Chapter 76 Departure
Dixtis stayed in Canaan for about a week.
Perseus and Isaac, although they had a minor disagreement during the day on their first day,
quickly became close after what happened that night.
The two were practically brothers.
Perseus was a well-educated and virtuous crown prince.
Whether in scholarship, etiquette, or even military skills like swordsmanship, he far surpassed Isaac, the mischievous Canaanite.
And under Perseus's influence, Isaac surprisingly became much more obedient...
Besides that,
the two often sparred in swordsmanship in Old Tyr's courtyard.
Old Tyr didn't object to his two friends' children playing in the courtyard.
He often offered pointers and guidance on their swordsmanship.
Persius, perhaps because he was still a beginner, couldn't defeat Perseus in swordsmanship. In fact, it wasn't even a close fight; Perseus completely overwhelmed him in both strength and technique.
Even Old Tyr praised him:
"Prince Perseus is a genius in swordsmanship."
"My few days of practice are equivalent to a year of hard training for others."
"Perhaps if you had a sharp sword back then, you could have easily dealt with those wolves..."
Perseus smiled shyly.
As for Isaac, holding his small wooden sword, though he had become more indifferent... Still somewhat unwilling to give up, he asked old Tyr:
"Grandpa Tyr, what about me?"
Old Tyr, at this point, would display the art of language he had honed over the years:
"Isaac is good too, a hardworking genius."
"And he's still young; he'll definitely show his talent when he grows up."
The child, not understanding these subtleties, was happy to hear the adult praise him.
However, in sword duels, Isaac always lost.
A week passed in a flash.
During this time, Isaac challenged Perseus dozens of times. On one day, aside from eating and sleeping, Isaac was either dueling with Perseus or on his way to a duel with Perseus...
He knew Perseus was about to leave, and he had to defeat him at least once...
The wind blew through the large trees in the courtyard.
On the last day, at dusk.
Isaac challenged Perseus once more.
"You need to practice more; swordsmanship won't show results in just a few days…"
Perseus felt a headache coming on.
However, for the sake of his friend, he accepted Isaac's duel.
Dixtis and Pan were leaving, and Ara intended to see them off, but seeing the children's duel, they became interested and decided to watch Isaac and Perseus's fight before leaving…
With adults watching, Isaac and Perseus felt a lot of pressure.
Isaac wanted to prove he wasn't weak.
Perseus didn't want to lose face in front of his father…
Under the setting sun.
The boys, each holding a wooden sword, stood facing each other on the grass.
One was the son of a god, the crown prince.
The other was the son of a hero, a descendant of the Messiah.
The wind blew across the wilderness, the clouds were orange.
A single leaf slowly drifted down.
The two moved simultaneously.
Isaac gritted his teeth,
and with a single, fierce strike,
he swung his sword with all his might at Perseus.
He was confident that if this blow landed,
Perseus would be either dead or seriously injured!
Perseus, seeing this,
sighed.
He gently deflected Isaac's loosely delivered sword strike...
The wooden sword pressed against Isaac's chest.
With a slight pull,
Isaac collapsed to the ground.
The battle was over.
Isaac stared blankly at Perseus, pursed his lips, and looked somewhat dejected after losing again...
Then Perseus reached out his hand to him.
Isaac hesitated, then reached out and grasped his hand.
Perseus pulled him up with force...
Under the setting sun.
Perseus smiled and said,
"Perhaps next time you'll beat me..."
"I'll be waiting."
Amidst the laughter of the adults,
Perseus and Dicttis boarded the carriage.
Isaac, along with his father and Grandpa Tyre, stood on the grass.
They watched the carriage gradually disappear into the twilight.
...
After returning home...
Isaac complained to his father, asking:
"Why is Perseus so strong?"
"I practiced so hard, but I couldn't even last one move..."
His father ruffled Isaac's hair, laughing, and said:
"It's perfectly normal that you can't beat Perseus..."
Isaac asked, puzzled:
"Why?"
"All the other kids his age can't beat me..."
"But Perseus..."
"He defeated me in an instant..."
His father shook his head, explaining:
"It's not just about age..."
"He's very special..."
His father, Yara, looked at the flames, seemingly recalling some past event.
Isaac was still confused.
But then, the father turned to Isaac and said:
"However, you are also special…"
"When you turn ten, I will tell you some things…"
"But before that…"
"Isaac…my son."
"You only need to grow up happily and healthily."
"You don't have to bear anything…."
Isaac nodded dazedly.
...
The next morning
Isaac got up early, amidst the adults' puzzled gazes.
He carried his wooden sword and went to Grandpa Tyr's yard.
Recalling Perseus's appearance, he abandoned his previous lazy and mischievous ways and said to Old Tyr:
"Grandpa Tyr!"
"I want to learn swordsmanship..."
"Not like before, I want to learn seriously..."
Old Tyr smiled at Isaac, who now seemed like a little adult, and asked:
"Oh?"
"Why is that?"
Isaac said firmly:
"I want to defeat Perseus!"
Old Tyr said:
"You must become a qualified swordsman."
"That's not difficult..."
"But to defeat Perseus..."
"It requires many times the effort."
"Can you do it?"
Isaac nodded without hesitation.
Old Tyr laughed and handed Isaac an iron sword.
Isaac took the sword, and it felt heavy in his hand; he almost fell to the ground.
"Swing a thousand times."
Isaac was startled, but the thought of surpassing Perseus spurred him on. He gritted his teeth, raised his iron sword, and began to swing it again and again...
Each swing used all his strength...
After a dozen or so swings...
He felt utterly exhausted, even unable to stand steadily.
However...
Just when old Tyr thought Isaac was about to collapse from exhaustion...
Unexpectedly, a greenish energy surged from within Isaac, slowly replenishing his strength...
Then, just as he was about to fall, Isaac suddenly stomped his foot on the ground.
Regaining his balance, he gritted his teeth, gripped the iron sword, and swung it again...
From dawn till afternoon...
Isaac swung the several-dozen-pound iron sword approximately eight hundred times...
However, this was his limit...
He felt his head growing increasingly dizzy, and finally, his strength gave out.
He collapsed to the ground.
Old Tyr, who had witnessed everything,
was utterly shocked...
"Isaac."
"Truly is worthy of being the Son of the Messiah."
Old Tyr murmured.
...