Voor studied me for a long moment before suddenly asking, "What do you know about power?"
I blinked. "Power?"
He sighed and shook his head in disappointment. "I should have expected that. You really are a country bumpkin. It seems we truly must start from the basics."
I lowered my head slightly, feeling embarrassed but said nothing.
"First," Voor continued, "you must exercise daily before coming here. Those exercises are meant to strengthen your body. Without a strong foundation, nothing else matters."
He began pacing slowly as he spoke. "Every action you take requires power—energy, if you will. That energy comes from food, breathing, and countless activities your body performs every day."
He stopped and looked straight at me. "But gaining muscle alone will not make you powerful."
I frowned, listening carefully.
"To become truly powerful," he said, "you must choose a path."
"A… path?"
Voor nodded. "Yes. A path of cultivation."
He pointed toward the training grounds, where guards trained relentlessly. "The first is the Martial Arts Path. Those who follow it temper their bodies to the extreme. In exchange, they gain tremendous strength, extended lifespan, and the power to shatter mountains."
My breath caught.
Crush mountains?
I had never even imagined such a thing. I forced myself to remain calm, afraid he would mock me again if I showed too much astonishment.
"Are there other paths?" I asked carefully.
"Of course," Voor replied. "There are many."
He raised a finger. "The second is the Sage Path. Practitioners train their minds instead of their bodies. They gain wisdom, powerful mental strength, and longevity equal to those of martial artists."
Another finger rose. "Third is the Weapon Path. This is a newer path. Some follow it as a sub-path, while others choose it as their main road."
He paused, then raised his final finger. "And fourth—those who train in all paths."
My eyes widened.
"These people are rarer than gems," Voor said seriously. "To walk every path requires unimaginable talent and enormous resources. Very few ever succeed."
Then he looked at me and asked, "So tell me, Ryu. Which path do you wish to follow?"
My heart began to race.
I had been fascinated by swords.
"In which path does the sword belong?" I asked.
Voor looked genuinely surprised. "You know about swords?"
I nodded quietly.
"The sword belongs to the Weapon Path," he said after a moment. "But let me be clear—it is not a good path."
My chest tightened.
"It does not grant long life," Voor continued. "Your body will remain weak, and your mind fragile compared to those on the other paths."
I clenched my fists.
I had joined the Vermillion family because I wanted to change. Martial Arts promised power, but the pain… I wasn't sure I could endure it forever.
Yet when I imagined myself holding a sword, my resolve hardened.
"I choose the sword," I said.
Voor stared at me for several seconds before shaking his head. "If you intend to follow only the Sword Path, then you should learn from Young Master Aleric. He walks the fourth path. He understands the sword far better than I ever could."
He sighed. "I would be a poor instructor for you in that regard."
Then his tone grew serious. "Do not rush this decision, Ryu. Choosing the wrong path can ruin your future."
"You have six months to decide," he added.
I looked up sharply. "Why six months? What happens after that?"
"Nothing happens after six months," Voor replied calmly. "But right now, you are not physically ready to choose any path."
He pointed at me. "Martial Arts requires physical power. Sage Path requires mental power. Weapon Path requires weapon power—an unnatural, acquired force that is extremely difficult to obtain. That is why most people avoid it."
Doubt crept into my heart.
But I pushed it aside and focused on Voor's words.
"That is enough for today," he said. "Go complete the exercises I assigned you."
With that, he turned and left.
I prepared myself for another trial—but none came. So I finished my exercises as instructed and returned to the servants' quarters.
By the time I reached my room, I could barely walk. Every muscle in my body screamed in pain. I collapsed onto the bed, unsure if I would even be able to wake up the next morning.
Exhaustion claimed me almost instantly.
—
Days passed.
My routine became fixed.
I woke before dawn and completed my basic exercises. After that, I joined Voor's physical training sessions. He taught me hand-to-hand combat, knife techniques, and how to fight multiple opponents at once.
Voor was a good instructor. His power was astonishing. Sometimes, just by standing near him, I could feel it. He often spoke about crushing mountains with a single thought. At first, I believed he was bluffing.
Now, I was sure he wasn't.
I also trained with other guards in one-on-one fights. In the beginning, I was beaten badly, like a dog. But slowly, I began to win some matches. Even so, I still couldn't defeat them properly. These were people who had seen their fair share of blood. Beating them without tricks was still impossible for me.
I ate more than I ever had in my life.
Slowly, my body began to change. I gained weight. Strength returned to my limbs. The difference was visible even to the naked eye.
Sometimes, I thought about how I could beat the same people who once beat me.
Still, one problem remained.
I had to choose my path.
I was confused. Unsure. I wondered if I should speak to Young Master Aleric about it.
Before I realized it—
Six months passed in the blink of an eye.
—
I was excited to meet Young Master Aleric—the one who had changed my life.
To me, he was my entire world. The thought came naturally, without hesitation. I had already decided that I would serve him until my death.
Yet there was something I had to tell him.
I still hadn't chosen the Path.
I didn't know how to explain it, nor how he would react. A part of me feared that he might cast me out for my hesitation. But as his guard, I couldn't hide the truth. If I truly wished to show my sincerity toward him, then honesty was the only choice.
I clenched my fists.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, I will tell him everything.