As the sun rose above the small village, Adam found himself struggling to shake the emptiness that lingered within him. It had already been 5 long months since his beloved grandfather had left, leaving Adam all alone in a place that felt more like a prison than a home. Despite this, Adam refused to let his sadness consume him. Instead, he threw himself into training, determined to become stronger and to forget the pain, if only for a little while.
Every day, Adam would begin with a morning jog, pushing himself to run faster and further each time. He would then move on to physical exercises, gritting his teeth as he pushed his body to its limits with push-ups and sit-ups. Next, he would spend hours meditating, focusing on his breathing, and trying to quiet the voice in his head that told him he would never be enough. Finally, he would spar with Raoul, a fierce opponent who pushed him to his limits and beyond.
Despite his grueling schedule, Adam was determined to become stronger, to become someone worthy of his grandfather's legacy. After all, his grandfather had founded this village named "Rosegard". Rosegard was not just any ordinary village, it was a place of refuge, a sanctuary for those who were running from their past, those who were in need of help. People here had gathered under one roof, under the protection of Adam's grandfather, who had founded this village and given them a chance to start a new life. People here saw Adam as their own and treated him with kindness and respect.
As Adam trained, he thought often of his grandfather and the stories he used to tell. Stories of a world filled with danger and magic, of creatures that roamed the night, and of a great battle that had been fought to protect humanity. It was these stories that inspired Adam to become strong just like those heroes that fought for humanity's sake.
When he sparred with Raoul, Adam could feel his grandfather's presence, guiding him, pushing him to give his best. And for a moment, he could forget the emptiness and the pain, focusing only on the present, the sound of fists ringing against fists, and the feel of his body moving with grace and power.
Adam and Raoul clashed in a heated battle. Adam was determined to come out on top. The sound of their grunts and the impact of their strikes echoed throughout the vast forest as they moved with lightning speed, exchanging blows with a fierce intensity.
"Not bad," Raoul said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You lasted longer this time."
Adam lay on the ground, gasping for air. "Yeah, but I still couldn't leave a scratch on you," he replied, frustration evident in his voice.
Raoul chuckled in a joking tone. "Don't be discouraged, Adam. What you've achieved for an 8-year-old is unheard of, at your age I didn't even know how to count. I'm sure you are the strongest 8-year-old on the continent ."
"Strongest 8-year-old?" Adam asked, getting up from the ground. "I'm still not strong enough then. Let's go another round."
"Whoa, kiddo," Raoul warned, a look of concern crossing his face. "Don't push yourself too much. You already did great today."
But Adam was determined. He took a deep breath, regulating his breathing and calming himself down. The aura around him changed, radiating fierce energy as he assumed a fighting stance.
Raoul watched Adam with a mixture of amusement and pride. He thought to himself, 'Look at this kid.'
"This time, I'm going all in," Adam declared, his eyes blazing with determination as he rushed towards Raoul.
"Come on, I'll give you a good beating this time," Raoul said with a grin, ready for the challenge.
The two closed the gap between them quickly, with Adam launching a barrage of fists. Raoul easily evaded the punches and flicked Adam's forehead, causing him to stumble and lose his balance.
"Not this time!" Adam screamed, his voice ringing out with a newfound resolve. "First Gate Fourth Move: Bursting Step!" With that, Adam jumped 10 meters into the air, his body rotating in mid-air with grace and agility.
Raoul raised his head and watched as Adam spun through the air. "It's not easy to dodge while being in the air you know ?" Raoul said, his eyes tracking Adam's movements. With a flick of his finger, he released a tiny mana bullet toward Adam. But Adam rotated again and deftly dodged the bullet.
"First Gate Second Move: Lilian Blade!" Adam shouted, his mana blade forming on his right leg. "First Gate Fifth Move: Blink!" And with that, Adam disappeared and reappeared behind Raoul. He rotated three times and kicked Raoul with his leg, the force of the blow sending Raoul tumbling backward.
But Raoul was quick, disappearing and reappearing 10 meters behind Adam. Anticipating Raoul's move, Adam rotated once more and launched the Lilian Blade in Raoul's direction. The energy from the blade raced toward Raoul with incredible speed, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. But Raoul calmly redirected the energy with a quick slap of his hand.
"No way," Adam breathed out in amazement, his eyes wide with wonder.
"I have to admit, that was pretty impressive," Raoul said with a teasing tone. "Is that all?"
"Of course not!" Adam replied, his voice ringing with confidence. "First Gate Eighth Move: Surge!" The pressure around Adam increased, with rocks levitating from the ground and mana enveloping his whole body. His short black hair pointed towards the sky and his whole body was shining with a bright red light.
"Oh, you finally mastered this move? Not bad"
With a flurry of punches and kicks, Adam closed in on Raoul, determined to prove his mastery of the move he had finally mastered. Raoul, unfazed by Adam's attack, moved with lightning-fast reflexes, expertly deflecting each strike and counterattacking with powerful blows of his own.
The two warriors were a blur of motion as they fought with grace and power, exchanging strikes and moves in a mesmerizing dance. The sound of their fists and feet colliding echoed through the whole forest and could even be heard in some parts of 'Rosegard', punctuated by the occasional grunts of effort as they pushed their bodies to the limit.
"Not bad, not bad," Raoul said, clapping his hands, as he watched Adam's relentless assault. Despite the young fighter's impressive progress, Raoul remained one step ahead, expertly avoiding each strike and responding with a powerful counterattack.
Just when it seemed like Adam was on the verge of landing a hit, Raoul unleashed a devastating blow that sent Adam flying across the large forest. But even as he hit the ground with a thud, Adam was back on his feet in an instant, ready to continue the fight.
"Bravo!" Raoul cried, his voice filled with admiration. "You're almost making me sweat!"
As the sparring match continued, Adam grew stronger and more skilled. His movements became smoother and more fluid, and his strikes more powerful. Despite his best effort, however, he couldn't gain the upper hand, and the fight raged on for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, with a weary sigh, Raoul called a halt to the sparring match. "That's all for today," he said, panting slightly. "Go rest. I'll see you tomorrow."
As Adam made his way back to the village, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had come so far in just five short months, and he knew that with each passing day, he was becoming stronger and more skilled. With a smile on his face, he walked back home eager to see what tomorrow would bring.
But then, as the sun began to set, reality would come crashing back in. Adam would find himself alone in his small room, the emptiness that had once been pushed aside now weighing heavily on his heart. He would think of his grandfather and wonder where he had gone, and why he had really left.