Chapter 4 :

« Should I do like this or like this? » I asked swaying my sword in different directions.

« No, you are still breathing chaotically, do you want to make me go insane? Listen go like this pouffe then do this paf, in the end, do a pouch. »

« Your explanation cramps my conversation with you; you should take a formation in teaching. There are two possibilities here, you are joking, or you are trying to joke because I don’t see any other alternative. »

« Hahahaha, you are funny. Alright, I don’t want to make you worse, first, try to control your breathing style. Breathe until you don’t have any place for the air then exhale everything. Do it while training, because I want you to be more endurant in a battle, you have great abilities for a human, you are like an unpolished gem that I am trying to work on. »

« I knew it, you were joking. So all I need to do is to breathe correctly, right ? »

« Yes, you need to control your breathing then we’ll go to the next step, magic control. If you control your mana well, a simple spell will become a higher grade one. You won’t need to learn complex spells to grow stronger. If you learn to work your battle technique efficiently, you’ll become unique in your own way. »

After that, I helped the creature. He introduced himself as Cyrus; he is from the dragon race. I’ve never seen a dragon before, no wonder I didn’t recognize it at first. I thought that it was weird since it didn’t attack me, but it was alright. Dragons are intelligent creatures, they can talk like a human and have great pride, but once you get to know them, you’ll find out that they are not bad like they are described in the books, except that they speak another language that I don’t know how I came to understand.

I spent the whole month travelling from the cave to my supposed to be home. I learnt a lot of things with Cyrus. He taught a few steps that he saw others doing while battling with him. While learning them, my agility improved. He made me do an exercise, it was very hard at first, even now, I can’t stand on one hand without falling. I had to do it, to build my arms muscles. I also had to do a sitting on a chair position without it; I must add two big rocks on each side of my hands, it wasn’t hard holding them, I fell a lot because I couldn’t keep my equilibrium. My endurance wasn’t a problem since I am used to working hard. I can run a few kilometres without stopping. My trips became less frequent. Even Robert complained about it; he said that I leave a lot and that he isn’t used to staying alone. There was once; he wanted to accompany me; I had to come up with an excuse saying that I go to train by killing the infected. He wasn’t satisfied with it, but he accepted it.

« Your injuries aren’t healing fast. Do you have a problem? » I asked Cyrus.

« I am healing normally. I am good; I don’t feel any pain since you gathered the essential herbs. »

« I thought that you could heal fast, take this roasted piece of meat, it’s delicious. »

« It’s awful without salt! How can you find this delicious? I heal normally. Why are you even asking? »

« I have a fast regeneration ability; I was born with it. The people used to call me a monster for it. Damien told me that they were jealous of me, I guess he’s right. »

« Fast regeneration. Are you really a human? I’ve never hard of a human with this kind of ability. I guess you aren’t normal, after all. »

« Thank you for the compliment. »

« You are kind. You won’t live long if you stay this way. »

« I know. I can’t just change myself overnight. Anyway, I am not expecting anything from anyone. I am making beautiful memories, like the ones I am making with you now. »

« I see. »

« If there was a way to make you heal faster, I’ll do it. You can’t stay here. Even if you created this mist, there would be someone who will know how to come here, and you won’t be able to run away this time. »

« As I said you are too kind, you can’t live this way. You’ve done enough for me. »

« But you paid me back with you being my teacher. I am glad that it happened. I got to become stronger because of you. Thank you, » I smiled, showing my teeth.

« I wanted to ask you for a while now, what is that red a gem that you have on your neck ? »

« Oooh, this. I got this from my mother; she said that I must always keep this on me. This is the only thing that reminds me of my mother. Sometimes it glows, strange right. I thought that this was a magical gem, but the expert said that it’s completely ordinary, it didn’t show any sign of having mana. »

« I see. I knew about a similar gem. There was a saying that it would find its original owner no matter what. There was even a legend about it. Do you want to hear it? »

« Yeah, I can’t wait. The owner must be someone powerful to make a gem this way. »

« Indeed. She was known as an evil being, but some said that she was a kind person. She didn’t care about what happened to her; the only thing that she wanted is to know the world; she was a curious woman. They said that she was the princess of a lost kingdom. A kingdom that ceased to exist because of unknown reason. She met some travellers and became friends with them. They were the core of a cruel battle. They say that what we are living now is the leftover of that cruel war. »

« That’s all. »

« That’s all. I see that you aren’t satisfied with it. »

« It’s so lacking. It’s not completely right, or you don’t remember the rest. »

« You got me; I don’t remember the rest. »

The night fell faster. I didn’t notice it. Time sure flies fast. I laid down my bed and wished a good night sleep for Cyrus; he did the same. He kept the fire burning the whole night. What was strange is that I had a dream. Not a dream exactly. A memory that I don’t particularly appreciate remembering. When my mother died, I was living in an orphanage. They used to experience a lot of things on me and used me to translate their ancient books. I always wondered why I was born with that knowledge, but I couldn’t find the answer. The only thing that I was sure of is that I hated my abilities. They made me different from anyone, and I was bullied.

« Heeeeey!!! »

« Heeeeey!!! Grey, this daughter of a b***h, is ignoring me again. »

« How about a little punishment? It will make you feel obeying us. »

 They splashed water to me, wetting all my clothes. It was cold. They beat me again; it hurt like hell. They always laughed at me because my mother was a slave working at the Duke's house.

« Stinking brat, know who your boss is? »

 They laughed again. I felt empty at that time. Surrounding me, they insulted my mother and me in any way possible, again. I was living in an orphanage before Damien found me. I was living miserably.

« She is like a rat crawling around leftovers. HAHAHA.... »

 My clothes got dirty again. I was going to take another beating from the nanny. I felt sorry for myself. I wished I had died with my mother. She was a caring person. It would be better if I just disappeared or something happened to me to make me so. If I have died...

« It's just now that you came, what happened to your clothes again??? What a bunch of kids!!! »

She slapped me again. The boys couldn't beat me enough because they feared the nanny; she was a violent person. Thanks to the support provided by the noble families, the scale of the orphanage had grown, but a lot of changes occurred, a lot of workers were employed, there were more orphans. Also, there were more violent people, but the nobles didn't care about such a trivial matter, they only know how to give money. I still remember that sometimes they would visit us to show that they are doing a lot for us, the abandoned ones.

I ended in this orphanage because a big fire occurred in the slums. I still remember it; the smell of burnt flesh and blood didn't leave my nose until after a long time. I was traumatised, and I couldn't come near a source of fire for ages. The sky was covered in ashes and smoked that day. The fire was too strong that it swallowed everything. I called for my mother, but it was in vain. I went to our house, and there she was burnt all over. I couldn't even move; the sight of it petrified me. People say that a simple accident caused the fire, but truth and rumours can be sometimes different.

I fainted. The next moment that I remember I was in a bed, in this orphanage. It seemed that I was unconscious enough not to notice being moved to here. They said that I would stay here. I didn't have a choice but to endure all the bullying. It was suffocating.

« Fool! Even a pig in a pen is more clever than you. »