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The training had lasted for hours, stretching far beyond what Kumuna had anticipated. The once blazing sun had dipped below the horizon, casting hues of deep oranges and purples across the sky.
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Kumuna’s body screamed in exhaustion, his muscles aching from the relentless drills, the endless sparring, and the never-ending corrections from Orwin. Despite this, he stood his ground, his stance wobbly but determined. His breath came in sharp, ragged pants as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
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Orwin, who had barely broken a sweat throughout the entire session, observed him carefully. His sharp golden eyes traced the subtle shakes in Kumuna’s stance, the way his shoulders sagged slightly from fatigue.
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“Alright, kid,” Orwin finally said, lowering his own stance. “That’s enough for today.”
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Kumuna huffed, rolling his shoulders. “Tch… I’m not done yet.”
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The moment the words left his mouth, his legs buckled.
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His body lurched forward, but before he could hit the ground, Orwin caught him, gripping his arm firmly but gently.
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“Hey.” Orwin’s voice was calm, steady. “I said that’s enough.”
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Kumuna gritted his teeth, his body shaking as he tried to steady himself.
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Orwin sighed and placed a reassuring hand on Kumuna’s shoulder. “Look, I get it. You don’t wanna stop. You wanna keep pushing yourself until you drop.”
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Kumuna remained silent, his jaw tightening.
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Orwin’s grip on his shoulder tightened slightly.
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“But you gotta remember what I told you.”
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Kumuna finally looked up at him, eyes still filled with stubborn determination.
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Orwin nodded firmly.
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“A warrior isn’t just brute strength. He’s not just skill. He’s the balance of mind and body.”
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Orwin smirked slightly, his tail flicking behind him. “And that means knowing when your body’s hit its damn limit and accepting it.”
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Kumuna felt his tense shoulders loosen. His breath finally evened out.
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He let out a tired chuckle. “…Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
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Orwin stepped back, allowing Kumuna to regain his footing as they began walking back toward the castle entrance.
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As they reached the grand stone steps, Orwin’s golden eyes drifted upward, fixing on a lone figure standing beneath a nearby tree—watching.
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Kai’Zen.
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Orwin stopped in his tracks.
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“Kumuna, go on ahead,” he said, his tone lighter but firm. “I’ll catch up.”
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Kumuna blinked at him, then followed Orwin’s gaze—he barely caught the silhouette of the warlord standing in the shadows.
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His expression soured slightly.
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“…Tch. Fine.” He rolled his shoulders before dragging himself toward the entrance, disappearing inside.
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Orwin turned, his sharp gaze locking onto Kai’Zen.
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“Seen enough?”
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Kai’Zen stepped forward, his arms crossed. His face was unreadable, but the tension in his jaw was evident.
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“You’re too soft on him.”
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Orwin didn’t react, his tail swaying slowly behind him.
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“You coddle him,” Kai’Zen continued, stepping closer. “You train him too gently. The boy lacks discipline, lacks respect, and yet you praise him for every small step like a child taking his first walk.”
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Orwin sighed through his nose.
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“We made an oath to train the hero, not beat him into the ground,” Orwin replied, his voice calm, but firm.
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Kai’Zen’s eyes narrowed. “And you think I’m trying to beat him into the ground?”
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Orwin crossed his arms, mirroring Kai’Zen’s stance. “Aren’t you?”
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Kai’Zen exhaled sharply, clearly agitated.
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“The world isn’t kind to the naive, Orwin. If we don’t drill that into him now, he won’t make it past a month—let alone five years.”
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Orwin was silent.
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Kai’Zen’s gaze hardened. “I won’t waste my time training someone who’s too arrogant to see how weak he truly is.”
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Orwin finally spoke.
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“He’s not like us.”
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Kai’Zen tensed.
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Orwin took a slow step forward, his voice quieter, but heavier.
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“We were born into this,” Orwin said, his golden eyes flickering. “From the moment we could walk, we trained. We fought. We knew what war was before we even understood what peace meant.”
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Kai’Zen’s fingers twitched slightly at his side.
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“But Kumuna? He came from a world that doesn’t prepare you for this. He wasn’t raised for war. And yet—he’s still here.”
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Kai’Zen’s jaw ticked.
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Orwin exhaled. “You don’t have to like him, Kai. You don’t have to coddle him like I do.” His gaze hardened. “But at least try to see things from his perspective.”
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Kai’Zen remained silent.
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Orwin turned away.
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Before he left, he glanced back one last time.
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“Just… think about it before you write him off.”
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And with that, he disappeared into the night, leaving Kai’Zen alone.
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The warlord stayed there, unmoving, staring out into the darkness.
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His fists clenched at his sides in irritation but something made him calm down, he took a moment to think.
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Orwin’s words gnawed at him, refusing to be easily cast aside.
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He exhaled sharply through his nose. This was a mistake. The gods had made a mistake. The boy was reckless, undisciplined, and far too naïve to truly understand what was at stake.
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And yet…
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Kai’Zen’s gaze flickered toward the empty training grounds in the distance.
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Kumuna had stayed. He didn’t quit. Even after being knocked down, after struggling, after failing time and time again… he kept standing back up.
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Kai’Zen closed his eyes for a moment.
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Then, his lips curled into the faintest smirk.
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“Tch. Stubborn brat.”
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With that, he turned sharply on his heel and disappeared into the shadows.
