Decision

Chapter 44: Decision

On the third day of his morning training, Pat couldn't contain his curiosity and asked Ready, "Ready, what are that big iron wheel and that iron chair in the corner of the yard for? Are they toys for Alisha and Shiward?"

Ready shook his head. "They aren't toys. They're training equipment I used in the past. They could be toys for children, but they just don't like playing with them."

"Training equipment? I don't understand." Pat examined the two items closely, unable to see any connection to training.

"When I was a child, I was playing in the mountains and accidentally disturbed a wild beehive. Countless wild bees swarmed me. I was terrified, so I closed my eyes and flailed wildly with the branch I was holding. Although I knocked down many bees, I was still covered in stings, swollen all over, and took over a month to recover at home. This bee incident left me with a psychological scar. Don't laugh, that's what the Master said." Ready glared at a laughing Pat.

"Okay, I'm sorry, it was my fault. Please continue," Pat apologized to Ready.

"I used to learn swordsmanship from my father, and after coming to Molent City, I learned from Uncle Garilando, the owner of the Red Raven Tavern. Don't let his limp fool you; he's a Gold rank swordsman. I performed well during solo practice. But whenever I dueled someone, as soon as I saw the glint of their sword, I would involuntarily recall the cold gleam of the bee stingers when they stung me. Then, I'd lose control, close my eyes, and flail my sword like a branch. All the swordsmanship techniques I'd learned would vanish, and I couldn't execute any of them. Back then, my father and Uncle Garilando now were both furious with me, saying I was hopeless at swordsmanship..."

"But you're wielding your sword quite well now. You didn't have that problem when you sparred with me yesterday!" Pat couldn't fathom Ready having a habitual tendency to close his eyes. Yesterday evening, he had sparred with Ready, and to his disbelief, his Black Iron Three-Star rank had only managed a draw against Ready's Bronze Three-Star. Moreover, he hadn't noticed Ready closing his eyes during the match; on the contrary, Ready's eyes were wider than copper bells, fixed on his every move. This made him doubt if Ready's claimed affliction was real.

"Of course, I don't have that problem now. The Master cured me using those two pieces of equipment. The big wheel is called the Hollow Turntable, and the iron chair is called the Spinning Chair," Ready explained.

"Hollow Turntable? Spinning Chair? These two things could cure your habitual eye-closing? Tell me, how did they do it?" Pat's interest was piqued.

"Well, after I started following the Master, he discovered my tendency to close my eyes within a few days. So, the Master patiently asked me why I habitually closed my eyes. Eventually, he helped me recall the incident with the wild bees when I was a child. The Master said that those bees had left a scar on my psyche, making me prone to closing my eyes when facing danger, as if 'out of sight, out of mind.' It's a form of ostrich mentality. Don't ask me what an ostrich is; I don't know either. The Master said it's a bird that lives in the desert. When they encounter an enemy, they bury their heads in the sand, thinking that if they can't see the enemy, there's no danger. Do you think there's such a foolish bird?"

"And then what?" Pat listened with rapt attention.

"The Master said it would take a long time to cure me, involving psychological counseling to gradually change my fear of danger. However, he also said there was a faster method, which was very painful and uncomfortable, but it could grant me a new visual ability, making fast-moving objects appear to slow down in my eyes. As long as I could see things that weren't moving too fast, I wouldn't feel threatened and habitually close my eyes, thus curing my condition naturally," Ready said.

Pat asked, "You chose the fast treatment method?"

"Of course. When the Master asked me which method I preferred, I naturally chose the fast treatment. So, the Master custom-made the Hollow Turntable and the Spinning Chair. I never imagined these two contraptions would be so terrifying; it took me two full months to adapt and get used to them. The Master said I was cured, then he brought over a nest of wild bees, smeared honey on me, and gave me a sword, telling me to focus and stab all the bees. I was very scared, but when the bees were released, I genuinely found their speed suddenly slowing down. I could even clearly see their fluttering wings, and I easily killed them all with my sword." Ready's expression was one of unbearable recollection when he spoke of the treatment process, but he became excited when discussing the outcome.

