Ambition

Aidan gazed at Matthew, who looked at him coldly—unlike his usual warm or mentor-like look. He had that dangerous glint in his eyes as he said heavily:

"We'll be learning sword today," Matthew said, his voice rough and gritty. He tossed a wooden sword at Aidan, who caught it without flinching.

"Now that you've awakened your aura, you're qualified to train with partners. So…"

Matthew took a step forward, his eyes locked onto Aidan's. "I'll be your first."

He moved into a relaxed stance—casual—while Aidan took a more serious one.

Aidan's grip tightened around the wooden blade. He took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on Matthew. His aura surged, enhancing his speed. With a single motion, he lunged forward, closing the gap in an instant and swinging hard.

But Matthew didn't even blink.

He stood there and effortlessly parried the attack while striking Aidan's arm.

Thwack.

"Too crude," Matthew said coldly. "Again."

Aidan stood, sword in hand, facing Matthew once again. At that moment, Aidan knew that—Matthew knew.

Aidan didn't say anything, didn't do anything, but took a stance again, more determined this time—to show Matthew his real worth, to show him his real ambition.

If he thinks he can break me like this, then he's wrong, Aidan thought.

Matthew looked at Aidan and said, taking a step, "You've awakened your aura… taken your first step toward becoming a Ranker. I'll show you today what a person who's taken that step goes through."

Aidan swallowed hard unconsciously, saying nothing. His foot moved back instinctively before he even noticed. When he saw it, he stopped and gritted his teeth.

He channelled his aura, let it flood his limbs, and then lunged forward with everything he had. The world blurred around him—speed, precision, force. His sword sliced toward Matthew's ribs like a bullet.

This time, he truly felt he would reach Matthew—maybe even exchange a few moves. But before he could process—

Crack!

In a blink, Aidan's feet left the ground. A brutal strike slammed into his gut, knocking the wind out of him as he hit the dirt hard.

He gasped, curled over, coughing as saliva spewed from his mouth—then another strike came down on his shoulder. Then his ribs.

Matthew stopped. "What are you doing? Didn't you think aura made you powerful? Why are you curled like a ball now?"

Aidan, hearing that, stood up once again, taking his stance.

Before he even had the chance to see Matthew, a violent kick landed on his hand, and he rolled to the side.

He felt a throbbing pain in his hand as he gripped it tightly, refusing to drop the sword.

Matthew saw this and opened his mouth. "You think ambition makes you special?"

"Ambition doesn't make you special. You say you want to be free, but you don't even understand what you call freedom. I call it another chain—one you locked around your neck, a chain of ambition."

Aidan, hearing what Matthew said, used that very hand that throbbed with pain. He gritted through it as he stood, but before he could even take a stance—

A hit landed on his chest.

Matthew spoke again.

"You have the instincts. But instincts mean nothing without control."

"You do not add value to this household, or this training ground. You could, if you controlled that instinct you have. But no—you're just like all the others, thinking ambition alone will take them somewhere. It doesn't. It's your will. Yourself, and restrain."

"Control your ambition—or ambition will control you."

Aidan heard Matthew. He wanted to respond. He wanted to tell Matthew—but the ache in his body was too much to bear, too heavy to lift. His hands trembled, he opened his mouth to speak but no voice came.

Just when he felt like he would fall unconscious—

He remembered.

He remembered his ambition. The thing that fuelled him to become better, to become strong.

He remembered the nights when he was meaninglessly trying to find a purpose in life, a reason to live.

He remembered the day he stood at the edge of a bridge near the railway station—rejected by the world, by people, by friends. Even by his mother. And by love.

Life and death had felt too insignificant at that time. The rain had started to pour. Maybe he was a little thankful for the rain—maybe because his tears wouldn't be seen in it.

Aidan looked up, his voice deep with the very weight of his being.

"So… is this the end?" he asked into the air.

He remembered the moment he jumped—but something stirred in him. His hand, gripping the bridge, stopped him with just inches remaining.

He thought to himself—why should I die because of the world or people? I wasn't born by my choice, but is should atleast die by my choice?

He refused to die. He wanted to live for himself now. His ambition blazed as he climbed back up, inch by inch.

From that day, Aryan decided to live for himself.

His ambition was a part of him.

He wasn't a part of his ambition.

Matthew, who saw Aidan, didn't react—only sighed. He stepped forward to help him—but then froze.

He saw a smile on Aidan's face. A smile that slowly twisted into a laugh.

A chilling laugh.

A maniacal laugh.

"Hahahahahahhahhhahahahhahhahahhhh!! Hhahahahahahahah!!"

Aidan stood up. The pain was too much—the ache, the muffled sound in his ears—but his will was stronger. So was his ambition.

"Teacher!! Teacher!!" Aidan said, his hand holding the sword—unlike before.

"You do not understand me," Aidan said, a maniacal smile on his face. It was an unreal smile—as he vanished, then reappeared in front of Matthew.

Matthew tried to use the same technique as before—to knock him out. But he froze.

From the attack pattern to the distance to the speed—Aidan had predicted it all.

The clean edge of the wooden sword was at Matthew's neck. He dodged by a millisecond.

Matthew looked into Aidan's eyes. Aidan's smile was still chilling.

"There's no such thing that can swallow me. Ambition too is just a part of me—just like greed. Just like love. Every one of those things is me."

Matthew heard each word as he stared at Aidan, his expression solemn.

Aidan's maniacal laughter erupted again.

"You think too little of me. I don't just want to be free."

"I want the power to bend the world to my imagination."

"I want to bend the world if need be."

"That… is my ambition."

"And that… is also my vow."