--- Roric

Three weeks.

It took three, unending weeks to search every town or village around Orinna, asking for information about the legendary warrior Barden. In the end, Roric had almost lost his hopes of ever finding him and was about to give up, despite the fact he didn't really know what else to do, when he overheard two former soldiers talking about that man.

A stroke of luck, without a doubt, but not an unwelcomed one. After gathering some supplies with the few coins he still had, the boy rode in the direction of the mountains where Barden was said to have settled down. The closer he got to the forests below the southern peaks, the more information he was able to gather, and that kept his perseverance alive.

His master's home was somewhere around there, in a place so distant from civilization that his existence would have probably been forgotten, if not for his famous name.

***

Roric's search brought him hours and hours away from the roads, between the trees, until his eyes finally caught a glimpse of smoke rising in the sky. Leading his horse by its harness the boy kept advancing, thinking about the responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders.

It's a gamble. There's no way of knowing if I'll be able to beat Rickhart, even after this training. Speaking of which, what if he demands some form of payment? I have no money left. I could give him some food, but if he's lived in this remote region for so much time I doubt he'll require it...

He came in view of a surprisingly well-built house. It was completely made of wood, clearly taken from the surroundings, but judging from the stone chimney someone else had been involved in that project. That, or Barden had bought it from a local.

Sitting outside, on a bench carved from a sturdy log, was an old man. He had to be at least in his seventies, if not in his eighties, the young warrior guessed, and there wasn't anything indicating that he was a weapon master. However, looks could be deceiving.

Yeah... I hope he is the person I came all this way for. What if Barden is dead, and I'm just bothering the peace of an isolated elder? What if...

The man had noticed him. His eyes were turned in his direction. Roric gulped, realizing that he hadn't even changed his quiet expression.

Here goes nothing.

"Greetings," the boy began. "I'm looking for a person who should live around here. His name is-"

"Nobody else lives around here, young one. I'm afraid I am one you are looking for."

A terrible start. The tone of his voice was grave, annoyed.

He doesn't like strangers, obviously. I'd better explain myself.

"Then, you must be Barden. Sir, I've traveled a lot in order to find you."

"That doesn't surprise me," replied the elder, sounding even more pissed. "State your business, quick."

"Sure," Roric went on. "I was told you were an incredible swordsman, and a renowned instructor in Orinna, before you came here. I'd like to learn from you, master. If it's possible."

Barden covered his face with the palm of the right hand, shaking his head.

"Geez... Who taught you how to ask these things, kid? Even if I was still active, I can't see how I could answer to your request."

"Wait, what do you mean? You aren't teaching anymore?"

"Exactly. Now get the hell out of here."

The boy stopped in front of the house, hitching up his horse to a small tree.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, sir," he said. "But I was tasked with becoming a strong swordsman and-"

"Something wrong with your ears? Or you are just plain stupid? I told you, I retired."

Grumpy old man! After traveling to the other end of the world...

"Please!" the young warrior begged. "The King of Cassidia himself ordered me to find you."

"I couldn't care less," replied Barden, with an absent-minded face. "Listen, I live so far away from the rest of the people because I don't want to be meddled in their affairs. Respect that and stop whining."

"At least put me to the test. I already have some training, so even some basic exercises will be enough."

Roric spotted a twitch of the old man's mouth, like he had said something he shouldn't have.

After a couple of very nervous seconds, Barden spoke again. "Alright, then. If it helps me getting rid of this bother. I'll give you a lesson you won't forget. Oh, don't worry, it won't take long."

He stood up with astonishing ease for his age, and went into the building, returning shortly after with a very simple sword.

Finally!

The young warrior threw away backpack and cloak, grabbing his own weapon and facing the man confidently. Memories of his two-week training with Tolwin were still vivid in his mind, and now he knew that showing himself too cautious could give the opponent an advantage.

"I don't even know why I'm doing this," commented Barden, with a groan. "Come, fast. Let's get this over with."

Roric didn't need him to ask twice. He moved swiftly, closing the distance as quickly as he could, keeping his eyes sharp for any sudden movement from the old master.

I wonder if I could teach him something, for a change. He isn't aware that I'm an Elemental. That's not really an honest move, but in a fight there's no room for these pleasantries. Now, since he is acting so passively I'll just feint from left and-

The man's blade appeared from nowhere, to the boy's right. Since he was relying on his reflexes, he had seen the attack clearly, or so he thought. It was coming many times faster than what he was used to.

Oh, shit!

A last-second dodge brought Roric out of the trajectory of Barden's sword, but he was too shocked to react. He stepped back in guard, panting.

If I was a normal person, I'd be down at this point. And what exactly was that? He could have injured me!

The elder hummed, thoughtfully. "Everything alright, kid? I don't have all day."

This time, the boy charged much more carefully. His instincts told him that the opponent was much more dangerous than he seemed. He tried to hit without exposing his body, from a longer distance, but Barden deflected his weapon like he was playing with a child.

No... It's like I'm not even worthy of his attention. He-

All of a sudden, the old man made his move. It only took him a single step, in a very precise moment, one of the few when it was safe to do so. He grabbed the young warrior's arm, twisting it and forcing him to drop the sword, then he used the rest of the momentum to throw him off balance. The ground disappeared from below the boy's feet, and the world turned upside down.

What the...

