《Gaining Infinity》 The Awaited Heir The Year 152 of The Lunar Calendar. In the "Yezid Continent". ~ "Sir! The mistress has given birth!" said a woman to a man dressed in black warrior''s attire. " Ha...!Finally! The heir I have been waiting for. The day will soon arrive, when I can finally retire," announced the burly man with an excited expression, unbecoming of his hairy and fierce-looking face. The father then looked serious and said, "Is the infant healthy?" "Yes, Sir Commander! The child is a perfectly healthy, 8-pound baby boy." The lady replied politely. The man''s excited expression reappeared. "Excellent! Take me to my wife and child, I can''t wait to know what kind of talent my offspring will possess," said the man with a commanding tone. "Of course! Please follow me!" The lady maid started escorting the man through the corridor of the estate quarters where his wife had given birth. This man was none other than ''Alvar Elerian'', the commander of the Western army of the ''Yasid Empire'' of the Yezid Continent. A distinguished warrior hailed as "The Best in the World." As the clan''s leader and a commander, Alvar was expected to have performance exceeding all others, which had caused him immense fatigue. Therefore, he desired an heir to whom he could pass this heavy burden when he grew old and frail. He intended to spend the rest of his old age in the countryside with his beloved wife, awaiting his demise. ~ In the bedroom quarters. "Oh my! Look at how beautiful your son is, my lady... Have you picked a name for him?" exclaimed one of the maidservants. "We will come up with a suitable name together," said the lady in bed, gently holding the child to her face. "You mean Sir Alvar and you? How are you so sure he is going to return?" Questioned the maidservant. "Isn''t he battling at the western borders? Will he have the time to travel all the way here to the capital?" "GUESS WHO''S HERE!" The ladies were startled upon hearing this bold voice. The woman holding the child widened her eyes to look at the entrance of the room. She appeared surprised and slightly emotional. "Dear, it''s actually you..." said the woman with slight disbelief. "You thought I wouldn not come?" Alvar looked at her questioningly. "No, I believed you would! I knew you wouldn''t miss the birth of the child you have been longing to have," she said to him with a slight smile tucked at her lips. "Anyways, now that you are here, have you thought of a name for our boy?" She asked in anticipation. "Wait, I never thought about that. It didn''t even cross my mind! How could I! Let me come up with a name right now," the man stated while sheepishly caressing his long, bushy beard. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The woman just chuckled at her husband''s folly. "Well, I have a suggestion." "Yes!? I am willing to hear it," Alvar said with a bright expression, clearly relieved to have gotten rid of this burden. He was never good with names¡ªhe had even named his horse ''Booger'' because it reminded him of it. The lady understood her husband''s relief and seemed even more willing to pick a suitable name. "How does ''Alf'' sound?" Asked the lady questioningly. "Alf... ''Alf Elerian''...." The man took a second to process. I like it. I think it''s a suitable name for a future warrior of the Elerian Clan." The lady gave a dazzling smile, her eyes gleaming with radiance. "Alf, my child, do you like your name?" The toddler smiled, as if he understood what she said. "May your life be full of happiness and joy as you are experiencing now," said the lady when she saw her child''s innocent smiling face, not yet wrinkled by the worries of life. Alvar''s expression saddened as he reflected on what this child would face as an Elerian. As a father, he wanted nothing more than to pamper his son and satisfy all of his needs. But he was aware that as the leader of a warrior clan, the type of mentorship this youngster required was one that would form him into a viable successor to the Clan Head post. "Dear Catherine, please pass me the infant," Alvar asked, looking at his wife seriously. She grasped her husband''s intentions when he asked her to give up her child, whom she adored above all else. She unwillingly handed Alf to her husband. "Sure, here, go to dada." Catherine, despite her reservations, obeyed her husband when she saw his face¡ªa frigid countenance in stark contrast to his former pleasure. Catherine Sanders, a lady from a modest family, had married Alvar Elerian through an arrangement. Her family had been subservient to the Elerians for generations and was more than glad to marry their daughter to the Clan Leader when there had been a proposal from the Elerians. Catherine, though innocent and pampered, was not ignorant of the customs of the Elerians. She was aware that her son was being taken to the ''Talent Awakening'' ceremony, which every Elerian child went through on the day they were born. This ceremony was supposed to awaken the latent talent of wielding ''Ether'' in children, which was the determinant factor for their future growth. Children with high talents were nurtured to be the cornerstones of the family as warriors or mages in the future. While those with low talent were almost always disregarded and thrown out of the competition for gaining a rank in the clan or even in the Western Armies, as they were mostly incapable of wielding enough Ether to excel in either the warrior or mage professions. This ceremony would decide Alf''s future ability to wield Ether, allowing him to qualify as an heir and enjoy special treatment and benefits. While walking to the ceremonial area with Alf in his embrace, Alvar was saluted by Clansmen and guards alike with each step. "Clan Head!" "Sir Commander!" Alvar returned each salutation with a small nod and continued marching in an authoritative manner. ~~ In the courtyard of the Elerian Estate. "Clan Head, please, this way," said an old man in ragged clothing with utmost respect. "Please place the young one on the box." In the middle of the courtyard, there was a certain cube-shaped box made out of some kind of lustrous metal with rune symbols engraved all over it. "So this is the Lustros Box that measures talent! I barely remember it, coming here as an infant," thought Alvar and placed Alf, who was wrapped in a blanket, on the box. "I really hope your talent in wielding Ether is high; otherwise, your journey forward is going to be really difficult, my son," thought Alvar while looking at the cute face of the child on the box, his heart anxious. The box started glowing, and a really bright yellow light came out of the runes. "NO! IT CAN''T BE!" exclaimed the old man in ragged clothes. The bright light suddenly vanished completely, and the runes stopped glowing. "_" "SO! What is it? How is my son''s talent?" The old man coughed in embarrassment. "It seems I was mistaken. I am sorry to tell you... your son is completely ordinary," the old man said in a monotonous tone. "Because he lacks the ability to wield Ether, the box did not emit any light. If he had a lot of talent, it would shine brilliant yellow, and if he didn''t, it would glow dim white. However, in your son''s case, there was no reaction." After taking in every little detail given by the old man, his face lit up. "But that bright light earlier?" "That was only a fluctuation; it did not reflect your son''s potential." He answered directly, expecting a reaction. Alvar clinched his fist and smashed a hole in the surrounding wall. He began ranting and destroying every wall, pillar, and pot in the courtyard like a lunatic. The old guy shook with horror as he witnessed this terrifying display of strength. "My son is utterly useless?" Whispered Alvar. His gaze cast down. To be continued... Talentless