It didn't take long for Twig to finish his exercises. He was drenched in sweat, nearly in tears. He looked like he'd just been beaten up. But clearly, he wasn't hurt — just a skinny boy who had pushed himself too hard.
"Hey, Twig. You done with your secret training already?" asked Aron.
Still catching his breath, Twig just nodded.
"Great! Let's do something fun. Looks like no guests are coming to the inn today, so we've got the rest of the day off. What do you wanna play?"
Twig thought for a moment.Play?
He hesitated, then suddenly remembered."System, what's the progress on my missions?"
[Ding!] Daily Quests Available
Quest: Hunting & GatheringProgress: 25 / 25 logsReward: 2 EXP
Quest: General ServicesProgress: 5 / 5 rooms cleaned & organizedReward: 1 EXP
Quest: Physical TrainingProgress:50 / 50 push-ups40 / 40 squats30 / 30 sit-upsReward: 3 EXP
Quest: Combat TrainingProgress: 0 / 150 sword swingsReward: 4 EXP
"Well... I've finished all the missions I could. System, how am I supposed to train combat? There's no way. What would I even fight with? Or who?"
[Ding!]User, to answer your question: you are currently facing an opponent of your age, possibly even stronger than you. Invite him to train. That way, you can complete the mission.
Twig looked at Aron, still panting, and a spark lit up in his eyes."Aron... I've got an idea."
"Here we go again," Aron said, crossing his arms suspiciously. "So far, all your ideas have ended with you rolling on the floor like a fish."
"This one's different, I promise!" said Twig, excited. "The system— I mean, we can train combat. And for that, we need swords."
"Swords?" Aron frowned. "And where exactly are we gonna get swords? You think my dad's going to let two brats play around with weapons?"
Twig shook his head with a mischievous grin."Not real swords, duh! Wooden ones. We can make them ourselves!"
Aron raised an eyebrow."And why, exactly?"
"To play," Twig paused, searching for words. "I mean, to train. It's like playing, but... it helps us get stronger. I told you about that traveler who stayed at the inn, right? He told me how to get stronger! Look, I'm already faster!" he said, flailing his arms awkwardly, mimicking imaginary attacks.
"Yeah, you're less floppy than before," Aron admitted reluctantly. "But making wooden swords sounds like a lot of work."
"We've already got firewood! We just need to pick a few good, smooth branches. I'll make mine, you make yours. Then we'll train — like real warriors!" Twig spread his arms, his face glowing with enthusiasm, as if he could already see the EXP rising. "It'll be fun, you won't regret it!"
Aron stayed silent for a while, staring at his friend. Then he sighed, shaking his head with a half-smile."Fine, fine. You win, sir of crazy ideas. But if my dad finds out, it's on you."
"Deal! I'll tell Saul it was all my fault!" said Twig, laughing. "Now let's hurry before he shows up and makes us scrub the floors again."
The two ran toward the pile of firewood behind the inn. The early afternoon sun was leaning westward, and the scent of freshly cut wood mixed with the gentle breeze. Aron grabbed a thicker branch; Twig chose a lighter, smoother one.
"This one's gonna be an amazing sword," said Twig, spinning the piece of wood in the air. "I'll call it... Stormbreaker!"
Aron laughed."Stormbreaker? That doesn't even sound like a sword's name."
"Sure it does!" Twig replied confidently. "Because it looks light, but it'll cut deep — faster than the wind in a storm. Just like me!"
"You're more like a Morning Breeze, Twig," Aron teased, laughing. "But fine, let's see how this goes."
Using the old hatchet from the firewood pile, they started carving. The wood creaked with each strike, chips fell to the ground, and the rhythmic sound of their work echoed like the prelude to an adventure.
Twig looked at the rough blade taking shape and smiled."Who would've thought... maybe the system's right. This might actually work."
When the swords were finally done, Twig and Aron raised them proudly. They were crude, a little crooked, but they had shape — and for two boys full of imagination, that was all that mattered.
