Chapter 3 - 03. My Own(1)

"Find out who that kid is immidietely!" 'He's mine now'.

"Yes headmaster!"

***

"That was easy, I'll keep this sword please."

'I lost... Did I really lose to a child'

The man instantly turned and Karu was alerted. 'I thought he was ganna kill me'. The man bowed and we clenched his fist. "Thank you for enlightening me."

"No problem, next time always think of every little factors in a weapon and the opponent." I walked away and was amazed by the maturity of that man. He looked like he was the same age as mom and all I could say 'Mom has to change.'

As I went back to my previous sitting, everybody was looking at me, and I was so embaressed but it was an opportunity. I think I look handsome enough, so I just and posed like a mature man.

***

'I need to go down there fast'. It was amazing. It was such a clean fight. I have never taught him how to hold a sword nor fight with one, actually with anything. My child is a genius, maybe, just maybe even if he is just a swordsman he can become the best swordsman in the world.

The entire second day was finished and everyone could go home and rest for day three. But right now all I could care about was Karu. "How did you do that! I never taught you so how. You never even touched a sword before!". The child was smiling not even looking at his own mother but just staring at the sword. He then replied, "I just watched the soldiers and for the one I fought. I just watched Sirel fight, and went with finding a way to deafeat him while he was ganna strike me." At that moment I realized my child was a genius, he had talent, real talent at the sword. I didn't even care if the sword wasn't superior, I couln't care less. Karu deafeated a trained soldier by just watching how one fights with a sword.

"As soon as we get home, I will teach you how to use the sword.". I looked at Karu and stared at him deeply. 'My child, you will be the greatest swordsman this world will ever see!'.

...

I may have never been the most talented, but I trusted my skills. As a mercenary and not even an adventurer my life was much more dangerous. I have survived many battles and wars. I would teach everything to my child, everything and I know it wouldn't even take long.

We arrived at home, at this moment if everything was like how it used to, I would not be walking down to my secret basement to get a sword but be teaching Karu about the test he will take tomorrow. But now that doesn't matter, he is gauranteed to get in, and either way, he doesn't need to go to school to get everything he needs, cause he has me.

"So that's where you have been hiding your stuff mom.". Said by Karu proudly. I looked back and said. "I knew you already know everything, you really are such a smart kid.". I pinched his cheeks and rubbed his head. "I'll be back, don't follow me it's dark.".

The entire basement was dusty and full of webs, I don't even know if things are still in good condtions here. It has been five years since this place was even touched by any human. I looked around to the place I put everything at. I remember everything like it was just yesterday. I found a random baby going back home from war. And from pity of the child I took him in and retired. Now that same child, without me knowing has truly been my greatest gift of all.

***

"That is all for today! Karu come to my office!"

...

It has been a week since I started to go to the academy. It really has been a week, yet i'm already being called to the office. How nice of the teachers.

I entered the room and sat on the nearest chair to the door.

"Come sit in front of me, what are you doing there."

"Just say what you need, i'll be reading here while you do so."

The man then yelled "THAT IS WHY I CALLED YOU. Just cause you passed the written exam with flying colors and the only person in history to defeat a soldier at your age, DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN BE SO ARROGANT." He closed out distance slightly.

I have had a very tight schedule and in reality bursting out of this room is ganna be so cool. I am such a kid, I find something so simple, cool. "I do have the right though, as the diciple of the headmaster, I have been permitted to do whatever I want."

I stood up, opened the door, then continued "Now if you would excuse me, I have to go." I slammed the door and left.

***

"A week ago I won the ballot to teach this prodigy of a child. It was never common for a child of this talent to come to this academy. And he's from an outskirt village too.". I borrowed my head in my papers. I thought it would be amazing to teach a prodigy, but I never thought they would be so stuborn.

A man came in from the door. It was a blonde man in his mid 20's. "Regret teaching the kid that is not a five year old."

"Get out, I dont wanna hear you talk like that again.

The man came closer and moved his hands glamorously. "Oh the great scholar who reitired to the country side. Now would you look at him so disappointed in himself." He slammed the desk and said. "Just give me the kid, you don't even need him."

"If you wanna threaten me, dont go here everyday and do the exact same thing."

"Everyday?! Its only been a week since that kid has come to school." The men let go of his hand on my table and flapped his arms as he walked further.

"And you have been here for 5 days straight."

The man the let go of his serious act snd laid on the long chair on my left. "I just soooo wanna make that child have magic. If such a talented kid aced all tests except his magic. If he aced all of them...". The man teleported behind me and creeped his way to my ear and said "HE would have been a MONSTER."

The man walked away and waved his hands as goodbye. "Well, see you later Professor Val."

I was tired of the day, and he has to always come at the end of it. I look behind me at the hige window in my room. With the view of the academy's yard. I relaxed my body and rested for the day.

***

My routine consist of something like this.

*Go to school and read Hero Kary the whole day - I always turn childish when I read Hero Karu, the human mind is really so wonderful

*Go home and train the sword

That's my entire day. I do two things, and repeat. But I would have really wanted to change it. I have been training for a week now, yet there was still one thing missing.

"Aura Sword..."

I have been trying to find ways to get sword aura. But sadly I was born with no mana, that means I couldn't get sword aura. It was annoying. I want it so bad.

Sometimes I just wanna lay on grass and sleep. Oh wait I can. So I did.

"I have no magic unlike Hero Karu... How can I gain sword aura then."

I tried many different methods. Asking for a mage to put magic on my sword. Trying to get magic from the air to my sword, but I can't feel magic so it's useless anyway. I even tried formations, but all those are useless as I never had magic. I can't see magic. I can't feel magic. I can't control magic.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I WANNA CRY"

"There you are yelling again."