Heir "My son, is utterly useless?" Alvars says faintly, his gaze cast down. ~ The next day ¨CElerian Estate''s Clan Hall¨C "Have you heard about the newborn son of the Clan Head? Word is that he is completely talentless. He has no latent talent in wielding Ether!" "I have also heard the whispers, but how can you believe in such baseless rumors?" "These rumors aren''t baseless, every guard and servant who witnessed the talent awakening has testified to it. The Clan Head''s son is utterly useless. I mean, have you ever heard about someone being born with no talent?" The voice said in a whisper. Two old men were discussing while sitting on alternate chairs. These two were one of the many clan elders that were having a similar discussion in the Clan Hall. Many were eagerly awaiting the Clan Head, to hear his conformation about the rumors. In the 800 year long History of the Elerian Clan, not a single individual had been born completely talentless. Alf''s appearance was thus an anomaly. Being completely talentless was rare even among ordinary people, let alone in a clan full of warriors and magicians, known for their strong bloodlines. To top it all off, this child was none other than the Clan Head''s son, who would inherit the Clan Head position, after Alvar retires or passes away. A bold voice abruptly halts the discussion among the elders. "Sir Alvar Elerian, the Clan Head and commander of the Western Armies is here!" Announces a guard clad in green. Hearing this, all the elders in the Hall stood up from their chairs, to pay their respects to their leader. With a commanding presence, Alvar steps into the hall, his upright posture reflecting the might of a seasoned warrior. Dressed in dark warrior''s attire, with a sword hanging at his side and a dagger strapped at his waist, he exuded an aura of authority. He walks towards the throne, and before taking a seat, signals everyone to sit down with him. Just as he is about to speak, a voice interrupts. "Clan Head! I have heard that your child that you were so eager to have, ended up being a useless cripple that doesn''t have an ounce of talent¡ªis this true?" An elderly voice speaks up, with an extremely wrinkled face and a smug expression. Upon hearing this old man''s rant, though Alvar''s expression darkens, he maintains his composure. "That is indeed true Oscar. My son is born with no latent talent, I have confirmed it with the talent awakening ceremony." Alvar replies, without an ounce of emotion in his words. The sly old Oscar smiles triumphantly. "It appears you have no other option. You will have to make my grandson ''Edward'' the successor" "Who says there is no other option? It seems you are mistaken, just because my son has no talent, doesn''t mean he cannot become the next successor." Alvar replies with a cold look in his eyes. The old man snorts arrogantly. "Huh! If you think a weakling will be allowed to become the Clan Head, then it''s you who are mistaken, Sir CLAN Head!" "Who says my son will be weak? I plan to make him even stronger than I ever was." Alvar responds with a smirk. "Oho, would you look at this arrogant fool?"The old Oscar thinks inwardly. "Have you ever heard of a no-talent becoming a warrior? How will he fight when he can''t even wield Ether? He will be crushed before he can step foot in the battlefield. Such a boy is incapable of becoming the Clan Head of the strongest Clan in The Asid Empire." Retorts the old Oscar, his frustration apparent. The elder''s remarks drew the attention of everyone present towards him, and even the few that had sided with Alvar before, started siding with the old Oscar. They all agreed that Edward was the better candidate. Upon witnessing this scene, a frown appears on Alvar''s face. He is distressed by the Elders agreement with old Oscar. "GIVE ME FIFTEEN YEARS!" The words echo in the Hall. Drawing everyone''s attention. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "In fifteen years, if my son is not able to surpass Edward, he will be disqualified as my successor and I might consider making Edward the next successor." "Your grandson is currently nine, right?" "Indeed he is¡ªso what?! You think he will be surpassed by a no-talent child in just fifteen years?" The old voice seeming increasingly agitated. The elders exchange glances, impressed by their leader''s unwavering confidence and determination. They start a discussion among themselves, and argue whether or not to agree with their Clan Head''s terms. After a while of silence, the majority of elders come to an agreement. "Clan head, we have an agreement. If your son is not able to surpass Edward, Oscars grandson in fifteen years, he will no longer be the successor and Edward will automatically remain the only viable candidate due to his strong martial prowess and high talent." An announcement is made by a representative. Hearing this, old Oscar tries to retort, but a bold voice interrupts him. "ALRIGHT, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED! In exactly fifteen years, there will a duel between my son and Oscars grandson. The one who emerges victorious will become the successor to the Clan Head position." Alvar''s voice thunders across the Hall. (A/N: Ayo, revenge? ) "Do you have any disagreements O-S-C-A-R?" The old Oscar barely controlling his fury, musters up a reply. "Alright! I oblige! The duel shall be held in fifteen years time." "Yeah, the duel will happen¡ª provided that the brat is able to survive till then!" The sly old Oscar start scheming in his head, a sinister smile creeping on his ugly face. ~ ¨CElerian Estate¨CCeremonial place¨C The ragged old Man ''Durian'' is cleaning the lustrous box with a cloth, when he notices something amiss. "Wait, why is the lustrous box not glowing when I touch it?" He wonders while cleaning the boxes top. "Usually it would glow with a bright light and with slight warmth radiating from it." The old man then starts inspecting the runes on the box with Ether threads, coming out of his fingers. He visualizes the Ether threads moving along the flow of Ether in the runes. But he discovers something peculiar. "How is this possible? The box ran out of Ether!?" The old man wonders, puzzled by this discovery. "This should not be possible! It was filled with a massive quantity of Ether just five years ago, that should have lasted for a few more decades, even if a ceremony was to be performed every day." He racks his brain for an explanation. Only one ceremony had been performed yesterday, yet the Ether was completely drained. "That single ceremony should not have depleted the Ether reserves." "Maybe that sudden fluctuation and that bright light that appeared while performing the ceremony, was somehow related to this?" "Oh, who am I kidding! I am too stupid to grasp this situation. I should summon the Clan mages to refill the Ether supply of the Box." The old man surrenders his curiosity to his stupidity, quietly walking to the mage quaters to summon the mages and inform them about the lack of Ether in the Lustrous Box. Along his walk, old Durian can''t help but wonder about this peculiar incident. "I can''t explain this unease I am feeling. A single childs awakening should not have run the Ether supplies dry! That too of a talentless child¡ªtalentless?" Old man Durian''s thought process gets interrupted by a passer by mage, who inquires about his presence in the mage quaters. "What are you doing here old Man?" "Oh! It''s you Sir Thebes! I came here because... " He instructs the mages to fill the Lustrous Box, and forgets about his previous unease. "Ah! I was probably overthinking it" He disregards his previous puzzlement and proceeds with his usual duties. (A/N: oh boy) ~ ¨C Living quaters¨CElerian Estate¨C Catherine is gazing at her son''s