Oh God, why does it always hurt? I'm really that weak.
-Kayle, where are you? It's time to work.
Shit. I forgot I was working. The days are getting long, but that's okay because now I can get stronger. I can't wait.
-Kayle.
-Right. Here I come.
But in the meantime, I'm helping Lilly.
Kayle dressed and danced. The world seemed to glow. He moved his buttocks from left to right as he handed out drinks and food. His hips moved horribly, but people enjoyed watching him dance around the tavern.
-Well, Kayle. Did something happen?
-Ooooh yes.
-Ha ha. Funny guy.
-Who's he?
-Don't you know him? That's Kayle. He got into a fight with Rack the first day he arrived in the village. And yesterday, he fought the old soldier.
-Wow, he's got some nerve.
-And yeah. They call him Kayle the Fearless now.
Kayle listened discreetly to what people were saying, which made him dance even more. He wiggled back and forth as he recalled one of the songs from his world.
-Everybody. 🎶Everybody.🎶
Well then, Charles. I'm sure you've never had compliments like these in this world. I'm inevitable now.
Kayle was still dancing in all directions when a villager got up, completely drunk, to join in the dance.
-Everybody. 🎶Everybody.🎶
Lilly looked desperately at the scene. Kayle wasn't even serving at the tables anymore as people applauded them. Suddenly she saw another villager get up and dance exactly like Kayle. And as time went on, more and more people in the tavern got behind Kayle to dance.
-Everybody. 🎶Everybody.🎶
The choreography was perfect and everyone was into the dance.
-Well, I haven't moved like that in a long time.
-Granny Enrie?
Lilly opened her mouth wide when she realized that the oldest woman in the village who never went to the tavern was also dancing with Kayle.
-Don't stop. 🎶The beat.🎶 Don't stop.🎶
-We gon' spin and kill.
-Everybody🎶
-These b.tches f.ck.🎶
-Everybody.🎶
-A n.gga tellin' on🎶
-Everybody🎶
-Oh move your feet and fell u.🎶
After long minutes, Kayle stopped dancing, his hand in the air like a star having finished her greatest performance. And the worst part was that everyone had exactly the same pose.
-Yeah.
Kayle was greeted by the audience and then left, bowing slightly to them. The sun was setting and he had to leave to join his master.
Take that in the teeth, Trane Rakis.
Lilly really wondered why she liked this boy.
Kayle headed for the southeast of the village where the soldier was waiting.
He's here already. Why is he standing like that? Am I entitled to my stylish pose leaning against the well after all that training?
-You're late.
-No. I'm right on time. You told me, around sunset.
-Well, well, well.
Why is he pointing at the sun? Is he stupid or what? I know what a sun is. I do, huh?
-Well, it looks like you really don't. Here, when we say "sunset", we're talking about a sun that's three-quarters full.
Huh? No, that's abuse.
-For your punishment, we'll go straight to the first session.
-Aren't you going to explain the energy or the basics of this world to me?
-You're supposed to know them, kid.
He's got a point. But why do I sense hostility in his manner? I feel like this is all a trap.
-Come and see the bottom of the well.
-I'll do that.
Wait, a well, a disreputable sensei, the first training session, that sounds a lot like Bleaaaaaaac....
Before he could do anything, Kayle was thrown in.
-You can get out whenever you want.
-You sick bastard. How do I get out of here?
-The walls are close enough to grab onto, and the shaft is only 45 meters long. If you can't get out on your own, you don't have to get strong.
The soldier shamelessly turned and left.
Is this some kind of joke? He's not really gone, is he? How do I get out? Crap. If I get like this, I'll end up sinking. I've got to keep calm. I can't walk, but I can keep my balance in the water for about 7 minutes. If I decide to climb, I have to be sure of succeeding. There's no point in blaming the water - as soon as I dive back in, I'll be wet again. I've got to put my back into it once and for all and hope it goes.
Kayle looked at the wall coolly. Kayle never lost his cool. He grabbed onto a stone protruding slightly from the wall to get out of the water and, with his left foot and hand, pressed hard against the wall. He then brought his whole right side up to rest against the wall. He was now standing above the water, his legs spread and his arms stretched out, leaning against the wall.
-To think I'd been dancing just a few hours ago.
Suddenly, Kayle's right foot slipped violently in the water. He barely caught himself with his left hand, but found himself with his head stuck on the wall and only one leg to stand on.
-No. I'm not going back in.
The water was cold and everything now depended on Kayle not wanting to go back in. He pressed hard on his left hand and put his right foot back in place. Then he began to climb the wall little by little, catching his breath where stones protruded slightly from the wall. At one of these, he lost his footing as the stone fell, but he quickly caught himself and continued on his way.
To this shitty soldier, he's going to see what he's going to see. I'll be out of here in one go.
As much as he'd said that, the shaft was 45 meters long and he'd only gone 10. The struggle was going to be complicated. His muscles were beginning to tire, he'd had time to dry off but also to realize that the end was still a long way off. He leaned back against an exit stone and caught his breath.
-Damn. I've had it. I've got about 20 meters to go and I feel like I've given it all I've got. My legs won't last much longer and it's the same for my arms.
Kayle looked up at the top of the well. It was dark.
You've got to be kidding me. I hope Lilly isn't too worried.
Kayle looked again at the bottom of the well. It, too, looked so far away, yet the bottom seemed much more inviting than the top because of the effort involved.
-It's like the scenes on the networks showing the effort it takes to reach the top. Anyway, at this point there's only the top left. I'm not giving up this time, and I've got a revenge to take.
Kayle leaned back against the wall and began to climb.
-Is he dead or what? I think I should see where he is now. He must be at the bottom of the well, and I'll hand him the rope and bucket so he'll give up and...
The former soldier had given up on Kayle passing this test, but to his surprise, as he approached to see the well, a hand came out and clutched the ledges. A high-pitched, piercing scream came from the soldier's mouth and he jumped back.
-HAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaa
-Who's screaming at this hour? You're all supposed to be asleep. Besides, if you see the old soldier, I'll...Huh?
-Huh?
The two looked at each other for a full minute.
-It was you.
-It wasn't me.
-Well, there's nobody around.
-I told you there wasn't.
-And who else would it be?
At these words, the former soldier smiles.
-You've still got a lot to learn, kid. I'm impressed you were able to get out of here on your own. I'll teach you how to fight.
Yeah. It was him, wasn't it?