I continued to train my attacking and defensive skills every day. The muscle soreness gradually faded away, and my body felt lighter.

Unbeknownst to me, several months had passed by.

As usual, I trained by continuously attacking Draven. I used various tactics and different strategies to engage him. Up to this point, he hadn't moved from his spot when I attacked.

* * * Draven's POV

"Once more," Kaelan said.

He knew he still had a lot to practice to even make me take him seriously. He began to attack me, and I simply stood still, parrying, blocking, and striking in place. He focused on the basics I had taught him, trying to make his sword swings as smooth and controlled as possible.

"That's enough for today," I said as I was about to leave.

"Wait... just one more time," he said, looking exhausted.

It seemed like he really wanted to prove it to himself, and perhaps to me too, that he was strong and capable.

I returned to face him. "Go ahead."

He then adjusted his stance differently. He advanced slowly as usual.

Kaelan immediately attacked, his sword swiping toward me. I blocked his attack, and then I counterattacked. Attacks and defenses went back and forth.

But this time, something was different. He started to feel the weight and balance of the sword better, and his movements became smoother and more controlled.

I could sense that Kaelan had made significant progress. He was still far from perfect, but he was clearly on the right track. He had been training very hard for the past year, and I could see the results. He was faster, stronger, and more skilled.

He moved again with faster sword swings. Our swords clashed forcefully, producing a ringing sound. We kept attacking and defending, and he spun and leaped agilely.

Time flew by unnoticed. After a series of moves, Kaelan finally found an opening in my defense, and I moved back reflexively. It was the first time in a year he had made me move. I was surprised...

"Intriguing," I murmured.

Without further ado, I immediately stepped forward, slipping through Kaelan's defenses that made it difficult for him to respond in time. His eyes widened, and before he fully realized what was happening, I was standing in front of him.

His slightly surprised expression when I launched the counterattack fueled my excitement.

"W-Wait a minute!" he exclaimed.

I shook my head slowly, our eyes locked in intense contact. "Don't misunderstand, Kaelan. The real training has just begun!"

* * * Kaelan's POV

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Draven smiled! It was the first time I had seen him smile!

* * * Draven's POV

There were no other words spoken; we were back into the fight. I observed each of his movements. Kaelan showed impressive reflexes, managing to parry some of my attacks even when cornered.

Without diminishing the intensity of my attacks, I increased it.

Time kept passing, and the longer I attacked, the more I noticed Kaelan starting to tire. His breath was unsteady, his movements slightly faltered, and several times he made small mistakes that hadn't happened before. He would soon die in a real battle if it went on like this.

It was time to end the training; I spun and directed a focused kick straight at Kaelan's chest. His body was sent backward, propelled. He fell, coughing.

I walked closer and extended my hand. Kaelan grabbed it, pulling himself up from where he lay. Still panting and coughing, he tried to brush off the dirt and grass that clung to his clothes.

"Thank you..." he said, his voice hoarse.

"Starting tomorrow, you and I will continue to practice fighting like this."

* * * Kaelan's POV

Draven and I continued our training. Every day of training was an opportunity for me to try new tactics and face different combat scenarios. I worked hard to refine my own fighting style, but to become on par with Draven was still a long road.

As I prepared to duel with Draven one day, he suddenly said, "Remember when I said I would show you something interesting?"

I wondered, as for me, every training he taught was interesting.

He then handed me a sharp-looking sword. My gaze shifted from the sword to his face, trying to understand the meaning behind his actions.

"This sword will be your weapon this time, use it," he said.

I took the sword while he continued to use his blunted one.

Immediately, he stood in front of me, ready to fight. "Come forward."

I held the newly given sword as he challenged me.

Doubt suddenly filled my mind. "Wait a minute, Draven," I hesitated. "What if I accidentally hurt you? I don't want to injure you."

My words were like the wind, disregarded and passed through his ears.

Draven instantly launched an attack.

Taken aback by his action, I raised the sword he had given me to defend myself.

Each of his attack movements rained down on me, and I could only focus on evading each of his attacks while slowly retreating.

"Wait a moment, Draven." He showed no intention of stopping.

As the attacks continued to close in, I finally managed to push Draven's sword aside, creating some distance between us. "I can't continue this, Draven."

He stared at me sharply and said firmly, "Do you think with skills like these, you'd be able to harm me? You've never managed to hit me before, even when using a blunted sword. If you can't kill with that sword, then all the training we've done so far is in vain."

He then stood back in front of me, challenging me again. "In time, there will be situations where you will protect someone and kill with that sword. Feel the sensation of killing as you swing that sword. Come and attack me!"

* * * Kaelan's POV

I didn't know anymore. I performed attacks like the previous exercises, but I felt hesitant.

His words were true. I couldn't even land a hit on him, and I ended up losing.

After a year had passed, my training journey with Draven finally reached its endpoint. It felt like just yesterday that I had started this training.

I couldn't help but express my gratitude, "Thank you, Draven, for training me all this year. I will never forget everything you've taught me."

After those words were spoken, Draven sat calmly under the lush tree that provided shade. I joined him.

As I looked at his face, I saw his eyes lost in the distant cityscape. It was as if he was revisiting memories in his mind.

Curious about it, I asked, "Draven, what are you thinking? This cityscape seems to have entranced you."

His eyes remained fixed on the distance. "Someone..."

Asking about the past might not be polite, but I felt like I had become close enough to Draven to inquire.

"Who is that person?" I asked.

He then took a deep breath and said, "That person is my father... I didn't have a good childhood, but he... was always by my side, taking care of me... This sword is the only thing I have to remember him," he said while looking at his sword.

He continued his words. "Everything about him was... he saved me, and I couldn't save him." Tears welled up in his otherwise unchanged expression.

He stood up from his seat. "I've talked too much." Then, he left.

I asked too much! I have to apologize to him.