Training?

Ailyn was doing her daily chores when the front door opened. She turned, surprised, just in time to see Cassian running toward her with a bright smile. Before she could react, he hugged her legs tightly.

She blinked, taken aback by the sudden display of affection.

"Why are you so happy?" she asked while running her fingers through his soft white hair.

"I made a friend," he said with a bright smile.

Ailyn was even more surprised. Though she had met him just yesterday, she had assumed him to be a shy and quiet kid. But surprisingly, that didn't seem to be the case. And another surprising thing—how quickly he had gotten attached to her.

Maybe because he's really young? she thought. But then, she remembered her father's words. Cassian is a mutant. An unpredictable person, quick to change and adapt.

She recalled the terrifying stories her friends had told her—how Mister Ezo could be smiling one moment and then, in the blink of an eye, turn to anger. The chilling tales of him killing his own companions just because he felt slightly threatened.

But as she looked down at Cassian, still clinging to her, she wondered, How could this cute kid be like the monster I heard about?

"Oh really? What is his name?" she asked, humoring him.

"Her name is Celeste."

"Oh, a girl," Ailyn said, a smirk appearing on her lips. "Is she cute?"

Cassian didn't understand the sudden question, but he still answered honestly. "No, I think you're more beautiful, but she is really strong!" He stopped to catch his breath. "She beat me in the spar. I couldn't do much at the end."

Ailyn listened as Cassian excitedly explained his small battle, but a sense of discomfort spread over her. Should kids be fighting like this? Cassian was only seven, and the girl was probably not much older than him. Though she was only fifteen, compared to Cassian, she was double his age.

Adults should be protecting kids, not training them to send them to their deaths.

"Good for you, Cassian. And that's why you got out early?"

"Yes, the instructor ordered us to leave."

"I see. So you must be hungry. Let me heat up some of the broth left," she said as she walked toward the small cooking area. Then, she added with a teasing tone, "But too bad you didn't taste the barracks' food. Everyone said it tastes amazing!"

"Really? It doesn't matter. I like your food. It's really tasty."

Ailyn smiled at his words. "I see. Then eat a lot before you meet Lord Roberto."

Cassian simply nodded.

***

By midday, the once-bright red flames of the torches had burned down to a warm orange glow. Then Sofia arrived, her expression firm as she took Cassian by the hand.

"Why weren't you at the barracks?" she asked. Though she didn't sound angry, there was agitation in her voice.

"Instructor Leticia ordered us to leave early," Cassian replied.

Sofia didn't press further. It seemed she didn't really care about the reason, only that he was here now. "Come on. We're going to see Lord Roberto."

Cassian followed obediently.

They walked for nearly twenty minutes before arriving at a large house. It was taller and more imposing than any Cassian had seen before. Thick, robust columns supported an upper balcony, giving the entire structure an air of authority.

As they reached the gates, two guards in pristine silver armor stepped forward, their hands on their weapons.

"What brings you here, woman?" one of them asked gruffly.

Sofia's eyes darkened at their tone, but she held her tongue. "I brought the child Lord Roberto wanted to meet—Cassian."

The guards exchanged glances before nodding. "Good. But only the boy is allowed inside. You can leave now."

Sofia bristled at their dismissal but said nothing, turning on her heel and walking away.

One of the guards signaled a maid, who quickly approached and bowed to Cassian. Without a word, she guided him through the house and out into the back courtyard.

There, sitting on a wooden chair, was a familiar figure.

Ezo.

Cassian was indifferent to Ezo's presence, so he got closer, but the maid hesitated, glancing at Ezo warily before bowing and scurrying away.

Ezo saw Cassian approaching, and a grin appeared on his face.

"Good to see you again, Cassian." He stood up, stretching his arms. "You won't be meeting Roberto today. He's quite the busy man, you see." His smirk turned into a chilling smile. "And I don't have much time either, so let's do this fast. Take this."

It was a small sword.

Cassian took it from Ezo's hands and felt the weight. It wasn't like the wooden sword he had been using—this was a real sword, one made of metal.

