper and read what I had just written. He folded the paper inwards such that the notes are not visible and slipped it inside his pocket.
Escarion checked the contents of the bag beside him, and he took out the sandwich I personally made for myself. He ate it like a monster, I am telling you. He must've been starving for too long. He finished the sandwich with ease and burped out loud. He then proceeded to take out the grapes and just like what he did to the sandwich, your father ate it with ease. He is a monster when eating, Fate - I'm telling you. Sigh. I wish I could still see your father eating energetically.
The next day, he went to his place again and harshly trained himself. I never did what I wrote into that paper and I still secretly followed him. I am telling you, he would repeat the same moves over and over again, but this time, he deeply analyzes his openings when executing his moves and he would improvise them until he perfects the technique. He has still that opening I saw when Escarion and I fought, but thanks to his great agility - he could easily counter them now.
Days, weeks, and the sheer amount of time he had spent training, and I could already see the improvements in his fighting style. He would use Martial Arts and Swordsmanship when training and combine them. He would improvise it again and again and again - searching and analyzing his technique for a possible opening. He would grow tired over time, but it never became a hindrance for him to continue training himself. I am telling you, Fate. He could possibly surpass those whose level is higher than Level 5 - probably Peer's Summon or Level S. He tortures himself for his own good.
One month had finally passed and the Vow of Paladias will finally take place. I could barely remember everything that has happened, but most of the students who tried to attack the Level 5 entity met their gruesome demise as they attacked without any tactics and strategy. The attacks of the Level 5 were predictable enough for everyone to read but - no. Instead of planning a perfect strategy, they just recklessly went to Level 5 and attacked it. Half of the students who were under The Juvenile's Pledge were wiped out easily. Hands down, the Vow of Paladias was one of the hardest vows under The Triplet's Vow. The remaining students who survived the Vow of Paladias also survived the Vow of Jinriyu and the Vow of Tazelt and successfully got the ranking of Peer's Summon.
But it was different for Inzary, Escarion - your Father, and I. We have got the ranking of Peer's Summon once we finished the Vow of Paladias. The reason being is because the three of us were responsible for killing the Level 5 entity. Oh well, I don't mean to boast and show off but yes - we killed that monstrosity. Hah hah hah!
Your father... he improved a lot when the Vow of Paladias took place. I saw him charging at Level 5, but... he is completely different than before. He knows what he's doing. He isn't the reckless Escarion I know. His skill improvements were tremendous. His skills are already comparable to Level Fives. Probably higher than that. Par on those whose rankings are Peer's Summon.
He saw me almost being devoured and eaten alive. Its gaping and drooling mouth almost ended my life, but - no. Escarion easily slashed its razor-sharp teeth and kicked its jaws like it was a ragdoll. Escarion was my saving grace at that time. Level 5 fell on its weight after what happened.
I told Inzary to cast a spell capable of overwhelming Level 5 as Escarion told me we should take this one last chance to kill the Level 5 entity.
Inzary levitated on the open air and began casting a spell par on those Level Fours. "I will drain my Magical Energy on this one, Caeruleus. Never fail me on this one!"
"And since when did I fail everyone, Inzary? Talk to yourself!" I sarcastically replied.
It was very enthralling. I cannot believe your father surpassed what skills and abilities I possess. My eyes never deceived me when I saw Escarion for the first time. The burning fire of his determination took him way too far for me to comprehend. It was... very magical. I wasn't wrong with my first thoughts about your father.
Escarion and I shouted and screamed on top of our lungs as we rush towards the incapacitated entity.
"INZARY!! NOW!!" I shouted.
Just before the entity is about to stand, a blast of beam capable of melting diamonds focused on the entity's eyes was fired. The entity was overwhelmed by it and never had the chance to stand on its foot. Inzary really is a powerful wizard - probably as strong as Level Fives.
We took the chance and never let go of it. Escarion and I impaled through the chest of the incapacitated entity and stabbed its heart. We could hear its ear-shattering shrieks and it weakened me - but I have to persist. I screamed on top of my lungs once again as we are having a hard time penetrating through the entity's chest.
Just before we are about to kill the entity, I have heard your father say something...
"I owe you one, Caeruleus. Thank you..."