Soul-Draining Training
The training hall echoed with the clanging of metal and the shouts of instructors. Satya stood in the middle of the arena, sweat soaking his face, his hand gripping the training sword that now felt like an extension of his body—though still heavy. His eyes narrowed, focused on the wooden dummy in front of him, but his breathing was ragged, and his arms trembled from the intense training Leon had given him today.
"Satya, faster!" barked Leon, standing to the side with his arms crossed. "The enemy won't wait for you to catch your breath. Swing that sword like you mean to destroy them!"
Satya gritted his teeth, images of his scorched village fueling the fire in his chest. With a small roar filled with anger, he swung his sword, this time landing a stronger hit on the dummy. The wood creaked, but Satya didn't stop. He swung again, and again, each movement filled with memories of the family taken from him.
But his strength quickly faded. On the tenth swing, his arms gave out. The sword dropped to the ground with a loud clang, and Satya collapsed to his knees, gasping like a fish out of water. Sweat mixed with tears on his cheeks, though he hastily wiped them away, not wanting Leon or anyone else to see.
"I... I'm still too weak," he muttered, voice cracking. He stared at the sword on the ground, feeling as if the enemies who destroyed his family were laughing at him from the shadows. "How can I avenge them like this?"
Leon stepped closer, his face stern but his eyes showing a hint of softness. "The goblins who slaughtered your family were just lowly demons, Satya," he said, his voice deep and serious. "They're weak compared to the real demons out there—creatures that can destroy cities in a night. If you want revenge, you have to be ready to face something far stronger."
Those words hit Satya like a stone. He looked at Leon, eyes widening, heart pounding.
"Stronger demons?" he echoed, voice trembling. The memory of his family being taken by goblins felt small compared to the threat Leon described, but it only fueled his resolve. "I'll fight them all," he said, clenching his fists even as his body trembled. "I have to."
Leon nodded slightly, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "You're already better than yesterday. But strength isn't just about muscles. You must train your heart too. Get up, and try again."
Satya wanted to scream, to prove himself, but his body refused. He could only bow his head, the weight of his weakness pressing down on his shoulders.
In the corner of the room, Alicia, who had been watching with a bored expression, now looked at Satya differently. Not with mockery, but with something softer—perhaps understanding. She rose from her bench, her blue dress swaying, and approached him with hesitant steps.
"You don't have to push yourself to death, you know," she said, her voice still a little sharp but not as biting as usual. "Grandpa says rest is part of training too."
Satya looked up, surprised. It was the first time Alicia hadn't mocked him. "Why do you care?" he asked, voice weak but full of wonder.
Alicia turned away, cheeks slightly flushed. "I don't care! I just... don't want you fainting here and making Grandpa clean up the mess." She paused, then added softly, "Besides, you're... not as bad as I thought."
Satya stared at her, not knowing what to say. For the first time, Alicia didn't seem like just an arrogant noble's granddaughter, but someone who might be a friend.
An Invitation to the Festival
After training, Satya sat on the training hall stairs, still catching his breath, when Alicia suddenly appeared in front of him, holding two red apples.
"Come on," she said abruptly, tossing one apple to Satya, who caught it awkwardly. "You can't just train yourself to death. Come with me to the city. The Victory Festival in Asran starts today."
"Festival?" Satya frowned, the apple still in his hand. "I need to train. I don't have time for—"
"If you die of exhaustion, you won't be able to fight any demons, idiot," Alicia cut him off, hands on her hips. "Besides, you've never seen Asran, right? You're from a village. You've probably never seen anything like this."
Satya wanted to refuse, but there was something in Alicia's eyes—a glimmer of hope, maybe loneliness—that made him unable to say no.
"Alright," he mumbled eventually, standing on shaky legs. "But just for a bit."
Alicia gave a faint smile, almost unnoticeable, and grabbed Satya's hand. "Come on, before Grandpa makes you train again!"