He started swinging it to get accustomed to the weight when Ezo's voice called out.

"Listen, Cassian. Use any of your abilities—use them all. But under one condition: try to kill me. If you don't, this won't end well for you."

Before Cassian could fully process the words, a punch was thrown at him. He dodged, but another quickly followed, hitting him on the right side of his face.

Pain filled his mind.

He fell to the floor, barely able to see. The world was spinning oddly, and his right cheek began to swell—purple with a faint red hue. Blood dripped from his mouth, and one of his front teeth fell out.

Then, a sinister laugh put him on high alert again.

Ezo was looking down at him.

"Quit exaggerating, Cassian. I barely touched you! How can you be down already?"

He lowered himself and grabbed one of Cassian's arms.

"If you don't move, I will break your arm."

Cassian's instincts kicked in, and he tried his best to move—but he couldn't.

And then—

CRACK.

A piercing pain invaded Cassian's mind, but he still couldn't move.

All he could do was scream.

Why was Ezo being so ruthless?

That was all he could think about. No—there was something more.

The desire to kill him.

Ezo spoke again.

"Move, Cassian. Though this is some terrible pain, it can't be compared to what you will experience tonight." He locked eyes with Cassian, who was now staring at him—not with fear, but with deeply rooted hatred.

"But remember the pain you experienced with small scrapes. Now, imagine what you will feel with a broken jaw and arm. It will be to die for!"

Ezo's eyes gleamed with sinister delight.

"And all because of me! I hope you—"

Before he could finish, spikes of rock shot up from the ground, aiming at his throat.

With a quick jump backward, he effortlessly dodged the attack.

But that small window of time gave Cassian the chance to stand up.

His golden eyes analyzed the best route of attack. Strength surged through his body, unnatural and raw. More spikes erupted from the earth, sharper, deadlier. These weren't like the ones he had used against Cele. No.

These were meant to kill.

With the small sword Ezo had given him, Cassian dashed forward. In an instant, he was beside Ezo, blade aimed at his stomach, ready to slice him open.

Ezo didn't care. He knew Cassian couldn't pierce his skin, even with enhanced strength.

But what he didn't notice was that the sword had a faint, almost invisible, red glow.

And then—it cut.

A wound appeared where Cassian's blade touched Ezo's skin.

It was so fast that Ezo couldn't react. His armor and stomach had been sliced open.

Just as Cassian was about to deliver a second strike to Ezo's head, a powerful gust of wind sent him flying.

A terrifying laugh echoed in the backyard.

"You think I'll let you kill me?" Ezo said, one hand gripping his stomach, holding his insides in place.

Then—

A blinding light.

A crack of thunder.

Lightning struck Ezo. Before he could react, Cassian's bloodstained sword was hurled at him.

And then—

BOOM.

The blade exploded. Metal shards tore into Ezo's flesh. His body struggled to heal.

In the pitch-black aftermath, Ezo had been partially blind by the lightning. He prepared for another attack. But it didn't come.

A voice spoke from the darkness.

"You almost died, Ezo." It was Roberto.

With extreme difficulty, Ezo lowered himself to his knees. "Sorry, my Lord. It seems I underestimated the kid."

"It doesn't matter. At least I got here in time," Roberto said, though Ezo could detect a slight tone of disappointment.

"But tell me, Ezo, why did you injure this kid to this extent?"

"To make him fight with all his might!" Ezo said, proud of himself.

"I see. You're not allowed to receive healing from anyone, nor heal yourself. Pay the price of darkness."

With that, Ezo heard Roberto leave. Letting out a heavy sigh, he knew tonight would be long.

***

When Cassian was brought back, battered and broken, Ailyn ran to him, cradling him in her arms.

She laid him on her bed, frantically applying ointment to stop the bleeding.

A healer arrived soon after, sent by Lord Roberto. But as he worked, he murmured something.

"The deeper wounds… must heal through darkness."

She didn't understand. Wasn't that the normal way?

But as the darkness wrapped the world, Cassian's muffled cries told her one thing.

It was going to be a long night.