" AAHHH!! "
" MOM!! "
" SOMEBODY!! HELP ME!! "
*CRACKLE*
" M-Mom..."
" Oh.....It's you.....Sehyoon...My child....Don't worry....Mom's okay...."
" M- "
*dream ends*
" Hngghhh!! "
" Ah, sh*t...Why that dream of all dreams...."
I was wearing a purely white bathrobe while laying on a soft, sapphire colored bed.
As I looked outside, I realized something.
It was neither day nor night. It was morning time.
The morning sun was unfolding with a golden color and the clouds were tainted with a shade of orange.
The Air was crisp and cool, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers and dew-kissed grass.
*Ruffle* *Ruffle*
I got up from my bed.
*THUMP**THUMP*
I walked towards the door of the room and opened it as it creaked.
" Ummm....can anybody hear me?!" I shouted as my voice echoed throughout the empty corridor.
My conscience was telling that I was in the Castle and I agreed. These kind of corridors were only present in the Castle of the Kingdom of Corvus.
" Can anybody hear me?! " I shouted once again.
" Sehyoonnnn!! " A girl shouted through the other of the end of the corridor.
" Who are you?! " I shouted as a black figure started to appear from the distance, running towards me.
It was dark and I mostly couldn't see anything.
The figure then became clear. It was Laila, The Princess of the Kingdom of Corvus and my trainer.
" Hah.....*pant* *inhale* * exhale*...."
" You didn't need to run you know? "
" W-What do you mean?! O-Of course I had to! Y-You almost died! " She stuttered and said.
" Hmm, ok that makes sense I guess. Well, How much time have I been asleep for? "
" Well you would have been permanently asleep if Cha Hajin had carried you here a minute later. "
" Really, a minute?! I was going to die if he was late by a minute?! "
" Yes. A MINUTE. "
" Well, All's Well That Ends Well. An inspiring quote by yours truly. "
" Oh, stop it! Also, Today is THE day. "
" What, is it thanksgiving already? "
" Hnnggh! *SMACK* " Laila squealed as she smacked a fist to my head.
" Oww.....That hurts you know..."
" Stop acting stupid! You know that it's the day we clear the Tower's first floor! "
" Ok, ok, jeez. "
I had noticed something. The Castle, which normally be booming with people, was so quiet this early in the morning.
" I think at least someone would have got up by now....Let's check. Hey, Laila? "
" Hmm? "
" Take me to somebody from the Star Megalos who's up by now. "
" Cha Hajin and Lee Hae-Rin are not up yet. It's early in the morning and I had told everybody to get some good rest because of today. "
" It's already that day, huh. Can't believe 1 and a half year passed so quickly. "
" Yeah....Wait, Sehyoon! Let's go! "
" Where to? "
" One last duel! Between the two of us! "
" Umm, It's the time when everybody wake up... I don't want to attract attention..."
" Come on! Don't be a stiff stick!! Let's go! "
" F*ck, I don't want to duel right now! If we duel during the time everybody is supposed to wake up, They'll all be watching me! I've already lost my status as a background character, I don't want more attention!! Why won't she listen to me!! "
" Listen, Laila....Please Listen to me-m-MEEEEE!! "
Laila grabbed my hands and started dragging to me to the training ground.
" You're dueling with me and that's final! "
" Fine...."
I had been forcefully dragged along by Laila, to duel with her, one last time, before we started clearing the Tower.
And that's how I ended up here.
We were standing on naked, sandy ground. It made for a harder experience during the duel as the rough sand mad it easy to slip.
The Sun had risen as a radiant orb and was now back to it's original bright, white color, revealing a clear and blue sky.
The training ground was situated between the two building which made up the Castle.
I was facing Laila, We were both wearing tight black t shirts and loose shorts, which was kind of common over here.
She had nothing but determination in her softly glowing, tangerine orange eyes. She looked at me, preparing a stance to charge as soon as possible while holding a wooden in her hand.