"It's ready!" said Twig, swinging his newly finished sword. "Stormbreaker is alive!"
"Alive and ugly, you mean," Aron chuckled. "At least mine looks like a real sword."
Twig eyed his friend's and pretended to analyze it seriously."Hmm... looks more like a stick. Do you even know what a sword is?"
"A stick!?" Aron feigned outrage. "You'll see about that, Morning Breeze!"
Twig burst out laughing but quickly lowered his voice, glancing around."Hey, we can't train here behind the inn. If Saul hears the sound of wood clashing, he'll come charging like an angry bear."
"True," Aron nodded, glancing at the back door. "Especially after that time we broke a bucket and blamed the cat."
"It was the cat!" said Twig, offended. "He knocked it over!"
"Jenny's cat had already died by then, Twig."
"Then it was the wind. A really strong wind."
"Inside the kitchen?" Aron raised an eyebrow.
Twig scratched his head, embarrassed."Okay, maybe it was kind of my fault. But what matters is, we need a more... secret place."
The two fell silent for a moment, thinking. Then Aron snapped his fingers."What about the woods near the well? Hardly anyone goes there."
"Good one! There's space, and the ground's soft — if we fall, we won't get hurt," Twig grinned. "And if anyone asks, we'll just say we were collecting firewood."
"Deal, then," Aron said, twirling his sword in the air, testing the weight. "But if we get caught, you're the one talking first."
"Deal!" said Twig, stepping forward and striking a heroic pose. "Today marks the first training of the Great Knight Aron!"
Aron laughed out loud, shaking his head."The Great Knight, huh? You come up with the weirdest stuff..."
"It's the perfect title for a future legend," Twig said, looking off toward the horizon, eyes shining. "Who knows, maybe one day the world will remember our first battle."
"Or the beating we'll get if my dad finds out," Aron muttered, starting to walk.
When they reached the woods near the well, they stopped side by side, taking in the place. The sounds here were far from the inn — no one would hear them.
"Now we just have to hope no one shows up," said Twig.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, each holding a wooden sword, unsure what to do next.
"So..." Aron scratched his head. "Do we just... start hitting each other?"
Twig frowned thoughtfully, then smiled."I got it! Let's start by swinging the swords up, forward, down... like this!" He raised the wood with both hands and started making clumsy, overexcited movements in the air. "Imagine there's an enemy in front of you. That way we get used to the weight."
Aron looked skeptical."So we're fighting the wind?"
"Exactly!" said Twig, still swinging. "It's the Lone Knight's Training! You have to master your sword before facing a real opponent."
"Oh, sure... the Lone Knight," Aron said, shaking his head, laughing. "Next thing you'll say is that the wind fights back."
"Who knows?" said Twig, smiling. "If I swing fast enough, I might even beat the wind!"
Aron sighed but eventually gave in."Fine, fine. Let's see what happens."
He copied his friend, swinging his wooden sword in an exaggerated way."Like this?"
"That's it! But try to do it firmer!" said Twig, excited, correcting Aron's form like a teacher. "Up... now forward... and down!"
The sound of wood slicing through the air echoed softly through the woods. At first, it was pure chaos — clumsy swings, laughter, and breaks to rest their arms. But little by little, they began to find a rhythm.
Twig felt his heart race, as if something inside him had ignited. The weight of the sword in his hands, the constant motion... there was something different about it, something almost magical.
Then he thought: System, give me a mission update.
[Ding!]A metallic chime echoed softly in his mind.
[Combat Training — Progress: 3 / 150 sword swings]
Twig froze for a moment, surprised. A wide grin spread across his face."It worked..."
"What worked?" asked Aron, panting.
"Nothing!" Twig said quickly, hiding his excitement, and started swinging again with renewed energy. "Come on, Aron! We're doing great!"
Aron gave him a suspicious glance but kept going.
With every new movement, the forest filled with sound — the clash of wooden swords, bursts of laughter, and dreams of greatness.