chapter 7

The spacious training hall echoed with the rhythmic sounds of footfalls and labored breathing. Large windows let in golden streams of light, illuminating the dust particles in the air. The walls bore the scars of countless battles—cracks from past training sessions, deep grooves left by swords, and remnants of old burn marks. Training dummies lined one side of the room, some still standing, others battered beyond repair. The floor was made of reinforced stone, designed to withstand even the harshest training.

At the center of the room, two figures stood shirtless.

Zed's body, though still lean, had begun to show the marks of rigorous training. His muscles were more defined than before, his posture more refined. He had also grown taller, though he still paled in comparison to the man standing before him. Sir Jaeger, despite being human, had a physique resembling that of a giant. His broad shoulders and rippling muscles were covered in battle scars—evidence of a lifetime spent on the battlefield. Standing there, shirtless and imposing, he resembled a war god, his presence alone enough to command respect.

Zed took a deep breath and steadied his stance, Rhu flowing through his body. His hands gleamed faintly as the energy wrapped around them, reinforcing his fists like tempered steel. The same energy coiled around his legs, making him lighter, faster.

Without warning, he dashed forward at blinding speed, closing the distance between them. But just before impact—

He vanished.

Reappearing behind Jaeger in an instant, Zed thrust his palm toward the man's head, aiming to shove him off balance.

But before he could even touch him—

A massive hand clamped around his neck like an iron vice.

Zed's eyes widened in shock.

How did he—?!

A powerful fist slammed into his stomach, forcing the air from his lungs. His body curled inward from the sheer force before he was lifted effortlessly and slammed into the ground with a heavy thud!

Pain exploded in his back as he coughed violently, saliva splattering onto the stone floor. His entire body pulsed with agony, every muscle screaming in protest.

Sir Jaeger stepped back, rolling his shoulders casually. "Not bad, young master. You've improved." He turned toward the exit. "That's enough for today. You did well."

But just as he was about to leave—

"Wait, Sir Jaeger."

The voice was strained, yet filled with determination.

Jaeger turned his head slightly, watching as Zed shakily pushed himself up onto his elbows, his breath still ragged. His eyes burned with an unyielding fire.

"I'm not done yet," Zed said firmly.

Jaeger sighed, crossing his arms. "Young master, if we continue, your bones might actually break."

Zed wiped the sweat from his brow and forced himself to his feet. His body wobbled, but he refused to fall.

"I said I'm not done." He shifted into a stance, his fists clenched. "If I quit now, then I didn't learn anything today."

His persistence made sense. Zed had mastered Rhu circulation through his body in a single day, and within a few more, he had learned to manipulate it for both magic and physical enhancement. His progress was astounding. However, he had glaring weaknesses—his physical strength was lacking, his swordsmanship was average at best, and even with Rhu reinforcing his body, he still lacked the raw power needed to contend with true warriors.

Zed knew this.

And he hated it.

No matter how hard he trained his body, it felt like heaven itself refused to let him grow stronger. He needed to change that.

Jaeger studied the boy before exhaling through his nose. "As you wish, young master. But don't blame me for what happens next."

In a blink, Jaeger vanished.

Zed barely had time to register the movement before—

A sharp pain struck the back of his neck.

Darkness consumed him.

As his consciousness faded, he barely felt himself being caught before he could hit the floor.

Jaeger sighed, adjusting Zed's limp body in his arms. "Even a dragon needs rest, young master. And you are just a human."

Carrying him effortlessly, Jaeger left the training hall.

As he walked through the corridors, he came across Aurora, who stood with her arms crossed, a knowing smile on her lips.

"So, did he push himself again?" she teased.

Jaeger let out a low chuckle. "Yes, my lady. Hard to believe this is the same boy I once had to drag to training."

Aurora smirked. "And now you have to force him to rest."

At that, Jaeger let out a booming laugh. "That's true, ha!"

Together, they entered Zed's room, where Jaeger gently laid him down on his bed. Aurora pulled the blanket over him, brushing his damp hair from his forehead.

"You two have been training for days," she said. "How about taking a break? It'll help Zed recover and reduce my workload with these bandits."

Jaeger's eyes sharpened. "Bandit activity has increased?"

Aurora nodded, her playful demeanor fading slightly. "The raids have been growing more frequent. We need to put a stop to them before they get out of control."

Jaeger cracked his knuckles, his expression turning grim. "Leave it to me, my lady. I'll make them pay."

Suddenly, from the bed, Zed mumbled in his sleep.

"I'm not… done yet… I can fight… hmm…"

Aurora blinked before covering her mouth, a small giggle escaping her lips. Jaeger, too, chuckled deeply.

And then—

Laughter filled the room.

Aurora and Jaeger, two people who had carried the weight of responsibility for so long, allowed themselves to share this fleeting moment of warmth. The boy lying between them, stubborn even in his dreams, had somehow become the light that eased their burdens.

Jaeger shook his head, still laughing. "That kid… he's going to be trouble."

Aurora smiled. "Yes. But he's, our trouble."

For the first time in a long while, the future didn't seem so dark.

The morning sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows as the caravan moved through a dense woodland path. The trees swayed gently, their emerald leaves whispering with the cool breeze. Birds chirped in the distance, and the occasional rustle in the undergrowth hinted at small creatures scurrying away.

Inside a well-crafted chariot, Zed leaned out of the window, his dark hair tousled by the wind as he gazed at the passing scenery. He turned his sharp, inquisitive eyes toward the man riding beside him.

"So why are we going to Highvale?" he asked, resting his chin on his hand.

Sir Jaeger, seated atop his massive black warhorse, kept his gaze forward. His towering frame looked even more imposing on horseback, his battle-hardened features set in their usual stern expression.

"Well, Lady Aurora assigned me a task," Jaeger replied. "We need to capture a few bandits and deliver supplies to the city."

Zed frowned. "Then why am I coming along? I should be training. I can't waste my time like this."

Jaeger let out a short chuckle. "Consider this part of your training. You'll be helping us catch the bandits." He glanced at Zed with a knowing smirk. "They're just low-class thieves. With some physical enhancement or magic, you should have no problem handling them."

Zed's lips curled into a smirk of his own. "Can I kill them?"

Jaeger's amusement vanished, and he shot the boy a warning look. "No. We need them alive for information. No killing."

Zed leaned back, sighing dramatically. "Fine. Can I break some bones? Maybe make them handicapped?"

Jaeger exhaled through his nose, clearly annoyed. "Young master, why are you so fixated on torturing them? Just knocking them unconscious is enough. You don't need to go that far."

Zed grinned. "Come on, I should at least rough them up a little. They are criminals."

Jaeger rubbed his temples. "What kind of nine-year-old talks like this?"

"The smart kind," Zed said with a shrug.

Jaeger shook his head, but a small smirk tugged at his lips. "Just don't go overboard."

Zed let out another exaggerated sigh. "Fine, fine. I'll just knock them out."

Jaeger gave him a sideways glance. "That sigh of yours doesn't exactly inspire confidence."

Zed smirked again, resting his head against the window as the chariot continued down the path toward Highvale.