The night had fallen by the time Roy and Kevin settled in the small clearing. The sounds of the jungle at night were different—filled with the chirping of insects, rustling leaves, and distant animal calls. The forest seemed alive, almost breathing alongside them, as they sat by a small fire they had built for warmth.
Kevin shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a position that didn't aggravate his injuries. Roy noticed, frowning slightly as he tossed another branch into the fire, the flames crackling as they danced up into the dark sky.
"How are you feeling?" Roy asked, his voice breaking the comfortable silence. Kevin looked up, his eyes reflecting the light of the flames.
"I'll be fine," Kevin said, trying to sound strong, but there was a slight tremble in his voice that gave away his exhaustion.
Roy nodded, looking into the fire thoughtfully. He had seen that look before—the determination to appear strong, to pretend that everything was okay even when it wasn't. It was something he had done countless times himself.
"You know," Roy said after a moment, "you don't always have to pretend to be okay. It's alright to admit you're hurting."
Kevin was taken aback by Roy's words. He looked down at his hands, the bandages he had wrapped around his injuries earlier still visible. The boy hesitated, then let out a small sigh, a burden seeming to lift off his shoulders.
"I just... I can't let myself be weak," Kevin admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "If I'm weak, they'll take everything from me. Those swords... my father... it's all I have left."
Roy listened quietly, his eyes softening as he watched Kevin struggle with his emotions. He could relate to the boy's fears, the sense of loneliness and the overwhelming need to hold onto something—anything—that gave life meaning.
"You did well today," Roy said finally, his voice calm and reassuring. "You fought against those bullies with everything you had. Your father would be proud of you."
Kevin looked up, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. For the first time, the boy allowed himself to feel a sense of relief. He didn't have to carry the burden alone, even if it was just for this fleeting moment.
They sat in silence for a while longer, the fire crackling between them. The world around them seemed vast and untamed, yet in that clearing, there was a sense of safety—a brief respite from the harsh reality they had both faced.
"Roy..." Kevin began, hesitating slightly. "What's your story? Why are you out here all alone?"
Roy chuckled softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It's a long story. But let's just say, I lost everything too, a long time ago. I ended up in a secluded place, trying to find strength—trying to become someone who wouldn't lose again."
Kevin nodded, understanding the unspoken pain in Roy's voice. He could hear the determination, the same fire that burned within him, reflected in Roy's words. For the first time, he realized that despite their differences, they shared something—something that went beyond just circumstance.
"You know," Roy said, breaking the silence, "we might not be allies or friends just yet. But I think, out here, we can at least look out for each other—just until we're ready to keep going on our own." He paused, then added, "I want to learn more about this area, and I think you could help me with that. In return, I won't let anyone bully you again." He smiled, a warmth in his eyes that Kevin hadn't seen before.
Kevin looked at Roy, a small smile forming on his face. "Yeah... I think I'd like that."
The fire crackled, the flames flickering and casting shadows across the clearing as the two boys shared a moment of understanding. It wasn't much, but for now, it was enough.
Next day, Kevin had taken Roy to his small hut, hidden deeper in the forest. The hut was modest, with a patched roof and minimal belongings, but it held something of great value to Kevin. On the wall hung two swords, intricately designed and clearly cherished. Kevin explained that these were the real swords that had belonged to his father, while the ones he had been carrying and fighting with the previous day were fakes meant to mislead anyone who might try to take them. The swords on the wall were beautiful, both sharing the same intricate design. One featured black with golden engravings, while the other was white with blue engravings. The hilt of each sword was shaped like a dragon, giving them an elegant yet fearsome look. These were the original swords of Kevin's father, carefully preserved as a reminder of his legacy. kevin brought a set of dagger that looked exactly like kevin father's sword from a compartment.
Kevin mentioned that his father had told him that the swords were meant for Kevin to keep, but the daggers could be given to someone he trusted. As Kevin offered the daggers to Roy, Roy's eyes widened with excitement. He couldn't hide his enthusiasm, his gaze fixed on the intricate designs of the weapons. He reached out but hesitated, looking at Kevin. "Are you sure? These look really special... I mean, they were your father's," Roy said, his voice filled with awe and a hint of reluctance.
