Eubard couldn't help but shake slightly as he took the knife from Minos. While he was young, he was no idiot, and he knew exactly what Minos wanted him to do, but he still didn't have the guts.
"Can't we just let him go?" He asked.
"Go? Sure, but what happens if the next person he meets is your sister?" Minos asked.
Eubard couldn't help but freeze as he took in Minos's question. While it was unlikely such a thing would happen, it was still a reminder that sometimes you had to kill to protect.
"While I can appreciate your kind nature, you should know that some people never learn. You'd instead do the world a favor by getting rid of them." Minos said.
"You can't hide in ignorance forever, Eubard. There will come a day when you will have to kill, and when that happens, you won't have the time to think like you do now."
Eubard took in everything Minos said, and couldn't help but agree. However despite agreeing, his hands were still shaky, and he couldn't find the strength to end the man's life.
"Breathe deeply, and remember, had I not been strong enough to deal with him, he would not have shown us mercy in the way you show him." Minos said.
That seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back, and Eubard finally steadied his hands. Everything Minos said was right, and now he just needed to do what was right, even if it felt wrong.
He slowly walked up towards the man, who had long since lost the strength to even struggle. He could only shout out pleas of forgiveness as Eubard drew closer.
"Please, let me live! I have a family, two kids! I promise I'll never do something like this again…" The man pleaded.
Eubard seemed to be shaken by his pleas, and paused for a moment. The man on the floor suddenly had a glint of light appear in his eye as he saw Eubard stop. Using his last bit of strength, he flung out a small dagger towards Eubard's throat.
"Go to hell you little bastard! Since I'm going to die, you can die with me!" He laughed out evilly as he watched the dagger draw closer to Eubard's throat.
Unfortunately for the man, with Minos at the side, his plans were all destined to fail. With a quick movement, Minos kicked a small pebble by his feet. The pebble flew up at a tremendous speed, smacking the side of the dagger directly.
The dagger was knocked off course by the pebble, and was redirected into a tree right beside Eubard. Eubard couldn't help but break into a dense sweat as he looked at the dagger that had been lodged deeply into the tree's trunk.
"This is reality Eubard, the moment you show any weakness, you will only be met by death rather than gratitude."
This realization finally steeled Eubard's will completely. He ignored the man's pleads, and couldn't help but mock himself at the idea that he nearly died because he listened.
Gripping the dagger fiercely, he lunged at the man who couldn't move. With a clean movement, he stabbed the knife directly into the man's throat, the same place the man had targeted on Eubard.
At this point, the man's pleads had completely dissipated. Eubard watched as life drained from the man's face, soon, completely disappearing.
He couldn't help but feel sick to his stomach as he came to terms with what he had just done. He collapsed backwards as he breathed heavily, trying his hardest to not puke out his breakfast.
"Congrats, you're now officially a man." Minos said with a loud laugh as he patted Eubard heavily on the shoulder.
The pat made Eubard's stomach churn, and he couldn't control himself anymore. With a loud belch, he released his stomach's contents onto the jungle floor.
Minos reeled back in disgust. Fortunately Eubard's breakfast was small, so he quickly emptied his stomach.
"No shame, but try not to do that again." Minos said as he moved away while holding his nose to avoid the smell.
…
After Eubard felt better, the two re-entered Tropical Tree City. Unlike when they left however, Eubard was now walking on his own two feet, no longer requiring Minos to drag him around.
The two soon reached the Devim family estate. With a pat of encouragement from Minos, Eubard walked up to the door, knocking heavily.
The old butler opened the door, a bit shocked to see Eubard standing there. He had naturally witnessed the entire process of Minos carrying him away, so he assumed he'd still be fighting until now.
But here he was, standing on his own two feet, no anger or shame on his face. Eubard looked up at the old butler, who was almost like a father to him, and he couldn't help but feel shame in his heart.
"Uncle Olar, I'm sorry…" Eubard said with red eyes.
The old butler was caught completely off guard by such a sudden confession. The shock was soon replaced by elation as the realization of what Eubard said finally hit his mind.
