Rynan tightened his grip on the practice dagger, his small fingers slick with sweat. Forle stood a few meters away, his stance solid and imposing, sword poised and ready. The man's grin radiated confidence—a father relishing the opportunity to test his son.
"Alright, Ryn, let's see what you've got!" Forle called out, dashing forward in a blur of motion. His sword arced toward Rynan's liver, fast and precise.
Rynan barely managed to parry in time, his small frame trembling from the impact.
Shk!
Forle pivoted on his heel, kicking up a fresh cloud of dirt that swallowed the air between them.
Rynan coughed, stepping back instinctively. The dust stung his eyes, but he didn't let it distract him. His father was stronger, his attacks heavier—but in terms of speed and strategy, Rynan knew he had the edge.
'There's only one way to win this. Dad's power works against him—he puts too much energy into each strike.'
Squinting through the haze, Rynan focused all his attention on Forle's movements. Even though his figure was obscured by dust, the faint shuffle of boots against soil gave him away.
'He's aiming for my head.'
The realization clicked into place, and Rynan's mind shifted into overdrive. His plan was simple but effective: force a clash of strength to stall Forle, then sidestep at the last second to throw him off balance.
Forle's silhouette emerged from the dust, his blade already descending toward Rynan's head.
Rynan spun on his heel, turning a full 180 degrees to face the incoming strike.
Clang!
The sound of metal meeting metal rang out sharply as Rynan raised his dagger just in time to block. The force of Forle's attack sent vibrations through his entire body, but he held firm, his legs braced against the earth.
"Oh?" Forle's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Ryn, you're holding up pretty well!"
Rynan grinned, his teeth bared. "Thanks for the compliment, Dad." Then, with a gleam of mischief in his eyes, he added, "But you just fell into my trap!"
"What—?!" Forle's eyes widened as the realization struck, but it was already too late.
Rynan twisted to his left, stepping out of the bind and letting Forle's momentum carry him forward. The man stumbled, his balance lost.
"Gods—!" Forle exclaimed as he toppled forward, landing face-first in the dirt with a loud thud.
Rynan straightened, a victorious grin spreading across his face. 'It's my win.'
The thrill of victory coursed through him, but his celebration was cut short by a harsh reminder: he was five. His small, uncoordinated body, still unfamiliar to him, betrayed him in the worst way.
As Rynan stepped forward, his foot caught awkwardly on the uneven ground.
'Oh, no—'
His thoughts were cut off as he pitched forward, his face meeting the dirt in a graceless fall.
Slam!
For a moment, the backyard fell silent.
Forle lifted his head, staring at his son's prone form with wide eyes. Then, his shoulders began to shake.
"Pfft... HAHAHA!" Forle erupted into laughter, clutching his stomach as he rolled onto his back. "I really thought you'd beat me!"
Rynan groaned, pushing himself off the ground with a pout. "Dad, shut up," he muttered, dusting off his face and twisting his small body upright.
The fall stung more than he cared to admit, but what stung worse was his pride.
As Forle continued laughing, Rynan let out a small sigh, half annoyed and half relieved.
'Seems like I've gotten rusty...' he thought, shaking his head.
Despite the embarrassment, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. It wasn't a perfect victory, but it wasn't a loss either.
Forle stood up, wiping the dirt off of hit pants and shirt. "Alright, Ryn. Let's go eat dinner!"
Rynan smiled at Forle, before standing up. "Yeah!" He raised both of his hands. "I'm hungry!"
__________________𖤍____________________
The sun was setting, casting a soft glow over the land. Inside the house, the family sat down for dinner. The wooden table was filled with hot food, and everyone quickly said their prayers before starting to eat.
Rynan wasted no time and grabbed his spoon, eager to dig into the meal. Linia, his mother, glanced at him, her eyes full of curiosity. "So, Ryn, how was your training today?"
Rynan paused for a moment, then shrugged casually. "It was good. I almost beat Dad." He shoved another spoonful of food into his mouth, trying to act modest, though his grin betrayed his pride.
Forle, his father, chuckled from across the table. "Almost, huh? He's a quick learner. Managed to get all the basics of dagger fighting just from a book."
Linia smiled, leaning in with excitement. "At this rate, he could be ready for Ylza Academy!"
Rynan's brow furrowed. "Ylza Academy? What's that?" He wasn't familiar with the name, so he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Linia looked at him and nodded. "Ylza Academy? It's the best school in the kingdom. It's for magic and swordsmanship. It's tough to get in, but if you do, you learn from the best."
Rynan blinked, amazed. "Wow..." he said under his breath. 'A place for magic and sword fighting? That's... exactly what I want.'
He grinned as excitement rushed through him. He could already imagine himself in a place like that, learning all the magic and fighting skills he could dream of. It felt like something out of a story.
Forle smiled warmly. "Well, kid, you've still got some work to do. But if you keep training, you'll get there."
Rynan gave a small nod. "I'll work hard for it, Dad."
Linia beamed at him, her voice full of love. "I know you will, Ryn."
Forle raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "Just don't get too ahead of yourself. You've got a long way to go."
Rynan smiled confidently. "I'm ready for whatever you throw at me."
Forle laughed and leaned back in his chair. "Alright, kid. We'll see about that."
The meal went on in comfortable silence, the sound of spoons scraping against bowls and the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth filling the room. Rynan's mind was buzzing with thoughts about Ylza Academy. It sounded like a dream, but now it felt possible.
He wondered what kind of challenges awaited there, what kind of people he'd meet, and how much stronger he could get if he had the chance to learn there.
After a few moments, Linia spoke again. "You've really improved, Ryn. We're proud of you."
Rynan smiled, warmth spreading through his chest. "Thanks, Mom." He didn't know what to say, but her words meant a lot to him. He'd worked hard, and it felt good to be recognized for it.
Forle gave him a proud look. "You're doing well, kid. Keep it up."
Rynan's heart swelled with pride. His parents believed in him, and he wasn't about to let them down. He wanted to keep getting stronger, for himself and for them.
The thoughts of Ylza Academy kept running through his mind. It was a place for the best, for those who could master both magic and fighting. He wasn't sure if he was ready for it, but it felt like something he could work toward.
Linia smiled at him again, her voice full of warmth. "Whatever happens, we know you'll give it your best."
Rynan's face lit up. "I will, Mom. I promise."
Forle let out a small laugh. "Good. Keep that attitude, and you'll go far."
Rynan nodded. He didn't know how, but he was going to make this happen. Ylza Academy felt like a long way off, but it was a goal he could reach if he kept pushing himself.
With the quiet comfort of the meal and his family around him, Rynan felt ready for whatever came next. But his mind kept drifting back to Ylza Academy.
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