Time has passed since the incident, and much has unfolded at the Inn. Hunter provided Kyro with a fresh set of clothes, and Kyro has been assisting around the Inn wherever possible, doing so willingly. While he yearns to remember his past, he has begun to embrace this new life, choosing not to dwell on the memories he wishes to recover.
Of course, he still makes sure to ask Hunter every night for a warm cup of hot chocolate, which he has grown quite fond of.
One night, as Hunter prepared his hot chocolate, he asked Kyro the same question he had posed on the first day: "So, have you made up your mind on what you want to do yet, Kyro?"
Kyro sat at the bar, still unsure of what he wanted to do. "I'm still not sure," he replied.
"Ah, well, that's fine. I just had to check in. I appreciate the extra company; you're young and have a lot to live for. However, I'm sure you don't want to work here for the rest of your life," said Hunter.
"Well, I don't mind helping you. After all, you took me in when I could have died," Kyro responded.
Hunter smiled and reached for his cold drink from the bar counter.
"Although," Kyro continued, "I've grown increasingly curious about the aether problem surrounding the country ever since the incident."
Ever since that incident with the rogue man and helpless woman, Kyro couldn't help but wonder about Hunter's words earlier about the nature of the country's citizens.
Additionally, in the aftermath of that attack, it hurt his heart in a unique way, as if it was a calling of sort to him. Although he tried to walk away from those feelings, as time passed, that heartache only increased. Kyro couldn't ignore them anymore.
Eager to hear more, Hunter set the bottle back on the bar counter before he could take a sip.
"Oh? And why is that?"
Kyro rested his hand on his chin. "I'm not sure why exactly, but I felt a painful heartache seeing the poor woman in distress. And I want to do something about it."
Kyro took another sip of his hot chocolate before looking back at Hunter.
"It's just not all right to allow this to keep happening. Like, who rules this country?"
Hunter responded briefly before taking another sip of his drink, "The royal family."
"Have they done anything about this?"
"Well, the only thing anyone has heard is that they are still trying to find a solution."
Hunter then chuckled, "At least that's what they say, but it's hard to believe with what's going on lately."
Kyro rubbed his chin, thinking of a possible solution to this entire problem as Hunter took another sip of his drink.
"How are you so calm about this situation, Hunter?" curiosity asked Kyro.
"Calm? Of course I'm worried about my country. It's my home, after all. But I'm retired and not the same adventurer. I've chosen the easy life until the day I die."
"I see."
Kyro quickly then followed up, "You know what, I think I've made up my mind."
Hunter put his drink down. "Made up your mind?"
"I would like to investigate this problem. Perhaps then I can help save these people and your country," boldly said Kyro.
Hunter looked at Kyro, smiled, and then burst into laughter.
"What, did I say something wrong?" Kyro asked, feeling embarrassed.
"No, no, not at all, my boy," Hunter said, amusement in his voice.
Hunter gazed up at the Inn's ceiling. "That just reminded me of my old self… just a little."
He turned back to Kyro, "But yes, of course, coming from someone who was once an adventurer, I say if you're serious about it, go out there and explore."
He grabbed his drink before continuing, "And no, it's not because I want you to leave or anything… quite the opposite. It would be wrong of me to hold you back."
Kyro sighed in relief, knowing Hunter was supportive of his thoughts, and took another sip of his hot chocolate.
The next day, Hunter was returning from some business when he suddenly heard a voice from behind the Inn. The voice was yelling and screaming, accompanied by a whacking sound. Curious, Hunter went behind the Inn to investigate.
To his surprise, he found Kyro swinging an axe against a tree repeatedly.
"Kyro," shouted Hunter.
Kyro jumped up fearfully, as if caught doing something he shouldn't be. "You're back already?"
"Back? What are you doing behind my Inn?" Hunter asked politely.
"I… uh… was practicing with the axe," Kyro said nervously.
"For what reason?"
"What if you needed me to cut down trees for the fireplace one day?"
