The first rays of dawn crept over the towering peaks, bathing the endless mountain range in a warm golden glow.
Mist drifted lazily through ancient pine forests, while the cries of soaring hawks echoed between cliffs that seemed to touch the heavens.
Far above the bustling world below stood a lonely wooden cabin.
Time seemed to move differently here.
There were no crowded roads.
No noisy markets.
No noble clans.
Only mountains...
And silence.
The cabin rested on the edge of a cliff overlooking a sea of clouds. A small vegetable garden flourished beside it, enclosed by a hand-built wooden fence. Nearby, a crystal-clear stream flowed down the mountainside, feeding a tiny pond where several fish swam lazily.
Smoke curled gently from the chimney.
Inside, a white-haired old man stirred a pot over the fire while humming an old tune that had long since been forgotten by the outside world.
The rich aroma of breakfast slowly filled the cabin.
Without turning around, the old man called out.
"Kael."
No answer.
He smiled knowingly.
"...If you're pretending to be asleep again, breakfast will become my breakfast."
Still no answer.
The old man chuckled.
"So that's your decision."
He reached toward the steaming pot with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"What a shame. I suppose I'll have to eat your share too."
Before the spoon even touched the bowl—
The cabin door burst open.
A young man with slightly messy black hair rushed inside.
"I'm awake!"
The old man laughed heartily.
"I knew the smell would work."
Kael scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile.
"You said food shouldn't be wasted."
"I did."
"And I was making sure it wouldn't be."
Grandpa Elias shook his head.
"Convenient reasoning."
Kael simply grinned.
---
Breakfast was simple.
Fresh vegetable stew.
Grilled river fish.
Warm flatbread baked that very morning.
Kael ate happily.
"This fish tastes better today."
Grandpa Elias looked offended.
"You mean my cooking keeps improving?"
Kael thought seriously.
"...No."
"It has always been delicious."
The old man sighed dramatically.
"Good save."
---
After breakfast, the bowls were washed.
The fire was extinguished.
The peaceful atmosphere vanished almost instantly.
Grandpa Elias walked outside carrying a plain wooden staff.
His eyes narrowed.
"Training."
Kael stood and stretched.
"Yes, Grandpa."
The lazy mountain boy from moments ago disappeared.
His posture straightened.
His expression grew calm.
He picked up another wooden staff resting beside the cabin.
The two walked toward a circular clearing surrounded by towering trees.
It was obvious this place had been used for years.
Hundreds of tiny cracks covered the stones beneath their feet.
Broken practice posts lined the edges.
Even the trees bore countless scars.
Grandpa Elias planted his staff on the ground.
"The rules?"
Kael answered immediately.
"Control before power."
"Awareness before speed."
"Respect before victory."
The old man smiled.
"Good."
Without another word—
He vanished.
Or at least...
It looked that way.
Kael's staff rose instinctively.
Clack!
Wood struck wood.
The impact echoed across the mountain.
Another strike followed.
Then another.
The forest came alive with the sound of staffs colliding.
Grandpa Elias attacked from every angle.
High.
Low.
Left.
Right.
Each strike flowed into the next like water.
Kael matched them one by one.
His movements were clean and disciplined.
There was no wasted effort.
No flashy techniques.
Only solid fundamentals refined through years of practice.
Several birds took flight from nearby trees as the spar continued.
Minutes passed.
Sweat formed on Kael's forehead.
Grandpa Elias suddenly smiled.
"There."
Kael blinked.
"What?"
The old man's staff lightly tapped the side of his head.
"...You were distracted."
Kael rubbed the spot sheepishly.
"I was thinking about breakfast."
Grandpa Elias burst into laughter.
"You'll never improve if food occupies your thoughts during training."
Kael looked genuinely confused.
"But you said today's fish tasted especially good."
"I also said focus."
The two looked at each other.
Then laughed together.
---
The rest of the morning passed in quiet routine.
Kael carried freshly cut firewood back to the cabin.
He climbed a rocky cliff to gather medicinal herbs growing from narrow cracks in the stone.
Later, he crossed the cold stream with two full buckets of water balanced across his shoulders.
To him...
It was simply another ordinary day.
---
As the sun reached its highest point, Grandpa Elias sat beneath the shade of an ancient maple tree.
He patted the ground beside him.
"Come."
Kael sat obediently.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
They simply listened.
The wind whispered through the leaves.
A squirrel darted across a nearby branch.
Far below, hidden beneath the sea of clouds, the faint outline of a distant world could barely be seen.
Kael followed his grandfather's gaze.
"Grandpa..."
"Is the world really that big?"
The old man smiled.
"Bigger than you can imagine."
"Are there really cities with thousands of people?"
"There are cities with hundreds of thousands."
Kael's eyes widened.
"...How do they all fit?"
Grandpa Elias laughed so hard that he nearly fell over.
"They manage somehow."
Kael nodded thoughtfully, accepting the answer without question.
After all...
His grandfather had never lied to him.
At least...
Not about important things.
The old man looked toward the distant horizon, his smile softening.
"The world beyond these mountains is beautiful."
"It is also dangerous."
"You'll see it one day."
Kael tilted his head.
"You always say that."
"I do."
Grandpa Elias replied quietly.
"And when that day comes..."
His voice trailed off as if he had almost said something he wasn't ready to reveal.
Instead, he simply smiled.
"Never mind."
Kael waited for him to continue.
But the old man only reached over and ruffled his hair.
"Come on."
"The roof won't repair itself."
Kael sighed dramatically.
"I was hoping you'd forgotten."
"I forget many things."
Grandpa Elias said with a grin as he stood.
"But never unfinished work."
The two returned to the cabin together, their laughter echoing through the quiet mountains.
Neither of them knew that this peaceful day...
Would be the last ordinary day they would ever share.
End of Chapter 1