Zerthon stood alone in the backyard, his eyes closed as he focused on his breathing. He was 16 now, and he knew that he had to continue training if he was going to fulfill his destiny as the Phoenix god.
He remembered the training he used to take with Arthur Vale, Chrysanthe, and Dromin Furrow. All three of them had been his teachers, and they had taught him everything they knew. But they had died during the goblin attack on the village, leaving Zerthon to continue his training on his own.
Zerthon opened his eyes and began to move through a series of intricate movements, his sword flashing in the sunlight. He had been training for hours, and he could feel the sweat dripping down his face.
But he didn't stop. He kept moving, his muscles burning as he pushed himself to his limits. He was determined to become stronger, to fulfill his destiny and protect the people he cared about.
As he trained, Zerthon's mind wandered back to Tessie and the orphanage. Tessie was 9 now, and she was still living in the orphanage, having fun with the other kids and making new friends. But Zerthon knew that she still thought about him, wondered what he was doing and whether he was safe.
Zerthon's heart swelled with emotion as he thought about Tessie. He knew that he had to protect her, to keep her safe from harm. And he was determined to do just that.
As the sun began to set, Zerthon finally stopped training. He was exhausted, but he felt satisfied. He knew that he had made progress, that he was becoming stronger.
Zerthon walked back to the house, his sword still clutched in his hand. He knew that he would have to continue training, to keep pushing himself to his limits. But he was ready. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, to fulfill his destiny and protect the people he cared about.
As he entered the house, Zerthon couldn't help but think about Tessie and the orphanage. He knew that he would have to visit them soon, to make sure that they were safe and happy.
And as he drifted off to sleep, Zerthon's mind was filled with visions of the future, of the challenges he would face and the triumphs he would achieve. He knew that he was ready, that he was prepared to face whatever lay ahead.
The next morning, Zerthon woke up early, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. He got dressed and went downstairs, where he found a note from Eira.
"Zerthon, I've gone to visit Tessie at the orphanage," the note read. "I'll be back later today. Keep training!"
Zerthon smiled as he read the note. He knew that Eira was always looking out for him, always pushing him to be his best.
And with that, Zerthon set off to continue his training, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.