Edwin scratched his head while laughing, then resumed swinging his sword.
Although it might seem strange to anyone watching, the old man turtle was a spirit, a fragment of some massive existence that Edwin did not fully understand.
He only knew what the spirit had told him over the years.
It had all happened when Edwin was younger. On his fifth birthday, a strange man had arrived at the banquet and gifted Edwin a necklace shaped like a turtle. At first glance, it had seemed like a normal piece of jewelry, but the turtle had imprinted itself onto him. Now it helped him whenever he trained. Any time he tried to talk to the turtle about deeper matters, the spirit became grumpy and refused to speak much.
Edwin stopped swinging and sighed.
"Aaah."
[What is it now, child? Do not tell me you are already tired.]
"There is something that I have been curious about, but this time, I want you to answer me clearly." Edwin lowered his wooden sword and turned to face the floating turtle. "There is one guy in my class named Edsel Domitius. He suddenly became much stronger over the break. Do you not think that is strange?"
The old man turtle was silent for a long moment. Its form flickered slightly as if considering the question carefully.
[It is not that I didn't warn you before,] it finally said. [But there are some people in this world that you should not mess with. There are others that you should not even get close to. That child is a completely dangerous human. I can feel some type of sinister energy radiating from him.]
Edwin gripped his wooden sword tighter.
"Sinister energy? What kind of energy?"
[can't explain it fully but I will tell you this much. Stay away from him. Don't provoke him. Don't challenge him. That child is walking a path that will bring nothing but destruction to those who stand in his way.]
Edwin frowned upon hearing such words from the old man turtle.
"I don't understand Is he some kind of demon worshiper? Is that why he changed so suddenly?"
[No, he is not that. You have known that child since the first time you both met at the academy. Back then, I felt a chilling power from him, but it was only a slight energy. Almost nothing worth noticing.]
The old man turtle floated closer to Edwin's face.
[But now, the power keeps increasing with each passing day. That is not a good sign. Not for you, and not for anyone around him.]
Edwin tightened his grip on the wooden sword. "Ignore him? You want me to simply ignore someone who might hurt my friends and family? I cannot do that. As a member of the Perrin clan, I cannot simply let evil grow and rule over this place while I do nothing."
His grip tightened further, and the wooden sword splintered in his hands. The pieces fell to the ground with a soft clatter.
"Ah, sorry. I broke it again."
The old man turtle watched him in silence. The energy radiating from Edwin was becoming stronger and more terrifying with each passing day. He was indeed the chosen child who would save humanity from the darkness that threatened to consume it.
That meant all types of dangers would come for him. He would have to become stronger, much stronger, to overcome everything that stood in his way.
Sadly for the old turtle, he did not have enough strength left to guide Edwin properly. His body was slowly fading away, piece by piece, like mist burning off under the morning sun. Before that time came, he would teach Edwin everything he could. He would make him strong enough to stop this nightmare before it began.
[Let us call it a day, kid. You have done enough training for now.]
The old man turtle's body slowly dissolved and drifted back into the necklace hidden beneath Edwin's clothes. Edwin reached up and touched the pendant through his shirt.
"Well, I suppose I should relax for a while now," he muttered.
"Hey, Edwin!"
Edwin turned around and saw Penelope walking towards him with a wooden sword slung over her shoulder. Her hair was tied back, and she had the look of someone ready for a serious sparring session.
"What are you doing here all alone? Were you training by yourself without telling anyone?" she asked while raising an eyebrow.
Edwin's face brightened at the sight of her.
"I was just trying to prepare for the upcoming exam. You know, that survival exercise in the simulation. I need to take it seriously. You never know what kind of demons might appear in there."
Penelope nodded in agreement.
"You are right about that. But that does not mean you should do it alone. We are friends, are we not?"
She pointed at his chest.
"Where are Cecilia and Osias? Should they not be training with us too?"
Edwin's smile faded. He hesitated and looked away. The memory of his harsh words came flooding back. He had said terrible things to Osias, and what he had said to Cecilia was even worse. She had not looked at him the same way since.
"Ugh, I messed up," he muttered while rubbing the back of his neck.
Penelope lowered her wooden sword and studied his face.
"What did you do this time?"
Edwin knew that Penelope would be angry when she heard what he had done, but it was better to tell her the truth. He could not hide from his mistakes forever.
"Let us just say that it was all my fault. I could not control my emotions, and I said terrible things to Cecilia and Osias. Things that I did not mean."
Penelope stared at him for a moment, and then her fist shot forward and connected with his stomach.
"Seriously, you idiot!" she shouted.
Edwin doubled over while clutching his stomach.
"Ow! What was that for?"
Penelope grabbed him by the collar and pulled him upright.
"You dummy! Why did you not apologize to them yesterday? You had all day to make things right, and now today has come and you still have not said anything to either of them!"
Edwin straightened up slowly. This was exactly the reaction that he had expected from her.
"You are right. I am sorry. I let my emotions get the better of me. Seeing you hurt like that, lying on the ground with blood all over your face, I could not think straight. I just saw red and I did not know what to do with myself."
Penelope's fist connected with his stomach again, but this time the punch was softer, almost gentle. She looked down while her crimson hair fell forward and covered her face. Her cheeks were burning, and she could not bring herself to meet his eyes.
"We are best friends, after all. I suppose I should go back and find them. Apologize properly this time," Edwin said while rubbing his stomach.
Penelope frowned and folded her arms across her chest. "Never mind that. Just go! I do not want to see your face right now!"
Edwin could not understand her sudden mood swing.
One moment she was angry at him, and the next she was hiding her face and pushing him away. He sighed and shook his head.
"Okay. I will see you later, then."
He turned and ran off across the training ground, leaving Penelope standing alone with her arms still folded and her face still hidden behind her hair.