Chapter 8

The following week, I could tell the old veteran was stunned by my determination. Every morning, I was up before dawn, sometimes bringing in a variety of prey like pheasants, swans, and even a quail. I pushed myself harder each day, and it seemed like he could hardly believe it.

He taught me everything he knew, but to his surprise, I picked it up so quickly. My ability to memorize and analyze was something even he didn't expect. Within weeks, I was dismantling and processing the prey nearly as fast as he could.

One day, he told me, "I can't teach you anything more about butchering. You've nearly surpassed me in skill already."

Then, he added, "But I can help you build your body—help you gain muscle and shed some fat. It'll be tough, but I think you've got what it takes, if you want it."

I was surprised by the offer, but I knew I couldn't turn it down. Military-style training was expensive, and even with all the money I had made from hunting, I wouldn't be able to afford it on my own. I eagerly accepted.

And so, my training began.

Under the burning sun, I ran around the village with heavy weights strapped to my back. My clothes were soaked with sweat, and I could barely manage one lap—it was only two kilometers! But the old man praised me, saying, "When I was your age, I couldn't even finish half a lap. You've got a lot of determination, kid."

Days turned into weeks, and the challenges grew harder. But so did my body. My transformation was incredible. If anyone who knew me before saw me now, they wouldn't recognize me. My runs around the village got longer, the weights got heavier, and soon enough, I was one of the most impressive young men in town.

But not everyone was happy with my progress. The governor's son, hearing about my new popularity with the local girls, grew jealous. He challenged me to a "friendly spar." What I didn't know was that, as a noble, he had years of training in swordsmanship.

I accepted the challenge, thinking it would be an even match, but it didn't go how I thought. He won the fight, but the townspeople didn't laugh at me. Instead, they criticized the noble for picking on someone who didn't have the same skills. "It's low," they said. "Fighting someone who hasn't been trained in duels."

The noble was furious. Even though he won, the townspeople's reactions left him feeling more humiliated than I had. And in that moment, I realized something—I had earned their respect.