Well, after I let out all my worries in front of Lilia, I had already eaten and talked, so there was only one thing left to do.
Yes, it was to go and apologize to the master.
—Sorry for everything, master.
—Hey, what are you talking about, kid?
—It's just that you came as fast as you could and I didn't even thank you, instead I got angry and yelled at you just like that.
—That's why I ask you to forgive me, please.
You killed all those men just to save us, and I wasn't even angry at the ones who wanted to hurt Lilia and me, instead I was angry at you.
—I know I'm just a little kid, and that's why I acted like that, but I was just feeling that way, I was just angry at myself for being too weak, for not protecting Lilia, that's why I ask you to train me harder and make me stronger, and of course I'll have to endure it but I will endure it, I swear, master.
—Because now that I think about it again, after killing that man, I saw a tear in your eyes. I think you were thinking about the consequences that would come because I'm the king's son and because of your granddaughter, but don't worry because you came quickly to save us.
(Zekin in his mind) —Of course I would cry for Lilia and for you, but it wasn't because you're the king's son, because you aren't, even if they love you like a son.
It was because after your parents, I was the first one to hold you in my arms, brat, so you're like a grandson to me too.
—How could I not worry, it was my granddaughter, and the king's child who is also my disciple.
—Well, about training harder, are you sure about that? Hehe.
—Why are you laughing like that, master?
—It's nothing.
—I also want to train more, grandpa, so I'm counting on you.
—Hey girl, you too? I think that brat is a bad influence on you.
—Hey grandpa don't talk like that about Aito please.
—Now you're even defending him.
After that talk with my master, he told us that we had to prepare because we were going to leave that town once we finished packing our belongings.
And so we left the town and went into the forest to continue our journey. While in the forest the master increased the level of training he gave me and Lilia. But every moment the wooden swords made from fallen trees would break, so at our next destination he told me he would buy the sword he had promised me, and I couldn't wait until we reached our destination so he could buy it for me.
It was sunset and there was a beautiful river nearby and he told Lilia to go bathe while we stayed outside keeping watch as well. And when she came out, it was our turn to bathe while he concentrated his mana in the area and also kept an eye on Lilia every moment to watch. We had already hunted, so after bathing the only thing left was to cook so we could eat.
While we were eating, the master told us more stories about his wars but now he added the cruel and violent parts too, though not all of them. Because we had already witnessed the death of a human being. And then he told us the following:
there are people who must die, because if you don't kill them, they kill you, like those guys who kidnapped us.
He also told us that we must be more careful now since every place is more dangerous than the other, so the idea of more fero
cious training was a good one.
And so after those words, while our faces shined with the flames of the lit fire, we put it out and set up the tent and went to sleep because tomorrow we had more things to do…