Chapter 06: The Life of a Growing Cub

Growing up is painful, but even more than not growing at all.

- Elsigardian Proverbs.

4.17am, Year 4009 AD, the 20th day of May, a day before my departure to the Elsivier.

I woke up early and it was still dark. The sun has yet to rise and the wind felt cool and chilly. I began my new morning routine, to practice my sword skills, The First Movement of Sun Sword.

I have been doing this for three days consecutively, the first time in recent years. Although I know the movement up to level 5 in theory, I never seem to get it right when I practice. What more when I need to apply the skills in battle, or any other important situations.

And it’s not only just my sword skills.

Any other physical skills that I have learned – Tracking and Hunting, Sight and Hearing, Sense Enhancement, Sixth Sense, Weapon skills which included swords, bows, dagger and axe, Animal Kinship, and some other minor ones – I never seem to pass a certain level. In fact, I hardly past the beginner level of those skills. It seems that I have reached a certain plateau with my physical skills, and that plateau was the Initiate skill level.

That haven’t included the mental and knowledge skills which include magic skills, lore and histories, alchemy and such that somehow I have not the aptitude for.

Yes, I learned them. Yes, I understand the theories behind what I have had learned.

But learning in class is not the same as practising in real life. And practising in real life was not the same as a real battle. Not even the slightest. What more if the battle involves life and death, where even a second can make a difference.

Because of this, I had given up practising and training. I even skip classes. It makes no difference whether I do well or sucks at it because I never seem to progress beyond a certain level.

Where someone my age has reached the level of a Sun Master, like Black Rose, I’m still stuck at the Initiate level. At my age, with the number of years I’m been in the Brotherhood, the very least I can reach was a Guardian.

Heck, even the kids that are half my age are already in Journeyman rank.

Though I received the Journeyman rank just yesterday, but after 10 years?

Man, I must surely set the record for the slowest rank ascendance ever. If from Initiate to Journeyman which was just a single step away, what more of a Sun Master. I better give up before I get more disappointed.

Hard work, practice, attending classes and such are for morons and do-gooders or positive mental attitudes freaks who believe the harder they try, the better they get. Somehow, their luck and fate would change after all that.

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Heh.

Sometimes, what I need was a dose of reality. I just need to admit that I was not good enough and settle for what I have, or else I would even lose that too. And when I’m old and grey, I’ll leave this world with nothing left with me. Not even my own self-identity.

However, that was the old me. That was what I used to think and believe. Not anymore.

The incident in the forest changed my outlook and perspective forever. I was given the life’s golden ticket and I plan to make every second count, if possible.

That means a new way of life, a new way of thinking and a new way believing. Yes, I’m still at the same level as before. But, there was a difference now. A difference between victory and losing, life and death. A difference between living your own life, or dying in it. A difference measured in a mere second.

Yes, that’s why I’m practising hard. Because even a second could make a difference. Between life and death. If I were to hit the monster a second faster, warned Sehanie a second earlier, grabbed her a second faster or even noticed the danger a second earlier, I wouldn’t have to endure the life and death experience. Nor put my loved ones into such state. A second, when accumulated over a certain period of times, makes much difference.

I want to be that difference.

Even if I had to put my life on it. Never again I’ll put my loved one in danger. I’ll protect them. Even if it’s just one second, but it will be the most important one second ever.

With that thought, I gripped my practice sword harder and complete the First Movement of the Sun. However, this time I noticed a little difference. The sword seems lighter and my movement a little sharper. It might not be much, but when a second makes a difference, any incremental, no matter small they are, will help.

I wiped my sweat from my forehead. As soon as I did that, I heard a clap from behind me.

“Looks like someone decide at long last, to grow up.”

He turned away immediately after he said those words, but before he takes a step further, he raised a thumbs up for me.

Old geezer, thank you.

The Lord Supreme Grand Master gave a hearty laugh that broke the morning silence.

I’ll be that difference. When I return, I’ll be a new man. Old geezer, please don’t die during that time.

Lord Supreme Grand Master gave another hearty laugh.

I’m sure he heard me and knows it. I’ll be the Sun as what Blizzard Hawk use to say in his class. I muttered out loud our Brotherhood’s motto:

Nam quamdiu sol ortus est, nos non nuto, erit Pacem enim onmes

For as the long Sun rises, we shall not falter and there shall be Peace for all.

----

I’m back in my room after my morning routine. I have been exempted from all the classes and lessons so that I have time to prepare myself for my journey. However, I decided to travel light. I just need a few things to bring with me, that’s all. The journey, by itself, was not that long. So, travelling light would be the best course of action.

I had with me my Journeyman tunic, my sword, dagger, a canteen of water and a backpack. Perhaps I’ll add in a dry meal or two, loaves of bread perhaps. Other than that, what else?

Ah-ha!

I smirked when I thought of my next item on the list.

Hehehehehe.

I gave a somewhat sinister laugh that even I have goosebumps. If someone were to hear my laugh, they must have thought that I’m crazy or just have a few screw loose. Well, to do what I’m about to do, a few loose screws was needed after all. And a pair of balls. Preferably steel balls. Hehe.

It’s been a while since I have done that. Perhaps it’s time for next round. Who knows when I’ll be back. The girls would most likely be gone when I’m back. So, strike while the iron is hot. Or in this case, strike when the firewood is hot and the bath water is steamy. Just right after the sun sets would be the best time to strike. So for now, let me see what else I can do.

Before long, I have completed the list of items I need to bring with me and things to do before I start my journey. It was still early in the morning, but my first destination will be the Hobbit’s Lodge, the guild-city’s only tavern which served as the unwinding place for us members after a long day at work. The tavern won’t be busy at this time of the day.

With that, I begin my final day at the guild-city.