face, sleeping peacefully in the cradle, completely unaware of the uproar his birth has caused in the Clan. "My sweet child." She looks at him with tearful eyes, as she imagines the hardships and difficulties that await him. When Catherine first came to know about her son''s lack of talent she was absolutely devastated. She cried the whole night in sadness for her son''s future. She was aware, being born with no talent for Ether wielding, was as good as being born a cripple that will be dependent on others for every little necessity¡ªespecially in a clan of warriors¡ªwhere the weak are trampled and looked down upon, while the strong rule. "I won''t let anyone hurt you. I promise it!" Catherine makes an oath to herself. Just when she leaves the room, she catches sight of her husband walking around the living room in deep thought. "Dear you are back! How did the meeting go? What did you discuss?" Catherine asks with a concerned look on her face. "How is Alf?" "He is currently sleeping in the cradle." A frown appears on Alvar''s face. "It seems our son is not out of the successor position, atleast not yet" Despite being relieved to hear this, Catherine still questions her husband about the meeting. He gladly narrates the discussions he had with the Elders and the agreement he reached with the old Oscar. "That sly fox! He always was after your position! Now he wants it for his grandson so that he can use him as a puppet?" "Why haven''t you gotten rid of him yet? You should have thrown him out of the clan a long time!" Catherine couldn''t contain her disgust and anger. "Control yourself. You know I can''t do that! That oldie has deep connections with various elders and has a long history with the previous Clan Heads. Throwing him out is not viable. Rivalries between members is encouraged. I can not take any major action until I have proof of his malicious and conniving nature; otherwise, I will lose the trust of the Clan members." Catherine finally manages to compose herself and asks Alvar what his future course of action will be. "I could not let his schemes come to fruition. My son has to win the duel in fifteen years, if we are to prevent that old fox gaining leadership of the Clan." Alvar says with a determined expression. "I am afraid, you will have to seperate from our son for a while!" A faint voice says. He looks at her with an apologetic expression. Catherine''s expression shifts from anger to confusion upon hearing this. "What do you mean?" Alvar clenches his fist and decides to tell her after a moments contemplation. "That Oscar! He is planning somthing sinister. Our son''s life will be endangered if he were to remain within the estate." To be continued... Separation "That Oscar..! He is planning something sinister, our sons life will be jeopardized if he were to remain within the Estate." Catherine''s eyes widen as she hears this, but she maintains an expression that suggests she expected it. "I have been suspecting him. I have had a hunch for a while, you know? He has been aiming for the Clan Head position, and this is an excellent opportunity to seize it." She responds bitterly. "If even you can sense how dangerous he is, then he must be planning something terrible." She says with her eyes closed and arms crossed. "But as long as you are here, I do not think he will dare to do anything harmful to our child!" "That is the issue! You see, the reason I fear for Alf''s safety, is because I will be leaving tomorrow!" Cathrine looks at him with a questioning expression. "Why? You just got back yesterday!" Alvar clenches his fist. "If only Alf had been born with the talent for wielding Ether, his path would have been much easier. But fate had different plans... Now I must ensure that he survives in another way!" He thinks to himself. "It appears that while I was traveling here, my men were ambushed by enemy soldiers, and hundreds of them were killed due to a lack of command. My absence has resulted in numerous casualties, so I must return to the western borders!" Alvar says with regret. Hearing this, Catherine attempts to persuade him not to return, claiming that someone else could go in his place. However, he disagrees, stating that he cannot abandon his comrades for a threat that may not even exist. "Listen to me, perhaps it would be best if Alf were to grow up at some other place. If he were to stay here, he would not feel welcomed and would be an outcast among his peers. I do not want such a life for my son!" After a few seconds of silence, Catherine presses a hand to her chest as if steadying her breath. "You are correct." She mutters. Her words were bitter, but she spoke them anyway. Alvar sighs deeply upon witnessing his wife''s grief. "You can spend a week with him, after that, he will be sent to live with ''Daniel''. He is a man I have a lot of faith in." "He is a former comrade who now lives on the outskirts of the capital. Alf will be well-cared for there, and you could pay him a visit once every few months. He will also train him in martial arts while I am away. Since he can''t use Ether, martial arts training is the only way he can get stronger!" He says, with a look of anticipation. Hearing this, Catherine clenching her fists, simply nods. She walks away, and heads to the bedroom where Alf was sound asleep. Alvar let''s out a deep sigh and decides to leave the living quaters, hoping to give his wife some space. He leaves the next day, missing the opportunity to speak with Catherine one last time. "I forwarded the letter to Daniel¡ª it is now Cathrine''s decision, whether or not to send Alf to live with Daniel at Zalglen.''" Alvar thinks inwardly as he rides his horse through vast grasslands. ~~ If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. A week later¡ª Catherine is riding in a carriage through a dense forest, holding Alf in her arms. "If everything goes as planned, we will be at Zalglen in three days." The coachman tells a pale-faced young man with blue eyes and black hair. "Did you hear sis? We will be there in just three days!" "Yes, I heard." Catherine responds with an expressionless face. Following that, a terrifying cacophony of barks rises from the forest. A group of red wolves emerge, drooling and howling. They start surrounding the carriage. "What is a pack of red wolves doing so far away from their usual habitat!?" The coachman exclaims. "Oh Lord! I don''t want to die!" In a state of panic, he tries to steer the horses away, but one of them is bitten by a wolf while attempting to flee. "Don''t even try! There are too many of them, we cannot escape without a fight!" The young man exits the carriage with his sword unsheathed and glowing with a blue light. He glares at the group and lunges. In an instant, he closes the distance, stabbing, poking, and slicing. If a wolf came within a reasonable range, he would cut it down, and if it was farther away, he would stab it. Within a few seconds, a dozen wolves were sliced down. "So, you are the only one remaining." Like a predator observing its prey, he gazes at the wolf. He lunges forward, attempting to stab it with his sword, but the wolf easily dodges and charges at the man''s neck. The man staggers as the wolf''s claws approach him. He narrowly avoids the fatal blow by ducking just in time. "It appears I must use the Ether flow if I don''t want to get killed!" His sword begins to glow with an even brighter blue light, and he launches an attack. This time, the wolf wasn''t so lucky and the sword pierces its neck, ending its life. "Huuh! Its finally dead¡ª man was that exhilarating!" The man exclaims with a wild grin. Catherine exits the carriage distraught, but when she notices her brother still standing and the dozen wolf corpses on the ground, she sighs with relief. "Thank God you are safe! I