Cain (2)

Dark Sword Cradle was a nursery where babies were cared for at the same time in a single hall. Cain was brought here right after he got his name. Anna, his nanny, took care of him after her basic training. 

The moon was high overhead. Its bright rays fell like a veil over the Dark Sword Castle. Although it was night, the guards were alert for threats from outside. They held their positions without blinking an eye.

All the babies in the Sword Cradle were lulled to sleep with special lullabies. There was nothing different except for the occasional flickering gas lamps. 

At that moment a shadow appeared. He was holding a small box. He approached one of the cribs and looked carefully. There was a very cute baby sleeping innocently in the cradle. His black hair was a little long, his breathing was regular and he had an innocence that was a joy to look at. 

"Please don't take this personally, young master. I have to do as I am ordered." 

She opened the lid of the box in her hand and placed it in the cradle. She bent her body one last time without breaking her composure. Her leaf-green eyes made themselves known in the darkness. She looked one last time at the tiny baby in the bed before turning away. 

The battle for the head of the family had seven possible candidates. The first young master had long ago renounced this right and devoted himself to magic. The second young master and the third young master were the two most likely candidates for the head of the family. They had different mothers. Just like the seventh young master. 

Cain was the second child of Mrs. Dolores. He was the least likely to be the head of the family, but he could be a threat in the future. It would have been best for everyone if he had died young. It was necessary to extinguish the embers before they became flames. 

The lid of the box the shadow had left behind shuddered open, something came out of it and moved softly towards Cain. It moved very quietly. But when it stuck out its forked tongue, there was an eerie hissing sound. 

Tsss...

Cain opened his eyes suddenly and looked at the Spotted Black Mamba, which had opened its mouth to bite him. Its red eyes pierced the darkness. His small hand moved and grabbed the snake before it had a chance to attack him. 

Tsss! 

The snake tried to bite Cain's hand but failed. Cain used his other hand to slice the snake in half, closed his eyes, and went back to sleep. He could be heard muttering something, although he couldn't pronounce it exactly. 

"Not...per...son...al?" 

---

The next morning the entire Dark Sword Cradle was stunned by the sight of the baby sleeping peacefully. Even though the entire cradle was covered in blood and snake remains, he was sleeping quietly. This frightened and worried all the nannies and guards. It was obvious that they had tried to assassinate the young master Cain. 

Luckily they had failed and only a few heads would roll. Otherwise, the whole Sword Cradle would have been put to the sword. 

Their fears and worries were not unfounded. 

The nanny and the guards who stood guard that night were executed after a night of suffering. But the person behind it was never found. The incident was soon closed and never mentioned again. 

And so time began to pass. 

Cain was different from other children. The other boys started talking before they completed their first year. By the time his second and third brothers were in their first year, they could speak in proper sentences and even talk to their nannies. 

His nanny Anna was worried about him. Cain's mental retardation meant that she would suffer too. In the Ashborne family, there was no pity for the weak. The rules of the jungle prevailed in this family and the weak were not treated as human beings. 

By the time Cain was three years old, he could say a few sentences. He was also acting strangely. He was not active and active like other children. On the contrary, he was timid and bullied by the other children. 

When he was four, he asked his nanny Anna to teach him to read and write. He learned to read surprisingly quickly and immersed himself in books. While the other children were playing games, he shut himself in his books. 

Nanny Anna reported this to Mrs. Dolores, but Mrs. Dolores never took care of Cain again. Cain did not seem to miss his mother. He isolated himself from the children and only read books. He also made trouble when anyone was near him - his nanny or any of the guards - making a mess and getting into mischief. 

When Anna insisted on watching him, he tried to burn down the library. 

So time passed quickly. 

When Cain was seven years old, he left the Cradle of the Sword and began his education. Here he would train with the children of the side and auxiliary families. 

Dark Sword Class.

About forty children were listening to a well-dressed butler explaining something on the blackboard. The steward's name was Raphael, one of the administrators of the Dark Sword Castle and a renowned educator. He was responsible for the theoretical education of the children. 

"After a brief overview of the distant history of the Ashborne Family, I will tell you about the power system of the continent and our family." Raphael asked a question in his elegant voice, "Does anyone know anything about Swordsmanship and Sorcery?" 

The children in the class did not hesitate to raise their hands.

Raphael smiled and chose one of them. He was a blond-haired boy with red eyes. He came from one of the side families. 

"In sword mastery, we use our swords. In sorcery, we use our magic. The only difference between us is that wizards are cowards who hide behind someone!" The boy finished his sentence excitedly and the class applauded and supported him. 

"He is so right!" 

"Sorcerers are cowards!" 

"Real men use swords!" 

Raphael continued without losing his smile and without disturbing the boy. "And what is the most important thing that separates sorcery from swordsmanship?" 

"I told you, sword and magic!" 

The boy who had just spoken spoke again. 

"Wrong, does anyone know the right one?" Raphael looked at the class. These children had grown up together, so their thoughts were similar in a certain way. 

At that moment a delicate hand lifted up. It was a boy with well-cut, shiny hair, a rather serene expression, and a graceful air, unlike the others. Cain was doing well in his studies, despite his behavior in previous years. 

"Young master Cain, please answer." 

"It is the way we use mana. Swordsmen accumulate Mana from the atmosphere in their energy centers and use it later, while sorcerers draw it instantly from the atmosphere and transform it in their cores and use it. Of course, famous families have their own methods. For example, the Ashborne family's interpretation of Swordsmanship is different from others. After we absorb energy, we store it not in Dantian or in the Energy Cores we create in our bodies, but in the stars we create around the heart. This is why the knights of the Ashborne family are known as Dark Knights."

Cain answered calmly and then turned his eyes to the children who were staring at him. 

"What are you staring at, you idiots?" 

"Fucking Cain." 

One of the boys hissed and swore. Cain was the biggest reason for the friendship between the boys. Everyone pretended to be friends to keep Cain out. They didn't know why, but Cain seemed scary and unpredictable to them. 

That's why they didn't like him. 

"Young master Cain answered correctly. The difference between swordsmanship and sorcery is not just the weapons in their hands. It is how they interpret mana. Swordsmanship is divided into four levels. You are a beginner until you transfer the Mana in your body to your sword. Once you do, you become an expert. Sword Expertise is followed by Sword Master. At this level, you concentrate your Mana and become a true Dark Knight. After Sword Master comes the Sword Lord level. The head of the family and the centers of power on the continent are at this level." 

"You will begin sword training very soon."