Emrys wandered through the streets, his thoughts tangled and heavy. What was he supposed to do now? Someone his age couldn't simply enlist in the military, let alone step onto a battlefield. That path was closed to him—for now.
But one thing was certain.
He needed to grow stronger.
The question was… where?
An image surfaced in his mind: the man in black.
Maybe he…
The thought alone sent a chill down his spine. What if the man was still watching him? Emrys stopped walking and glanced around in a hurry—left, right, behind him. Nothing. No one. He let out a breath of relief.
Then a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
Emrys froze instantly.
Slowly, he lifted his head and looked up.
His breath caught in his throat.
It was him.
The man in black.
"Are you looking for someone, little one?" the man asked, a smile curling across his face.
Emrys forced himself to breathe, his heart pounding in his chest. Then, unexpectedly, he smiled back.
"I was looking for you, mister," Emrys replied.
The man in black raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you just about to piss your pants? What's with that smile?"
Emrys blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"You looked like you were trying to calm yourself a second ago. Don't play tough with me, kid."
"Oh, that?" Emrys said, his smile widening. "That wasn't because I was scared or surprised."
Now the man looked genuinely puzzled. "Then what was it for?"
Emrys' eyes widened, his smile slowly fading. "You thought I was scared?" He chuckled softly. "How funny."
The man in black's eyes opened in shock.
"No," Emrys continued, excitement flashing in his gaze. "I was holding back my excitement. Because with your help—your skills—I know I can become anything I desire."
He bowed deeply.
"Please," Emrys said, his voice firm, "teach me how to become someone as capable as you."
Silence followed.
Emrys stayed bowed, wondering if he had made the right decision. Seconds stretched into eternity.
Then—
Laughter.
Loud, uncontrolled laughter.
Emrys looked up, startled. The man in black was laughing without restraint.
"Hahaha! You really don't match your age at all!" the man said, grabbing Emrys by the shoulder and dragging him along. "Hahaha!"
Emrys stumbled beside him, completely confused.
What the hell is going on? he thought. And why is he still laughing?
Gathering all his courage, Emrys asked, "Where are we going?"
The man glanced at him. "What do you think? I'll help prepare you for what's coming. But don't whine—even once—or I'll kick you out instantly."
Emrys grimaced. "You know what… I changed my mind."
The man grinned. "Too late. Welcome to hell." He laughed again.
Emrys looked at him with an emotionless face. "Hell, you say? Sure. It's not like I'm unfamiliar with that so-called hell."
The man in black studied him closely. "Trust me," he said quietly, "it's about to get much worse. Right now, you're only standing at the gates. Wait until you see the inside."
After a long, silent walk, they arrived at what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. The man dropped Emrys to the floor. As Emrys covered his head, the man spoke.
"This is your home for now," he said. "The place where you'll be forged."
He pointed toward a tent. "Sleep. Training begins tomorrow at six. Don't oversleep."
Without another word, he entered the tent.
Emrys slowly stood and looked around the cold, empty building.
"So this is where it begins…" he murmured.
As he lay down, another thought struck him.
Wait… where do I sleep?
There was only one tent.
After a moment, Emrys lay down on the cold concrete floor. He'd rather endure that than ask for mercy.
Inside the tent, the man in black noticed and smirked.
"Good choice, little one," he muttered. "If you can't endure a hard floor, the battlefield has no place for you."