"This boy… how foolish does he think I am…"
Hunter guessed what Kyro was trying to do but decided to play along with his lie.
He shook his head, "Ah, I understand. For a moment, I thought you were interested in wielding an axe for your grand adventure."
"Not at all! Why would I? It's your axe after all," Kyro replied.
Hunter sighed, "Well, that's a shame. I was getting excited to teach you something… but I guess perhaps not."
Immediately, Kyro admitted the truth, "Wait, no, you're right. That was the exact reason. I was training to hopefully set out on my adventure one day."
Hunter grinned, "That's more like it. I was waiting for you to admit that."
Realizing this might be a trap, Kyro began to retract his statement, "No, but—"
"Don't worry, I'm not mad at all about you using my axe," Hunter laughed.
"However, if you're serious about your path, then allow me to help you as much as possible. After all, that's the same axe I used on my journey back in the day."
Kyro sighed in relief, "Thank you."
"Give me a moment; let me head back to grab some water. I'll teach you some basics afterward," Hunter said as he headed back into the Inn.
Hunter returned out after drinking some water, feeling refreshed and ready to go.
"There are a couple of things you should know before we start training," Hunter said, looking at Kyro, motioning for the axe.
"The first thing is how to properly hold a two-handed war axe. You want to grab at the base of it with one hand, and somewhere near the middle with the other hand. This way, when using the axe, you have a firmer grip of the axe itself," explained Hunter.
Kyro nodded as he understood.
Hunter continued, "When you swing the axe, make sure to then use your top hand and slide it down to the hand gripping the bottom. This way, you can get the maximum amount of power needed per each swing."
Hunter then demonstrated a proper swing to Kyro, going from right to left and showing how the hands move on the base.
"Lastly, the most important thing is your stance. The stance is key in how you position your body to get the optimal power."
Hunter then positioned himself vertically, placing his left foot in front of his right foot. He then widened his stance before continuing to explain. "Having this wide stance helps generate power from the back leg, which travels into a powerful swing."
Hunter then swung once more in demonstration. Thereafter, he turned to Kyro to see if he understood what he said. Kyro nodded, eager to start practicing right then and there. He was so excited to learn something new outside of his Inn duties.
Hunter smiled as he watched Kyro practicing.
"That hunger to learn, that smile… reminds me a lot of myself when I was young, ready to adventure in the outside world…"
Hunter told Kyro after a couple of minutes, "Alright, let's meet up outside the village in the forest. It should give you more space to practice rather than behind my Inn."
Five minutes later, both arrived at the forest outside the village.
Hunter started watching over Kyro and the basics he taught him. It was important to Hunter that he learned it right and got it almost perfect. He also gave Kyro a daily training regimen to also train his body, as swinging an axe can take a toll if the body is weak. Kyro wasn't very good at the start, as expected, but kept trying at his axe-wielding basics that day.
"Again, Kyro," shouted Hunter, watching from afar as Kyro swung against a forest tree.
Kyro was panting, "But I—"
"Nope, do it again. You can't rush your fundamentals," said Hunter once more.
Tired, Kyro pulled himself together as he continued to practice his axe swings.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Hunter called out to Kyro, signaling that it was time to return. Despite his exhaustion, Kyro nodded, picked up the axe, and followed Hunter back home.
The nights stretched on, each one a testament to Kyro's unwavering dedication as he honed his skills under Hunter's watchful eye. Hunter, embodying the role of a relentless mentor, scrutinized every aspect of Kyro's form and technique with an intensity that bordered on harshness. He understood that his critical approach was tough, yet he believed it was essential for Kyro to master the fundamentals, equipping him with the ability to defend himself in a world that could be unforgiving.
