Riven froze in shock. He was speechless at the sight before him. In front of him stood three girls and four boys, all holding swords.
Darel turned to him:
"You must be surprised. I'm a sword master now," he said with a laugh.
One girl spoke in a mocking tone:
"Teacher, who's that weird-haired person?"
Riven frowned slightly and replied with a smile:
"That weird person is you!"
The girl stepped forward as if to attack, but Darel immediately intervened:
"That's enough, Saire."
Riven thought to himself: Good thing I put on my eye patch…
Darel continued speaking:
"Riven, come. You're going to meet your new friends. You'll be training here from now on."
"What? No! I won't!" Riven said, backing away.
Darel shouted sternly:
"Riven!"
"…Ah, fine…" Riven muttered reluctantly.
The girls spoke one by one:
"I'm Myra, I'm 12."
"I'm Saire, 11."
"I'm Lyssa, 10. Nice to meet you, Riven!"
Riven thought: So Saire is the girl who attacked me… 11 years old, but very fast.
Darel turned to the boys:
"Now it's your turn."
One boy stubbornly turned his head:
"I'm not saying…"
Darel said firmly:
"Arden!"
Arden flinched:
"Alright, teacher… I'm Arden. I'm 13. And… hello, weird-haired kid," he said with a grin.
Riven thought: Again? No… he thought, but said nothing.
"I'm Kael, I'm 10," said another.
Arden interjected:
"You better not say that to Riven."
Arden wrinkled his nose:
"Tch."
"I'm Darian, 12. One-eyed? Just an ordinary kid."
One-eyed… again… Riven remained silently uneasy.
Finally, one more boy spoke:
"I'm Elian, 12."
Darel smiled.
"Great. Everyone has met. Riven, come with me now."
"Alright…" Riven said reluctantly.
Darel walked toward the side where the swords were.
"Pick up a sword from there."
Riven thought: What is this old man planning? Could it be what I'm thinking?
"Kael, come too," Darel said. "You'll duel."
"What?!" Riven shouted. "Are you crazy, old man?! A duel? Why would I do that?!"
Everyone turned to Riven.
Darel said calmly:
"I just want to see your fighting ability."
"…Just my ability? Fine."
Kael smiled:
"Let's have a good fight."
Riven checked his eye patch:
"Good match…"
He's my age too. 10 years old… It'll be fine, he thought.
But Kael suddenly shouted and attacked:
"I WILL KILL YOU, FILTHY CREATURE!!"
Riven's eyes widened. Kill?! Wasn't this supposed to be just an ordinary duel?!
Darel was left behind, unsure what was happening.
Kael kept shouting repeatedly:
"I'll kill you! I WILL KILL YOU!"
The words brought Riven back to the screaming memories of the village:
"HAND OVER THE CURSED CHILD!"
"HIS MOTHER IS DEAD!"
"Riven… you must survive…"
The demon's voice whispered:
"Kill him… Your mother did nothing. Will you do nothing too, Riven?"
Riven's eyes burned red.
Yes… I will kill… This is power…
Time seemed to stop. Riven snatched Kael's sword and swung it straight toward his chest.
At that moment, only two people noticed what Riven had done.
Just as the strike was about to land, Riven stopped. He was breathless.
When he came to his senses, Kael was still staring at him in shock…