Evening.
The sky was turning orange as Keal and Arion walked back toward the house. Liora and the small beast were already ahead, running and laughing.
Keal carried herbs in a cloth bag. His body was tired, but his mind felt sharper than before after training.
As they approached the house, Keal slowed.
The door was half open.
One wooden plank hung broken from its hinge.
Keal frowned.
Keal: …Liora?
No answer.
He pushed the door slowly.
Inside—
Everything was a mess.
Broken pots. Herbs scattered on the floor. The storage shelf overturned. Their small table split in half.
It looked like someone had turned the house upside down.
Keal froze.
His fingers tightened.
Keal: …What… happened…
Liora slowly stepped out from behind the inner room.
Her eyes were red like she had cried for a long time.
Liora: …K-Keal…
She ran to him and hugged him tightly.
Keal immediately knelt and held her shoulders.
Keal: Liora… what happened here?
She sniffed, trying to stop crying.
Liora: Th-they came…
Keal's expression hardened.
Keal: Who?
Liora: The… immortals…
Silence.
Even the small beast stopped moving.
Arion stood behind them quietly, observing everything.
Keal slowly stood up.
Keal: …Tell me everything.
Liora wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
Liora: They came this afternoon… four of them…
They asked for the monthly payment…
She looked down.
Liora: I told them… you weren't home…
I said… please come tomorrow…
Her voice trembled.
Liora: They got angry…
Keal's hands slowly curled into fists.
Liora: They started throwing things…
Breaking everything…
One of them kicked the table…
She pointed at the broken wood.
Liora: They said… if we don't pay tomorrow…
they'll take everything…
even the house…
Her lips trembled.
Liora: Th-they said… if we still can't pay…
they'll take… me…
Keal's breath stopped.
Silence filled the room.
The air suddenly felt heavy.
Keal slowly lowered his head. His body trembled slightly.
Keal: …I forgot…
Liora looked at him.
Keal whispered.
Keal: Today… was the payment day…
He had been busy training… thinking about cultivation… swords… control…
He forgot the one thing he could never forget.
Fear crawled into his chest.
A sudden image flashed in his mind —
Liora being dragged away.
Crying. Calling his name.
Keal's breathing grew uneven.
Keal (whispering): …What if they came when I wasn't here…
What if… they come again…
His mind replayed the market incident.
His sister getting hit.
Him being powerless.
His heart tightened painfully.
Keal: …If they hurt her…
He couldn't finish.
Liora looked up at him.
Liora: I-I'm okay… they didn't hit me…
I just stayed quiet…
Keal slowly placed his hand on her head.
Keal: …You did well…
But inside, his chest burned.
Behind them—
Arion's eyes had turned cold.
Arion walked slowly through the broken room, stepping over scattered herbs and shattered pottery.
He picked up a broken wooden bowl and looked at it silently.
Then his grip tightened.
The bowl cracked further in his hand.
Arion: …Immortals…
His voice was low.
Dangerously low.
Arion: They did this?
Liora nodded slowly.
Liora: They said… they'll come tomorrow again…
Silence.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
A faint pressure spread from Arion's body without him realizing.
The small beast lowered itself nervously.
Keal noticed it.
He turned.
Keal: …Arion…
Arion's eyes were slightly red.
Arion: Tell me their location.
Keal immediately stepped forward.
Keal: No.
Arion looked at him.
Keal: Don't go.
Arion: They destroyed your home.
They threatened your sister.
And you say don't go?
His voice remained calm… but the anger beneath it was clear.
Arion: One breath is enough for me to erase them.
The air around him vibrated faintly.
Keal felt it.
That power.
If Arion moved now… those immortals would not survive.
But—
Keal stepped forward again.
Keal: And what happens after that?
Arion went silent.
Keal: You kill them… then what?
What happens when stronger ones come?
What happens when you're not here?
Silence filled the room.
Keal's hands trembled slightly.
Keal: You can protect us today…
tomorrow… next week… maybe next year…
But not forever.
He lowered his head.
Keal: I don't want to live hiding behind someone's strength.
Liora looked between them quietly.
Keal slowly knelt.
Arion's eyes narrowed slightly.
Keal's voice broke.
Keal: I was weak today.
That's why they dared to touch this house.
That's why they dared to threaten her.
His fists tightened against the floor.
Keal: If I stay weak… even if you kill them…
someone else will come.
He lowered his head fully.
Keal: I don't want revenge right now…
I want strength.
Silence.
Keal: Teach me…
Teach me how to fight…
Teach me how to stand so no one dares step into this house again.
His voice trembled.
Keal: I'm begging you…
Liora's eyes filled with tears again seeing him kneel.
Liora: K-Keal… don't kneel…
Arion stared at him quietly.
Inside Arion's mind—
Rage burned.
He wanted to wipe out every noble, every so-called immortal who preyed on the weak.
But the boy kneeling before him…
Was not asking for revenge.
He was asking for power.
Real power.
Arion slowly closed his eyes.
Memories flashed — wars, gods, destruction, disciples long gone.
Then he opened his eyes again and looked at Keal.
Arion: Stand up.
Keal slowly lifted his head.
Arion: Look at me.
Keal stood and met his gaze.
Arion: If I train you…
you will suffer more than today.
More than hunger. More than pain.
You will face things worse than death.
Silence.
Arion: You may break.
You may wish to quit.
You may even hate me.
He stepped closer.
Arion: Still want it?
Keal didn't hesitate.
Keal: Yes.
Arion watched his eyes carefully.
No hesitation.
No fear of hardship.
Only fear of losing what he cared about.
Arion turned away slightly.
Arion: Good.
He walked toward the broken door and looked outside at the darkening sky.
Arion: They said they will come tomorrow?
Liora nodded nervously.
Liora: Y-yes…
Arion: Then let them come.
His voice was calm again.
Too calm.
Arion: We will see… how responsible they are… for their actions.
Keal felt a chill hearing that tone.
Not reckless anger.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Arion looked back at them.
Arion: Tonight, clean the house.
Eat. Rest.
He walked toward the inner room.
Arion: Tomorrow… begins your real training.
Keal stood there silently.
His fear hadn't disappeared.
But now—
There was something else inside him.
A decision.
He looked at the broken table… the scattered herbs… his crying sister.
Then slowly clenched his fist.
Keal (whispering): …Never again.
Outside, night settled over the forest.