Nathan's group arrived at the activity room in the orphanage, where they were met with unfamiliar faces.

  "This is my big bro, Theo," Roth said, standing next to Theo as he introduced Theo to the group.

  A boy with Roth's rosy-red hair, but with flaming Ruby eyes instead of Roth's Amber, said loud and clear with a teenager's deepening voice, "I'm Theo, Roth's older brother. Nice to meet you!"

  "This is Kaine, my little brother," Raymond added, patting Kaine's head.

  "I'm Kaine," the shy, five-year-old boy said in a barely audible whisper as he peeked out from behind Raymond, before adding a faint "Nice to meet you."

  Arielle then gestured cheerfully to introduce her cousins, "Thomas and Chana, our cousins!"

  "Nice to meet you," Thomas and Chana then said in unison.

  The children then proceeded to bind the picture books' pages together, turning them into complete books. There were twelve of them, and they were making thirteen books. With Chana, a weaving expert among them, it was done in the blink of an eye. After tidying up the activity room, they departed to meet with Louis immediately.

  Nathan walked with Liam in the front, Arielle and Gordon chatted behind them, followed by Chana and Ashley, then Theo and Thomas, Kevin and Kaine, and finally Roth and Raymond. The group quickly mingled with one another as they strolled.

  Nathan said, looking at his left arm, "I am still wondering whether I should become his student."

  "What?!" Liam exclaimed, his tone incredulous. "Isn't that a no-brainer? Who in their right mind in the Kingdom would pass up such an opportunity?"

  Nathan smiled bitterly.

  It was almost 6:00 pm by the time they arrived in the downtown area. The location was next to the supermarket where Thomas and Nathan frequently shopped. Since Louis wasn't there yet, Nathan took a flyer and checked out what was on sale. Liam did the same.

  "20% off on pork and chicken today! Come on in!" the leafleter chimed, handing them colorful, eye-catching flyers with a bright smile.

  "Do you cook?" Liam asked.

  "Yes. Do you?" Nathan asked back.

  "No, perhaps I should," Liam replied, contemplating. "But since I work almost all the time, I can't find the time to cook."

  Nathan continued to lead the group to where he'd typically encounter Louis. Shortly after, they arrived at Master Ben's Elite Shield Blade School, only to find it closed with its lights off.

  Nathan thought, "The laugh attack girl isn't here today."

  Combat schools often opened during off work hours, at this time. It was because most of their students had work or classes during the day. To be closed at the most profitable hours, the elite school was evidently peculiar.

  "Do you know what an elite school means? This place seems weird," Nathan said, pointing at the school.

  "This is my first time seeing this school. I have no idea." Liam said as he looked up onto the storefront sign.

  Nathan was hoping that Liam might have an answer, just for curiosity.

  "I know a martial art that's theoretically unbeatable," Louis said, smiling as he approached Nathan. "It would suit you well. Are you interested in giving it a try? Just a heads up, though; I'm no longer offering free lessons."

  Ashley pointed at Louis and exclaimed, "Scammer!" with a happy smile brightening her face.

  "Ouch!" Louis exclaimed, pretending to be hurt by Ashley's pointy finger, and then asked, "What can I do to earn your trust?"

  "Make me invincible!" Ashley said, acting seriously as if making fun of Louis.

  "Okay, let's talk more in my school," Louis said, addressing the children who were examining him with curiosity.

  Louis's school was four blocks away from the supermarket where they had previously been. Despite this section of downtown having the most leafleters and salesmen, none of them showed any interest in the children as they followed Louis.

  Nathan wondered, "What kind of repellent can chase leafleters and salesmen away?"

  In a few minutes, they stopped in the middle of a busy street section, in front of a restaurant and a supermarket, and Louis suddenly said, "Here we are. Welcome!"

  Then, Nathan noticed a dim, quiet, but ornamental storefront, hidden in plain sight, sandwiched between two brightly colored busy stores. If Louis had not pointed it out, the children would have missed it.