"The Master said the visual ability I possess now is called Dynamic Vision. As long as I concentrate, I can perceive the trajectory of fast-moving objects. Like when you sparred with me yesterday, Brother Pat, I could see all your sword strikes clearly and respond effortlessly. Even though you're Black Iron Three-Star, you couldn't defeat me, a Bronze Three-Star, which is why we drew," Ready said, his face beaming with pride.

Pat looked at the Hollow Turntable and Spinning Chair in the corner, a thought striking him. "Then, Ready, if I train with this Hollow Turntable and Spinning Chair like you did, will I also gain that Dynamic Vision?"

Ready blinked. "I suppose so. I heard the Master say these two items were originally designed to help ordinary people acquire Dynamic Vision. If you want it, I can ask the Master if he'll allow it. However, Brother Pat, the training process is truly difficult and painful. You might even feel like life isn't worth living. Perhaps you should reconsider?"

Pat shook his head. "No need to reconsider. If I can possess the same Dynamic Vision as you, my strength will definitely improve, and I'll be better able to protect the Young Master. I'll ask the Young Master myself."

"No, no, I'll go ask for you right away." Ready suddenly became excited and turned to run into the house.

Pat touched the Hollow Turntable and Spinning Chair, thinking, These two things look simple, but are they really as terrifying and unbearable as Ready claims? Maybe Ready is just trying to scare me.

Ready soon returned, beaming. "Brother Pat, the Master agreed. But he said that if you train, you must persevere and absolutely not give up halfway."

Pat said, "I promise to see it through to the end, I will never give up halfway. I swear."

"Alright, how about we start now? The Master said he'll have you go through the same training I did, and it's guaranteed you'll gain the same Dynamic Vision ability as me." Ready sounded a little gleeful, as if enjoying Pat's impending suffering.

Perhaps it's just my imagination, Pat thought.

Just then, the rumbling of a carriage could be heard from outside the courtyard gate. It was Sister Keli returning from a major shopping trip in the commercial district, riding the public carriage from the residential area.

Ready and Pat went to help her unload bags of goods from the carriage and move them to the warehouse.

Ready asked, "Sister Keli, what's for lunch?"

Keli replied, "We're having steak for lunch, along with fish stew, a vegetable salad, fruit pudding, and chicken legs, Alisha's favorite."

"Mmm, Sister Keli, please make one less steak for lunch to avoid waste," Ready said.

"Oh? The Young Master isn't coming back for lunch?" Keli asked.

Ready smiled. "It's not the Young Master. You'll find out soon..."

Deep into the night, all was silent. Even the usually noisy frogs by Moon Lake were fewer in number.

Outside the window, the silver moonlight quietly bathed the serene Dawnlight Academy, casting a new layer of silvery-grey over the woods, grass, buildings, and houses.

Lorist put on his robe and stood by the window, gazing at Moon Lake under the moonlit night. The night breeze rustled the white curtains, making them dance in the silver moonlight.

He glanced at the hourglass on the table; it was around two in the morning. Yet, Lorist still felt no sleepiness. After hesitating for a long time, Lorist decided to take a walk by Moon Lake, perhaps that would bring him some peace of mind...

August had passed, and it was now September 1st. The academy was officially on holiday.

A few days ago, Chairman Peterson had delivered a box containing thirty gold certificates to Lorist, and he repeatedly thanked the instructors and assistants of the teaching group, as Young Master Peterson, along with the remaining dozens of students, had awakened their Battle Qi.

Dean Levens had also disbursed the promised prize money of one thousand Gold Fude. Combined with Chairman Peterson's three thousand gold coins and the remaining monthly funds, the total prize money amounted to over four thousand. Lorist, as the head instructor, received three hundred, while Hughes, Marlin, and Anfia, the three deputy head instructors, each received two hundred gold coins. The twenty-four instructors each received one hundred gold coins, and the twenty-four assistant instructors each received fifty gold coins as a bonus. Everyone was beaming with joy. The remaining dozen or so gold coins were used for a celebratory feast at the Red Raven Tavern, where Lorist himself was forced to vomit three times.

