8 Decisions to take...

Tai had a different appearance compared to a week before. For one, he was missing his left arm, his cloak was tattered and his face was covered in small tears.

"Tai, what in tarnation happened to you?" Zephyr asked with confuse, despite knowing very well what caused this to happen to him.

"Boy, we can talk about that later. I am here to speak about something which concerns your future." Tai did not want to reveal what had happened to him to a kid, it was too terrifying.

Giving the boy trauma at such an age would just make his situation worsen.

"Fine." Zephyr blinked adorably. He inwardly cringed at was disgusted at himself for such an action. Tai glanced at Mother Saya who understood the message immediately.

'Do not look for the two of us for some time.'

~~ (Slight Flashback)

Li Xiao breathed heavily. Blood dripping from his deep wound in his chest. A horizontal sword slash had earned its place on the chest of one warrior. It took all his Qi to keep the wound from bursting with blood.

"Arlo, you really think you can fucking kill me and Tai?" Li Xiao said with exasperation his grip on his sword weakening with every second passing.

Arlo coldly stared at the wounded swordsman with a smirk.

"Well, I probably would have died while clashing with you if it was a day ago. But today, I do not fear you in the slightest!"

'What is this… I can feel that his Mana has quadrupled in size since I fought him three years ago.' Li Xiao grunted as he dodged an incoming attack.

He wielded his sword with his right hand and a long knife in his other hand.

The knife was connected to a long chain which Li Xiao could use to maneuver the knife to attack at any direction and way he wished to.

Arlo barely dodged the knife thrown at him, while he was forced to block the sword Li Xiao wielded with his own sword.

"You bastard…" Arlo growled as he used more and more strength to push Li Xiao away. He easily succeeded and threw the poor Qi-User into a nearby mountain.

'If this continues I will be unable to kill him. I'm sorry Tai, but it seems I will have to abandon the promise I made to you.'

"AAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHH!" Li Xiao roared heavily as Qi seeped out of his body. His pores burned insanely as his speed,strength and various factors of power rose to extreme levels.

"There is no need for you to go that far."

The next moment, that show of power immediately disappeared. Relief appeared on his face. Li Xiao smiled lightly as he fell unconscious, muttering something as he hit the ground.

"Tai."

~~ (Flashback end)

Tai and Zephyr sat down next to a waterfall in middle of the forest which surrounded the mountains the town they lived in was situated.

"Zeph, have you ever heard of the Silver Moon Division?"

"The Division where the experts of the experts gather to fight the Barbarians of the South?" Zephyr asked with curiosity.

"Exactly. The Silver Moon Division and the Red Sun Division are the two most professional and powerful divisions of our kingdom."

"And… There is only one way to enter said Divisions."

"That method is to graduate from the Royal Academy." Tai finished his sentence, slowing down for dramatic effects.

"I'm assuming you want me to join this so called Royal Academy so I can join this 'noble' Silver Moon Division."

Tai was not dumb, he could easily detect the odd tone Zephyr was using. He certainly was not fond of nobles, and he certainly knew why as well.

"Listen sir, I might be just three years old but I am not a fool. The nobles are corrupted to the core. The fact the King is being forced to enlist 'children' into the army is but a mere reminder of that."

Zephyr stared deeply into Tai's eyes, who shook slightly despite unconsciously refusing to believe that just happened.

"I have no desire to be part of their trash life." Tai was left speechless at the maturity shown by the boy. Even if it had been him at the age of ten, he would have been beyond excited at the chance to enter the Royal Academy.

"Then, please be careful. I usually wouldn't tell anyone else, but there are a few dangerous figures strolling around this town. I managed to stagnate their progress, but they will return in a few years."

Tai stroked his lost limb.

~~

Rank One Spells, Rank Two Spells and even Rank Three Spells; learned from sneaking into the library of the orphanage each night.

Zephyr found a way to learn several of each. By the age of six, he was more than fully confident he was dozens of times stronger than his three year old self.

Physically he was a hundred times stronger, Spiritually he was also almost a hundred times stronger as well.

A major difference in the orphanage was that Arthur had left it. One day Li Xiao had just straight up told Mother Belinda that one of the higher ups was amazed by his 'talent' and shoved him into the Royal Academy.

Tai struggled to contain more and more of his strength in each spar against Zephyr.

What were originally occasional hits, were not common occurrence. In many times Tai would get hit by Zephyr's fist or even leg.

~~

The sunlight hit his eyes directly. Zephyr really felt more and more annoyed at the sun of this world with each passing day. It always found a way to annoy him everyday.

"Ridiculous." He muttered as he pushed the blanket apart from his body and yawned. The orphanage's number of orphans had dwindled in recent years. Seeing this as an opportunity, he had demanded a room for himself since he was the oldest currently.

""Rank 2 Spell - Detoxification"

His body was engulfed in Green energy and the next moment his body was fully cleansed.What? He could also learn spells due to laziness.

He then used Mana to wear his clothes without even moving a single inch of his body. Ah, the wonders of having a room for yourself.

"Mother Saya, I'm going for a walk in the forest, I might not return until at night!" Zephyr told his caretaker, his body vanishing in insane speeds.