***

It was Mary, his mother. It has been a week since they started training. And in truth, there was no need to train sword skills anymore, Karu had already perfected it. But even then Karu had a problem. Swordsmen had always been considered the inferior, but swordsmen still had used and tricks to be useful. One of those are to be able to use magic. Mary is a swordswoman, but she could still use the lowest teir list of magic, healing magic. Which could heal herself in battle.

Karu lacked that. Karu not only posses zero magic, his body was also weak. His body grows at a much slower rate than normal. It had left Mary sadenned and started to focus on Karu's nonsense, which is sword aura. A sword imbued with magic. Karu is talented at the sword, he has perfected everything she has taught, all that's left is the stamina needed for it. But he had none, so he was basically a walking sword book, not a swordsman.

"Can I do anything to help again."

"No, I can't think of anyway. I'll just read again, maybe if I observed Freya more I could find out how magic works."

Karu went back in the house and left Mary outside. To this day, she still could never understand where he gets those knowledge from. Even she had tried to read the book before, it was normal to be that curious. But no matter what it was all blank. Is his child gifted, weird, or the chosen one. She really couldn't think anymore. This week has filled her with so many different emotions at the same time. She needed a break or she will lose herself.

***

Magic, it is the foundation of the world. And even if you dont believe so, everyone has it, as it is their sould and body itself. Magic is everywhere and you too is magic.

"I dont understand. I keep reading this line but if I am magic, how do I use it!"

Haru, skimmed the parts he already read and just keeps skimming and skimming. Repeating everything he has already seen. This went on for weeks and his progress at the book was halted.

"I can't anymore, I still have a meet up with the headmaster this week end, and the first test is coming up too, and my mothers birthday, so many things yet I just can find the answer in this book." But soon he will find it. Just at the place he least expected.

***

"If only I was a bit earlier. No, if only I was a bit faster. No it's not that, if only I just went straight to the village and not celebrate Grandur's birthday. If only, if only, I could have saved them. Why am I so weak. I need to stop getting-"

"WILL YOU SHUT UP KARU." Freya shouted at the distressed Karu.

Karu was startled and almost tripped. He was surprised that Freya cursed at him. Freya frequently yelled at him for things but it was never that much.

Freya then continued. "I CAN'T KEEP FUCKING HEARING YOUR BULLSHIT. CAN YOU JUST SHUT UP. BLAMING YOUR SELF FOR EVERY LIFW THAT DIES. WHAT ARE YOU GOD. YOU AIN'T FUCKING GOD SHITHEAD. YOU CAN'T SAVE EVERYONE. AND BLAMING GOING TO YOUR FRIENDS BIRTHDAY. HOW LOW WILL YOU STEEP TO THROW YOUR FRIENDSHIP AWAY FOR MEANINGLESS LIVES."

"They aren't meaningless li-lives-"

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THE LIVES OF THOSE PEOPLE. I DIDN'T JOIN THIS PARTY, I JOINED BECAUSE YOU ASKED ME. Think of your mistakes, until then im done. It has benn 4 years, and your still an immature brat who can't accept people's death."

At that night, outside a burning village, an important member of the heroes party left. And the other two... they just went back in their tent and left Karu outside alone with nothing but fire.

"What did I do wrong...?" Karu, a hero to people's eye, but in reality, he was just a child who wanted to save people from the demons that took his family from him.

It was when he wss 12, and at that day, Karu stopped from growing. "Immature... I'm 21 you know... or am I... mom... what did I do wrong..."

Karu went to a cliff where he could see the entire burning village. He layed down and stared at the skies.

"I failed to save another village mom, i'm so-"

your still an immature brat who can't accept people's death

"-rry... Mom i'm only repenting on not being able to save the village, why did Freya get so mad. Is it because I said we should not have celebrated Grandur's birthday. What is it mom. Am I immature? What even is immature, I have killed many demons and saved many lifes, that's not something a child could do."

"Are you finally thinking of your mistakes?" Grandur came to the same cliff he was at. He went beside Karu and sat on his right.

"Mistakes? I always think of my failure to save people's lives, what do you mean finally. I ALWAYS regret failing to save them. I repent and never let them go from my heart. I should shoulder all the burden-"

"You know that's why Freya got mad." Unlike the childish and ignorant attitude of Karu, Grandur talked in a calm and relaxed way.

"Why? Is it wrong to feel sad for the dead."

"Wrong? It is not wrong to mourn, but do you know what is wrong?"

"..." Karu titlted his head. He stood up and sat at s crossed position and looked at Grandur.

"You, it's you who is wrong."

"What...!"

"Karu, do you know why you are immature? It's cause you are stupid. And you only have killing demons and saving lives in your head. You always blame yourself for things. And you never stop at mourning for the dead."

"Stupid? All you said has nothing wrong in it. Why am I immature for it."

Grandur stared at Karu and said to his face. "Cause it's all fake. You believe you mourn, and you believe you are in the wrong, you believe you should kill all demons, you believe no humans should die. But do you really think so. Karu, you are insane, that's why you are immature. You're still running way from the events of 9 years ago, you can never face reality." Grandur stood up and left Karu on his own again.

Karu laid down again, "But what can I do then Grandur, if I face reality i'll go mad. A 12 year old can never handle the death of his entire family and friends."

Karu stood up and looked at the village on fire. "I have to make myself believe in the 'Just' Hero Karu, cause that's the only way I can save Karu..."

***

"Fake, that's it. If I believe something is real I can manipulate myself to gaining magic. Thanks Hero Karu, you really are the best."

|Oh God of Benevolence, have mercy on this child, may he be a mature man. Save his soul from losing it's light. Oh Great Hero Karu, I apologize for uprooting evil through your reflection|