Early morning came, and Celine woke the group while Rin remained outside the cave.
Everyone awoke, and Mona and Lina began working together to prepare breakfast.
Meanwhile, Rin entered the cave, where everyone was seated, waiting for breakfast. He sat beside Celine and asked her,
"Are you feeling better now?"
Celine smiled and replied,
"My injury is starting to heal. I'm fine now. Thank you for worrying about me, Rin."
A moment of silence fell as everyone watched them without comment.
At that time, Mona finished preparing breakfast, and Lina began handing out the dishes. Everyone waited until Mona and Lina sat down at their seats, then they all began to eat, satisfaction written on their faces.
When they finished eating, Mona and Lina cleaned up the area and washed the dishes, while the others went out to hunt and search for ingredients to prepare lunch.
Originally, only the boys were supposed to go out with Theren, but Celine spoke up,
"I want a change of scenery. I'm tired of staying inside. May I go with you?"
They had no choice but to agree, even though she was still tired. She walked slowly, with Rin beside her, concerned for her.
Leon noticed and said,
"Let's split into two teams: Oran, Theren, and I in one, and Rin and Celine in the other. What do you think?"
Oran objected,
"Wouldn't it be better for you to go with them, Leon, while Theren and I go together?"
Leon replied confidently,
"We'll do the hunting while they only search for ingredients. Isn't that better?"
Oran nodded in agreement, so they split into two teams and each set off on their way.
At first, Celine felt relieved to be outside, but she soon began to grow tired. Her steps slowed far behind Rin's, until he left her behind without noticing. She didn't ask him to wait.
When Rin finally looked back, he saw her advancing slowly toward him, clutching her chest in pain. He rushed to her side at once, surprising her. He said nothing, but hoisted her onto his back without hesitation.
She protested,
"Wait! What are you doing? I can keep walking."
But Rin ignored her completely and continued on his way with her on his back. She smiled shyly in gratitude, then rested her head on his shoulder quietly as they continued walking in search of ingredients.
After a while, Celine pointed to an apple tree and said,
"Wait, Rin! There!"
Rin stopped beside the tree, and Celine began picking apples and gathering them in her small bag.
---
Rin resumed walking in search of ingredients while Celine remained on his back. When they reached a river, Celine felt thirsty, so she climbed down and filled a bamboo flask with water to drink.
Rin tried to carry her again, but she refused firmly and said,
"Let's walk together. Don't leave me and I won't leave you—let's go side by side."
And so they walked together until the sun's heat grew intense at midday. Then Rin said,
"We've already gathered the ingredients. Let's head back to the cave."
Celine nodded in agreement, and they began the journey back over the mountain to reach the cave. When they reached the foot of the mountain, Rin suddenly quickened his pace and hoisted Celine onto his back, which completely surprised her.
In a firm tone he said,
"Don't say a word. You'll never make it up while you're still exhausted. You'll only worsen your injury, so I'll carry you back to the cave."
This time Celine did not object; instead, she began to laugh and said,
"As I told you before, you're so funny!"
Rin said nothing in response, but he kept smiling all the way. As they approached the cave, he set Celine down on the ground, and they walked together a few steps until they entered. He did not want the others to see him carrying her, for fear of misunderstanding.
As soon as they entered, they found that Oran's group had already arrived. Oran turned to them and said,
"You're very late. Did something happen to you?"
Celine smiled and replied,
"No, we're fine. We just took some time searching for ingredients."
Mona approached Rin, and he handed her the ingredients for lunch. She welcomed them, saying,
"Please, have a seat."
Everyone sat in silence, waiting for the food until Lina began distributing the dishes. Leon had caught some fish, while Oran and Theren had managed to hunt a large deer for dinner. Mona prepared a variety of fish dishes, and once she and Lina sat down, everyone began to eat contentedly.
After the meal, everyone felt full and relaxed. Then Rin said,
"Oran, didn't you say you would finish reading that book for us?"
Everyone's expressions turned expectant as they looked at Oran, who sighed and said,
"I know, but I didn't have time. It's okay, I'll start reading it now."
Oran took the book from his bag, flipped through its pages, and said,
"All right, listen carefully. I'll begin reading."
Chapter One – Part Three of The Sky Sword Legends
"The Sky Sword" had spent the night with the old man, and at dawn, the scorching sun cast its halo over the place. The Sky Sword awoke to find the old man sitting outside, exactly where he had first found him.
The old man said, "Will you leave?"
The Sky Sword replied, "Yes, I must depart."
The old man tried to persuade him to stay, but he refused firmly, explaining that the enemy's forces still pursued him and he did not wish to endanger the old man. The old man smiled sadly and said,
"In that case, there is nothing I can do… but remember, this home will always be yours."