Initially, Kyro was unfazed by the harsh criticism he received, but as the nights wore on, a simmering frustration began to take root within him. He often felt as though he was perpetually falling short of expectations, as if his efforts were never quite sufficient. Each time he believed he had made progress, Hunter would inevitably find a flaw to highlight, a detail to critique. Kyro longed to prove himself worthy enough to embark on the adventure he had envisioned. Yet, this relentless stream of criticism left him yearning for a simple acknowledgment of his improvements—a genuine compliment that always seemed just out of reach. The absence of positive reinforcement from Hunter weighed heavily on Kyro, amplifying his insecurities and making the journey feel even more daunting.
"Swing form could've been better, and remember to derive power from your legs into your upper body!" yelled Hunter, his voice echoing across the clearing, a mix of encouragement and frustration.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows, Kyro felt the weight of the world pressing down on him. One evening, the tension reached a boiling point, and he could no longer contain his emotions. He unleashed his pent-up frustrations against Hunter, his mentor.
"Good cut, Kyro, but remember—"
With a sudden, fierce motion, Kyro dropped the axe onto the ground, the thud resonating in the still air. He turned sharply, his eyes blazing with anger, and snapped at Hunter, "I don't think I can do this anymore."
Hunter, taken aback, blinked in disbelief, "What? You quit?"
"Maybe… maybe I'm just not good enough for this. Forget about my adventure; I'd rather go back to helping you at the Inn full time," Kyro replied, his voice laced with defeat.
Leaving the axe embedded in the earth, Kyro began his retreat toward the village entrance, his heart heavy. Hunter, sensing the gravity of the moment, stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Kyro's shoulder.
"You'd quit now, despite all the progress you've made?" Hunter questioned, his tone a mix of concern and disbelief.
"Progress?! I feel like I make none every time you have something to say for me. Perhaps I'm just not cut out to be an adventurer, as you might have thought," Kyro said, shaking off Hunter's hand with a swift motion.
Hunter watched as Kyro quickly walked away from him toward the village.
"If you really want to help me around full time, I won't stop you," Hunter replied, his voice steady.
"But it would be a shame… to see such talent go to waste…"
Kyro turned back, fury igniting in his eyes, "Talent?"
Hunter raised his hand, signaling Kyro to pause. "I thought you to possess the same determined fire in your eyes that I once had when I set my mind to something. You were so eager to learn. But when the training got tough, you're now running away. So what will happen when the same adversity confronts you in the outside world?"
At that moment, Kyro froze, grappling with the truth of Hunter's words. He knew deep down that Hunter was right, yet his frustrations from training simmered just below the surface.
Hunter stepped closer to Kyro, near the village entrance, his expression softening.
"Listen, I understand your eagerness to venture out and solve the world's problems. Trust me, I've been there myself as a fellow adventurer. But you can't skip the essential steps. Learning combat is not just a task; it's an art that requires time and patience. If you rush this process, it could cost you your life, especially out there. That's why I've been tough on you," he explained gently, reaching into his back pocket to retrieve a bottle of water.
Handing the bottle to Kyro, Hunter said, "Here, take this. I know you must be exhausted."
Kyro looked at Hunter, then at the bottle, before finally accepting it from Hunter's warm hands, feeling a flicker of gratitude.
"That being said, if this has all become too much for you, we can retire to the Inn for the night and resume a quiet life for as long as you wish," Hunter suggested, stepping ahead into the village.
"No, wait," Kyro called out, causing Hunter to halt in his tracks.
With his gaze lowered in a moment of reflection, Kyro admitted, "You are right. I was frustrated by my lack of progress, eager to explore the world, and not focused on training in front of me."
"And if I can't overcome this, then what's the point of stepping outside, let alone helping others?" Kyro pondered aloud, looking back up at Hunter.
A smile spread across Hunter's face, knowing he had successfully convinced Kyro to continue his training.
"Let's start fresh tomorrow. I promise not to skip any steps. I will train until you deem me ready to venture outside the village," Kyro declared, determination igniting within him once more.
Hunter's smile transformed into a light chuckle. "Haha, I like the sound of that!"
"That fire, it's back in his eyes once more."
Together, Hunter and Kyro walked back into the village, their path leading them toward the warmth of the Wolf's Inn.