"Oliver Daren."
Oliver introduced himself with a steady voice.
"I'm a retired soldier. Due to some… personal reasons, I left the battlefield at a young age. Now I take small jobs here and there… and occasionally do some bounty hunting."
Rion nodded and replied,
"My name is Rion. I don't have any magic power… but one day, I want to become a Magic Knight Commander."
Oliver raised an eyebrow.
"That's quite a dream."
Rion gave an embarrassed smile.
"If you want to laugh, go ahead. But one day, this dream will become real."
Oliver's expression didn't change.
"Laugh? Why? A person's dream is a possibility strong enough to change fate and reshape history. Dreams have no limits. Those who laugh at your dream are simply people who never had the courage to chase their own."
Even in this strange moment, Rion felt something unusual in the man's tone—
a mix of deep seriousness, confidence, willpower, and a dry touch of humor.
Rion swallowed and said quietly,
"You saved me… so quickly, so flawlessly… I've never seen anything like that. Thank you."
Oliver glanced around casually.
"It's nothing. Just part of my daily routine. And your effort impressed me. But remember—your dream is big, so your effort must be even bigger."
Rion hesitated.
"I don't have magic power… can I really achieve my dream with just effort?"
Oliver let out a short breath.
"My magic power was barely anything when I was your age. People told me to forget the idea of becoming a Magic Knight and join some menial job instead. But I ignored them. I held onto my dream and my effort… and today, those same people who mocked me now come seeking my help."
He placed a hand on Rion's shoulder.
"Your power matters less than your persistence. So don't stop until your dream becomes reality. Don't give up, Rion."
Inside Rion, fear and amazement mixed into something new—
an unshakable resolve.
Rion gathered his courage.
"Oliver!"
The words burst out before he could stop himself.
"Teach me how to use a sword! Please! I want to get stronger. I want to become a Magic Knight Commander. I don't want to stay weak. Please… teach me!"
The corner of Oliver's mouth twitched, as if he had predicted this.
But then his eyes darkened.
"Learning the sword is not just about cutting down enemies," he said quietly.
"It's about cutting something inside yourself… and sometimes, losing a piece of your soul along the way."
His voice carried a cold, thriller-like warning.
Rion gulped.
"I… I am not afraid," he said.
Oliver stared at him for a long time.
In the shifting light, his eyes seemed to ripple like a deep lake—filled with battles, deaths, and secrets no ordinary human should carry.
"Hm…"
He spoke slowly.
"Not feeling fear can sometimes be foolish."
Then he added, with a serious expression,
"No. I can't grant your request."
Rion's eyes widened.
But Oliver continued calmly,
"You don't need my help to reach your goal. You're hardworking. You'll get there eventually."
With that, he turned around and walked away.
Rion let out a helpless laugh—caught somewhere between fear, disappointment, and admiration.
But he didn't stop.
"Even if you leave today," Rion called after him,
"I might become a Magic Knight one day… but I'll never truly achieve my dream. A teacher is a guide—without one, reaching the goal is almost impossible. Still… I won't give up. I have one purpose in life. I'll either fulfill it… or die trying."
Silence fell.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, painting his face with thin gold lines.
The wind froze.
The forest held its breath.
Oliver inhaled deeply, memories surfacing in his eyes—
memories of a younger version of himself with the same unyielding stubbornness.
"…Alright," he murmured.
A strange glimmer flickered in his gaze.
"Let's see how real your determination is."
Rion's heart thumped.
"Y-You mean… you'll teach me?"
Oliver nodded slowly.
"Yes. I'll teach you swordsmanship… if you accept my conditions."
"Conditions?"
Oliver touched the hilt of his sword.
His expression grew completely serious.
"The rules are simple," he whispered.
"Never ask about my past. And whatever training I give you—no matter how hard—you must never refuse."
For a moment, cold darkness spread through the clearing.
It felt as though the forest itself had frozen solid.
Rion struggled to breathe, but he nodded.
"I… promise."
Oliver finally gave a faint smile.
"Good. Training starts tomorrow morning. Right here. And remember, boy…"
He unsheathed his sword.
Light flashed along the blade, reflecting the deep, dangerous abyss in his eyes—
an abyss no normal man should possess.
"…Finding me was your luck.
But truly knowing me… will change your fate forever."
The wind trembled.
And somewhere in the shadows of the forest,
something—or someone—seemed to laugh quietly.
Scene End — yet destiny's blade has only just begun to unsheathe.