2 Jasmine Village

Surrounded by a vast golden field and decored with isolated trees and all sorts of flowers, a peaceful village could be seen. The weather on that part of the continent was pleasant, the sun indicated that it was almost noon. A weak breeze crossed those fields, shaking the grass and the trees' leaves.

It wasn't a wealthy village but the soil was fertile enough to make them have food on their table and don't pass for any tribulation regarding resources. The fields around were perfect to cultivate all sorts of plants, vegetables, and tubers, which made them have a well-balanced diet.

Cattle weren't an issue. Whatsoever, they couldn't raise cows or pigs since both needed a lot of care and resources, which the villagers couldn't afford to use on large scale. Some chickens could be seen in some wealthier houses. That type of cattle was easier to afford, they also got fat and reproduced faster than others.

The village's houses were very spaced. Each house had, at least, twenty meters of distance between each other. People were quiet and not too many fusses could be heard, usually.

It would be the perfect village to settle down in when searching for calmness. However, the villagers needed to deal daily with a stubborn nuisance that happened from sunrise until noon.

That day wasn't different. The silence of the villagers was broken by the sound of metal clashing against metal continuously. The peasants prayed for their gods to make those stubborn men stop earlier that day, so they could come back to their peaceful time. Nonetheless, the gods never heard their prays. Maybe they were occupied with more important things... or, rather, they ALWAYS were occupied with more important things than their prays, as it seemed.

In the backyard of one of the village's houses, an youth at least twelve years old swung his short sword with dexterity against a man that had the triple of his age.

The tip of the blade struck him on the cheek, but he leaned his body backward to avoid the blow before the blade pressed more on his skin. The youth's attacks were still too predictable and it made the grown man quite disappointed, but he couldn't ask too much of a kid who started to train only three years ago.

'His improvement is slower than mine, but it's still there. Maybe I shall increase the time we will spend training from now on. I just need to find a way to not bother the villagers even more with it.' The combat was easy enough for him to reason in the middle of it about other subjects. Also, his mind was sharp and fast, which made that line of thought last less than one second.

The youth retreated once he saw that his blow didn't land completely. He kicked the ground, in order to go back as fast as he could. After all, he knew what was about to come.

His senior swung his blade right after, even before the kid could jump backward. The movement was faster and more fluid, the sword seemed like an extension of the man's body.

Luckily, the youth predicted that attack and could dodge it as he retrieved. The tip of the blade passed horizontally in front of his eyes, so close that it even touched his eyelids.

He landed on the ground while panting hard and nearly falling to his knees. The previous threat made his legs tremble in fear.

'I thought I would die! What the heck? He never went so further... This time was close as hell!' He had a helpless look in his eyes as he complained. 'Just the tip of my sword can't break through the thin membrane of Mana that my father has enveloped his body. His cheek is still intact from the previous cut.'

He was amazed by how Mana was useful. He had seen a lot of people making use of it for different things, but the kid found it to be especially useful regarding combat.

The man raised one brow, lowering the tip of his sword slowly and looking disappointed at his son.

"What's up, Ares? Are you tired already? I thought that your stamina was increasing in these last weeks. I suppose that you were slacking with your training..."

"N-No! I am just thinking, dad!" Ares quickly answered, holding his sword in front of his body and getting into position. He calmed his breath after a long sigh, then tensioned the muscles of his legs to make a firm basis.

"Then, think quickly. Just in these fifteen seconds that you passed rambling I could analyze each fail that you have in your posture and guard. I know what you are feeling, thinking, and how tired you are. These few seconds were enough for you to be like an open book!" His father shouted, scolding him with a severe voice.

At this point, the youth was used to his behavior when teaching. His father was usually calm and easygoing but, when in the teacher mode, he would change completely and turn stoic and strict.

Ares kicked the ground, rushing after his father with no more fear or hesitation. His adrenaline hid all those feelings and let just resolution pulse inside his body like waves of electricity.

He began his assault restlessly, attacking and defending at the same time without retrieving anymore. They had just a few minutes until noon came.

'I want to land at least a single clean hit! Even if it doesn't break through the barrier, I am determined to do this!'

As he repeatedly attacked, the man easily parried or dodged his son's sword while teaching him and fixing his mistakes.

"Sharper! I want sharp and compact attacks, don't waste any motion! All your body must work together on this single blow, so it can reach a powerful level!"

The kid's attacks began to get more refined, making his father satisfied.

"Pay attention to your footwork as well. Your movements are too predictable!" He shouted while parrying casually two of his attacks.

"Don't lose your balance! Think while you fight! Faster! Stronger! Be relentless!"

After his last shout, Ares stepped in, his lead foot sinking in the soil and destroying the grass. His eyes were focused on his father's face. Veins appeared slightly on his arms as he firmed the grip on his sword.

With his last thread of energy, he launched a final attack on him. The swing was clean and fast. The blade's position was just perfect. His body moved with good synchrony.

'Yes. that's the ideal attack. One on the blind spot. Precise and cruel. No exaggerated motion. A type of attack in which the blade seems to disappear in the air for a moment! However...'

Before the blade could strike him on the shoulder vertically, the senior gave a quick step to the side. The attack passed a few millimeters next to his arm, only to its blade get stuck on the soil. Before his son could take it off, he kicked him on his lead foot, making him lose his balance and fall to the ground.

"However, your base is still something to work on. The footwork is completely messed up. If we add some more strength on your back and shoulders, maybe the attack can be quicker next time. We are done for today."

Ares wasn't too happy about his results, but nothing was helping it. He was aware of his lack of talent and how slow he was progressing each day, his father always said it bluntly on his face. At first, he found it to be really harsh, but afterward, he understood why he did such a thing with his own son.

'Since the day I begged him to teach me about some sword techniques, he became more strict like this. I think he wants to make me learn how to bear the consequences of my decisions. At least, that's what my grandpa always says to me.'

He managed to get his short sword off the ground. That weapon was still too heavy for him to wield properly, but his body was getting used to its weight already. Since he started to build up more strength and muscles, soon he would handle it perfectly.

"What will we do now?" He asked, his voice was a bit grumpy as he searched for the sheath of his weapon.

His father was already sheathing his sword and attaching it to his waist.

"We are going to see your grandfather, as always. He is probably missing you."

The kid nodded as he walked next to his father, holding the sheathed short sword with both hands.

"Did you already decide what will you do when you complete fifteen years, Ares?" He asked calmly, rubbing his own black silky hair.

Ares was expecting his father to stare at him with his dark calm eyes. Nevertheless, the man was avoiding his face.

"I said it already, didn't I?" Ares got somewhat stressed. He had talked about that subject several times with his father, but the last seemed to never hear him. "I will go out of the village and explore the world. I am tired to be here all the time. For this, I will go to the League of Hunters and train there."

He rubbed the auburn hair of his son, finally looking into his crimson eyes.

"I wonder why you are so obsessed with the world out there when you live in a prosperous village-like Jasmine... Well, anyway, since your objectives seem to be clear, I have another reason to bring you to your grandfather."

The boy got excited. Joy arose in his heart and he grinned. Ares loved to see his grandfather, he always had a good time talking to him. Aside from his father, he was his only family.

"Yay! I was longing to see grandpa!"

"Yes, but, before we go there, duty comes first!"