NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Confessions by the Fire
The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows around the clearing. The two moons hung in the sky, bathing the night in hues of blue and pink, a mystical sight that made the quiet night even more serene. Roy leaned back on his hands, his gaze wandering between the flames and Kevin, who was still adjusting to his new reality without sight.
After a comfortable silence, Roy spoke up, his tone casual yet probing. "Kevin, why do you want to be strong? I mean, what's the real reason behind it?"
Kevin turned his head towards Roy, a small smile tugging at his lips. He knew that Roy had some inkling about his past, about his motivations, but it seemed Roy still wanted to hear it directly from him.
"You already know part of it," Kevin began, his voice steady. "I want to become the world's best swordsman. I also want to show the people of my city that my father was innocent, that he was a great swordsman who never deserved the disrespect they showed him. But that's just a part of the process—becoming the best swordsman is my true goal. It's what I want more than anything."
Roy's eyes softened as he listened. A sense of relief washed over him, and he smiled. He was genuinely happy to hear Kevin's ambition. Now that he considered Kevin a true friend, he didn't want to leave him behind. If Kevin only wanted simple revenge, Roy would have helped him achieve it, but he would have moved on after. He needed someone beside him who shared a broader vision—a desire for something greater. Someone with less ambition would never be able to stand beside him. It would be dangerous for them, and Roy couldn't afford to be slowed down by someone who wasn't ready to face the challenges ahead.
"Good," Roy said, his voice light but carrying an undertone of sincerity. He leaned over and gave Kevin a playful nudge. "I wouldn't want to drag around someone with just a small-time grudge, you know? We've got big places to go, and you better keep up."
Kevin chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Roy. I have no intention of stopping anytime soon."
The fire crackled again, and for a moment, silence settled between them once more. Kevin shifted slightly, his expression turning more serious. He tilted his head toward Roy, his voice quieter this time. "Roy, can I ask you something?"
Roy looked at him, sensing the shift in Kevin's tone. "Sure," he said, his voice encouraging.
Kevin hesitated for a moment before continuing. "What's your story?" kevin knew there's something... dark in his past. The way Roy fought those people from Aisha's sect—it wasn't just skill, it was like he had been through something sinister before. He paused, a hint of concern in his voice. "I've never asked because it seemed too personal, but... I feel like this is the right time."
Roy's cheerful demeanor faded slightly, replaced by a more solemn expression. He looked into the fire, the dancing flames reflected in his eyes. For a long moment, he didn't say anything. His mind drifted, back to the earliest memory he had—the memory that had haunted him for years.
He remembered small hands, his tiny fingers trying to hold onto a woman's face. She was stunningly beautiful, her eyes filled with both fear and love as she ran through a forest, her breaths ragged and desperate. She looked down at him, and he remembered the tears that filled her eyes as she gazed at his innocent, round face. She had pushed his small head against her chest, her voice a soft whisper that he could still hear in his mind, even now.
"Mom won't let any harm come to you."
At the time, Roy hadn't understood any of it. He had been just a baby, too young to comprehend the fear in his mother's voice or the danger that surrounded them. But his memory was perfect, and as he grew older, he began to understand what had happened that day. He had pieced it together, bit by bit, until the truth of his past became clear to him.
The memory faded, and Roy blinked, feeling a drop of moisture at the corner of his eye. He quickly wiped it away, his jaw tightening slightly. He turned back to Kevin, his voice heavy with emotion.
Roy took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly as he began to speak. Though the details of his story were not narrated, he shared everything with Kevin—the pain of losing his family, the horrors he endured, and the desperate fight for survival that had shaped him into who he was today. By the time he finished, the fire had burned down to glowing embers, and a heavy silence hung between them.
Roy looked at Kevin, his eyes glistening with emotion. "That's why I fight, Kevin. Why I want to become stronger. So that no one else I care about has to go through what I went through."
Kevin nodded slowly, his expression one of understanding. He didn't press for more. Roy had told him everything—the pain of losing his family, the horrors he endured, and the desperate fight for survival. Kevin could hear the weight in Roy's voice, the kind of pain that went beyond words. He knew that whatever Roy had been through, it was something that had shaped him profoundly—something that still lingered with him every day.
"Kevin said softly, "I get it, Roy. Thanks for trusting me enough to share all of that. Just know that... I'm here. Whatever happens, I've got your back.""
Roy smiled, a small but genuine smile. He reached over, giving Kevin a light punch on the arm. "Thanks, Kevin. That means a lot." He paused, then added, his tone turning more playful, "But don't think this gets you out of training tomorrow. We've got a lot of work to do if you're going to be the world's best swordsman."
Kevin laughed, shaking his head. "I wouldn't dream of it."
The two of them sat there for a while longer, the fire slowly dying down, the night air growing cooler. Though the past still weighed on both of them, there was also a sense of hope—a shared understanding that, whatever came next, they wouldn't be facing it alone.
The next morning, Kevin and Roy were cheerfully walking through the forest, their footsteps crunching over twigs and leaves. The surprising thing was how quickly Kevin was adapting to his blindness. He moved confidently, with a sense of awareness that seemed beyond what was normal. He did make some mistakes, like hitting a tree or a rock, but each time he moved, it felt as if some force was guiding him. Though neither Kevin nor Roy knew the specifics, it was because of the cultivation technique. It required a sacrifice from the user to learn it, and it was one of the best cultivation techniques in all of creation for a swordsman. Even the Heavenly Monarch was barely strong enough to fight the original owner of the Anti-Qi technique. That was until he created the Heavenly Origin Qi Cultivation Technique—but even then, the Anti-Qi technique was a strong contender against the Origin Qi.
After some time, they stopped in a clearing where the morning sun filtered through the branches, casting a golden glow across the ground. Kevin took a deep breath, his face set with determination. He focused on listening to the sounds around him—the rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the way the wind brushed against his skin. Slowly, he began moving through a series of practice swings, his hands adjusting to the weight and balance of his sword. Though he couldn't see, it was as if his body remembered, the movements flowing more smoothly with each attempt.
Roy watched Kevin for a moment, a smile playing on his lips. It was incredible how quickly Kevin was adapting. But he had his own training to focus on as well. Drawing the daggers from his waist, Roy moved a short distance away and began practicing his fighting style. He darted forward, his feet light on the forest floor as he executed quick, precise slashes. His movements were sharp, each strike designed to be both swift and lethal. He knew that mastering his daggers would be crucial in the battles ahead, especially if he was going to protect the people he cared about.
The two of them trained in silence, each focused on their own practice, yet still aware of each other's presence. There was an unspoken bond between them—a shared determination to grow stronger, to overcome the obstacles that lay ahead. Kevin swung his sword, each movement becoming more confident, his senses sharpening as he adapted to his new reality. Roy, meanwhile, pushed himself to move faster, his strikes growing more fluid, each step purposeful.
The morning passed like this, the forest filled with the sound of their training—Kevin's steady breathing, Roy's swift footwork, the rustling of leaves beneath their feet. Though they were on different paths, their goals were aligned, and in that moment, they were both exactly where they needed to be.