Cain stared at the book with an emotionless face after he finished rereading the trials.
"What the hell! Is this even completable?"
Cain had four years to not only kill 300 expert ranks, but somehow kill a beast or person at the master stage.
And the last part only told him to find the power he was born with! He had no idea what that even meant!
"A body that looked down on mana? What does that even mean?"
That sentence alone really questioned what the trial was trying to get at.
'Is there a difference between rejecting and looking down on mana?'
"Ah, so many questions! And what even was that voice?"
So much had unfolded, but the more he learned, the more questions were created.
"One step at a time."
Cain unsummoned the book and got dressed.
"Four years. I have to complete these trials before turning eleven. Who the hell does this to a seven-year-old?"
After getting dressed, Cain looked out the windows as the morning rose.
"I need a plan," was all that Cain thought.
He knew the path ahead of him would be beyond difficult, but he also smiled.
"I can become stronger… though I'm not sure how, but at least I know my first goal..."
"I need to learn how to fight."
Cain exited his room and headed downstairs. A sweet smell entered his nose as he entered the kitchen. A young woman was setting the table with various types of fruits and breads.
"Ah, Tess, you're back."
"Good morning, Cain, I take it you found what you wanted?"
Giving Tess a little bit of a side look, he responded.
"In a way, but overall.. I did."
Giving Cain a soft smile, Tess laid out the remaining food and sat next to Cain.
As breakfast continued, Tess slowly turned towards Cain and told him. "When we're done, I have somewhere I wanna take you."
In a surprised motion, Cain looks at Tess, her soft smile never fading from her face.
"To where?"
Tess slowly raised her hand before covering the middle of her lips with her index finger.
"It's a secret."
As breakfast finished up, and they both got dressed to head out, they left the house and headed into the town.
Cain followed Tess through the streets. The stares and whispers of people saying the same thing every time he went through the town.
"The useless one walks again."
"God, look at her, how long do we need to wait?"
"It seems even the greatest of rulers can create a flaw."
Feeling the anger boil inside of him and tightening his fist, he suddenly felt a soft hand grab his. A hand that possessed gentleness and comfort.
A hand that suppressed the anger that dwelled, as Cain's hand slowly released his strength and embraced the warmth.
Cain gave Tess a soft glance, one of thanks, but one that also confused Cain a bit.
As he could see within Tess's emotionless face. One that burned with an anger even deeper than his own. One that felt like this sudden action was not for Cain, but for herself.
Cain wanted to ask something, but stayed silent as Tess had spoken first and in a soft voice.
"Remember, Cain, the path you walk now is not of the future, but of the past. Patience is a virtue, one that rewards those who wait. For now, they talk and laugh, but in time, you will walk as they kneel before your steps. One of fear, or respect for the height you will achieve."
With nothing to say back, he simply nodded.
"Mhm."
'I'll become strong. Stronger than anyone else.'
As Tess and Cain continued through the town, they entered a narrow alley, one devoid of light, as the air was filled with dust and dirt.
Walking down the dark alley, Cain noticed people sleeping on the side, as rags and blankets tried to cover their broken bodies. Ones who were left forgotten by the world as they stayed within the shadows.
When they arrived near the end of the alley, an old store could be seen. Its windows cracked as the wooden foundation spread with rot. Its store sign hanging on one chain.
A symbol of a hammer and an anvil.
'A weapon! Perfect!' Cain thought to himself as he stared at Tess with baby eyes.
Walking inside the broken store, various types of weapons were hung on the wall, as rows of weapons laid on stands. There were even barrels that held all sorts of different weapons.
Cain looked around at all the weapons the store held as they walked through. At the desk towards the end of the store, an old man was sleeping as his snores echoed out.
"Greetings, Mr. Blacksmith." Tess gave with a small bow.
"zzzZZZZzz"
…
"ZZzzzZ"
…
Bang!
Tess slammed her hand against the counter as the old man woke up in panic and fell down.
"What in the devil's name!"
The old man said in an aggressive tone. He slowly looked around, but standing up, and saw Tess and a young boy standing in front of the desk.
"What do you want?"
With a soft voice, "We are looking for a weapon. We were wondering if you had any special crafts for my young master here, Cain." Tess asked.
The old man narrowed his eyes on Cain before speaking.
"So you're the talk of the town, huh. Looking for a weapon, are we?"
Cain gave Tess a slight glance, wondering if this was the correct place. But he surrendered as she gave him a nod back.
"Yes, I would like a sword."
'Hmm,' the old man grumbled as he looked at Cain.
"The corner over there is all the swords I have, now shoo." The old man said with a waving hand.
With a rapid blink, Cain followed through as he headed to the north corner of the store.
Tess followed in suit, as Cain looked around at the different types of swords.
While some looked freshly made, others looked beaten and destroyed, almost like they only possessed one last swing in them.
Cain really wondered if this was the right place for a sword before asking Tess.
"Thank you, Tess, but I'm not sure if this is the right place."
With her alluring voice, "Cain, a weapon is not just chosen by its holder, but also the weapon itself. On the battlefield, you must not only trust yourself, but of your weapon in arms. For it is your strongest offensive, and greatest defensive."
"Just like how you picked your manual, try and see if you feel something here."
With his lips turned down, Cain looked at his options once more.
He carefully examined each sword he picked up. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking for besides a clean edge and decent durability, as it seemed all that was offered at this store.
As he continued his inspection, he eventually stumbled upon a sword, one that was located at the bottom of a container.
Its edges were dull, as rust had built up across the entire blade. Its blade shape was straight, as some weird runes were etched at the beginning of the blade, leading up to the midpoint of the blade.
The blade was a little over 4 feet long, while its handle was around 8 inches long. Just long enough to hold single-handed, but also two-handed as well. The top part of the handle was covered in leather that almost seemed to fall apart, as the bottom part was uncovered. Seemingly as if it was showing the separation between one-handed and two-handed. The bottom of the sword had a sharp curve going out, before connecting into a half circle.
For some reason, Cain was entirely focused on the sword. He slowly gazed his hand over the handle, but scurried off onto its crossguard, one that held the same design as the bottom of the sword and stuck straight out with no deviations.
He felt it.
The same connection as he did with the manual. An indescribable call that pulled him.
Surrendering to the silence, as his entire being focused on the sword.
He saw it.
The name of the sword.
Cain looked at Tess with radiant eyes.
"I'll take this."
Seeing Cain's reflection in the sword, Tess looked back at the store owner and asked across the store.
"We will be taking this sword, any issues?"
As the owner was leaning on the back of his hand against the desk, he asked back.
"Just one, what's the name of the sword?"
Tess looked at Cain, waiting for him to answer. Cain looked deeply at the sword and with a small smirk, he said.
"Serenity's Rule"
The owner gave a deep smile, almost as if he knew more than what he gave off, and raised his hand into a wave as he whispered.
"May her name echo once more."