“Sometimes it is between the lines.”

They sparred for hours, but the outcome was always the same. Within four to six moves, Roland would disarm him. 

Leo's body ached, but Roland didn't hesitate, his blows striking with genuine force.

"No pain, no gain" was his motto and his excuse.

Leo collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. Roland leaned on his wooden sword, regarding Leo with a look of disappointment.

"Enough... I can't... I just can't," Leo said, his voice thick with exhaustion.

"This is your limit? Is this all you've got?" Roland taunted.

"No matter how hard I try to focus, I can't..." Leo trailed off, frustration evident in his voice.

"Of course you can't. You're overthinking. You're thinking about the monsters in this forest, about tripping over a loose stone, my armor, and how much force to put into each swing. You're simply overthinking."

Leo hung his head, trying to make sense of Roland's words.

"Listen, lad, stop thinking. We've practiced the basic moves a thousand times. Empty your mind. Embrace the silence of your inner self. Be one with your sword. Don't think!"

"It is hard not to think when your life is at stake," Leo retorted.

Roland walked over and sat down on a nearby log.

"Lad, why do you fight? For me? For your mother? For someone special? What's the purpose of your swordsmanship? Have you ever thought about that?"

Leo remained silent but listened intently.

"It doesn't matter if you've suffered, if you've fallen, if you've loved, or if you've been abandoned. It doesn't matter what others think of you or what you think of them. You know what matters, lad? It's what you carry inside you—what you take home at the end of the day. Conviction."

Leonard, who was already sitting on the floor, hugged his legs and concentrated.

Roland continued, "You have to believe you've given your best, not for anyone else, but for yourself. Be proud to be alive and to do your best every single day. Have the conviction that even if you failed, you did your best."

"Conviction, huh..." Leo murmured, the word echoing in his mind.

"You know, lad, I believe you are your own worst enemy. Every time you pick up your sword to fight, you're fighting against yourself. And by doing that, you're constantly pushing yourself to be better." Roland sighed.

Leonard deeply gazed at Roland.

"I believe that's true in swordsmanship and life." Roland clapped Leo on the shoulder, a rare gesture of encouragement.

"Once you get that, you'll be ready to take on any sword, claw, or fang without even thinking. Alright, enough with the pep talk. Time to get back to work, lad." Roland said with a grin.

Leo grasped the profound meaning behind Roland's words. He understood the importance of self-worth, of living a meaningful life, and of loving himself. Roland had touched his heart, and with each passing day, Leo felt closer to him, like family.

"Let's use real swords," Leo suggested, a new determination hardening his voice.

"Oh ho, someone's getting serious," Roland remarked with a playful tone.

"If we're going to do this, let's do it for real," Leo explained.

Leo felt the weight of his sword in his hand—the hilt, the pommel, the guard. He gazed at the blade and saw the reflection of his own blue-gray eyes. 

"Conviction... okay," he thought to himself, a newfound resolve settling within.

Leo hadn't given much thought to self-love, pride, or finding his own purpose in life. Until now, he had merely survived. He survived because his mother had asked him to. 

Now was the moment to live—to live with pride, to live for his swordsmanship, and to discover his own purpose.

He took his stance, chest open, swords held ready at his sides. He was determined to become a better person. 

As he charged towards Roland, the air filled with the sharp clang of steel, echoing through the clearing for the rest of the day.

The subsequent days were filled with training and marked by steady improvement. Leo had the chance to see some leirions from a distance and occasionally see Roland in action when confronted by particularly hostile creatures.

Leo's money was all gone, and he was now relying on the food Roland provided. He felt a growing sense of urgency to get his own money, uncomfortable with his dependence on Roland. 

Ninety days had passed since his first training session with Roland. They had honed his swordsmanship, strength, agility, and concentration. When not sparring, he ran for kilometers and picked up heavy stones to build his endurance.