As for the duel on the external challenge day, Lorist had finally confirmed his title of Silver Invincible with a record of three thousand consecutive victories. Now that the event was over, Dawnlight Academy had commissioned instructors and students from the sculpture department to conduct a comprehensive and detailed body measurement of Lorist. When the next semester began, a bronze statue, the same size as Lorist himself, would be erected at the academy. The story of Black Iron Locke, the Silver Invincible, would become an eternal legend of Dawnlight Academy.

In a few more days, once El's accounts were settled, Lorist would receive another share of twenty-six thousand Gold Fude, bringing his total wealth to nearly thirty thousand gold coins, including what he had saved at home. In Molent City, he could be considered wealthy, not the richest, but certainly better off than many. He could live comfortably for ten years without doing anything.

The next semester would start in October. The academy would likely not assign any more tasks to Lorist. He could enjoy his time at home peacefully, or perhaps form a team with his close friends for some adventures. This was how he had always lived. Now that all academy matters were concluded and it was holiday time, he should feel relaxed without any burdens. Yet, Lorist always felt as if something was weighing on his heart, a heavy sensation that made him lose his appetite and sleep. Just like tonight, Lorist found himself unable to sleep again.

The silver moonlight shimmered on Moon Lake, creating rippling waves.

Lorist sat on a rock by the lake, gazing at the lake's surface ruffled by the night breeze, lost in deep thought...

Yes, he was indeed avoiding it. In the past few days, he could use the excuse of duels, the Battle Qi Enlightenment Class, and other busy academy affairs to postpone making that decision. Now that everything was done, he finally had to face that choice.

Why should he go back to inherit the territory? It was a place and people completely unfamiliar to him, and he had to resolve his family's predicament. It was a fiery pit. Was being a lord really that good? Lorist couldn't understand. He had lived in Molent City for ten years, familiar with everything here. He had friends here, a job here, his legend here; this was his home.

Lorist truly didn't want to go back and be a lord. He was very satisfied with his current life. Just as Sertkamp admitted to Lorist after these ten-odd days, life here was like paradise compared to the family territory. Whether it was food, clothing, or daily necessities, the family territory couldn't compare to here; it was too remote and backward.

But why did he always feel a stirring within him? There seemed to be a voice of unwillingness in his heart, calling him to leave here and return home to inherit the territory. Perhaps this was the soul imprint of the Norton Family left in this body. It yearned to return home and revitalize the family, which was the deepest and most fervent wish buried in the heart of every Norton descendant.

Yes, he had already made his decision to stay in Molent City and not return to inherit the territory and become a remote country lord. This conflicted with the soul imprint hidden in the bones of this body, which was why he felt heavy-hearted, restless, and suffered from insomnia and other symptoms. If this continued, who knew what state his body would be in. Perhaps, if he could just hold on until next March, it would be fine. By then, the family territory would choose the Baron's illegitimate son to be the lord, and it would no longer concern him.

What does it matter if he's a bastard, isn't he still Baron's bloodline? Why draw such a clear distinction? Suddenly, a strong tremor ran through him, and a chill spread across his body.

"Achoo!" Lorist sneezed loudly.

"Alright, alright, a bastard is just a bastard. Naturally, he can't compare to me, the legitimate heir, can he? Little Locke, we're one now, my soul and your body. It won't be good for either of us if something happens to one. Please, stop causing trouble, okay?" Lorist pleaded softly to his own body. His heart gradually calmed down, but Lorist seemed to hear a faint weeping sound: I want to go home, I want to go home...

Yes, I want to go home too. Little Locke, at least you still have a home to return to. But my home is gone forever...

Lorist sat on a rock by the lake, silently shedding tears. By the time the sky began to brighten, the tear stains on his face had dried. Lorist stood up and said to the rising sun, "Little Locke, let's go home together."