Roric's head hit the grass painfully, followed by the rest of his body. He moaned, surprised by how brutally the former instructor had treated him, but when he opened his eyes he found the tip of a sword a few fingers from his throat. Behind it, there was Barden's displeased expression.

"Give you some exercises, huh... Like it was this simple. Youngsters are all the same."

I... How? How did he do that? I think I was able to see it, but... His speed was inhuman!

"Ugh..." the boy complained. "I don't know if I could call it a lesson, Sir..."

"That's not my problem. Now, scram."

With those blunt words, the man put away the blade and turned away, heading home like it was nothing.

"You... You can't leave me like this!" exclaimed Roric. "I... I need your guidance, your-"

"Scram, kid. Don't make me repeat myself."

"Listen to me! There's a monstrous enemy threatening Cassidia in this very moment. An incredible fighter, a necromancer! I was sent here because the King thinks I'm the only one who could win against him!"

"Well, sucks to be you," replied Barden, sitting back on his log. "Send my condolences to the people of your kingdom. If you plan to challenge a stronger foe the same way you did with me, you are just digging your own grave."

"It's true, but I have to try!" the boy went on, eaten by his frustration. "I met him two times, and every time he appeared he ruined my life forever. He is cruel. He is merciless. To think he was the son of a nobleman once... Why is he even doing this? Why?"

I'm sick of him! I thought I was safe in Cassidia, but with all the places in the world he couldn't choose anywhere else for his stupid conquest! Damn Rickhart! Damn him...

When Roric raised his head again, however, he noticed that Barden was looking at him in a very different way. He seemed troubled, like something he had just heard had awakened buried memories.

"The... The son of a noble, you said?" asked the elder. "Are you sure you aren't mistaken? If he's young and this talented, there's no way I wouldn't at least have heard about him..."

"I'm not!" exclaimed Roric. "His name is Rickhart. I need your help in order to defeat him!"

Barden let go of the sword, which fell on the ground, joining his trembling hands. "No... No. It can't be... But it must be."

"What are you talking about? Do you... Know him?"

"I..."

The man's voice had lost every trace of his previous scorn. It was evident that Rickhart's involvement was the last thing he expected. But if the two were connected, then... How? The young warrior went closer to him, kneeling in the grass.

"Please. There's no one else I could ask. Sir, are you still here?"

"Yes," replied Barden, his demeanor getting back together. "I was... I was just surprised by that name. Rickhart... It's been a while, and he's the kind of person I didn't want to hear about ever again."

He stopped, glaring at Roric.

"A student of mine. My last one, actually."

"What?" the boy said, with his mouth open wide. "You were... You were his master?"

"I was," admitted the man, gravely. "It all happened four or five years ago. His father, Stelvan, came to me when I was still working in Orinna. Damn, I remember that day like yesterday. He requested me to teach his bookworm son about combat, so that he could become an officer for the republican army. That was the kind of future he had decided for Rickhart."

When we read that diary in the mansion... His grandmother told the relationship between them was terrible. Stelvan probably forced his own son to train, no matter what...

"I served them for some time," continued Barden, his eyes lost into space. "It didn't take long for me to realize that the boy was immensely talented. It was like he was born to wield a blade... But that wasn't his true desire. He used to find more pleasure in studying with his grandma, a very knowledgeable historian."

"She was the one who instructed him, the reason why he became a necromancer," explained Roric. "Maybe Lord Stelvan thought her to be a bad influence, and wanted him as far as possible from her."

"It's... A possibility. Yet, all I have is my side of the story. I guess you deserve to hear it, since you came a long way."

The young warrior sat down on another stump nearby, and remained silent.

"Rickhart's learning rate was... Disturbingly fast," said the old man. "Under normal circumstances, he would have been a perfect student, the best I had ever found, but with every passing week a part of me became aware of what was hidden below."

"Below?"

"Anger. Lots and lots of it. That kid was so tormented that he looked like he was about to explode. Still, he endured. Once he had a blade in his hands, being so exceptional at it gave him comfort, and that only worsened his situation. He became wicked."

I can't believe that Rickhart used to be a normal person once. What his family has done to him is unforgivable. Their actions are now endangering an entire kingdom.

"There was something in his stare, as he trained with me. It took me a while to understand, but then I realized it," went on Barden. "He was enjoying the power the sword provided him, and wasn't afraid to use it anymore. You should have seen his face the first time his father forced him to fight. Totally broken. And then, little by little, he completely changed."

Roric was almost afraid of delving deeper into that story. "What... What happened then?"

"It became obvious that he was turning into a dangerous individual. Pain and failure couldn't stop him, nor could my authority. The only ones he respected were his father and grandmother. He would have killed me without hesitation, had I lowered my guard even once, I could read it in his eyes. For this reason, I refused to go on with my teaching and returned to Orinna. Stelvan wasn't happy with that, but I never regretted the decision. That kid was an animal. My job didn't feel the same after that, and I eventually retired."

The elder made a pause.

"But," he observed, "I guess I should have stopped sooner. The damage was already enough."

"So, will you train me, sir? Come on, I'm not asking you to fight him yourself."

"I... I would be too old for that." replied Barden, unwillingly, "Fine, I accept. But only because this is a fruit of my mistake."

Yeah! I convinced him. I can't wait to start!

"But before we begin, you should tell me about those powers of yours."