Zephyr woke up to the sound of birds chirping. He yawned as he sat up in bed. His blond golden hair was messy. He changed his clothes before stepping outside his room. One of the maids greeted him.
"Good morning, Mr. Zephyr," she smiled at him.
Zephyr smiled and greeted her back. "Good morning."
"Would you like some tea?" the maid asked, trying to get closer.
Zephyr stepped back. "Sure, I'll be waiting in the garden." This made the maid happy, and she went straight to the kitchen.
Zephyr started to walk to the garden, looking around the peaceful place before sitting in the shed. There were still no people, only maids around because it was still too early. The maid approached Zephyr with tea and cake, placing it on the table.
"Thanks. Please join me. You can have the cake if you want."
The maid accepted the offer and sat in front of Zephyr, enjoying the sweet cake with a smile on her face. Zephyr took a sip of his tea while watching the maid eat.
Later, Zephyr was once again escorted by one of the soldiers to the training ground. He prepared himself for another duel. This time it was three against one. He grabbed his wooden sword and showed his stance. His three opponents started to attack. He crouched to avoid an attack from above and quickly dashed to strike his enemy. The sound of two wooden swords echoed.
Clayman visited the training ground and saw Zephyr's face burdened by something. He approached Zephyr.
"What's with the long face, kid?" Zephyr stood straight. "Nothing, sir."
Clayman stared at him. "You think this is inconvenient, don't you?"
Zephyr let go of the formality and finally spoke his mind. "It's just that every day I wake up and do nothing but train and duel. Is this my purpose now? Can't I do something that entertains me?"
Clayman shifted his glance from Zephyr to the setting sun. The horizon was painted in orange light, the clouds reflecting the color of the sun. "Follow me," he commanded. Zephyr followed him. They walked through the city streets, where people were walking, probably heading home from work. Some stalls were preparing to leave while others were desperately trying to sell what was left of their crops. They kept walking until they reached the central church. Clayman entered, and Zephyr followed. Clayman opened a door revealing stairs going up. Both Clayman and Zephyr climbed the stairs until they reached the bell tower. Zephyr leaned on the fence to see the beautiful sight of the city. It was breathtaking. The people in the streets looked like ants. The sunset shone over the towering buildings made of stone and wood, surrounding them.
"You see this beautiful sight?" Clayman asked Zephyr.
"Yes, it's beautiful," Zephyr smiled.
Clayman walked beside him and glanced into the distance. "Thirty years ago, I made a promise to a dying man," he began.
Zephyr looked at Clayman. His white hair reflected the sun's light. The scar across his face made him look rugged, but his smile made him look gentle. "What was the promise?" Zephyr asked.
"My dad was a proud soldier. He was known for his bravery and strength. He led his armies to victories in war. He removed bandits and rogues, providing a safe place for people to laugh and smile. Everyone respected him, and I was so proud to be his son. He served two kings before he took his last breath. One night, I woke up to the sound of screams and chaos. I went outside to see what was happening. What I saw froze me in my tracks," Clayman's scar ached as he remembered. "Fire everywhere, a bloodbath, maniacs scattered, slashing everything in their path. One of them stood in front of me, towering over my small body. He attempted to eliminate me, but suddenly, he fell to the ground. A man appeared from the shadows. A nearby fire revealed his face. It was my hero, the man I proudly called my father. Even in the middle of chaos, he smiled at me and reassured me. He and his troops started to push back those barbarian men and tried to save as many as they could. Those wild, cold-blooded people were on the verge of retreating when their leader appeared. My father faced him, leading to an intense sword fight. In the end, my father stood proudly with his arm and sword raised high, declaring victory. I was so happy, and the people around joyfully celebrated. But the smile on my face quickly turned to sorrow when he fell to the ground. I quickly ran to him. The once proud man was now lying on the ground, wounded. Blood was everywhere. 'Father, Father,' I shouted. My father spoke to me, his voice dreadful. 'Son,' I cried, tears pouring down like a stream. 'Father, please don't talk. MEDIC!' I shouted, hoping to save him. 'PLEASE! SOMEONE! ANYONE! PLEASE.' My father reached his hand and touched my face. 'Son,' he smiled. I grabbed my father's hand. 'Listen closely. Notice all these people around you.' I glanced around and saw all the citizens sharing despair with me. Most of them were crying, watching me and my father as they honored his death. 'Please promise me one thing,' my father coughed blood. 'Promise to take my place and protect them with pride and dignity. Bore a son or find a student, and pass my words to them.' My father's hand fell to the bloody ground, and he breathed his last breath. My world crumbled, and I cried and cried non-stop. Weeks passed, and I locked myself in our house. When I finally somewhat recovered, I decided to step outside. The people around me stared at me. I thought they were going to judge me, but they all ran to me, asking if I was okay. They were all concerned. At that moment, I remembered my father's last words. Since that day, I kept my father's promise. I trained myself every day, even at night. I pushed myself to the limit until I reached this moment. I'm happy when I see kids playing on the street or the faces of people smiling without any worry of danger. This is my pride, my joy, and my dignity."
Zephyr glanced at him, then back to the crowds in the streets. His story moved him, and he decided to be like him. "Thanks for the story, Sir Clayman. I promise, I will follow your path. I'll be as proud as you are," Zephyr announced confidently.
Later, Zephyr was in his room. Ki and Septh were serious. He swallowed hard as he felt the tension that surrounded the room. Something was about to happen.