was so anxious!" "You are worried for nothing; do you not know how strong I am?" He asks with a smug smile. Catherine chuckles at her brothers cocky attitude. "He has grown up to be just like his father." "Thank you so much Sir Ethan! If it weren''t for you, I would''nt have survived. I owe you my life!" The coachman bows his head in appreciation. When Ethan saw this, he grabbed his shoulders to pull him from his bow. "My sister is the reason I came on this journey, I am here to keep her safe. This is my duty, no need to thank me," he says while shaking his head. ~ Catherine finally arrives at Daniel''s house in Zalglen, after three days and nights of riding. The house was built entirely of wood and features a traditional Indo-European design common in the Asid Empire. A fierce-looking man with sharp features and a robust physique was waiting at the house''s entrance. "I welcome you to my home, Lady Elerian. I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival!" Says the fierce looking man. "Thank you! I appreciate your warm welcome!" Catherine replies politely. "I suppose you are Mr. Daniel?" "Oh yes! I am Daniel. Sorry for the late introduction!" He replies, scratching the back of his head. Daniel invites Cathrine into his home. "I am afraid I cannot invite Sir Ethan as well, as we do not have enough room for any more people," he says, with an apologetic expression. "Oh! I guess it cannot be helped since you don''t have enough space. I am fine sleeping in the carriage; I have been doing so for a few nights." Ethan replies with resignation. ~~ After a brief introduction with the rest of the family, he inquires about Alf, and asks her the reason for sending him so far away from the main estate. After some thought, she decides to tell him everything. "Since he will be looking after Alf from now on, it would be better to reveal everything." She goes on to explain everything that has happened, from Alf''s birth to the talent awakening and the agreement with Oscar. "Hmmm... I see. I understand why commander decided to send Alf here. It was probably the best option for his safety and well-being." Daniel nods as he comments. "You can rest assured my lady! Alf will be loved and well cared for. He is the commander''s son, and I will make sure he has everything he needs. My daughters have already grown fond of him." He gives a thumbs-up. (A/N:Lol. Fun guy) ~ Catherine had spent the whole night chatting with the family members. She wanted to ensure that Alf was placed with a family that was suitable for him. She observed that this family was loving and caring, and it was only then that she decided to leave first thing in the morning. "How can I be so selfish and make you stay with me? I do not want my selfishness to continue to put you in danger." She thinks inwardly, while clenching her fist. "It breaks my heart to leave, but I know it is best for you to stay here and grow up safely." She mutters as she presses Alf against her face, her eyes moist. Her gaze drops as she releases her son and steps into the carriage. To be continued... Beginning The year 160 of the Lunar Calander¡ª Yasid Empire¡ª ~~ "Hey Mom! Dad! Where are you?" A black-haired boy is running through a dense, dark forest. Panicked and searching desperately. He spots two forms looming in the distance and sighs with relief. "Hey, wait for me!" He yells, but the shadows appear to move further away. He hears the crackling of twigs and the movement of bushes. The sound of footsteps approaching from behind, moving closer and closer, horrifies him, making him reluctant to move an inch. Fearful of what''s behind him. "Is it a monster!?" Despite the looming threat, he manages to glance behind. A figure. A face. Someone he knew. Stood there, expressionless. Finally, he is able to let go of the breath he was holding. "Mother! It''s you! I have missed you so much," he says with longing. The woman looks at him with distaste, as if his statement appalled her. She gazes as though her eyes are dead. The boy is then slapped across the face. "You disgust me! You are so absolutely useless! I curse the damned day you were born!" The lady spat with a cold look in her eyes. He stares at her with a look of shock and confusion. The words hurt him far more than her slap. "Why, Mom? What have I done wrong!? Please tell me," the child grips his mother''s arm. "I have missed you so much! You have not been visiting at all! You said you would take me to see Father once I turned seven. It''s been a year; you haven''t come back... Please don''t abandon me; I promise I will become a better son!" He says with a pleading look. The woman kicks the child without sympathy, sending him whirling. "Do not touch me!" She starts walking away into the wilderness. "No! Mother! Don''t leave, please tell me what I have done wrong. Is it because I am weak and can''t wield Ether? Is that why!?" The child shouts pleadingly, tears flowing down his face. He starts chasing after her, but to no avail. Her shadow moved further away as he ran faster. "Wait! Don''t leave!" "Son! Wake up!" A voice echoed, but his mother¡¯s words still rang in his ears. "You disgust me." His eyes flew open, his breath shaky, and his hands clutched the blanket tightly. It took a moment for reality to set in¡ªhe was safe. It was just a dream. He glances about, his gaze falling on the gray-haired man beside his bed. "You were having a nightmare; what did you see?" "Oh! Just a dream." He breaths a sigh of relief. The boy, unwilling to respond, decides not to talk about it. "Good morning, Uncle Daniel." The boy greets with a sincere smile. Daniel responds ¡ªunconcerned that his questions were disregarded. "Good morning, Alf. Son, you haven''t forgotten about today, have you?" Alf looks at him confused. The old man sighs helplessly. "You turned eight a week ago. Your martial arts training starts today. So, get out of the bed before I make you!" He says, irritated. "Oh, so it starts today!" The boy answers enthusiastically, forcing himself out of bed despite his lack of sleep. "It is not even light out yet." Alf comments. Daniel looks at him with anticipation. "So, you think being a warrior is easy? Training non-stop won''t be enough for a weak boy like you." Alf looks at him, taken aback by his harsh comments. "He has never spoken to me like this," Alf thinks to himself, obviously upset by Daniel''s words. "Quit your jittering. After you have washed yourself, meet me at the well; that is where we will start the training." Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Alf nods obediently and leaves the room, making the old man sigh in regret. "Am I being too harsh with him?" Daniel thinks to himself, caressing his face. He shakes his head. "No, I can''t afford to be lenient with him. The anticipated duel will take place in seven years; he must grow strong enough to fight the most promising kid in the Elerian Clan. He needs to get stronger as soon as possible if he wants to have a chance at victory!" ~~ Alf arrives at the training spot, but the old man is nowhere to be found. He begins to look around and suddenly get''s goosebumps. "BU!" A bold voice comes from behind him. "AGH!" He jumps surprised, and snap''s his head back. "Hahaha! I surprised you, did I not?" Daniel starts laughing heartily. "Hey, don''t sneak up on me like that! I almost had a heart attack!" Alf rebukes him. Daniel''s eyes turn cold. "The enemy will never hesitate to sneak up on you! You must always be aware of your surroundings." Alf is taken aback when he looks at Daniel''s cold eyes. He has a sudden realization. "This is what Mom used to say¡ªwarriors are unrelentingly strict and serious when it comes to battle." "Let''s begin with your stamina!" Daniel declares with anticipation. "Run for 10 minutes at