Adam staggered after his thrust was deflected by Victor. Victor then stabbed Adam's chest from sideways.
"Next."
Adam felt his chest was in pain. Although, his body was stronger than before, but Victor's attack was pretty heavy. Maybe his attack didn't inflict damage to Adam's body, but Adam still felt painful.
*Huf Huf Huf...*
Adam didn't count how many times he was hit. If it was real combat, he had already died many times. He almost lost his mind.
"That's your 11th death young master. Come!" Victor said flatly.
Adam snapped, he then attacked Victor mindlessly. Of course, Victor can easily beat him.
12th
13th
15th
20th
Victor beat Adam until he couldn't stand anymore.
*Huf Huf Huf...*
Adam really couldn't stand anymore. He was in pain, all of his body parts were sore and his head ached.
Standing near Adam, Victor sighed. He then said disappointedly, "Young Master, you have changed. It seemed yesterday's event was not only made you more powerful, but it also changed you. It looked like you lost something important."
Victor then turned his body and walked to the Hotel's back door direction.
Victor's words stung Adam deeply, it reminded him of Eve's words.
'I don't understand.'
Adam then stood up weakly, "Wait! Tell me what wrong with me?"
Victor stopped. He sighed, then said, "Remember what Lord Ryan told you before we go."
***
When Victor entered the hotel's backdoor, he heard someone's voice, "Wasn't that too harsh?"
Recognizing the voice, Victor turned his head to the direction of the voice and found Walker stood leaning the wall, " Young master has changed."
"I know, but you could just give him your opinion," Walker said.
"I am not good at saying something like that," Victor said flatly.
"You must remember, he is just 15 years old. It's normal for a teenager at his age to lose his way. But believe me, he will go back on track soon," Walker said.
"Right, I often forget he is just 15 years old. But let him alone for a while. Many times, something you learned yourself was more memorable than if you're told.
By the way, he was so fast, I almost couldn't believe he is just a level 3 mage. I had to use almost all of my tricks to beat him.
I want to have breakfast, how about you?" Victor walked deeper into the Hotel.
Walker could only smile and shake his head. After making sure Adam was alright, he followed Victor.
***
Adam was sitting on his bed. His face was somewhat downcast, "What did I do wrong? Yesterday, everything was perfect. But why did everything turned upside down?"
Adam then tried to recall the former Adam's memory. The event when Adam would start his journey to Greylion City. His father, Viscount Ryan Elbaz, his mother Sarah, and his younger sister Elma delivered him when he would ride his horse.
"Take care of yourself. Don't forget to write letters occasionally," his mother Sarah said.
"Okay, Don't worry mother. Walker and uncle Victor are with me, there won't be a problem," the former Adam answered.
"Adam, when you go home, don't forget to buy me some stuffed animals. But don't buy reptile types, I hate reptiles," Elma said.
"Okay, anything else?" The former Adam patted her head.
Elma then hugged him, "I will miss you, brother."
The former Adam froze, he then hugged her, "Yes, I will miss you too."
Sarah's eyes couldn't help moist, she then hugged her two children.
After a minute they had hugged each other, Viscount Ryan —Adam's father— said, "Ladies, may I borrowed Adam for a minute?"
Sarah and Elma let him go reluctantly. After that, Ryan brought Adam rather far from his wife and daughter to beside the horses, "Adam, like every young falcon, you have to leave your nest. Say, Do you want to inherit my position?"
The former Adam was unprepared with his father's question, "Father! Isn't the propose I do all these, so I can inherit this territory?"
"True, hahaha... Sorry, blame me for being an egoist. You know the truest joy in my life is to witness your growth. Watching you achieved one goal to another goal. You don't know how enjoyable it was.
Sometimes, I asked myself if it is alright for me to limit yourself on this border of the kingdom. I always have a hunch, your stage can be bigger than this land.
Like now, I don't have any resources to raise you. This town is too small to grow you farther.