Leo was now confident enough to go on missions independently. While his training with Roland hadn't transformed him into a master swordsman, he was no longer the clumsy and awkward guy he once was.

They were nearing Gothia's gate when Leo decided to broach the subject.

"Mr. Roland, I believe today was our last day," Leo stated.

"Funny you should say that, lad. I have a journey to embark on in two days. I'm escorting the Duke of Gothia to the Royal Palace in the capital," Roland said with a sigh.

"You don't seem particularly thrilled about it,"

"It's complicated. The nobility can be quite difficult sometimes." Roland's expression was weary and heavy-hearted.

"Thank you for everything, Mr. Roland. I will never forget all you've done for me," Leo said with gratitude, his voice thick with emotion.

Roland gave a thumbs up. "Your mother would be proud of you."

"You say that as if you knew her," Leo said playfully.

Roland turned to leave, replying with a soft, almost inaudible, "Who knows?"... a faint smile gracing his lips.

Leo didn't hear Roland and just went to the Guild House.

When he arrived, he decided to update his stat card and took a new test.

"Hello, Sílica." Leo greeted, a hint of familiarity in his tone.

"Hello, Mr. Leonard. What can I do for you today?"

"I'd like to update my stat card, but I need this handled discreetly."

"I remember your unique situation. We'll keep it confidential, as per the owner's request. Even I won't have access to the information. Please come with me. I must remind you that you're allowed one update every three months."

"Okay…" Leo was bored.

"And Mr. Leonard, did you decide your battle class?"

"Not yet. I'm just a swordsman." Leo replied, a touch of self-deprecating humor in his voice.

Stat reading devices were costly and consumed a mana crystal with each use, necessitating recharging after each use, a complex and time-consuming process for the Magic Tower.

____________________________________________

Profile Stats / Guild House Membership Card

Name: Leonard

Surname: Winston

Rank: Iron

Strength: 4+4 (8)

Agility: 6+7 (13)

Cognition: 5+6 (11)

Constitution: 5+4 (9)

Mentality: 6+6 (12)

Characteristic: Divergent.

-Unable to track battle traces-

-Affinity synthesis error detected-

____________________________________________

Leo was pissed. "What the heck is this? I busted my ass training for 90 days, and this is all I get? This is crap! What good is this pentagram potential anyway?" He slammed the card on the counter, his frustration evident.

Silica looked at Leo's new results, and her heart skipped a beat. Her fingers trembled. She'd caught a glimpse of something surreal.

"What's wrong with you?" Leonard asked roughly.

Silica was too stunned to explain. She simply shook her head, as if to say it was nothing, but deep down she was thinking:

"He managed to raise his stats by 6 or 7 points in 90 days? What kind of monster is this guy? Normally it takes a year to get 1 stat point when they're really low. If he keeps up at this rate..." She shook her head vigorously to regain her composure.

"Be careful, Mr. Leonard..." Her eyes were clouded with worried thoughts.

As Leonard walked away, she stared at his back with her mouth open in total disbelief.

He marched over to the mission counter, still feeling annoyed. He thought Silica was incredulous about his poor stats again, but it was the opposite.

He scanned the beginner missions. 

One caught his eye.

Iron Rank Mission

Collect medicinal flowers on the Golden Green Plains:

225 g of Uhenda Malakesia

Reward: 3 gold coins.

"This should be enough to pay my rent and keep me going for a bit. Doesn't seem like a tough mission." 

He checked to make sure the Golden Green Plains were safe enough for someone with his low stats, like him. He then stored the directions and the picture of the flower he needed to find.

Leo thanked the lady at the counter and turned to leave without looking where he was going, nearly running right into a girl.

"Am I invisible or something?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm so sor— Evelyn?" He said, his eyes widening. He didn't expect to meet her at all, as he had so many questions to ask.

"Le-o-nard," she said slowly, smiling and poking him in the chest with her finger. A playful glint in her eyes.