The training ground slowly emptied as the sun dipped lower.
The noise that had filled the air all day—clashing wood, sharp breaths, shifting feet—faded into scattered echoes.
One by one, the trainees left.
Some walked in groups, talking casually.
Some left silently.
Some limped.
Some laughed.
Leo remained.
He sat where he had fallen last.
Not because he couldn't move—
but because he didn't feel the need to.
The ground was still warm beneath him.
The air cooler now.
A quiet contrast.
He stared ahead.
At nothing in particular.
His body ached.
That hadn't changed.
But something else had.
He lifted his hand slightly.
Opened his fingers.
Closed them again.
They didn't tremble anymore.
Not because he was stronger.
But because his mind wasn't scattered.
"…You're still here."
Leo turned slightly.
Ryan stood a few steps away, holding a cloth over his shoulder.
"…Yeah."
Ryan walked closer.
"…Most people leave as soon as they can."
Leo looked back ahead.
"…I don't have anywhere else to go."
The words came naturally.
Without weight.
Without hesitation.
Ryan didn't reply immediately.
He sat down beside Leo.
Not too close.
Not too far.
"…You lived outside?" Ryan asked.
Leo nodded.
"…A village."
Ryan waited.
"…It wasn't much," Leo added after a moment.
He didn't say more.
He didn't need to.
There was nothing grand to describe.
No memorable stories.
No warmth worth holding onto.
Just—
living.
"…What about your family?" Ryan asked.
Leo's gaze didn't change.
"…Gone."
Silence.
Ryan didn't press further.
"…I came here when I was eight," Ryan said after a while.
Leo glanced at him briefly.
"My father sent me."
A pause.
"…Said it was the only way I wouldn't end up useless."
Leo looked at him properly this time.
Ryan gave a faint, almost amused breath.
"…He wasn't wrong."
Leo didn't know what to say to that.
So he said nothing.
"…You know," Ryan continued, "most people here have something."
Leo frowned slightly.
"…Something?"
Ryan nodded toward the emptying training ground.
"…A reason."
He pointed at different directions as he spoke.
"Some want status."
"Some want recognition."
"Some want to protect something."
A pause.
"…Some are just told to be here."
Leo listened quietly.
"…And you?" he asked.
Ryan leaned back slightly, resting his hands behind him.
"…At first? I didn't want to be weak."
He looked at his own hands.
"…Now… I just don't want to go back."
Leo frowned.
"…Back?"
Ryan didn't answer directly.
"…Places you leave don't always stay behind," he said instead.
Leo didn't fully understand that.
But he didn't ask again.
The silence returned.
Not heavy.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… there.
After a while, Leo spoke.
"…I don't have a reason."
Ryan didn't look surprised.
"…You don't need one right now," he said.
Leo shook his head slightly.
"…Everyone else does."
Ryan gave a small breath.
"…You think that's what makes them stronger?"
Leo didn't answer.
Ryan continued.
"…Reasons change."
A pause.
"…What matters is whether you stop when things don't go your way."
Leo looked down.
That part—
he understood.
More than anything else.
The sky darkened slowly.
Most of the trainees had already left.
Only a few remained.
Among them—
Kael.
He stood near the edge of the training ground.
Watching.
As always.
Leo noticed him.
For a moment—
their eyes met.
Then Kael looked away.
"…He watches everything," Leo said quietly.
Ryan nodded.
"…That's his job."
"…Why?" Leo asked.
Ryan shrugged.
"…To decide who's worth it."
Leo stilled slightly.
"…Worth what?"
Ryan didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Being trained further."
The words settled heavily.
Leo's grip tightened slightly.
"…Not everyone stays," Ryan added.
Leo looked back at the empty field.
"…What happens to them?"
Ryan exhaled slowly.
"…They leave."
A pause.
"…Or they're told to."
Leo didn't respond.
Something about that—
felt heavier than it sounded.
For the first time—
he thought about it.
Not just today.
Not just training.
But what came after.
If he couldn't keep up—
if he didn't improve—
he wouldn't just struggle.
He would be gone.
The thought didn't scare him.
But it stayed.
Ryan stood up, stretching lightly.
"…You should rest."
Leo didn't move.
"…You won't last if you don't," Ryan added.
Leo nodded faintly.
Ryan walked a few steps—
then stopped.
"…Hey."
Leo looked up.
"…You said you don't have a reason, right?"
Leo nodded.
Ryan gave a small pause.
"…Then don't think about one."
Leo frowned slightly.
"…Just don't stop."
That was all.
Then he left.
Leo remained.
Alone again.
The training ground was nearly empty now.
The air quieter.
Still.
