The first thing Riven teaches Sonny is how to block, evade, and counter simple basic attacks from enemies.
Sonny stood in the middle of the forest, defending himself with only his body. He listened for the sounds that were ready to hit him.
When a sound echoed in his ears, he used this moment to twist and turn away from the sound. Then, he opened his eyes to see a thin needle sticking in the dirt like a fleck of stars.
Sonny felt his heart pounding and realized that the man wouldn't show any mercy just because he was a child. When he wasn't paying any attention, another needle came forward in his direction and hit his shoulder painfully.
He cried out.
He looked down, and his shoulder bled out underneath his white robe, then a deep voice that belonged to Riven said, "Pay attention."
Sonny felt ashamed. The man wasn't yelling or shouting, but he wanted to be someone the man could be proud of. After all, he was willing to teach him, a stranger.
Sonny took a deep breath to calm all of his nerves throughout his body and slowed down his breathing. He listened for the next sound.
Whoosh!
He bent his legs and lunged to the other side and opened his eyes.
There it was—another thin needle lying on the ground like a useless thing, but he knew it could turn into a deadly weapon.
It was hard to see the thin needle in the night air, which made it perfect for training. Riven wanted to sharpen his senses and prepare himself for scenarios such as ambushes, bullying, or when his life is threatened.
Sonny panted heavily as he continued to train with the man throughout the night long. The next six hours, his legs, feet, and back ached everywhere.
Sonny heard the man's voice. "Alright, that's enough for tonight."
Sonny was relieved and fell to the ground, not worrying about dirtying his white robes. Sweat clung to his skin, and he breathed heavily.
All of a sudden, his stomach growled loudly.
His face turned red with embarrassment.
He heard the other man chuckling with amusement, then a sharp sound followed in his direction.
He lifted his head, and a small pouch appeared in his lap.
Sonny opened the pouch. It contained some kind of meat. Sonny sniffed and recognized the meat. It was turkey.
With a flush of excitement, he grabbed the meat and tore it from the skin and ate it with relish.
"Hm—hmm!"
The man chuckled in a low raspy voice, "Well, I'm glad you like it. It's worth quite a bit of cash."
Sonny lifted his head with worried eyes, "Should I eat it? I can give it back to you."
The man shook his head, "No worries. Continue eating."
Sonny was relieved and continued eating; he couldn't control himself. For he only eats two meals throughout the day, and the other disciples get three meals a day.
Sonny lifted his head when he heard Riven ask a question. "You eat with such relish? Do you not eat much?"
Sonny shook his head. "No, I do eat enough."
He doesn't know why, but he doesn't feel like telling the man his business. It's not that he doesn't trust him, but he doesn't feel ready to feel vulnerable in that sense.
However, with Sonny focused on eating, he was unaware that Riven narrowed his eyes with suspicion.
Sonny finished eating the turkey meat, and he smiled. He doesn't remember the last time he ate this much without feeling shame or feeling any guilt if he wasn't supposed to eat.
Sonny looked up the other man—Riven was staring at the risen sun that hadn't come out behind the clouds.
He spoke in a quiet, low voice, "You should get back before they notice you're gone."
Sonny nods. He knew the other man was right. He was reluctant to leave, but he gave the pouch to the other man and thanked him. "Thanks."
Riven grinned behind his half-mask, his cloak covering his face along with his long black hair in the dark.
"Remember me. I will be here tomorrow. And don't reveal your abilities until you're strong enough."
Sonny smiled. He turned around and left through the forest, his feet stepping through the grass, and the exhaustion in his body made him feel stronger despite being tired mentally and physically.
Sonny reached his master's manor, and he slowed down. Sometimes he wished he could run away, but where would he go? He has no friends or family.
He stared deeply at the manor, it's wide and huge. It has a large window where people can see from the outside if you look from above, and he entered inside, waiting for the storm to pass.
When he entered from the back, heading toward his room, his footsteps were silent and quiet, but it was too late.
"Sonny. Where have you been?"
The old man said with a gentlemanly voice, and Sonny turned around, and the old man stood in his thin robes, which they sleep in.
"I just went out."
The old man narrowed his eyes. "Out for six hours."
Sonny felt his heart racing, but he kept a calm appearance on his face. "I went to clean the kitchen since I didn't finish yesterday in the afternoon."
The lie slipped out of his mouth without thinking.
The old man snickered, "Really, I guess I will have to believe you. You wouldn't lie to me."
Sonny shook his head, "No."
The old man smiled like a good man, and he turned back around, heading to his room. "You stink; go emerge in the cleansing spring."
Sonny bowed his head in respect, "I will."
Sonny enters his room and grabs all the clothes he needs to take a bath. He stared at the bracelet on his wrist, the only thing his father had given him.
And his mind flashed back to six years ago when Killian, the beautiful man, took him from the forest and led him here, the very place that became his nightmare.