Victory Festival of Asran
The city of Asran transformed into a sea of color and sound. The streets were filled with lanterns shaped like swords and shields, gold and red fabrics fluttered in the wind, and the air smelled of baked bread and smoked meat. The music of drums and flutes echoed, mingling with children's laughter and the cheers of townsfolk. The Victory Festival was Asran's annual celebration of the Holy Knights' triumph over demons, and its spirit was as vibrant as a river overflowing, reminding Satya of his village market—though much grander.
Alicia pulled Satya through the crowd, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Look at that!" she said, pointing toward a large stage in the town square.
There, dancers dressed in shimmering costumes resembling Holy Knights performed with gleaming wooden swords under the torchlight. They danced in quick, fluid motions, reenacting epic battles against actors dressed as demons—creatures with horns and claws made from cloth and wood. Cheers erupted as the "Knights" stabbed the "demons" with wooden swords, and the demons fell amid thunderous applause.
Satya stared at the stage, his heart pounding. The scene brought back memories of his destroyed family, his ruined village, and his dream of becoming a Holy Knight. His eyes welled up, but he bit his lip, holding back the tears.
"One day, I'll be like them," he whispered, voice filled with determination. "I'll destroy real demons."
Alicia looked at him, her expression soft. "You're really serious, huh?" she said, her tone no longer mocking. "I... I like your spirit. I don't have friends like that."
Satya turned to her, surprised. "You don't have friends? But you're Leon's granddaughter, a noble..."
Alicia looked down, fiddling with the hem of her dress. "Everyone's scared of me because Grandpa is the Fang of Asran. Or they just want to get close because of my status. No one really... wants to be my friend." Her voice was quiet, full of vulnerability Satya had never seen before.
Satya paused, then gave a small smile. "Then I'll be your friend," he said suddenly, voice sincere. "But you have to stop calling me a farmer."
Alicia chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "Alright, deal! But you have to stop being such a crybaby."
They laughed together, their voices lost in the festival's noise, but the new bond between them felt stronger than ever.
They continued wandering, tasting sweet honey cakes, watching jugglers toss flaming torches, and running among children flying kites shaped like Asran's crest. For the first time since losing his family, Satya felt light, as if the world wasn't entirely dark. And Alicia, usually so proud, smiled widely, her face glowing like any normal child.
A Temporary Farewell
As the sun began to set, the festival crowd remained lively, but a servant approached Alicia respectfully.
"Lady Alicia, Lady Adelea and your husband await at the north gate. They request your immediate return."
Alicia frowned, her excitement fading.
"Time to go already?" she muttered, voice full of disappointment. She turned to Satya, who stood beside her, equally downcast.
"You'll come back, right?" Satya asked, his voice slightly trembling. He never thought he'd feel sad about Alicia leaving—the girl he once found so annoying.
Alicia nodded, her eyes glistening. "Of course, dummy. I have to make sure you don't become a disgraceful soldier." She tried to smile, but her voice broke. "Today... was fun. I've never had a friend to go to a festival with before."
Satya felt a tightness in his chest. "Me too," he said softly. "Thank you, Alicia. You made me forget for a moment... everything I lost."
Alicia wiped her eyes quickly, trying to hide her tears. "Don't get too sentimental," she muttered, then stepped forward and hugged Satya briefly—so fast he almost didn't notice. "Get stronger, Satya. I don't want my friend to be slow in training."
Satya smiled, though his eyes were wet too. "I promise, Alicia. I'll train even harder. And when you return, I'll be a soldier who makes you proud."
Alicia nodded, then turned and followed the servant toward the north gate. Satya watched her go, her silhouette fading into the festival's vibrant crowd. In his chest, he felt a mix of sorrow and burning resolve. The Victory Festival had shown him a glimpse of Asran's beauty, but also reminded him of his purpose.
He clenched his fists, eyes fixed on the orange sky above. "I will become stronger," he whispered to himself. "For my family. For Alicia. For Asran." With steady steps, he returned to Leon's home, ready to face the next training with a spirit he had never felt before.