So after this, you must become independent. Learn everything you take interest in and make many friends. But you must be observant. Not all smiling people are your friend and not everyone who is irritating is your foe.
Avoid too focus on a matter and always looked at your problem comprehensively.
If you have already found someone you can trust, show it, and make him/her believe that you trust him/her.
The last one, always listen to other's opinions. Then analyze each news and opinion objectively.
And don't forget to tell me if you have any problems there. Maybe this territory doesn't have many things, but it has never been lacking money," Ryan said.
"Father, I am not only your son, but I'm also this land's son. The only reason this territory hasn't developed is we lack talents. I will work hard to improve myself and get many friends who want to come to this land and build it," The former Adam said.
"Good. Remember! always observant and you will find that luck is always at your side and you can avoid being deceived."
After that, Adam, Victor, and Walker rode their horses starting their journey.
***
"Always observant right?" Adam pondered it for a while, he then thought, why was Eve angry with him? Was it because he couldn't accept her reminder and even said sarcastically? And how did he lose so badly to Victor, even though he had become stronger? Isn't it because he was carried away with his yesterday achievement, so he couldn't observe everything around him?
*sigh*
"I'm sorry Eve, to become a jerk and said sarcastically. I was too carried away with my achievement yesterday, so I didn't consider your warning."
Adam was waiting for Eve's response for a while. But she didn't appear.
"Did you so angry with me, even give up on me?"
This time, Adam didn't have to wait too long.
'That's not it. I just don't know how to face you. Because this is the first time I felt anger.
Okay, I forgive you. But I don't want to see you for a while," Eve whispered to his soul.
This made Adam relieved, but also felt sad. Adam then took a deep breath.
'I'm sorry Eve.'
***
After that, Adam took a bath and then went downstairs to have breakfast. In the restaurant of the hotel, he saw Walker who was reading a newspaper with a cup of coffee on the table.
"Good morning Walker," Adam greeted him.
Walker then closed his newspaper and smiled at Adam, "Good morning Young Master. It looks like you are fine."
Adam just smiled and sat down to the chair beside Walker, "I'm better now. But I was indeed pretty horrible just now."
Walker frowned, "Victor was too much. No wonder, he left so early in the morning. He must felt guilty."
Adam looked at him knowingly, "It's not his fault. My mental state was affected by my yesterday achievement. He woke me up in the practice this morning. I should thank him, not hate him. After all, he is my teacher.
By the way, I am hungry, can you bring me whatever available in the restaurant and of course a glass of milk," Adam smiled.
Walker looked relieved, "Alright, I will order now."
He then walked with enthusiasm.
'Show them that I believe in them, right father? It looks work,' Adam then read the newspaper.
'So, you are manipulative now. You are getting worse, 'Eve said to Adam's soul.
Adam smiled, 'You seem okay with that.'
'Because it is good to appreciate someone you know. It will make them know, that you approve their decision.'
Adam felt sarcasm in those words, 'I'm sorry, ok. For my apologies, may I buy you something?'
'Hmm, I'm not that cheap, you know.'
'How about a chocolate cookie with peanut topping like yesterday?'
'Hmm, consider you are lucky. Okay, But I want a carton of cookies.'
'Deal! Are we good now?' Adam seriously asked.
"We are good," Eve then appeared while smiled, directly sat on his shoulder.
***
After having breakfast, Adam stayed at the restaurant for reading the newspaper. The newspaper is called Silverpool Weekly. It was printed every Sunday. But it is sold daily. In this age, when communication between City took some time, could get some news every week was already good.
At 9 am, Adam saw Cleon and Pete entering the restaurant nervously. There was a man who Adam remembered as this hotel security behind them, he looked pretty annoyed.
Adam immediately understood their situation. He then stood up and walked to them.
Walker surprised looking at Adam's expression that was pretty bad, "What's the matter Young Master?"
Walker then heard Adam's cold voice, "It seems my friends got trouble because of me. Please prepare some compensation, if something ugly happens."
***