The Sky Sword felt warmth at his words, promised to visit whenever he could, and then set off again to continue his journey in this harsh world in search of vengeance.
Upon reaching the city, he made his way through the crowded stalls of the ramshackle markets toward the place the old man had directed him to—a house belonging to a middle-aged man who ran a school teaching youths fencing and self-defense.
When he arrived, he was struck by the size of the building, which looked like a small castle built of ornate red clay. He knocked on the door, and a man with short black hair streaked with gray, a short beard matching his mustache, and dressed in fencing attire came out.
The man asked in a stern tone, "What do you want?"
The Sky Sword bowed respectfully and answered, "I heard you train youths in fencing. Could you train me, please?"
The man replied coldly, "I'm sorry, but the place is full."
The Sky Sword was disappointed and turned to leave, saying, "I'm sorry for troubling you. I'll look elsewhere."
But the man stopped him and said, "Wait… tell me, what drives you to learn fencing? I will decide based on your answer."
Despair vanished from the Sky Sword's face, replaced by determination, and he said firmly,
"Vengeance."
The man asked curiously, "Vengeance against whom? And why?"
The Sky Sword answered in a steady voice,
"Vengeance against the soldiers who killed my parents before my eyes under the pretext of conscripting me, when in truth they enslaved and starved me. If I hadn't escaped, I would be dead now. I want to learn fencing to cleanse this corrupt world!"
Shock appeared on the man's face as he realized the gravity of the words of this seventeen-year-old youth. After a moment of silence, he opened the door and beckoned him inside.
The Sky Sword's face lit up with joy, and he bowed in thanks. The man said, "No need for formalities. Come in."
Upon entering, he saw a spacious training hall with a wooden floor and arched ceiling, filled with youths practicing with wooden swords. On the walls were racks holding real swords on the right and wooden swords on the left.
The man announced in a loud voice, "A new arrival has joined us—welcome him."
The trainees saluted, and the Sky Sword smiled and said, "I'm pleased to meet you all. I hope we get along."
He then approached one of the pupils and said, "May we have a duel?"
The pupil smiled and replied, "Of course—let's begin!"
Everyone watched the match, including the middle-aged man, as the strikes and parries continued for a long time until sweat began to pour down their faces. In a decisive moment, the Sky Sword leaped to deliver a finishing blow, but his foot slipped on the sweat and he fell to the ground. Before he could rise, the pupil pointed his sword at him and said, "You lost."
Silence reigned in the hall, for no one expected that outcome. The Sky Sword was one step away from victory. He tried to rise but collapsed unconscious. His tattered clothes tore from his back. When everyone approached to look at him, they covered their mouths in shock at the many terrifying scars on his back.
The middle-aged man ordered him carried to a room to rest. After hours, he awoke to find himself lying in a simple room. He tried to get up, but the man prevented him, saying,
"Rest a little—you have nothing else to do now."
Then he asked, "Where did you learn fencing?"
The Sky Sword answered, "I didn't learn it—I only relied on my instincts."
The man smiled and said, "It seems I will not regret accepting you… I hope to see some of your skills. Now go back to sleep—it is late already."
The Sky Sword replied, "Thank you for accepting me, sir. I hope I do not disappoint you." He closed his eyes, ready for sleep, eagerly awaiting morning to begin his training earnestly.
At that moment, Oran closed the book and said, "I'll read the rest later." No one objected to his decision, but their looks were complex, as if they did not know what to say. Every time Oran began reading the book, everyone fell completely silent, lost in thought about the story of the one who saved humanity from extinction.
Rin stood up and said, "I'll go out for some fresh air—I feel suffocated inside the cave."
Celine rose as well and said, "Wait for me, Rin—I'll go with you."
Rin waited for her, and together they headed outside, while the others watched them with surprised eyes. Then Mona spoke in a sad tone, "Since when have they been this close?"
Oran replied, "I don't know either—it surprised me. But what's wrong with that?"
As Rin strolled with Celine, she asked him, "What's bothering you, Rin? You haven't been yourself."
Rin reassured her, "Don't worry—I'm fine. But I felt something strange when I heard the story of the Sky Sword. I felt as if we share the same fate. The sword I carry was his, isn't that odd? It even spoke to me at that time! I have a feeling the Sky Sword is still alive."
Celine smiled and said, "Come on, Rin—it can't be alive. Thousands of years have passed! Even if it were, it wouldn't be evil; it would immediately begin exterminating those
demonic creatures. So don't worry—think of yourself only. Come on, smile!"
Rin's worry eased, and he smiled at her. Then they decided to return to the cave.