"It's okay young master, I'll always forgive you."
The old butler's words made Eubard's heart ache even more. He came in and hugged the old butler tightly, causing the old man to laugh joyously.
While the two weren't gone for long, the words Minos had said coupled with the maturity that came with killing a man caused Eubard to grow up rapidly. It also helped that Minos stood right behind him, encouraging him.
Soon Othella noticed the laughter and came up to the door as well. She was confused by Eubard and the old butler hugging since Eubard didn't like to hug ever since the incident.
When the old butler noticed Othella, he took a step back, clearing the room for the two siblings. Eubard looked up at Othella, his eyes still red as he recalled everything.
"Sister, I'm sorry." Eubard said sincerely.
"S-sorry?" Othella said back in shock, almost as if she was trying to make sense of what Eubard had just said.
But just like the old butler, she soon came to terms with Eubard's sudden change, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her face beyond her control.
"You'll always be my little brother, I just want you to never forget that." She said, as the two siblings embraced in a tight hug.
Minos smiled from the side, appreciating his work. The hug which seemed to last forever eventually came to an end, and Eubard was left standing awkwardly, not really knowing what to do now.
Fortunately for him, Minos, as usual, was here to save him. He came towards the two siblings, hands in his pocket, before speaking out to break the silence.
"It's good that your relationship has been fixed, but the real problem is yet to be solved. I have to leave in a couple days, so I'll spend my available time training Eubard. I hope you're ready, since my training is everything but easy." Minos said.
Eubard nodded his head heavily, ready to take the responsibility of his family onto his shoulders. Othella and the old butler smiled from the side, happy that Eubard had finally grown up.
…
The next few days passed quickly for Othella and the old butler, but for Eubard, time seemed to almost reach a halt. Each day was filled with painful training from dusk till dawn. The only time he had for himself was when he slept, otherwise, he was training.
Minos had taught Eubard the Twelve Beast Movement Tome, which was infinitely better than the Mortal Renewal Technique his family had access to. With this new technique, Eubard's talent began to truly shine.
Eubard began training at 8 years old, and it took him two years to break the first life lock, which was proof enough of his phenomenal talent. While this speed didn't feel any faster than the handyman disciples in the Green Barrel Sect, one has to remember that Eubard's technique was far worse than the Green Bull Tendon Fist.
Had he used the Green Bull Tendon Fist, he could have broken through at least twice as fast, even three times as fast was possible.
With the Twelve Beast Movement Tome his cultivation speed became a dozen times faster compared to before, and based on some simple calculations, Minos estimated it would take him a couple months to break through to the Second Life Lock.
He would likely be able to do so before he even becomes 11 years old. A 10 year old at the Second Life Lock was enough for sects to fight for.
If he went to the Green Barrel Sect he would be able to immediately join the Outer Sect, and it wouldn't be hard to reach the Inner Sect, or even the Core.
With such talent, Minos's hellish training was paying off rapidly. Eubard was improving every day, and while he was still a distance from breaking through, his strength, speed, and even durability, had all been improved by the Twelve Beast Movement Tome.
The week of training soon came to an end, not because Eubard couldn't take it anymore, but because Minos had noticed that the firegulls on his tracking talisman began acting out.
It seems their mating season was soon about to begin, which meant it was time for Minos to go.
"Well, it's about time I left." Minos said to Othella and Eubard as he sipped his tea and slumped into the couch.
"Do you really have to go, Coach Minos? Can't you stay a little longer." Eubard asked. This week had been the most painful time he had ever gone through, but it was also the most fulfilling.
"Yes, why don't you stay a little longer? We have a spare room you could stay in as long as you please." Othella also interjected. While she and Minos hadn't talked much, she couldn't help but be charmed by him as he helped the two siblings.
"Just like it's a bird's nature to take to the sky, it's my nature to explore the world, and see what wonders it has to offer." Minos said with a wide smile.
"Rest assured, if I have the chance in the future, I'll come back." He laughed as he exited the house, leaving behind the downtrodden siblings.