Kevin nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "My father said I should only give them to someone I truly trust. You saved me, and I think he would have wanted you to have them." Kevin's trust was almost naive, and while Roy had no ill intentions, he couldn't help but think that if it were someone else, they might take advantage of Kevin's innocence.
Roy's eyes sparkled, and despite his attempt to appear humble, it was clear how much he wanted the daggers. "Well... if you insist," he said, finally taking the daggers in his hands, his excitement barely contained. He inspected them closely, feeling the weight and balance, his admiration evident. "Thank you, Kevin. I promise I'll use them well."
Though initially reluctant to accept, Roy's excitement over the daggers was undeniable, and eventually, he gratefully took them.
That night, unable to sleep, Roy had gone outside to train. He moved quietly through the clearing, taking up the twin daggers Kevin had given him. Under the moonlight, he began practicing with different grips, switching between hammer grips and reverse grips, moving with increasing speed. His strikes were sharp, aimed at a thick tree, each blow hitting the bark with a satisfying thud. The dim light of the night made his movements look almost mystical as he danced around the clearing, his breath steady, each strike purposeful.
Kevin, unable to sleep well due to his injuries, had woken up to the sound of the strikes. He quietly approached, staying in the shadows as he watched Roy. Despite Roy's power and instincts, Kevin could see that Roy was making multiple mistakes—his angles were sometimes off, and his footwork left him vulnerable to counterattacks. Still, the sheer determination in Roy's actions was admirable.
Kevin admired the power Roy was putting into every move, and it struck him how Roy's strength was already so impressive despite the gaps in his technique. Kevin decided, then and there, that they could both benefit from each other's skills.
The next morning, Roy stood up, stretching his arms before picking up the twin daggers Kevin had gifted him. He approached Kevin, who paused for a moment, glancing at Roy with curiosity.
"Let's practice together," Roy said, smiling. "I could use some help getting better with these." He raised the daggers, twirling them in his hands with a playful grin.
Kevin nodded, a faint smile crossing his lips, remembering what he had seen the night before. "Sure, I think we could both learn a lot from each other."
The two began to train together, their movements contrasting but complementing each other—Kevin's graceful, sweeping strikes with the swords against Roy's quick, agile movements with the daggers. The clearing filled with the sound of metal slicing through the air, the rhythm of their training almost like a dance.
As they practiced, they began to share small bits of conversation—Roy giving Kevin pointers on how to react during combat, Kevin showing Roy how to use his body weight to add power to his strikes. It was an exchange of knowledge that went beyond words, a bond that was slowly forming through shared effort.
Hours passed, the sun climbing higher in the sky, but neither of them seemed to tire. The sense of purpose, of striving to become stronger, filled them both with energy that seemed almost limitless.
Finally, as the sun reached its peak, Roy paused, breathing heavily but with a satisfied grin on his face. "You're really good, you know that?" he said, looking at Kevin with genuine admiration. "Your father must have been one hell of a teacher."
Kevin smiled, his cheeks flushed from the exertion. "He was. And I want to be just like him someday."
Roy nodded, his eyes reflecting the same determination. "And I want to be someone who can protect the people I care about. Maybe one day, we'll both get there."
Kevin looked at Roy, the sincerity in his words striking a chord deep within him. "Yeah... maybe we will," he said softly, a new sense of hope blossoming within him.
The two boys stood there for a moment, the sun shining down on them, the forest around them alive with the sounds of nature. They weren't allies, they weren't friends—not yet. But they were something more than strangers now, bound by their shared journey, by the desire to grow stronger and find their own path.
For Roy, this was just another step in his journey—a journey that he knew would be long and filled with challenges. And for Kevin, it was a chance to finally move forward, to honor his father's memory and carve out his own place in the world.
Together, they would keep pushing forward, until they were strong enough to stand on their own and the world would remember them as Heaven Destroyer and Sword God