Kingoro was wandering through the corridors of the mansion, still lost in thought about what Lady Aria had said to him. Her words echoed in his mind, but he couldn't shake the feeling of frustration weighing down on his chest. Nothing seemed to go as he had hoped. Suddenly, he heard loud laughter coming from the far end of the corridor.
"Haha, good job, brother, good job!" The voice came from Yurio, his older brother, who was standing at the distant end of the hall. He was clapping his hands enthusiastically, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Do you really think this will help you?" Yurio said loudly, bending slightly as he added with a sneer, "You'll never become strong, will you?"
Yurio was the oldest son in the family, at the age of sixteen, while Hans was fourteen. Both of them possessed A-rank swords, making them among the strongest in the family.
Kingoro clenched his fists and glared at his brother with anger in his eyes. Yurio had always mocked him, seeing him as the weak younger brother, and Kingoro couldn't take it anymore.
"I will be the strongest, and you'll see that!" Kingoro replied, trying to make his voice sound full of determination. "I will never stop."
But Yurio continued laughing, which only made Kingoro feel even more frustrated. Yurio suddenly stood up and walked toward the wall where the swords were hung. He picked one of the ancient swords with sharp, gleaming edges. He lifted it with one hand and raised his head as if challenging Kingoro.
"Do you think you can fight me with that?" Yurio said, staring at Kingoro.
Kingoro, too furious to think clearly, charged at Yurio without hesitation, wielding the sword that was much heavier than he had expected. He tried with all his might to deliver a powerful strike, but the sword was heavier than he thought, making his movements slow.
Yurio laughed loudly as he easily dodged the strike, shifting his body lightly. He then drew his A-rank sword, which gleamed brightly as he raised it in front of Kingoro.
"You failure, do you really want to kill your brother?" Yurio said, turning toward him, his voice dripping with disdain.
Kingoro clenched his eyes shut before shouting, "My brother, who mocks me?!" The words left him with resentment as he felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins.
But Yurio wasn't interested in what Kingoro had to say. Without breaking a sweat, he stepped back a few paces and smiled, saying, "If you want to prove yourself, you need to train properly. But I don't think you'll ever be ready."
Then Yurio quickly walked off, returning to his father's room. Kingoro stood still, feeling a sense of defeat and frustration. But suddenly, something strange began to stir within him—a feeling he couldn't quite name, but it was determination, a desire for change.
Not long after, Laurence, Kingoro's father, entered the hall with Yurio by his side. His face was stern, and his eyes were filled with anger.
"I just heard what happened!" Laurence said in a harsh tone. "How many times do I have to tell you? Swords are not for playing. If you think you can become strong this way, you're wrong."
He then looked at Kingoro with a hard gaze and said, "You'll train in the arena for a month, under the supervision of your new trainer. You'll learn that strength comes from sacrifice and hard work."
The words hit Kingoro like a bolt of lightning. He knew it would be painful. He knew his father was disappointed in him. But he was ready to face this challenge, no matter the outcome. He had to prove to his father and brother that he was not just a weak boy.
As Yurio smirked in mockery, he said, "This is your chance, Keni. Show us that you're capable of something."
Kingoro had no choice but to hold his head high, knowing this was a new beginning for him, the start of a challenge that would only succeed through relentless effort.
Then Laurence said, "Your trainer will arrive in the morning. She's a young woman, very strict. You need to learn from her how to be strong, if you truly want to prove yourself."