On the way to Thorian's house, Emily intermittently woke up, cried, and lapsed into unconsciousness several times.
While Thorian comforted her as she woke up, at the meantime, he comforted Pete before reaching his house.
Thorian's house is a quaint, rustic cottage on the edge of the forest where the village begins. Built from sturdy timber and stone with thatched roof.
Inside, the house is warm and inviting. The main room serves multiple purposes: a cozy fireplace with a well-worn armchair beside it, shelves filled with books and trinkets, and a small table with chairs in the center. The kitchen area is neatly organized, with pots and pans hanging from hooks. The bedroom is modest, with a single bed covered in a thick, hand-woven blanket.
The village, located just beyond Thorian's house, is a small but bustling community with a population of about 150 people. It consists of quaint cottages similar to Thorian's, each with its own small garden. The village is surrounded by fertile fields and pastures, where villagers tend to their crops and livestock.
Pete sitting on a chair, has now somewhat regained his sanity, his attention was now over the trinket in the wall.
Thorian: "I used to be an adventurer," he says, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "But those days are behind me now. I have aged now and chose a quieter life here at the edge of the village."
Pete's ears perked up as he listened to Thorian's story, thinking to himself, 'He must be the legendary retired adventurer who will train the hero...'
Lost in thought, Pete almost forgot about the bandits.
Suddenly, he stood up, bowed deeply, and nearly shouted, "Thorian, will you teach me swordsmanship?"
Thorian gazed at Pete for a moment then nods slowly, a smile forming on his lips. "Very well. I will teach you what I know. But remember, swordsmanship is not just about strength, it's about discipline, skill, and the wisdom to know when to fight and when to seek peace. "
Pete was surprised, not expecting to be accepted so easily, 'Aren't I supposed to beg him, stand in the rain for a day, and finally, when I'm about to pass out, he accepts me as his disciple? '
Thorian: "Rest now, your training will start tomorrow"
During that time, Emily woke up and cried her heart out one final time before falling into a peaceful sleep. Thorian then gave Pete some medicine that helped him sleep soundly through the night.
The next day,
Pete's injuries were almost healed, and Emily, though still sad, had calmed down and was no longer crying.
Thorian made a simple breakfast,
Emily with sadness and anger, "What happened to my family? "
Thorian explained solemnly, "It was a conspiracy. After your family was killed, someone came for inspection but declared it was the work of bandits. They did nothing about the bandits and left after staying here for a day or two."
"How could they do this..." Emily muttered, her voice heavy with disbelief and frustration.
Thorian left Emily inside and began training Pete outside at a clearing near his house.
Initially, he taught Pete some basic swings, and he was pleasantly surprised when Pete easily replicated his movements.
While Pete practiced his swings, Thorian began explaining the levels of a warrior.,
"There are 8 levels of a warrior," Thorian began, his voice steady as he instructed Pete. "Starting from novice, third rate, second rate, first rate, master, grandmaster, supreme, and the final, Divine warrior."
"Novice and third rate learn sword fighting or train with any other weapon they prefer, second rate can imbue their swords and strengthen their bodies with mana. "
"As for first-rate warriors, they can manifest mana swords... That's all you need to know for now." "
After that, every morning, Pete diligently trains with Thorian in a secluded clearing near his home. Under Thorian's teaching, Pete delves into the essentials of swordsmanship, emphasizing precise footwork, maintaining balance, and mastering fundamental strikes.
Much to Thorian's astonishment, Pete displays a natural affinity for these skills, quickly grasping the techniques imparted by Thorian.
Throian also had a lingering feeling that Pete might have trained with sword before.
Beyond sword training, Thorian also took Pete hunting in the surrounding forests. Thorian teaches him the basics of tracking, setting traps and understanding the habits of different animals.
Pete was hesitant to take lives of animals, So Thorian first made him fish, then let him hunt small birds, and then let him kill the mid sized animals.
Emily, helps with chores of villagers, played with the children, she was still sad but overcoming her sadness.
Pete, meanwhile, found himself liking the village life. He participated in communal tasks and joined the villagers in their daily routines.
Pete and Emily quickly adapt to life in the village, The villagers are friendly and welcoming, making them feel at home.
After spending two weeks in the village.
One afternoon, while Emily is playing with a group of children near the marketplace, a man in the market seems to recognize her and hurriedly left the village.