He slowly stood up.
His body resisted.
But less than before.
He looked around one last time.
At the place he didn't belong.
At the people who moved through it naturally.
At the path he didn't understand yet.
"…I don't belong here."
The thought came again.
But this time—
"…Not yet."
He turned.
And began walking back.
Not with confidence.
Not with certainty.
But with something else.
Something small.
Something quiet.
Something that hadn't been there before.
From a distance—
Kael watched him leave.
"…No reason," Kael murmured.
A faint pause.
"…That might be better."
Far beyond the training ground—
deep within the estate—
a different conversation was taking place.
"…That boy."
A voice.
Calm.
Measured.
Heavy.
"…You've been observing him."
Another voice responded.
"…Yes."
"…And?"
A brief silence.
"…He's nothing special."
A pause.
"…Yet."
-----------------
The corridors of the estate were quieter than the training ground.
The noise of the day didn't reach this far.
Only the faint echo of footsteps remained.
Leo walked slowly.
Not because he wanted to—
but because his body demanded it.
Each step sent a dull ache through his legs.
Each breath reminded him of the strain in his ribs.
But he didn't stop.
Servants moved through the halls.
Some carried trays.
Some cleaned.
Some simply passed by.
Most of them didn't look at him.
Those who did—
looked briefly.
Then looked away.
Not with hostility.
Not with kindness.
Just—
indifference.
Leo noticed it.
He didn't react.
He was used to it.
"…This place really isn't mine," he thought.
He reached his room.
The small space felt the same as always.
A wooden bed.
A thin sheet.
Nothing more.
No decorations.
No warmth.
But it was enough.
Leo sat down slowly.
For a moment—
he just stayed there.
Then—
he lay back.
The ceiling above him was plain.
Unchanged.
His body relaxed slightly against the bed.
The tension of the day slowly fading.
But his mind—
didn't.
"Not everyone stays."
Ryan's words returned.
Leo closed his eyes briefly.
"…So I can be sent away."
The thought didn't come with fear.
But it came with clarity.
For the first time—
he understood this place wasn't permanent.
He wasn't here because he belonged.
He was here—
because he was allowed.
And that—
could change.
Leo opened his eyes again.
"…Then I just have to stay."
Simple.
No grand ambition.
No deep meaning.
Just—
stay.
Elsewhere in the estate—
far from the quiet dormitories—
the atmosphere was different.
A large hall stood illuminated by soft golden light.
Tall pillars stretched upward.
The space felt vast.
Heavy.
A man stood near the center.
His posture straight.
His presence calm—
but overwhelming.
"…You've been watching the boy."
The voice echoed slightly.
Another figure stood behind him.
Respectful.
Still.
"…Yes."
The first man didn't turn.
"…And your conclusion?"
A brief silence followed.
"…He lacks strength."
"…He lacks training."
"…He lacks background."
Each word was measured.
Clear.
"…Then why is he still here?"
This time—
the question carried weight.
The second figure hesitated.
Just slightly.
"…Because Sir Aldric brought him."
A pause.
"…And because Kael hasn't dismissed him."
Silence filled the hall.
The first man finally turned.
His eyes were sharp.
Calm.
But heavy with authority.
"…That alone is not enough."
The second figure lowered his gaze slightly.
"…No."
Another pause.
"…Then observe him more closely."
The words were simple.
But final.
"…Yes."
Back in his room—
Leo shifted slightly.
Sleep didn't come immediately.
His body was tired.
Exhausted even.
But his thoughts lingered.
The training.
The movements.
The small moments where things changed.
He replayed them.
Again.
And again.
Not perfectly.
Not clearly.
But enough.
"…Before they fall…"
He murmured softly.
"…something breaks first."
His eyes slowly closed.
And this time—
sleep came.
Morning arrived quietly.
The estate began to move again.
Servants prepared.
Trainees gathered.
The training ground slowly filled.
Leo arrived later than most.
His body still heavy.
Still sore.
But his steps—
were steady.
Ryan noticed him first.
"…You're slower today."
Leo nodded.
"…Body hurts."
Ryan gave a small breath.
"…Good."
Leo frowned.
"…Good?"
Ryan shrugged.
"…Means you actually trained."
Leo didn't reply.
He looked toward the center of the field.
Kael was already there.
Watching.
Always watching.
"…You ready?" Ryan asked.
Leo didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
he looked around.
At the trainees.
At their movements.
At the space between them.
Then—
he exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
Not confident.
Not certain.
But not hesitant either.
Ryan nodded.
"…Then don't waste it."
From the edge of the field—
Kael's gaze rested on Leo.
For a brief moment—
his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Let's see," he murmured.