your max speed!" Hearing this, Alf doesn''t complain further. He starts running, gradually increasing his pace till he is running at full speed. "Not bad! His pace is good. If he can continue at this pace for 3 minutes, that would already be impressive!" Daniel comments inwardly, not expecting much from Alf on his first day of training. Alf kept running , for what felt like hours. Despite his painfull knees and heavy breathing, he noted that as he continued to run, his feet felt lighter and his breathing became more stable. At first he was gasping for air, and his legs were feeling sore after only a couple seconds of running. Now, its seemed as though he could soar through the sky. "This seems to be getting easier. I never knew running could be so fun!" He dropped down after a few more minutes, panting. "That should be 10 minutes, right?" He asks Daniel while steadying his breath. Daniel is pleasantly surprised. He had not expected Alf to finish the run so quickly, but he did, and even outperformed by running nonstop for 15 minutes! Despite being eight years old, Alf hardly went outside, and if he ever did, it would be a 10 minute walk to the Academy. He was more of a book worm, and had always been shy of strangers. He was clumsy and would occasionally trip when walking on flat terrain. It seemed improbable that such a youngster would perform well in physical training; this performance was even more unexpected. Daniel laughs a hearty laughter. "Hahaha! Even though he does not have any Etherial talent, he seems to have a good physique. He is the Commanders son afterall, so its no surprise!" Alf gazes at Daniel, questioning his sudden outburst. "Ahem! It looks like you successfully performed the task I gave you. But don''t get too cocky, I have something more for you!" Alf notices Daniel''s look, and his face lights up as he understands his Uncle approves of him. His emotions were an open book, and easy for even a child to read. "Of course Uncle! I can train more!" Alf replies with excitement. Daniel is thrilled when he sees his disciple''s enthusiasm. "Now, perform a hundred push-ups, a hundred sit-ups, and a hundred lunges." He goes on to show him how to perform each exercise. "I bet he will not be able to finish this; he needs more training," Daniel thinks, proud of himself. "Yes Sir!" Alf obediently starts performing the exercises. One by one, he starts going through each exercise. He starts with push-ups. Though with great difficulty, he reaches the goal of a hundred, while he breezes through the other two. "Amazing! He has reached this level of physical strength despite having never trained before." Daniel mutters, and starts pondering Alf''s ability. He then decides to question him. "Son, have you been secretly training without telling me?" "No Uncle! This is my very first time! I have never done any training before." Alf replies straightforward. "I see." He says, his arms crossed and eyes closed, still engrossed in deep thought. "Then our training ends here for today. You already have a solid foundation of strength and endurance, so you can begin your martial arts training after a month." ~~ After completing the training with Daniel, Alf head''s back inside. Even though he continued to work through the exercises, he was still fatigued. He was still a child, not yet developed. He went to his room and pounced on his bed, tired and sore all over his body. "Alfie, where were you? I did not see you all morning." A voice wakes up Alf from his half- asleep state, causing him to jump out of bed. He looks at the direction of the pleasent voice. At the room''s entrance, a girl stood, looking at him, with emerald eyes. The girl had a child-like face with blonde hair that was tied in two little pony tails. Though, from her build, she seemed a lot older. " Oh! Sister Ophelia. I had gone to train with Uncle at the well." Alf responds to Ophelia with glee. He then rushes to her and hugs her tightly. They chat for some time about his training and she takes him to have breakfast. Alf was sitting on the dining table, when an old voice asks. "Son, I heard you trained with Daniel today. He was not too hard on you, was he?" A woman with grey hair speaks while serving bread. Alf pauses briefly before replying, "No Aunt Ellen, he was very kind." "That is wonderful to hear! When he gets too excited, especially during training, he loses perspective." Aunt Ellen let''s out a sigh. Alf nods and continues to peacefully devour the bread. "Eat quickly if you don''t want to get late to the Academy." Ophelia comments, reminding Alf of what he dreaded the most. Alf''s expression darkens slightly when the Academy is mentioned. "I hate School!" He considers for a moment before deciding to go to the Academy after eating his breakfast. "I hope I don''t meet him today!" He prays to God and leaves the house. To be continued... Academy "I hope I don''t encounter him today." After praying, he exits the house and walks to his school. Zalglen Academy¡ª Alf is sitting on a semi-circular table with various other kids around his age, but they are distributed in different groups, while Alf is alone in his seat. The classroom is a sharp contrast to the sunny outside. It is constructed from wood and has a stable-like structure, similar to the buildings used to house cows or horses. The fragrance of rodents and old wood lingers in the air, and children''s voices can be heard. Children with shabby clothes sit in the seats, staring at the front of the room. A simply clothed woman stands in front of a board, her eyes pleasantly looking at the students as she explains to them¡ªthe wonders of Ether. "Do you kids know anything about Ether?" She asks, with a hint of excitement in her voice. An enthusiastic student raises his hand. "Yes teacher! I know!" The child declares, his expression displaying his excitement to respond. "Excellent! Sam, can you explain it to the class?" She asks, her interest piqued. He gets up from his seat, with his head up in anticipation of a flurry of applause and cries, the child proclaims. "Ether is what knights and magicians use to get powerful!" The woman gives a clap of approval. "Correct! Thank you for telling us! You can take your seat." The boy happily sits in his seat, feeling proud of himself for giving the correct answer. Witnessing all of this, a chubby kid scoffs. "He is feeling proud over this? What an idiot." As the lectures proceed, Alf remains silent the entire time, focusing on the lesson and taking notes on all the important details. The teacher then approaches the board and starts scribbling, writing different definitions and interpretations of Ether. "Ether has the ability to borrow the properties of different elements¡ªwater, fire, metal, and lightning... It can also make things stronger. Although these are the only ways Ether is mainly used, its different applications are being discovered every day." The teacher then starts demonstrating¡ªher palm emits a blue, glowing thred that begins to glow bright yellow and transforms into a tiny ball of fire. But the lecture is interrupted when a hand is raised. "Miss! I have a question." Hearing this voice, she swings her head back to the black-haired lad. "Yes! Do you have any doubts, Alf?" He gets to his feet and looks at the material on the board. "I want to know about the origin of Ether! Where does it come from?" Alf asks with sparkling eyes of curiosity. A smile appears on her face. "I didn''t know this child was so curious. I have not seen him speak very often." She thinks to herself, with a slight smile tucked at her lips. "Our ancestors discovered Ether more than a thousand years ago." She responds confidently, glancing at him with lifted brows. "But teacher, how did Ether form?" She lets out a sigh, and a soft smile crosses