I too, prepped a stance in response to her.
" 3 "
" 2 "
" 1 "
" " Begin!! " "
Laila charged at me.
" Hyaaa!! "
*Klak!*
" Hnnghh! "
*Klak!*
*Klak!*
*KLAK!*
" Hngh.....You've improved, Sehyoon. You've surpassed me. "
" Well....I had a good teacher....*teeth gritting* "
*Klak* *Klak* *Klack!!*
Our wooden swords clashed and crossed with each other at high speeds, producing a loud *klack!* sound as we exchanged swift blows.
*Klak* *Klack!*
A Strike. A Strike. And a Strike.
" Hyaaa!! " I trusted my sword at Laila.
*Klack!*
" Hgh....More! Come on, Laila! Strike more! "
*THUMP**THUMP*
My heart was beating fast with adrenaline, my legs throbbing, my face sweating with my eyebrows drenched and my hands were moving swiftly.
It was almost as if I had become my past self.
" Gghh....Ok! "
*Whoosh*
I sweeped my sword horizontally into the air, leaving a trail.
Laila jumped back in response.
" Huff, Huff....You dodged that, huh? " I grasped for air.
" Hah...Hah....Of course..." Laila did the same.
I looked around as everybody was watching us.
Cha Hajin and Lee Hae-Rin too were standing beside each other and watching us. Behind them stood a crowd of cheering students, each shouting at the top of their voice.
" Gooooo!! Laila-nim! "
" Unnie!! You can do this!! "
Cha Hajin was watching in the front, standing with his hands folded, gently smiling.
Lee Hae-Rin was doing the same too, while also carefully following our movements with her deep, coral-blue eyes.
" Hah...Let's end this with one blow! What do thy say? "
" Huf...Sure!! Let's do this, Kim Sehyoon!! "
I was experiencing a heart-pounding excitement. My body was moving on its own. Slowly, becoming into what it used to be. A nightmare.....
" Hyaaa!! " This time I charged at her, jumped in the air, aiming to deliver a blow at her head.
*Klack!*
*SLICE*
Laila's wooden sword slashed through the air. Delivering a clean, frontal strike.
" Now that....is where you make a mistake! Time to....Counterattack! "
Laila noticed that I was smirking. But it was too late.
In the heat of the moment, during a split second, I parried her attack.
*Klack!!!....*
A wooden sword was sent flying.
....
A ghostly silence followed.
The sweat-drenched, adrenaline-filled attacks were now over, and the winner was clear.
It was unprecedentedly, me.
" Good Duel, Laila, But I win. "
I pointed my sword at Laila's head, as she sat astonished, as if having seen a miracle.
" Good Duel....How did you pull of that last strike! I wanna learn that!! "
" Start by donating to the You're-not-Kim Sehyoon-Foundation! Got it! "
I lent my hand to Laila. She grabbed it and got up.
" Hah..So you won't teach it to me...."
The people started whispering.
" Ughhh, How can he be that strong! He even beat unnie! "
" His luck must be skyrocketing today! "
I decided to ignore the sheep talking.
Cha Hajin and Lee Hae-Rin approached us.
" That was such a good duel! Sehyoon, you've really beaten Laila Unnie! " Lee Hae-Rin excitedly exclaimed.
" Laila...I want to ask you something..."
Cha Hajin looked furiously at Laila. It was clear that he was very angry.
" Hmmm? "
" Why did you subject Sehyoon to a duel when he has just recovered from his leg being poisoned? "
" O-Ohh! I got something to do! Bye, Sehyoon, Cha Hajin and Unnie! Come to the meeting spot! We shall go to the Tower rift from there! "
Laila suspiciously ran away.
" By the way, Hajin, Rin. "
" " Hmm? " "
" Thanks for saving my life. "
" No problem, Sehyoon. Just don't put yourself in those kind of situations anymore."
" Yeah, Cha Hajin is right. Don't do that!"
" Ok....."