By the time Zion woke up, it was already noon. He had slept for several hours and he liked it as he felt energized the moment he got out of bed. After taking his shower, he got dressed in the black cloak kept beside his bed — Elijah had provided it for him. After that, he carried his sword and went out to train. Upon getting to the entrance, he heard sounds coming from the outside and when he looked, he saw Elijah practicing.
Zion watched in awe as Elijah moved with a fluidity and precision that was mesmerizing. His sword sliced through the air with a soft whooshing sound, and Zion could see the concentration and focus on Elijah's face.
As he watched, Aria appeared beside him, her eyes also fixed on Elijah. "He's amazing, isn't he?" she whispered.
Zion nodded, his eyes still glued to Elijah's swordplay. "I've never seen anyone move like that before," he said.
As they watched, Elijah finished his routine and turned to face them. He smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Enjoying the show?" he asked.
Zion grinned, feeling a sense of admiration for Elijah. "You're incredible," he said.
Elijah chuckled, his expression modest. "It's just practice," he said. "But I'm glad you enjoyed it."
He walked over to Zion and patted him on the shoulder. "Now it's your turn," he said. "Let's see how much learned yesterday."
Zion picked his sword, feeling a surge of excitement. He had been eager to practice again, and he was determined to show Elijah that he had been paying attention.
"Remember, Zion, it's not just about swinging the sword," Elijah said, his eyes narrowing as he watched Zion. "It's about control, precision, and timing."
Zion nodded, taking a deep breath as he began to move. He swung the sword in a slow, deliberate arc, trying to mimic the movements he had seen Elijah make earlier.
At first, his movements were clumsy and awkward, but as he continued to practice, he began to feel more confident. The sword started to feel more like an extension of his body, and he was able to move with more precision and control.
Elijah watched him with a critical eye, offering words of encouragement and advice as Zion practiced. Aria, meanwhile, sat on a nearby rock, watching Zion with a look of admiration.
As the sun began to set, Elijah called a halt to the practice session. "You're doing well, Zion," he said, his eyes shining with approval."You've got a natural talent for this."
Zion grinned, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He knew he still had a lot to learn, but he was eager to continue practicing and improving his skills. He was determined to become a beast slayer.
As they walked back to the house, Aria fell into step beside Zion. "You're really good with a sword," she said, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Zion blushed, feeling a sense of pleasure at her praise. "Thanks," he said, smiling at her. "I've been practicing."
"Yeah, you are going to become a great swordsman!" She said to him.
"Really? I can't wait then."
After dinner that day, everyone went back to sleep except Zion who didn't feel like sleeping.
He came down from the bed and sneaked outside into the cold night air. The stars twinkled above him, casting a silver glow over the landscape. He breathed in deeply, feeling the crisp air fill his lungs.
He made his way to the same spot where he had practiced earlier with Elijah, his feet crunching on the gravel beneath. The sword, which Elijah had allowed him to keep, felt heavy and reassuring in his hand.
As he began to practice, the cold breeze whipped through his jet-black hair, sending shivers down his spine. But he didn't let it deter him. He focused on his movements, trying to perfect the techniques Elijah had taught him.
He started with slow, deliberate movements, swinging the sword in wide arcs and practicing his footwork. As he warmed up, he increased his speed and intensity, the sword slicing through the air with a soft whooshing sound.
The wind howled around him, sending leaves and debris swirling through the air. But Zion stood firm, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance as he lost himself in the rhythm of his movements.
Sweat dripped down his face, and his muscles began to ache, but he didn't stop. He was driven by a fierce determination to master the sword, to become strong enough to avenge his father's death.
As the night wore on, the stars wheeling above him, Zion finally began to tire. His movements slowed, and he stumbled, the sword slipping from his grasp.
He stood there, panting, his chest heaving with exhaustion. The wind died down, and an eerie silence fell over the courtyard.
And then, out of the corner of his eye, Zion saw a figure watching him. He spun around, his heart racing, and saw Elijah standing there, a small smile on his face.
"You're dedicated, I'll give you that," Elijah said, his voice low and gravelly. "But you need to learn to pace yourself. You can't push yourself too hard, or you'll end up injuring yourself."
Zion nodded, feeling a mix of emotions — exhaustion, frustration, and a hint of shame. He knew Elijah was right. He had been pushing himself too hard, trying to master the sword in a single night.
Elijah walked over to him, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "Come on," he said. "Let's get you back inside. You need to rest."
And with that, Zion quietly followed Elijah back to the house, his body aching with exhaustion, but his spirit still burning with determination.
>>>>>
For the next days, Zion practiced tirelessly and hard. Elijah had never seen a kid as determined as Zion, and this made him wonder if he made the right choice by telling him about joining the organization. What if he let's his desire for revenge turn him into something else? There was a possibility this could happen, and he feared the outcome.
Because in the past, there has been a similar case like this — a young boy who was driven by his desire for revenge and in order to become strong, he did the impossible and ended up becoming a monster. The beast slaying organization had tried finding him and annihilating him because of the threat he posed to humanity but he has never been found.
What's worst, this person/monster was picked up by him and trained by him. He did everything he could to bring him back to right path but all of his efforts failed... That's why he was initially hesitant about training Zion in the first place. The reason why he ended up taking him was the fact that the boy so much reminded of his late son. If the boy was still alive, he would be the same age as Zion.
Thinking about the past made his face darkened. That horrible past that could never be forgotten, a past that hunted him even during the day...
It was on a sunny day and he had left Zeke at home with his liitle son and wife to go on a mission, who would have known that the boy would turn into a monster that day and massacre his family?! The regret and pain he felt was something that still hunt him even till this day.
What's worst... The same monster that killed his family was the same one that killed Zion's father. Funny enough, he was so close to killing the monster but he couldn't bring himself to do it. How funny.