In the Kingdom of Alexandria, in a village surrounded by rivers and mountains, under an open sky filled with fresh air, a boy was seen swinging a wooden sword repeatedly.
He appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in the simple clothing typical of village peasants. With raven-black hair and brown eyes, he trained with unwavering determination—slashing, striking, and stabbing.
On the 7th of March, he continued his practice.
By the 9th of March, he was once again seen swinging his sword.
On the 10th of March, he returned to the same place, practicing with the same dedication.
11th, 12th, 13th, 14th... Every evening, until late at night, he swung his sword, undeterred by the cold. He trained tirelessly, unfazed by the eerie darkness. He thrust his sword forward with relentless determination.
Even after two years, his habit hadn't changed. From morning to evening, he worked as a waiter in a local restaurant. The pay was neither too high nor too low—just enough for an orphan who had nothing but himself.
1st March, 1003
At the reception desk of the fluorescent-lit restaurant, Aan began tidying up. He sat on his chair, waiting for the other employees to arrive. While waiting, he read the books he had brought along. Being a massive bookworm and having no family, he spent most of his money on books, which were not cheap.
"Oh, Jack, you've come. Good morning! You look particularly cheerful today. What's the matter?" he asked with a soft smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Aan. Ah, nothing extraordinary—just that the weather is great, right?" Jack replied as he changed into his waiter uniform, his smile visible.
"Ah, I see... I understand why you're so happy today. It's the day when the Rein Swordsman Academy will recruit talented younglings," Aan said, writing something in his diary.
"Ahaha, how do you know? Is it that obvious?" Jack asked, surprised.
"Everyone in this town knows about your obsession with sword training. It's only natural that you'd want to join the academy," Aan said with a smile.
"That makes sense," Jack nodded.
As time passed, more customers started arriving.
"Jack, please deliver this fried rice to Table 2," Aan said with a yawn.
"Hey, did you hear? Knights from the Berns family will be overseeing the entrance exam. The top three will be given sword techniques used by the knights of Berns."
Jack ignored the conversation and delivered the food to the table.
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place candidates will be given swords from the mighty Berns family. If I manage to get one of those positions, my journey to becoming a swordmaster will be much smoother, he thought.
After training every day for two and a half years, he had developed a well-built body. He was confident he could pass the exam—but passing the exam was not the same as being at the top.
Jack looked at the huge gate and the thick stone walls, which made it resemble an impregnable fortress.
"I won't let go of this opportunity. I will surely become a swordmaster," he said proudly, staring at the gates.