Recap :

  As I headed home

  I saw a group of three Adventurers taking Raw Ashveil, I should avoid them at any cost.

  While I tried to avoid them, the one with the red cloak called me.

  While I headed towards them, the one with black cloak and armed gloves punched me to the tree.

  My blood splashed, he lunged at me with an intent to kill. My head is spinning like hell

  Air bursts out of my lungs.

  Episode 4

  While I headed towards them, the one with armed gloves punched me to the tree.

  Splash BLOOD Splash BLOOD

  Air bursts out of my lungs. My head rings.

  Something warm slid down my cheek. I tried to inhale and failed.

  “Pathetic.”

  A boot pressed against my chest, grinding me deeper into the mud.

  Three of them stood over me.

  One wore silver trim on his cloak—clean, confident. Silver Rank – Stage 4.

  The other two are barely hiding behind him. Bronze Rank – Stage 5. Strong enough to bully. Vicious enough to enjoy it.

  I tried to push myself up.

  The silver-ranked adventurer crouched and punched my stomach.

  My body folded instantly.

  “Look at this,” one of the Bronze laughed. “He doesn’t even have Essence.”

  The silver grabbed my hair and yanked my head up.

  “William, right?” he said calmly. “You walk this street every day, at the same time,like prey that doesn’t know it’s being hunted.”

  My knees hit the ground.

  He forced them there “From today,” he continued, voice soft, “you pay us ten bronze coins every week.”

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  One of the Bronze leaned down, whispering close to my ear “Every Friday.”

  I swallowed blood “I don’t have—”

  A kick to my ribs shut me up.

  “If you don’t pay,” the silver said

  Standing again, “we’ll pulp you worse than this.”

  He tilted his head “Strip you. Drag you through the streets. Let people see what a thing without Essence looks like when it begs.”

  Laughter continues.

  They took my pouch.

  Two bronze coins.

  “Rent’s on Wednesday, right?” one of them added mockingly. “Good luck with that.”

  They walked away like they hadn’t just erased me.

  I stayed on my knees even after they were gone because standing required something I didn’t have.

  I hate this life, why should I have to earn for those shits ? Why am I getting bullied? Is there any end to this?

  I wish to die, may all this be a dream and I wake up after I die.

  My palms scrape stone.

  My knees split.

  My pride dissolves with every inch.

  People noticed,

  Of course they did,

  Some laughed openly,

  Some throw garbage and some throw stones.

  A medium size stone was thrown through the air—

  —and was caught “Enough.”

  For a second I thought I was finished.

  The voice wasn’t loud.

  A girl stood between me and the crowd, like it disgusted her “If you can’t help,”

  She said sharply, “at least don’t bully.”

  She's the one who crushed the stone before it hits me.

  Silence rippled outward.

  I lifted my head.

  For a moment, my vision doubled.

  I saw a girl who spoke for me while I was being blamed while I wasn't mistaken.

  My chest tightened.

  It was the same girl from the train.

  I smiled just by seeing Aisha's face.

  I hear a soft voice above me

  “Why”

  I saw a girl in front of me with a pitiful face. She's the one who saved me from public humiliation.

  Her expression changed—but not the kindness.

  She asked coldly, “are you smiling while being beaten in public?”

  The words hit harder than the punch.

  I coughed and wiped blood from my mouth.

  “Because,” I said hoarsely, “I have zero Essence.”

  Some people snickered again.

  She turned to them “Get lost.”

  Something in her tone made them listen.

  When they were gone, she looked back at me.

  Her eyes were sharp now.

  “Essence or not,” she said, “if you don’t learn to fight, you’ll regret being born.”

  The sentence felt familiar.

  An office meeting.

  A client furious.

  Blame thrown at me.

  A girl had spoken then too.

  If you can’t handle pressure, don’t sit at the table.

  Same weight.

  Same cruelty disguised as truth.

  I exhaled.

  “I have a master,” I said weakly.

  She raised an eyebrow “Oh?”

  I met her gaze “I just haven’t met them yet.”

  For a long second, she studied me.

  Then she sighed “Get up.”

  I laughed bitterly. “I can’t.”

  She grabbed my garment shirt and hauled me halfway upright anyway “Then crawl” she said. “But don’t stay down.”

  She extended a hand.

  I hesitated.

  Then took it.

  Her grip was firm. Not gentle.

  Like she expected resistance.

  “My name is Luna,” she said. “Gold Rank. Stage 1.”

  Gold Rank!!!!?

  The word rang in my skull.

  She gestured to my bruised body “And you?”

  “William” I replied. “Bronze Stage 2.”

  She snorted. “That much is obvious.”

  We reached my room.

  She took one look inside and grimaced “You live here?”

  I nodded

  She grinned her teeth and said “Then we won’t train here.”

  She used something on me when it touched my skin it become so light and gentle my pain slowly faded.

  She said “it's a gold tier healing magic used to recover energy and heal wounds ”

  This is the first time I felt magic in me still it's not mine. I wonder one day will I be able to use this.

  She took me to the mountains backside of my house.

  This is the first time I felt happy for choosing this small abandoned house on outskirts of the town.

  She tossed me a wooden sword.

  It nearly pulled my arm down.

  “Grip,” she snapped. “Not like you’re apologizing to it.”

  I adjusted.

  She shouted “Again.”

  I did.

  She kicked my stance “Too wide” followed by

  “Too slow.”

  Sweat poured down my spine.

  She didn’t go easy.

  She didn’t mock either.

  “Defense first,” she said. “Essence enhances. It doesn’t replace.”

  She demonstrated once.

  Just once.

  The sword moved like it belonged to her arm.

  Her strikes were so furious,

  My arms screame,.

  My legs trembled.

  I fell

  She didn’t help me but said “Stand”

  I did

  Hours passed

  By the end, my hands were blistered. My lungs burned.

  She finally stepped back “That’s enough.”

  I collapsed at that moment I can't be conscious anymore.

  She looked down at me.

  “Next Friday,” she said quietly, “those three will come again”

  I looked up

  She smile

  “That time,” she continued, “you won’t kneel”

  My heart pounded

  “How?”

  She tapped my chest with the wooden blade.

  “Because I don’t train cowards”

  She turned to leave, then paused “Oh—and William?”

  I replied “Yes?”

  She said, “If you want to have a master again,” she said, glancing back, “make sure you earn it.”

  She walked away.

  Man why women were always walked away with some complex and hard words.

  TO BE CONTINUED