Mr. John packed his bags once again, preparing for another long journey. As a merchant, he had duties to fulfill, trading rare items across the kingdom. He gathered Hiro and Elysia before him in the courtyard, giving them parting words of encouragement.
"Take care of the mansion while I'm away," he said with a smile. "And remember, keep pushing yourselves. I can't wait to see how much stronger you'll be when I return."
Hiro and Elysia both nodded. Mr. John left shortly after, leaving the two young servants behind to continue their training under Rose's watchful eye.
Two years passed quickly. Hiro was now nine years old, and Elysia had turned ten. His physical transformation was astonishing. While not bulky, his muscles were defined, giving him a chiseled appearance without sacrificing his youthful, handsome features. The training grounds had become his second home, and his strength was evident in the way he handled his wooden sword.
Today, Hiro stood before a training dummy, the worn-out target they had used for years. With a swift motion, Hiro swung his wooden sword, splitting the dummy clean in half. Sweat dripped down his forehead as the pieces fell to the ground.
"Well done," came Rose's voice from behind him.
Hiro turned to see her approaching with a smile. "You've grown strong, Hiro," she said, clapping him on the back. "Your progress is remarkable. Elysia, though…" Rose trailed off, glancing toward the girl, who was practicing with a bow at a distance.
Elysia's arrow barely grazed the target, and her shoulders slumped in frustration. She had started training before Hiro, but the gap between them had widened significantly. She shot another arrow, missing the bullseye once more. A sigh escaped her lips as she lowered her bow.
"I started before him," Elysia muttered under her breath, "but look at us now..."
Hiro looked over at her, sensing her frustration. Despite her efforts, she struggled to keep up with him. However, Rose was not one to let her students wallow in self-pity for long.
"Don't give up yet, Elysia," Rose said encouragingly. "Everyone has their own path. You'll find yours."
Turning her attention back to Hiro, Rose's eyes gleamed with a sudden spark of excitement. "Hiro," she said, drawing her sword, "I've taught you all the basics by now. It's time to test your limits."
Hiro raised an eyebrow. "You want me to fight you?"
Rose nodded, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Yes. A duel. Former B-rank adventurer, now the guard of Mr. John, Rose…" She twirled her blade expertly in her hand. "Will fight you."
Hiro smirked, feeling the thrill of the challenge rising within him. He was no longer the weak boy from the slave market. "Hiro," he introduced himself, purposefully omitting his last name, "will accept your challenge."
The air grew tense as they faced each other in the training ground. Elysia watched from the sidelines, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"This will be our first time sparring," Rose said, taking her stance, "but I won't hold back."
"Good," Hiro replied confidently, gripping his wooden sword. "Neither will I."
With a swift movement, Rose charged forward, her sword gleaming as it cut through the air. Hiro reacted quickly, blocking her attack, but the force behind her strike made his arms tremble. She's fast… he thought, barely keeping up with her movements.
They exchanged blows, Hiro holding his ground, but it was clear Rose's experience was far beyond his. Every swing of her blade was precise, and Hiro found himself on the defensive more often than not. Despite this, he kept pushing forward, trying to break through her defense.
"Not bad, Hiro," Rose said as she parried another of his attacks. "But you'll have to do better than that."
Hiro gritted his teeth, stepping back to reassess his strategy. I need to be faster, he thought. His footwork improved, and he began to move more fluidly, his strikes becoming sharper and more calculated. For a moment, he thought he saw an opening, and he lunged forward.
But Rose was ready. With one swift move, she disarmed him, knocking the wooden sword from his hand and pinning him to the ground. Her blade hovered just inches from his throat.
Hiro lay there, panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face. He had lost.
"You fought well," Rose said, helping him to his feet. "If I were to rank you as an adventurer, you'd be at least a C-rank. That's a huge accomplishment for someone your age. You're a genius, Hiro."
But Hiro's expression remained serious. No… this isn't enough, he thought, his fists clenching at his sides. I will never achieve revenge if I'm this weak.
As Rose congratulated him, Hiro's mind was elsewhere, deep in thought. He wasn't satisfied. His dream of revenge, his desire to reclaim the honor of the Amadeus family, burned brighter than ever. I need to be stronger, he thought. Much stronger.
After the duel, Hiro walked back to his quarters, his mind racing with possibilities. He recalled the sword styles his family had passed down for generations. It was time. Time to train in the first and second sword styles of the Amadeus family—the legendary techniques that had once saved their world.
I won't stop until I've mastered them all.