her face. "Everyone is born with Ether; it''s a part of nature. It is just like air and water because it just exists naturally." Alf looks up at her, not convinced by her words. He furrows his brows in deep thought. "Let us carry on with the lesson! Alf, please take your seat." Alf obediently sits down and looks at the board. Despite his desire to ask numerous questions, he tries to restrain his curiosity in order to focus on the lecture, "If everyone is born with Ether, why is it that some can''t use it?" He whispers faintly. A young voice rises to speak. "You cannot even use Ether; why bother with the lesson? It''s useless for you anyway." A blonde boy asks with a mocking grin. Hearing this, Alf clenches his fists and grits his teeth. He glares at him. "It is none of your business! Clay!" "When a cripple like you tries to disturb the class, why should I not speak up?" The boy responds condescendingly and sneers. "Boys, don''t disturb the lesson!" A voice thunders across the classroom. "Teacher! He is the one who started it! Just because he can use Ether, he thinks he is better than everyone." Alf stands up, seeking to emphasize his point. Clay scoffs. "Of course! Isn''t it obvious that I am better than everyone in this class? All the students here are weak! You can''t even use Ether. You failed to weave a single thread, and you expect me to respect you?" He starts jeering, while holding his stomach. "How pathetic!" Alf''s face twists into a snarl, barely holding back his outrage. The teacher''s angry voice interrupts their conversation. "Enough, the both of you! I will not allow any more disruption in my classroom. If you don''t quite down, I will have to take you to the headmasters office!" "I will stop speaking when this ape shuts his mouth!" Alf states while pointing his finger towards Clay. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Clay stands up, his face twisted with rage, slamming his fist down on the bench with a loud thud and shouting. "What did you call me?" You Fatherless..." The teacher looks at Clay with cold eyes, her fury radiating from them. Clay backs away as he senses her rage; not wanting to aggravate her anger, he sits in his seat. He glares at Alf, and whispers. "Meet me after class. I am going to kill you!" Alf frowns and let''s out a tired sigh. "I hate dealing with people like him!" He thinks to himself. ~ The lectures continue. Alf goes over each subject one by one, starting with magic, then literature, and then arithmetic. After a boring day of studying, it is time for the final lecture of the day: physical education, taught by my instructor Griffith. ~ In the training grounds¡ª "Children! Today, we will learn the basics of the sword. Each of you should pick a wooden sword from that shack." A large man with a moustache and gray hair points towards a wooden shack. The students hurry excitedly. They all choose a wooden sword with chatter and joyful squeals, and run back towards instructor Griffith. Once all the students are gathered, he glances around at them, making sure that everyone got a sword. "Is it too heavy for you kids?" He questions the group, with raised eyebrows as he sees them barely holding onto it with two hands. "No teacher." The students reply simultaneously, even though their expressions convey their fatigue; just holding the sword was proving difficult. Griffith nods in agreement. "If you kids say so, but don''t regret it later." "They can''t even hold onto the sword; why would they not tell him?" Alf thinks to himself, staring at the kids puzzled. While a lot of children were struggling to hold onto their wooden swords, several of the boys were already practicing with them, swinging them around like nothing. One of such boys was Clay, who was swinging around the sword by strengthening his body with Ether. Alf also held onto his sword with just one hand. "Even though it''s not that heavy, the weight is uneven. I won''t be able to swing it around with one hand like them." Alf grabs the hilt with both hands and slashes down, but he loses his equilibrium and falls face first into the ground mud. "I did not even have to make you; you are eating dirt already." Clay sneers as he looks down at Alf, his face smudged with mud. Alf glares at him, his face twisting with rage. Just as he is ready to leap at Clay, a commanding voice stops him. "You two, don''t cause a ruckus!" Griffith glares at them. "I want to hit Clay so bad! But if I do that, he will kill me." Alf mutters under his breath with clenched fists. "Listen here! Now that you all have a sword, run ten laps around the training ground while holding it at the hilt. Only those who complete this task will receive my sword training." The children stare at the instructor in a daze. "No, we can''t! How will we run with the swords when we can barely hold onto them?" One of the boys shouts at the instructor in disbelief. "We came here to learn swordsmanship; we did not come here to become runners." Another kid states with arms crossed, seeming proud of himself for speaking up. All the children nod in agreement and start chattering. Reasoning why they should not run around the training ground. "Silence!" The instructor''s voice echoes throughout the training area. The children glance up at him, having stopped their aimless talk. They groan collectively, but Griffith''s glare silences them. "This is for your benefit! How will you kids learn to wield a sword if you can not even do such a simple task?" He shouts in a frustrated tone. "Now don''t just stand there; start running!" Despite their grumbling, the children give up resistance and begin running slowly, their expressions uncomfortable. "I just ran while training with Uncle Daniel today; now I have to run again, and while holding this heavy wooden sword?" Alf grumbles with a painful expression. He takes a deep breath, grabs the sword with both hands, and begins running. After a minute, most of the kids collapse, exhausted and gasping for air. As the kids crumble one by one, Alf keeps on running, with the wooden sword gripped in his hands. After five laps around the training ground, most of the kids have collapsed, but a handful keep at it¡ªAlf and Clay among them. The instructor observes the remaining boys with narrowed eyes. Looking at them with interest. "These kids have potential," he mutters, "especially that boy. He has been running around without using any Ether, despite his weak physique." He gazes at the panting Alf with a broad smile, his clothes and hair drenched in sweat. "He has got heart, I will give him that." After running eight laps around the training grounds, the boys struggle to continue running. They run, their expressions terrible, their grasp on the swords weakening. At this point, Alf was struggling to keep up with the others, slumping his feet and clutching the hefty log instructor Griffith referred to as a sword. "Look at you! Need a hand weakling?" Clay asks, while he looks at him with a sly smile. He does not appear to be out of breath, and his face is free of sweat, even though it was the eighth lap. "Hey you, get away! Clay! I don''t need help!" Alf retorts angrily, his hands shaking while gripping his sword. "Why doesn''t he just leave me alone?!" Alf grumbles weakly, attempting to maintain his composure. "C''mon! Don''t be like this. I am just trying to help a classmate." Clay replies sarcastically with a wide grin, as he runs alongside Alf, matching his pace. "This guy! Why would he want to help me? Is he plotting something?" Alf thinks to himself, looking suspiciously at Clay. "How can you help me?" "I am going to heal you using Ether!" Clay responds plainly. "Should I accept his help?" Alf considers, for a second, his mind distorted due to the accumulated fatigue. He responds after a