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Gavin took a deep breath, bowed to Ser Edmund, and replied, "I do not hate the Cotstayne family, my lord. I am grateful to my father for giving me life, and I also thank you for the help you have given me and my mother."
Ser Edmund did not respond immediately but instead studied Gavin carefully. He noticed the sincerity in his eyes, and considering that Gavin was only six years old, he could tell that such sincerity was not feigned.
Seizing the opportunity, Gavin gathered his courage and said, "My lord, I have a method for making salt that can turn coarse sea salt into precious refined salt. The process is quite simple. I wish to present this method to you as a token of my gratitude for the care you have shown me and my mother over the years."
Ser Edmund smiled slightly and replied, "Let us put the matter of the refined salt aside for now. I believe, since you have already guessed the truth of your heritage, I would like you to come live with me at the castle. However, once you are at the castle, I will have Instructor Ryan teach you swordsmanship. Are you willing to endure the hardships of this training?"
Gavin's heart leaped with excitement. He quickly answered, "Of course, my lord. I am eager to learn swordsmanship and even more so to one day become a knight filled with honor."
Ser Edmund laughed heartily, ruffling Gavin's hair. "Then it's settled. Young Gavin, this afternoon I will send someone to fetch you and your mother. I hope you will work hard and become a strong knight in the future."
Gavin and his mother settled into life at the castle. On the very first night after their arrival, Gavin presented the salt-making method he had written to Ser Edmund.
After quickly calculating the potential profits, Ser Edmund was astonished. The family could become much stronger by utilizing the profits from salt production, which would undoubtedly provide the Cotstayne family with a stable income.
Looking at Gavin, Ser Edmund felt that bringing him to the castle had been the best decision he could have made. Thus, Gavin began his official life at the castle.
The castle selected children from families of soldiers with unblemished backgrounds to train from a young age, and Gavin was among them.
After more than ten days of training, on some afternoons, after the group's collective training sessions in the morning, Instructor Ryan would give Gavin extra, more focused instruction.
One morning, while it was still early and the sun had only partially risen behind the clouds, Gavin, along with a dozen other young children full of anticipation and nervousness, stood neatly in the training yard in front of the stables.
Their eyes were fixed on the stern figure of Instructor Ryan who stood with his arms crossed, his face set in a serious expression.
Instructor Ryan scanned the children before him with a commanding gaze. His voice, steady and strong, rang out, "Children, from today onward, I will teach you to use swords. The sword will become your most important companion. It is not merely a weapon; it is the symbol of your honor, your courage, and your belief. When you wield the sword, your heart must be steady, your hands must be firm, and your gaze unyielding. The sword's swing must not only have strength but also skill. Remember, each time you strike, you must give your all, for on the battlefield, the sword is your very life."
Instructor Ryan paused for a moment before continuing, saying, "Now, the first thing you need to learn is how to hold the sword properly."
Soon it was afternoon and Gavin received a notice from Instructor Ryan asking him to come over. Knowing the benefits of special treatment, Gavin rushed over excitedly.
Upon meeting Instructor Ryan, Gavin respectfully bowed and Said, "Good afternoon, Instructor Ryan."
Instructor Ryan gave Gavin a sideways glance and, in a loud, casual tone, replied, "Boy, don't waste time once you're here. Start with the basics!" With that, he tossed a wooden sword at Gavin.
Gavin hurriedly fumbled to catch the sword, nervously awaiting the next instruction from his teacher.
Instructor Ryan straightened up, his voice booming like thunder as he said, "Today, we'll start with the basic sword swing. Watch closely!"
He spread his feet wide, shoulder-width apart, leaned slightly forward, and firmly grasped the sword's hilt. Then, with a swift motion, he swung the wooden sword from his right to his left, the movement smooth and powerful.
Gavin tried to imitate his instructor, but his movements were clumsy. His arms barely swung, lacking strength, and his entire body seemed out of sync, awkward and uncoordinated. "Hey, kid! Are you trying to swat flies? Pay attention to the strength of your arm, and use your waist to guide your arm!" Instructor Ryan shouted loudly.
Gavin's face flushed red with embarrassment as he tried again. This time, his attempt was slightly better, though still far from perfect.
Next, Instructor Ryan began teaching the downward slash. Gripping the wooden sword tightly with both hands, he raised it high above his head and then brought it down with great force, shouting loudly, "Like this! Use all your strength!"
Gavin did as he was told, but when he chopped for the first time, he used too much force and almost stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Steady yourself! Steady! You need to release your strength evenly, not flail around like a headless fly! Instructor Ryan barked, his eyes wide with intensity.
Through repeated, tireless attempts, Gavin slowly began to grasp the essentials of the downward slash. His movements became more fluid and precise with each passing moment.
Following this, the instructor moved on to teaching the thrust. "Boy, when executing a thrust, keep your eyes locked on the target, shift your body's centre of gravity forward, and fully extend your arm!"
At first, Gavin struggled with the technique. His thrusts often missed the target entirely, and his speed was painfully slow, akin to the sluggish crawl of a snail.
Yet, gritting his teeth and pushing through under Instructor Ryan's harsh but effective guidance, coupled with his own relentless determination, Gavin gradually mastered the thrust. His accuracy improved, and his speed increased noticeably.
By the end of the day's rigorous training, Gavin was left breathless and soaked in sweat. Despite his fatigue, his eyes shone with unwavering dedication to swordsmanship and a hopeful vision for the future.
Upon returning home, Gavin noticed a new change on his status panel. A new skill had appeared—Swordsmanship: Beginner—accompanied by a small "+" symbol.
His eyes lit up as he stared at the panel, excitement surging through him. Internally, he exclaimed, "I've finally reached the beginner level!" Without hesitation, he spent his last remaining energy point on the skill.
In an instant, the label shifted from Beginner to being Familiar, and an overwhelming influx of knowledge and experience surged through his mind—Gripping techniques, refined movements, and the essence of the sword. It felt as though he had trained for years, honing his craft through countless battles.
When he held the sword again, it felt as if it had become an extension of his arm, seamlessly integrated into his being. Gazing at the panel and sensing the newfound skill coursing through him, Gavin thought to himself, "With this panel, I can quickly master any skill. But those energy points… they're so hard to come by."
Setting aside his musings, Gavin succumbed to exhaustion and drifted into a deep, restful sleep.
Time flowed like a river, and years passed in the blink of an eye. Before long, the calendar marked the year 291 AC.
On the training grounds stood a young man, his silver-golden hair glinting under the sun's radiant light. His strikingly handsome face was complemented by a pair of deep, luminous violet eyes. His tall, upright figure, clad in training attire, held a wooden training sword with practiced ease. This was Gavin, now 14 years old. Standing across from him was Instructor Ryan. Both of them had firm and focused eyes.
"Gavin, show me how much you've improved over the years!" Instructor Ryan shouted, his voice ringing across the training grounds as he launched the first attack.
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[Chapter End's]
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