The storm hadn't even stopped completely and a couple of soldiers, this time soldiers from Eneris' army, were knocking on the door of the old farmer."Excuse me, sir. We are looking for a middle-aged man carrying a baby. You know… The poor fellow was obliged to run from the castle in the middle of the enemy attack. The army is now tasked with tracking back the victims from inside the castle...""Oh, so he is a friend of yours, then?""Yes… You could say so. Then you have seen him?""For sure! In fact, I have been sheltering him right here. I and my spouse have been very kind to the visitor. She even baked a carrot cake for him, you know. He seemed like a nice fellow.""Oh, that's nice of you. Emperor Eneris wants you to take this as gratitude." The soldier took a coin from inside his pocket."Oh, thanks a lot! I appreciate. Come in, he is right here in the…" The man started saying as he invited the soldiers to go inside his house. The entrance led to the dining room, where Josiah and t
Josiah was nervous.He was carrying the knife in his hands, but the hands were shaking.'There is no need to fear, I should just stick to what I practiced.' Josiah told to himself.In that world finding wild creatures like that blue wolf from earlier was pretty common, they were so many it wasn't uncommon for normal citizens having to deal with them themselves. The creature in front of Josiah was a wobbly mass of sticky fluid. It didn't have an exact face, but there was a part of it considered the front, which it was known the creature used for sensing the world around it, and the other part was the back, which was the weak spot.The wobbly mass moved around very slowly, making it very easier to outrun it if one ever wanted to, but didn't exactly make the things easier if one was actually willing to get rid of it. Even knowing it was not the fastest thing on earth, with a knife and a body of that size of his, Josiah had to be careful not to get hit when he was approaching to strike th
"Ready? Let's begin then…""What is this? You are going to teach me the sword...?" Josiah asked."Teach you 'about' the sword, that is. Here, grab it." Thomas did not hold himself as he threw a heavy broadsword at a four-year-old child. Josiah didn't mind and caught it on the air by the hilt, like he was accustomed to it, though."You really are skilled. I used to be skeptical about the stories surrounding the royal bloodline, but watching the son of the emperor grow beside my eyes made me realize the rumors really are true… The superstition surrounding the royalblood is something I never gave credit, but seeing you with these old eyes, I'm starting to believe…"Josiah stopped looking at the sword's shape and brightness and got focused on the old servant's words:"What is this all about royal blood and bloodline you keep saying of?""You know you have been born inside the castle of Bucoa. Those who are born with the bloodline of the emperor or the high skilled combatants are called 'ro
"Listen… I am going to tell you all about the role of the blood on the level system…" Thomas said as Josiah was holding his promised sword given by his mother."…Young master, I believe you must have noticed how the hilts of the blades are very heavy on the design. Do you see this symbol on the very center of the hilt of yours?""Yes. It resembles the one mom was holding…" "You remember!?""Huh… Vaguely, yeah." 'Oops. I almost let it out…' Josiah thought to himself."If you look closely this is a number that is engraved, it's stylized but it is the number '1'.""You're right!"Of course, it was not the sticky figure of the number 1 of the language oh the world Josiah was accustomed to, it was the number 1 engraved on the calligraphy of Bucoa's written language, which he strived to learn in the first four years of his new life."This means this blade is currently at level one."Josiah made a skeptical face. 'Is this really an RPG then?' He muttered to himself."But the power of the bla
"Ngaaa!""Wraaah!""Ya!"Thomas was resting one of the hands on his chin, as he sipped his beverage, watching the young boy trying to make something of his new present."You do know you don't need to shout those words every time you swing it, right?""Shut up, old man. It's unavoidable! I think I'm almost getting it!""Oh?""Wraa! You don't sound convinced…""To be fair I haven't seen a trace of my unique skill until my bind sword was level 10 or so… Of course, it could be different for you. You do have the bloodline of a strong family, which has bound great weapons for generations, after all."Josiah was already panting, and after all, he just swung his weapon repeatedly. His blood didn't seem to hint any other interesting bound with his blood.'That old vile bastard… 'it could be different for you', but you are not believing this at all are you?' He observed.Josiah had a sudden idea:"Maybe if I drip some droplets of blood on my own above it?" "No! That's a taboo!""Wait, it works!
For one year and a half, Josiah took the words of his mother's loyal servant to the risk and went out to train every single day after the farm work. Thomas would supervise him, as promised, and they would return home late at night.Josiah would slay beasts to strengthen his sword and would train on the air and inanimate objects to strengthen his skill expertise. Occasionally he would also spar with Thomas himself, who would then give him some tips.In that night they were sparring with each other. Whenever Thomas was about to overcome the kid with his weapon he would stop right before the blade cut him through. Josiah didn't hold the skill to do the same, but so far he never needed to, as he never landed a single blow on the old man.But he was getting better fast. As of now, it was very unlikely he would let himself get caught before thirty seconds of fighting.In the middle of an exchange of clashes, Josiah was analyzing:'There… He always uses his body weight and momentum to lean m
Josiah got so obsessed with him unlocking a new ability that he could barely sleep. On the next day he quickly finished his chores at the farm so that he could stay free to practice his newly acquired skill. He was willing to check the extent of the power of his newly acquired weapons. 'Apart from inner strength was there something else? What if the bound weapons generated by the blood reaction also gave other weapons powers as well? That would be the best!' he thought.Josiah knew the quockpete he fought that day over a year ago lived in a swamp near the farm, ever since that day he moved out from the woods after he killed its partner. Thomas had told him not to go there until he was ready, but every once in a while, the stubborn Josiah would disobey and try.It took him over a year, but lately, he had been able to almost deal with it. Although he didn't have much confidence in his win since he would win 1 or 2 out of 10 battles in his current state.This time, however, Josiah had an
"Are you okay?""You… I told you to run away… Argh."The girl ran to Josiah in order to help him lift his body out of the grass."Not now. You are all hurt. Come.""Come? Where? Do you live around here? I also live nearb…" 'Wait' Josiah interrupted himself with a thought: 'it's better to let her mother treat me or something. If the old man finds out I was fighting a pair of those things out of his sight he'll never teach me anything again.'He followed the girl around the forest. She would walk fast with her hand on his arm, but her fast wasn't exactly his fast, as he was accustomed to Thomas' heavy training.She wasn't much of a talker either, probably an age thing."How old are you?""Five. And you?""F… Er… I'm also five." Josiah answered. 'Yeah… That's my age.' He thought."Then we are the same age!"She stopped running for a second and looked at Josiah.She had deep black eyes and a bright smile."I am Lenny.""I am Josiah.""Come. Let's go."She resumed walking."But then again…