  Louis' school's narrow storefront was only one quarter in width compared to the stores next to it; however, the scripture on the wooden pillars and the ornamental engravings around the entrance lent it an aura of grandeur and elegance. A black, intricately carved wooden signboard adorned with golden characters and side lines hung proudly above the front entrance. The sign was written in a foreign language that the children could not recognize, but the neatly written words seemed to exude a sense of strength, resolution, and determination. Like a piece of fine art, the artist who produced the signboard had proudly added a signature, not on the right, but rather on the left side of the storefront sign, complete with a red stamp. At the bottom of the sign, in smaller golden letters, "Solitude Blade" was written in English, subtly contrasting with the rest of the sign.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  "It's a kung fu school," Theo whispered to Roth.

  "What's kung fu?" Roth asked.

  "A kind of martial art that originated in the Far Wast, where Ninjas come from," Theo explained. "It's said that all modern martial arts, over the past millennia, are originated from or at least partly influenced by kung fu. But that's all I know."

  Meanwhile, Nathan muttered to himself, "There are no advertisement posters anywhere. Looks like I won't be getting a discount on tuition."

  The reception area was elegantly furnished with intricately crafted, artistic wooden furniture. Calligraphy and water-ink paintings gracefully decorated its walls. The receptionist lady's expression widened in a warm smile as she welcomed the group, "Welcome back! I'll prepare hot tea for everyone."

  "Thanks, Linda," Louis said, and then took the children inside the school, which was a cushioned training area with one mirrored wall. Having been freshly cleaned within the past twenty minutes, it was filled with the aroma of soap and steaming water.

  "Please take off your shoes before entering," Louis said.

  As everyone slid off their shoes and stepped inside, Louis simultaneously hung up his robe on a nearby lobby coat rack. This was the first time Nathan saw Louis without his hood and robe. A man who appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties, Louis sported short raven black hair, without a single white thread. His lightly tanned complexion, common in the capital, complemented his gentle Onyx eyes as he lifted his robe. Despite being a legend, his appearance was nothing but ordinary.

  In contrast, underneath his gray robe, ornamental designs sewed with golden threads decorated his polished, black kung fu gi, which luxurious silky texture conveyed a sense of refined elegance. Two swords inside their sheaths, one featuring abyssal-black decorated with metallic gold, the other snowy-white tainted with bloody red, hung from the sword-master's leather belt inside their sheaths.

  Louis's Onyx eyes, filled with fatherly warmth, scanned the children as he said, "Let's sit and talk," and, at his cue, they formed a circle on the cushioned floor.

  "First, why are there twelve of you?" Louis asked Nathan with a curious smile, looking at him.

  With a sincere smile, Liam took out a handmade picture book from his bag and presented it to Louis, saying, "Thank you for saving us that day. We made this book together; please accept it."

  Then, all children said in unison, "Thank you for saving us!"

  Louis's smile broadened further as he took the book and flipped through its pages, his eyes filled with heartfelt warmth.

  Theo stood up, made a deep, ninety-degree bow toward Louis, and said clearly and loudly, "Thank you for saving my little brother, Roth! I wasn't there during the attack, but he's my only little brother. I'm grateful beyond words."

  Taking their cue, Thomas and Chana followed suit and exclaimed, "Thank you for saving our cousins, Nathan, Wil, and Rey!"

  Kaine followed their example, bowed toward and said, but in a tender and introverted voice of a five-year-old, "Thank you... for saving my older brother, Raymond too."

  Louis then said warmly, "You're welcome. I'm glad I made it in time. I really appreciate this picture book as well. I'll treasure it."

  With eager enthusiasm, Liam bowed deeply once more and exclaimed, "Please accept me as your student!"

  Louis expressed a difficult smile while looking at Liam, and said, "I understand. However, I'm not currently recruiting anyone other than Nathan."

  Noticing Liam, Linda said to Louis, "Don't just shut the door in their faces. I feel bad for these children."

  Louis then fell silent in contemplation, while Linda asked, "Who wants to join our martial arts school? Please raise your hands."

  following the story or !