Training Begins
The days passed quickly, and Ishin's daily routine changed. Every day, Keal would come early in the morning to drag him out of bed for training. At first, Ishin's body ached from the unfamiliar movements and exertion, making it difficult for him to train continuously for long periods of time. But slowly, he began to get used to it.
"One more time!" Keal shouted, throwing a wooden training sword in Ishin's direction.
Ishin grabbed it and swung it at Keal, Keal easily dodged the blow and landed a quick blow to Isshin's shoulder. "Too slow, go faster," Keal said with a smile.
Ishin groaned, rubbing his shoulder. "You're happy to be here laughing after beating me."
Keal smiled. "Maybe a little. But you're getting better."
Lyria, who had been watching from a distance, walked with folded hands. "Keal, you can't always rely on him just for strength. He needs skill and experience."
Keal rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. It's up to you from now on."
Lyria threw a real sword at Ishin. "This time, let's see if you're really dangerous, if you miss the blow, you'll get hurt."
Ishin looked at the blade in his hands, feeling its weight. It was different from the wooden weapons he had tried before. "Okay, what should I do now?"
Keal smiled. "First imitate me."
She stepped forward, demonstrating a series of elegant but deadly blows. Ishin watched in horror, then imitated her blows. At first his blows were chaotic, but under Lyria's guidance he began to refine them.
Days and weeks passed without realizing it, and Ishin began to feel the difference within himself. His blows were sharper, his body moved more accurately, and his body became stronger than before, and for the first time, he felt like he truly belonged in this world.
---
A Warrior Family
After a long training, the three of them sat around a large round table at a village festival. A small fire was lit in front of them as they shared a meal.
"You're improving quickly, Ishin. You've learned a lot now," Keal acknowledged Ishin's progress, chewing on a piece of fried meat. "If you keep going like this, it'll be easy for you to defeat me one day."
Ishin smiled. "I'll definitely put you down."
Lyria smiled warmly. "You know, Ishin, when we first met you, you were completely lost and alone, but now. You feel like one of our own."
Ishin looked at the two of them with teary eyes. It was true. At first, I felt like an outsider, not knowing where he belonged. But now, he didn't train with them – he lived with them. They treated him like one of their own kind, like a younger brother who needed guidance.
"Yes," Ishin said softly. "I feel that way too, like I've been here for a long time."
Keal patted Ishin's head and ruffled his hair. "Then that's settled. You're one of our own kind now, little brother."
Ishin smiled and took his hand away. "I'm not that small, I'm big!"
Lyria smiled. "Yes, yes, of course, little brother."
For the first time in a long time, Ishin truly felt a happiness he hadn't felt before. This village, this place, these people… it felt like home, he felt so free.
---
A Deep Purpose
As Ishin grew stronger, he also began to help the villagers. He became a part of the village, whether it was carrying supplies, hunting, or training the younger villagers. He always helped the villagers. The villagers treated him like one of their own, and he was happy to be a valued member of their community.
One day, an elderly villager stopped him. "Young man," she said, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "You have brought life to our village, you are no longer just a stranger here."
Ishin blinked in surprise and deep joy. "Do you really think so?"
She nodded. "You belong here, young man."
Later that night, as he lay in bed, Ishin thought about her words. Ishin felt immense joy as he remembered those words. He now had a family, and he felt an indescribable joy that he could not express.
Maybe... maybe... this is where I should have been, it's good that I came here late.
Ishin was happily lying on the bed like a little child, looking out the window at the sky. Unbeknownst to him, tears welled up in his eyes.