The Boy and the Teacher

Mik sat on the ground, staring blankly at the campfire.

His eyes were filled with anger and hate as he recalled the abuse and neglect he had endured over the years at the hands of his masters.

"I've traveled to many places and met different kinds of people," Wil began, "and scums really can be everywhere. Much of masters, eh?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Wil leaned back against a nearby tree and crossed his arms, looking at Mik thoughtfully.

"You're alive and safe. So, what are you going to do now?" Wil asked, curious about the young boy in front of him. "Do you want revenge?"

"I…I don't know," Mik replied. All the raging emotions turned into helplessness.

"The clan I serve is named Heavy-Fist and is based in Toadcreek. The clan controls the town, most villages, and nearby dungeons. They have many strong members. Both young masters are mages and will become stronger in many years. The clan leader, their father, is the strongest man I know. Revenge? I don't even have thoughts of those kinds."

Wil chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm glad you didn't bang your head on a rock somewhere. You're small, weak, and have a foul mouth, but you have a thinking brain, I'll give you that," he continued, "Kid, you don't have to return to them. You're free now. You can do whatever you want,"

Mik's heart sank even further at Wil's words. He knew he was no match for the Heavy-Fist Clan, even if he wanted revenge.

As they continued their meal, Mik's gaze landed on the colossal wolf's lifeless body that had pursued him relentlessly.

His recollection of the last moments of their encounter was hazy.

Still, one thing remained clear - that wolf had been formidable. Even Boder hadn't dared to confront it. Yet here was Wil, effortlessly slaying the beast.

"Sir…uh…Wil, I know you have much to save me, but could I ask for a favor?" Mik asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Hm? What is it?" Wil asked.

"You told me I am free but have nowhere to go. Could you..umm...can you train me to become strong like you?" Mik asked, feeling embarrassed and afraid that he had overstepped his bounds.

Wil almost burst out of laughter. Mik's request amused Wil. "Interesting. Why would you want that?"

"I want to be strong, strong enough so that I won't get left behind, won't get sacrificed, won't get tossed around like some kind of trash," Mik said, his voice full of conviction as tears streamed down his face.

His hate towards his former masters reached a peak.

At that moment, Wil understood the impact he could have on this boy's future.

Despite the tears in the boy's eyes, he could see a deep determination within them, a resolve to grow stronger and take charge of his fate.

As the tired young boy stood before him, his exhaustion and desperation plain to see, the man's memories from the past flooded back.

Sighing heavily, Wil felt his resolve. "I remember someone told me that I'm a sucker for those in need, and I guess I am."

"Alright, kid. I'll train you, but let me be clear. If you want to be trained by me, you must join me on my journey. The life of an adventurer takes a lot of work. It's full of dangers and uncertainties. Everything and everyone will try to kill you. The monsters you'll have to face are much stronger than you have seen before. Are you sure you still want this?"

Mik wiped away his tears, his thoughts racing as he considered the situation. He had a choice before but realized he wouldn't want to return to his old life.

With a resolute nod, he looked at Wil and declared, "I'm ready, Wil. I want to learn to become a strong adventurer like you."

A grin spread across Wil's face. "I like your spirit, kid! But let's start with the basics, shall we? I'll teach you how to build a shelter, fire, and find food and water. We'll take it one step at a time."

Mik felt a surge of excitement. For the first time, he was taking control of his life.

…

"Kid, wake up!"

Mik was startled awake by Wil's booming voice. He had fallen asleep quickly after their meal, and now he found Wil ready and waiting for the day's training.

"Today, we start your training bright and early," Wil declared, gathering their gear. "Considering you're not even a novice adventurer, we'll toughen you first."

Mik got to his feet, suddenly self-conscious about sleeping in his dirty clothes. Wil tossed him a fresh set of clothes.

"Here, change into these. They're clean," Wil instructed.

"Thanks," Mik replied, quickly changing into the fresh attire.

"First things first, adventurers need to be in good shape at all times. So, we're going to work on your physical fitness," Wil continued, handing Mik a small pouch and a bottle.

"We'll need food and water to fuel our bodies. This jerky is from the meat of magical beasts. I didn't cook it, so it should be edible," Wil chuckled, instructing Mik to follow.

The day began with some stretching, followed by a couple of hours of jogging, hiking, and climbing throughout the forest.

The soft, muddy ground made it even more challenging, and Mik was drenched in sweat, struggling to keep up.

But he saw Wil effortlessly run without breaking a sweat, motivating Mik to push himself harder.

After their training, they took a break on some nearby rocks. Mik collapsed, trying to catch his breath. Wil handed him a small pill bottle.

"Here, take this," Wil said with a smile.

Mik sat up and took the bottle, looking at it curiously. "What's this?"

"It's a Body Nourishing Pill. It restores your energy and helps your body absorb training to build muscles," Wil explained.

"A mana pill?! I can't afford something like this," Mik said, surprised. Mana pills were known to be expensive and valuable.

Mana pills are like magical power-ups concocted by great alchemists. They're made from unique magical ingredients, like magic plants and animals. They can boost a person's body and spirit in various ways. But there's a catch: they're super expensive.

Even Mik's old masters had to go on dangerous adventures to get their hands on one. So, as a servant, Mik could never afford such a luxury.

"Don't worry about it. I have plenty of those. They're practically worthless to me. Just take it. You need it. I will help you build a strong foundation," Wil assured him.

Mik hesitated for a moment before taking the pill. He felt a warm sensation spreading through his body as he swallowed it. It was like his muscles were being gently massaged.

He entered a brief moment of deep meditation before snapping back to reality when Wil spoke.

"No time to waste. Rest is over. Let's get moving!" Wil's words brought Mik back to the task, and he followed Wil, determined to make the most of this opportunity.