Whispers slithered through the air like snakes in the shadows. Noble laughter rang out — sharp, dismissive, arrogant. All eyes were on the boy with the sharp gaze and worn clothes."A commoner? Here? Is he actually going to fight?"
But Adlof heard none of it.The world around him had fallen into complete silence.He stood still, eyes locked on his opponent — a proud young noble with a strong build and the arrogance of someone who had never known failure.
The bell rang — the signal to begin.
Adlof moved.
His movement wasn't what the spectators expected. No formal stance, no shout, no hesitation.He launched forward like a spear, his body a blur of precision and instinct.
His right foot dug into the ground, the left pushed his body forward with explosive power. His wooden blade extended like a second limb, a precise thrust guided not by thought but by memory.
But then—
A hazy image tore through his mind.A voice, deep and commanding, reverberated from within."Don't do it."
He froze. The flow of his movement cracked. He staggered, taking a step back, confusion flashing across his face."What is this? Damn it…"
His opponent seized the hesitation and charged forward — a direct strike aimed at Adlof's face. No hesitation. No mercy.
"Wait."That voice again. Louder this time. Heavier. It echoed in his veins.
Adlof took another step back. But this time, he wasn't retreating.He raised his sword slowly. Not in defense — but in perfect calm.
Then he brought it down. Softly. Without force.
The result?
The noble was on the ground.
Flat. Defeated. Confused.Not a single person understood what had just happened.
Silence.The laughter evaporated. The whispers dissolved.Even the old man watching — eyes like steel — blinked in disbelief.
He approached, his voice barely a whisper.– "Who taught you that?"
Adlof didn't answer. He didn't know.
The old man looked to the nearby guard and muttered:– "He's strange... not ordinary."
Then turned back, tossing a slip of paper toward Adlof.– "Come back tomorrow. At dawn."
Adlof caught the paper without a word and walked away, his steps calm but his mind spinning.
Outside...
A sharp pain shot through his head — a headache unlike anything before."I am the strongest."A voice from long ago. Or was it always there?
He looked up. The night sky — clouded, moonless.
But he felt it — unseen eyes watching him. Waiting.
He returned home.
The family had clearly grown worried.Before they could ask, he waved it off with a laugh:– "Just exploring the village."
They didn't believe it, but let it go. He went to his room, changed back into his old clothes — as if they gave him some sense of grounding — and lay down.
But he didn't sleep right away.
"There's so much waiting for me…"