minute of thoughtful consideration. "I don''t trust you, leave me alone!" He moves away from Clay and continues to run, nearing the end of the lap. "Hey! Wait!" Clay calls out to him, but does not respond. "So, this is how you want to do this." A malicious expression appears on his face. He comes up behind Alf, charges up a ball of Ether in his palm, and launches it towards his back. "Take this, stupid!" His expression is that of a madman. Alf, seemingly unaware, continues to jog, not noticing the looming threat behind him. As the ball of Ether is ready to strike his back, it evaporates into thin air, and Alf does not even notice. Upon witnessing this, a look of terror appears on Clay''s chubby face. "My spell disappeared before it even made contact?! That should have knocked him off his feet. Did the instructor notice the spell and cancel it?" He glances at the instructor, but he is busy scolding the weaker students. "No, he seems too distracted to notice such a weak spell." Clay furrows his brows, racking his brains for an explanation. "I guess my spell was weaker than expected? Hmph, who cares! I will put him in his place after the bell," he thinks with a malicious smirk. Alf, who continued to sag throughout the final several laps, runs the final lap with tremendous effort, just barely holding onto the wooden sword. After finishing the final lap, he collapses on the ground, panting heavily. "I did it! I can now become stronger!" He exclaims, and sighs with relief. "I can''t move, it hurts," he mutters while resting on his stomach. Overall, five kids pass the test, including Alf and Clay. "Congratulations! All five of you have passed. From now on, you are my disciples." Griffith says to the boys with a genuine smile. He bends forward and asks Alf, who is resting on the ground: "What is your name?" Alf''s body tenses as Griffith looks directly at him with his sharp gaze. He takes a nervous gulp and responds, "I am Alf, Sir." Griffith nods his head. "So, Alf, why did you not utilize Ether to aid yourself, like the others?" Alf''s eyes widen, and his expression shifts as he is once again reminded of his incapability. A frown appears on his face. He looks down and responds, "Because I can''t use Ether," his eyes gleaming with grief. To be continued... Confrontation A frown appears on his face. He looks down and responds, "Because I can''t use Ether," his eyes gleaming with grief. "Do you want to become strong?" Griffith asks with anticipation. Hearing this, Alf clenches his fist. He remembers all the taunting comments he has received for his lack of talent in wielding Ether. Clay''s taunts continue to reverberate in his mind, frustrating him even further. He looks up, still exhausted from the run. "Yes," he replies in a low voice. "I want to become strong." Gazing at him, Griffith grins in satisfaction. Although Alf''s voice seemed weak, lacking any vigor, his eyes were fierce¡ªwhich conveyed his determination, and that was enough to convince Griffith. "Good. Strength isn''t just about muscles or Ether. It''s about heart, will, and discipline. If you keep that fire alive, you''ll go far." Alf nods slightly, too drained to say anything. A glimmer of hope rises in his heart. "Maybe I can become stronger," he wonders. "Strong enough that I will not be looked down upon, and Mom might finally visit me again?" The instructor turns to the other four boys. "Starting tomorrow, we begin serious training. If you think today was hard, then prepare yourselves. If you can''t endure, you''re free to quit anytime." Clay scoffs, clearly unfazed. "Hmph, as if I''d ever quit." Alf remains silent, but deep inside, he vows, "I won''t quit. No matter how hard it gets, I will keep going." An hour later¡ª After the training session, Alf decides to head home. He drags himself, his entire body aching from the brutal day, and starts treading on the muddy path leading to his house. The route is surrounded by a dense cover of forest swarming with different kinds of monsters, ready to lunge at anyone that crosses their path. The sky is crimson, and the woody fragrance of the jungle lingers in the evening air. The sun''s light fades and dusk draws near. The surroundings are filled with the howling of wolves and other odd sounds one would expect to hear in a dark forest. Alf tries to walk as fast as his legs allow him to, trying to quickly walk past the frightening forest, reminiscent of the dream he had this morning. A metallic flavour appears in his mouth. He begins to shake as his heart starts to pound heavily, and cold sweat escapes from his body. His instincts are screaming at him, telling him to flee and find a place to hide, as if warning him of threat. "Hey! Where do you think you''re going?" A loud shout halts his step, making him take a cautious glance behind. A dark figure is a few meters away from him. Clay stands there, arms crossed, his usual smug grin in place. But for a moment, Alf swears¡ªhe does''nt look like Clay at all. "What are you doing here?" Alf snaps at him."Were you following me?" "I followed you to teach you a lesson!" Clay responds smugly, with his eyes darting around to check the surroundings. He then starts laughing tauntingly while holding his stomach. "By the way, I saw you walking around, scared like a little girl." "Besides, this was the perfect oportunity. No one would know, even if something bad happened here." Clay says with a sinister look on his face, his aura changing drastically from before. He starts to walk towards Alf, with slow deliberate steps. If the previous Clay was arrogant and childish, the current one is threatening, like a predator watching its victim¡ªmoving slowly toward it in hopes of surprising it and mauling it. Seeing this, a wave of dread washes over Alf. He looks at his alleged classmate, terrified. He can''t move. He can''t breath. Frozen in fear. The aura radiating from him is wrong. Its unnatural. No child should feel this terrifying. "This isn''t Clay!" Alf remakes inwardly, his face getting paler by the second. He asks in a whisper, "W-Who are you?" His lips barely move. In response, Clay tilts his head, his lips curling up into a sneer. He gazes at Alf, and in a voice not his own, he chuckles darkly. "Right," he begins in a hoarse voice "I''m not your little friend." He then snaps his fingers and a dark shadow appears around him. The shadow begins to fade, gradually revealing his true form, which Alf stares at in absolute shock. It is a tall figure, dressed head to toe in black. His face is partially covered and he is equipped with different kinds of weapons¡ªdaggers, bows, and knives strapped around his arms and legs. One defining feature of his are his eyes, that are fully white, with no visible Iris. The appearance of this person scared Alf even more. "Who are you?" Alf asks desperately, "What do you want?" At this point, tears are flowing from his eyes. He is on the verge of a breakdown yet he somehow manages to keep it together. This day couldn''t have gotten more eventful for a child like him. The man let''s out a sinister chuckle. "I''m here for a Job." He looks at Alf''s pale face with an amusing smile and continues "That is to kill you." Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Alf bolts away, as soon as the man finishes the sentence. His breath ragged and his heart hammering in his chest. "No no no no." Alf violently shakes his head, "Go away! This isn''t real!" He tries to deny reality, his eyes gleaming with dread. Despite his legs being in a really bad condition, he manages to muster up some of his strength and starts running at full speed without looking back. He flees in panic, seeking a way out of this nightmare. "Oh," the assassin remarks "Trying to run away are we?" A blood thirsty smirk appears on his face before he bursts forward, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. In an instant, he catches up and is now running alongside Alf. Alf''s eyes widen in horror. "How did he get here so fast?" "Trying to run is pointless," he says while grinning wildly. "Just accept your fate and die a painless death." Alf let''s out a panicked squeal and starts screaming. "AHH! Someone help me! Uncle Daniel!" Before he can yell again, a strong arm yanks him back, trapping him in a chokehold. "Shh... Stop struggling. I told you¡ªrunning is pointless." The assassin takes out a knife strapped to his arm. It is curved and a green vapour rises from the blade¡ªpoison. He tilts his head, examining the knife with a sinister grin. "Now... die." He thrusts the knife forwards, aiming for Alf''s neck. "GRR!" A red blur leaps out of the bushes. Before the balde can pierce Alf''s skin, a wolf lunges at the assassin''s face, fangs bared "Tch¡ª!" The man clicks his tongue in frustration and shoves Alf aside, raising his arm just in time to block the wolf''s snapping jaws. The wolf growls and claws at him wildly, forcing him back. With a swift motion, he swings his poisoned knife, slicing the wolf''s stomach open. The wolf lands with a thud on the ground, its body lifeless. The Assassin exhales, annoyed. "Damn mutt." But before he can regain his composure¡ª More growls echo through the forest. His head snaps up. From the shadows of the trees, a dozen red wolves emerge. Their fiery eyes gleam in the dark, locked onto the assassin. Their lips curl back, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs. "GRR!" The pack lunges all at once. The man spins his knife and steps into a defensive stance. "Tsk. Annoying beasts." He glares at the approaching wolves, preparing a counter. His gaze falls on Alf, who is seated in the mud, watching the spectacle unfold with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth. "After I kill these, its your turn." The assassin remarks inwardly. He locks his gaze back onto the incoming attack and licks his lips. "This is going to be fun," he mumbles with a mad smirk and begins fighting the wolf onslaught. Alf is finally jolted out of his trance by the sight of sliced flesh and blood everywhere. The fragrance of blood is in the air, making him take a nervous gulp. "This is my chance!" He starts sprinting away, and continues to run for a while in a random direction, unknowingly wondering deep into the monster infested zone. "Run. Just run, don''t stop. Don''t look back." Alf keeps saying to himself as he keeps on running aimlessly. But his stamina and fatigue catch up to him, forcing him to take a break. He glances behind, and sees no one chasing after him anymore. "Finally!" He exclaims, exhaling. "Looks like I lost him." Alf paused, his breath ragged and looked around. The forest was eerily quite. No growls and howls. No snapping jaw''s¡ªnothing. It was as if the monsters had decided to leave him alone, but why? After calming himself down, Alf observes his surroundings and notes that he is in the deep forest region, which is supposed to be crawling with monsters everywhere. When he is looking for a spot to sleep, he hears strange noises such as wind blowing behind him and twigs shifting. However, the darkness of the forest impairs his ability to perceive anything, leading him to panic slightly. Just as he is panicking, he is reminded of Uncle Daniel and his lessons. "You must always be aware of your surroundings," his words echo in his mind. "The enemy won''t hesitate to sneak up on you." Alf suddenly realizes something. He sits cross legged, in a meditative pose and forces his tired eyes open before gently closing them, concentrating on perceiving his surroundings¡ªany sound, smell, or movement in the air. He tries to sense everything around him without depending on his vision. Swish... Alf jerks his head down. He ducks just in time as an arrow flies over him, hitting a nearby tree. He leaps up and starts darting his eyes about, trying to spot the sniper in the darkness. Luckily the arrow missed, otherwise it would have pierced directly through his head. "That was close!" Alf mutters and falls to the ground from the adrenaline rush, panting. "No! I can''t stay still." He quickly stands back up and slips stealthily between trees in the hopes of escaping the Assassin hiding in the shadows. "Trying to flee again?" An amused voice echoes around him. Alf whips his head up, darting his gaze about to pinpoint the location of the voice. "I admit it, you have got good senses," the assassin proclaims. "But it does not matter. You will die today, and no one is coming to save you." Alf notices a pair of frightening white eyes looking at him from the darkness, emitting a radiance unlike that of human eyes. Alf''s pivots from his spot, and attempts to flee, but he falls down face first on the groud. His legs do not move. They refuse to listen to him. "No! Why can''t I move?" Alf shouts in panic while his whole body trembles. His body has been abused all day. It eventually gave out. He starts crawling, dragging himself away in desperation, looking for a way to survive. The assassin emerges from the shadows. "Hahahaha!" He starts laughing sadistically, while holding his stomach, looking at Alf''s desperate attempt. "Right," he says with a smirk. "Crawl and beg for mercy!" The assassin approaches the crawling Alf and lifts him by the collar with one hand. "Now now," he whispers darkly. "Dont worry, I will make it quick." He once again goes for the knife on his arm. He grips it, ready to thrust at Alf''s heart. "Please don''t kill me," Alf says pleadingly with tears flowing down his face. But the assasin doesn''t budge, and grins widely. "No." Alf snaps his jaw on the assassin''s hand grabbing his collar, leaving a bite wound. "ARGH!" The assassin screams in pain, and let''s go of his grip on Alf''s collar. Alf falls to the ground with a thump and begins crawling away desperately. "Someone! Help me!" He screams on top of his lungs and cries. The assassin growls and glares at Alf. He snatches the knife and slashes his back open. Alf''s face twitches in agony, and he collapses on the ground, blood streaming from the wound, his garments moist and crimson. "Let us put an end to this!" The assassin stares at the unconscious Alf with flaming eyes and clinched fists. This time, he brings out a different knife, which is strapped to his legs. He grabs it, ready to stab Alf''s back. "What!" His hand, which is grasping the knife, is sliced off and falls to the ground. He begins screaming in anguish while holding his severed arm, blood gushing out and spraying his face. A fierce looking old man stands there with a blade in hand, glaring at the assassin with cold eyes. The assassin trips on a branch while trying to flee. He falls and strikes his head against a rock, losing consciousness. Daniel''s gaze falls on Alf, who is lying in a pool of blood. "Alf!" He exclaims in horror and embraces Alf, dragging him out of the dirt. "Son! Please! Stay with me." He gently taps Alf''s face, trying to force him awake. Alf opens his eyes slightly. His vision is blurred and his body is cold. He feels the warm hand on his face and looks up at the man embracing him. It is Daniel¡ªhis gray hair gleaming under the moonlight, his wrinkled face etched with worry. "You are heare," Alf says weakly. "Thank God." He looks at Daniel''s facel, his vision darkening, eyes heavy. At this point he has lost a lot of blood. It is a miracle that he is still alive, let alone concious. "Don''t worry son! I''m here now! You can rest." Daniel whisper''s . "I''m sorry for not arriving sooner." Hearing this, Alf smiles weakly. "I forgive you," he says. He slowly shuts his eyes and sinks into darkness. To be continued...