A genius and A monster

" Talented people only need good guidance, Geniuses learn everything on their own but there is a category above that as well." Ares said.

Everyone around him started to ponder his words. No one has ever heard a category above genius.

"What is that category, sir ?" The female knight from earlier asked.

" Monster " Ares replied after a few seconds of silence.

Everyone around him was confused as they had heard some people calling others monsters but they thought it has the similar meaning of genius.

" Eren is a genius. He has a calculative mind and fast thinking, which he uses thoroughly as you can see but he doesn't have that which will make me classify him as a monster but Claude clearly has that." He said with a creepy smile.

" What is it sir ?" The suspense was killing every soldier.

" Hunger, what makes Claude a monster is his insatiable hunger. Even though Eren is a genius, have we not heard of many geniuses failing ? But a monster can never fail because he will never give up. He will keep pursuing his goal no matter how many times he fails. He will stand again and again. Claude is such a monster. He has that insatiable hunger which allows him to become a bottomless pit. He will keep growing even if all the paths are blocked. A genius has a limit but a monster has no limit. He will try to learn everything and anything. He will become stronger and stronger no matter what. Geniuses will be satisfied but a monster can never be satisfied. They think of this world and everything happening around them as means to grow stronger. If for a genius it is just meeting the end then for a monster it is an opportunity." He concluded by scaring everyone shitless.

" Have you…...have you met such a monster ?" A meek voice asked.

" Yes, just remembering that guy gives me chills." Ares said.

" Seeing that expression on Claude's face, it is as if just by looking at the match happening in front of his eyes, he is gaining invaluable knowledge which we can't even see." He said, staring at Claude.

Everyone looked at Claude but only a few of them felt chills running down on their spine. His expression was with an unwavering hundred percent concentration like the ones who were sparing the only people who exist in his world. A world which doesn't have any place for them.

The spar was already over with Eren losing but he didn't seem disheartened as if he was used to it. He came towards Claude and asked asked while he was breathing heavily :-

" How was it ? "

" You were awesome, brother !!" Claude was not able to surpass his excited desire and exclaimed loudly. He didn't even recognise that he just called him his brother.

Eren blushed slightly from his step brother's behaviour but still did not say anything. He was a boy and a child at the end of the day he wanted to be praised by his brother and protect him.

" Let's go have lunch with my friends." He said which caused Claude to flinch, he had thought that he would train his magic Alone.

" Just for today okay ? I also have to practice magic." Claude replied with a helpless smile to which Eren just nodded.

" Dad, can I and Claude go now ?" Eren asked his father.

" Sure, " Ares replied.

After that Eren and Claude went in a certain direction.

While every other soldier were still training a certain knight came towards Ares direction and asked :-

" Sir if Claude can surpass Eren then how is it good ?" The knight asked, clearly stating his true meaning behind those words.

" Even though Eren and Claude both are able to grow stronger on their own, I want both of them to be rivals. Even though Claude is a monster he needs something to surpass and even if Eren is a genius he needs someone who can challenge him. I want Claude to surpass Eren and Eren to always challenge Claude, so that both of them can grow strong enough to enter the imperial academy before 15." Ares said.

" You know right it won't be easy. I don't want to be disrespectful but even you were not able to get into the imperial academy." The knight said.

" My father's goal was to make me a strong swordsman but my goal is to send them to the imperial academy. After that all my responsibilities as their father will be over and I would be able to live a peaceful life with my two wife's in countryside." Ares replied

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Eren and Claude were talking about swordsmanship and magic while going towards the village's direction with their small bags.

After reaching the village, everyone was staring at Eren and Claude. Some were just checking the new face with the head knight's child, while most of them were just mesmerized with Claude's that they kept staring at him crossing the respectful time.

This caused both Eren and Claude to blush as they were not used to this.

" People are staring at us because you are good looking, Claude." Eren said in an embarrassed tone.

" No, I think that they are staring at us because they have never seen me." Claude said.

" Yeah I guess. After all, we are father's children." Eren with less embarrassment because he remembered when he first came to the village. Everyone was staring at him as well but he did not understand why they were staring more than usual.

He kept on walking until he reached the centre of the village where three kids were waiting.

" Eren you are finally here, we were waiting for so long." A black haired kid said.

" Sorry, " Eren apologized.

" Who is Eren ?" A kid with glasses asked.

" This is my little brother, Claude." Eren replied with pride.

" He sure looks handsome." A fat kid said.

The introductions went smoothly, the black haired kid was the son of the biggest fruit farms in the village, the glasses kid was the son of a merchant and the fat kid was the son of the only restaurant owner in the village.

[ PS : I am not writing the name of the kids because they won't have much part in future chapters. And I personally felt bad about creating a character and leaving him.]

The kids went to a juice shop to eat their lunches with some orange juice. It seems like because they have money they visit small food shops everyday to eat their lunches as well as buy the food or drink to go with lunch.

" Hey, you know that Maria and her friends agreed to play with us, right ?" The black haired kid said and everybody nodded in agreement except for Claude.

" Who is Maria ?" Claude casually asked.

" You don't know Maria !!" The glasses kid exclaimed.

" It's his first time coming out of his house of course he doesn't know who Maria is." The black haired kid hit the glasses kid on the head and said.

" Maria's mom is the most beautiful woman in the village except for your mom." When Claude heard this he sprayed the juice out of his mouth.

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