A few miles away from Oakridge, a hidden military camp is bustling with activity. The cam is strategically hidden within a dense forest, with numerous tents arranged in neat rows. The largest tent located in the center serves as command post.
In the center tent sits the commanding officer, a man of imposing presence. His name is Captain Roderick.
Captain Roderick is tall and broad-shouldered, with a stern, chiseled face marked by a few battle scars. His hair is dark and cut short. He exudes an aura of discipline and command. His posture is always straight, and his movements deliberate.
The man who fled from the village hastily enters the central tent, his face pale and his breath ragged from the hurried journey. He bows quickly before Captain Roderick, a mix of fear and urgency in his eyes.
"Captain, the girl we have been looking for is in the village "
Captain Roderick's eyes narrowed as he stands slowly, "Are you certain it's her? "
"Yes, sir," the man replies, nodding vigorously. "I recognized her immediately. We must act quickly, before she escapes again."
Captain Roderick paces for a moment, deep in thought. Then, with a decisive nod, he outlines a plan, "We'll move under the cover of darkness. Dress the soldiers as bandits. We'll surround the village and ensure no one escapes. Kill the villagers with that girl "
Captain Roderick issues orders to his lieutenants, who immediately begin preparing the soldiers for the operation.
Inside Morsh's soul space,
Morsh woke up from his slumber, feeling the dark mist enveloping him as it seeped into his soul, bringing with it new insights and knowledge.
'Hmm... Absorbing dark mist into my soul won't grant the body new knowledge,' Morsh thought.
Morsh then saw Pete who was now swinging his sword outside the house of Thorian.
Morsh: "What are you doing? "
Pete startled and jumped back suddenly upon hearing Morsh's voice, his initial shock quickly turned into anger.
Pete: "Where have you been? I've been wanting to talk to you for two weeks now... I thought you were just a hallucination!"
Morsh surprised: "I've been asleep for two weeks? Tell me, what happened during my sleep."
Pete earnestly recounted everything to Morsh, including details about Emily's family and their life in the village.
Morsh sighed heavily upon hearing Pete's account.
Morsh: "So, you're living in a place where her family was politically killed, and you've chosen to stay here?"
Pete nodded earnestly,
Morsh said sharply, "Are you an idiot? Her enemies could be searching for her, and you're still living here, using your real names?"
Pete said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, we have been living here for two weeks, everything's been quiet till now!!"
"I almost forgot" Pete said angrily as he looked at his hands, "Why did you kill those bandits? "
Morsh said calmly, "They wanted to kill me so I killed them, it was self defense "
Pete grew frustrated, "Don't you have any remorse after taking someone's life "
Morsh sighed deeply before answering, "Why would I have remorse for someone who wanted to kill me? "
Pete stomped his feet angrily: "You are not allowed to take over the body anymore "
Morsh said in a teasing tone "Oh, now you're brave... Where was this bravery when you were crying for help?"
Gritting his teeth in frustration, Pete swung his sword without saying another word. Morsh remained silent as well.
As the sun sets,
Soldiers dressed as bandits were surrounding the village and entering the houses at the edge of village.
Pete, Thorian and Emily were eating dinner, when suddenly, the front door of Thorian's house bursts open, and several bandits rush in, weapons drawn.
Thorian was the first to react, with surprising agility for his age, he grabs his sword and moves to intercept the intruders.
Thorian engages the first bandit with a series of precise and powerful strikes, quickly subduing him. Another bandit charges at him, but Thorian deftly sidesteps and counters with a swift blow to the head, knocking him out cold.
Seeing Thorian handle the two bandits, Pete grabs his sword and joins Thorian and manages to fend off a bandit who lunges at him. The clash of steel fills the room as Pete holds his ground.
As the battle rages, Emily retreats to the bedroom, hiding under the bed to stay out of sight. Her heart pounds in her chest as she listens to the sounds of fighting, hoping Pete and Thorian can handle the intruders.
Just as Thorian and Pete manage to subdue the initial group of bandits, more burst into the house. The fight intensifies as Thorian and Pete work together to defend themselves and the house.
Pete's movements are more fluid and confident, reflecting Thorian's teachings. He parries an incoming strike and counters with a decisive blow, knocking down another bandit.
Morsh: "Why are you knocking them out... just kill them "