The sky was tinged with gold as the first rays of the morning sun bathed the training field when Castian made his way there, just as he did every day. He was already used to the routine, the firm commands of Master Xun, and the solitude of his efforts. However, when he arrived at the field, something unusual caught his attention.
A young man was there, executing combat moves with impressive precision. He seemed immersed in a lethal dance, his feet gliding across the ground as though part of the earth, and his hands flowing like water. Castian stood still, watching him, initially intrigued, then suspicious.
The young man was slim but well-muscled. His black hair was tied up in a messy bun, and he wore simple clothes, similar to those Master Xun had given Castian. But what caught Castian’s attention the most were the young man’s eyes: piercing and full of confidence.
“I see you’ve finally met Zhao,” said Master Xun, appearing calmly beside Castian.
“Who is he?” asked Castian, not taking his eyes off the stranger.
“Zhao is my oldest apprentice. He’s returned to continue his training and, apparently, to test your patience.”
Upon hearing Xun’s words, Zhao stopped and turned toward them, a half-smile forming on his face.
“So, this is the famous new apprentice of Master Xun,” Zhao said, his voice carrying a slightly provocative tone. He walked over to Castian, sizing him up. “You seem strong, but… there’s a lack of grace in your movements.”
Castian furrowed his brow, feeling his blood boil at the comment.
“And you seem to have an ego bigger than your skills,” Castian shot back.
Zhao laughed, clearly enjoying the exchange.
“A little confidence never hurts. Especially when it’s justified.”
Master Xun watched in silence, allowing the two young men to measure each other with words before intervening.
“Enough. Zhao, Castian is here to train, just like you. I don’t have patience for childish rivalries. You two will work together from now on.”
“Together?” they both said simultaneously, both wearing expressions of disbelief.
Xun crossed his arms, looking at them with severity.
“Yes. You have much to learn from each other, whether you like it or not.”
The first exercise Xun gave them was a simulated combat exercise in pairs. Zhao and Castian had to fight together against their master, combining their skills to defeat him.
“Work as a team. If you try to act alone, you won’t stand a chance,” warned Xun, taking a defensive stance.
Zhao and Castian positioned themselves side by side, but the tension between them was palpable.
“Let’s see what you’re made of, rookie,” Zhao said with a provoking smile.
“Try not to get in my way,” Castian responded firmly.
As soon as the training began, it was clear the two were not in sync. Castian charged forward with direct attacks, while Zhao moved more agilely, trying to flank Xun. But their movements didn’t complement each other, and Xun easily dominated them, dodging the blows with impressive calm and disarming them several times.
“You’re fighting against each other, not against me,” Xun said after knocking them down again. “A warrior’s strength lies in their ability to adapt and work as a team. If you can’t do that, you’ll never progress.”
Castian stood up, rubbing his sore shoulder, while Zhao dusted off his clothes.
“Maybe if he weren’t so stubborn, it would work better,” Zhao said, casting a glance at Castian.
“Stubborn? You’re the one trying to do everything alone!” Castian retorted.
Xun shook his head in frustration.
“Enough. You two are forbidden from training alone until you learn to work together.”
The following days were marked by tension and conflict between Castian and Zhao. Every exercise required them to trust each other, something neither of them found easy.
“If you’d just follow the instructions, maybe we could make progress,” Zhao complained during a defense exercise.
“And if you’d stop trying to lead all the time, maybe I’d follow,” Castian replied, irritated.
Master Xun watched closely but only intervened when necessary. He knew that the initial rivalry was natural, but he also knew that, eventually, the two would need to overcome it.
One afternoon, after a particularly difficult training session, the two young men sat under the shade of a tree, exhausted. The silence between them was heavy until Zhao decided to break it.
“Why are you even here?” he asked, not looking at Castian.
Castian hesitated before answering.
“I’m here to get stronger. To take revenge on those who destroyed my village and killed my family.”
Zhao turned to look at him, his expression serious.
“Revenge is a dangerous path. Believe me, I know.”
“And what do you know about it?” Castian challenged.
Zhao fell silent for a moment before sighing.
“My family was destroyed too. Not by men, but by my own arrogance. I thought I could protect them on my own, but I failed. Since then, I’ve been here, trying to correct the mistakes of the past.”
Zhao’s words hit Castian like an unexpected blow. For the first time, he saw the young man in a new light, not just as a rival, but as someone who understood his pain.
“I’m sorry,” Castian said, sincerely.
Zhao shrugged, trying to hide his emotion.
“You don’t need to feel sorry. Just don’t make the same mistakes I did.”
The next day, something had changed. Castian and Zhao began to work together, their movements finally aligning. During exercises, they communicated more, adjusting their strategies based on each other’s strengths.
“Finally,” Master Xun said with a slight smile after observing a fight in which the two managed to disarm him together. “This is what true partnership looks like.”
Zhao looked at Castian and smiled.
“Maybe you’re not so bad, after all.”
“You’re not as insufferable as you seem,” Castian replied with a smirk.
As the days passed, the initial rivalry between the two young men transformed into mutual respect. They still competed, but in a healthy way, each pushing the other to be better.
One night, as they gazed at the starry sky together, Zhao spoke.
“You know, Castian, I think Master Xun was right about you. You have potential.”
“And you have more skill than I’d like to admit,” Castian replied, laughing.
“Just try to catch up to me,” Zhao challenged, with a gleam in his eyes.
“You’d better be ready, because I’m going to surpass you.”
The two laughed, and for the first time, Castian felt that he was no longer alone in his journey. With Zhao by his side, he knew he could face any challenge that came his way, and together, perhaps they could achieve something greater than they could alone.