Chapter 70.2 – A Girl’s Lost Dream

“Father surely hates me now…”

With a crying expression, a little girl was seated beside a beautiful pond of clear water.

The pond was filled with flowers. Lotuses, of many different colors, adorned the pond’s surface, creating an image akin to a paradise. Small fishes swam below the lotus flowers, playing around and creating beautiful scenes with their brilliant colors.

But the little girl, seated beside the pond, was unable to appreciate the pond’s beauty. She was too sad to appreciate the beautiful colors found in her favorite place.

This was not the first time that the girl came here. Every time she feels sad or is happy, she comes to the pond to express her emotions. It had become her exclusive place in the clan’s grounds.

But lately, the only times when the girl comes to the pond, it’s because she is sad.

Today, she failed to meet her father’s expectations again.

However, there was nothing she could do about it.

When she was born, all the clan was shocked. Her mother said that she was born a genius. Her almost golden hair was the proof of possessing a spirit of the highest class. Because of it, her father had always expected great things from her.

However, his expectations had been betrayed.

Even after ten years, the girl had been unable to absorb the slightest amount of energy.

Moreover, she was unable to use any weapon. No matter how her father tried to teach her, the girl was unable to understand how to use it.

Swords, spears, sabers, claws; the girl was unable to use any weapon. Instead, she had to be careful of not ending injured after waving a weapon recklessly. Even now, some cuts had appeared on her legs due to an accident using a sword.

The girl didn’t know the reason. Maybe it is because she is untalented? Surely, it must be the reason.

Thinking about the look of her father in the morning, the girl could not help tearing up. She was trying. Every morning, she tried to absorb energy. However, the energy doesn’t obey her. No matter how she tries, the energy doesn’t come near.

But her father, he said that it was because she wasn’t trying hard enough.

The other kids too, they all bullied her! She wasn’t useless! She also wants to cultivate like the children her age!

Rubbing her eyes with a hand, the girl tried to clean the tears flowing in her cheeks. She wanted to meet her father expectations, but perhaps, she was truly unable…

“Huh? Someone else is already here?”

Hearing a childish voice coming from behind her, the girl jumped up surprised. Looking behind her, a boy around her age was standing there while tilting his head.

Like her, the boy was around ten years old. He wasn’t very tall, as most boys his age. However, his gaze was filled with innocence. It was at the point where the girl was unable to apart her gaze once she saw his eyes.

But when she saw his appearance, she immediately discerned his identity.

In the clan, only a child could be seen carrying a saber around. Moreover, it was impossible to not notice his almost red hair. It was perhaps his most distinctive feature after his eyes.

She had heard about him. Among the children, he was considered the most outstanding.

According to his mother, he was born with a spirit on the same level as hers. His almost red hair was proof enough of his spirit’s strength.

But different from her, he was a true genius.

At ten years old, he already reached core-forming. And his talent with the saber is even more incredible. In a fight, no child is able to win against him.

Seeing the boy standing before her, the little girl was unable to hide her astonishment.

However, the boy’s next words were enough to wake her up from her reverie.

“Hey, were you crying?”

When the girl heard the boy’s words, she was filled with embarrassment. Turning around, she tried to clean the tears in her face. But in her hurry, she ended up falling in the pond’s water.

Feeling the cold water in her clothes, and seeing the boy looking at her while flabbergasted, the little girl was unable to continue suppressing her emotions.

“Uhaaaa…!!!” With a pitiful expression, the girl began to cry while standing in the pond.

“H-Hey, c-c’mon, don’t cry… I-I won’t speak of it to someone else! H-Hey, don’t cry!”

Unable to process the events which happened, the boy tried to calm the girl desperately. However, it only provoked more tears from the girl.

After almost an hour, the girl finally stopped crying. The boy helped her to dry his clothes. Taking off the jacket he was using, he lent it to her. Then, he sat beside her and began to throw stones in the pond.

The two kids kept silent while looking at the pond. Seated together, the boy continued throwing stones while the girl hid her face with her arms. For a time, neither of them spoke.

But after a few minutes, the girl, muffling her voice with her arms, finally was unable to maintain the silence.

“… Thank you…”

“Don’t worry.” Said the boy with a brilliant smile on his face. “Mother taught me to help when someone is in trouble, and you seemed very troubled, so…”

After thinking for a moment, the boy looked at the girl and asked curiously.

“Hey, why were you crying?”

The girl continued hiding her face between her arms. However, after a few seconds, she began to speak.

“I failed again…”

With a depressed tone, the little girl began to speak. She spoke about many things. Her father, her training, how she was unable to use any weapon. How the others kid laughed at her.

Being a child, the girl had repressed her emotions for too long of a time. So, finding finally someone to speak, she was unable to stop once she began.

The boy, however, didn’t try to stop her words. Instead, he heard every word without interrupting. With a smile on his face, he allowed her to complain for a long time. When she finally noticed, it was already late.

“Sorry…” Said the little girl softly. “I made you heard me until late.”

“Don’t worry.” Said the boy with a shake of his head and a small smile. “It was entertaining.”

Then, looking towards the pond, he touched his saber and asked:

“Do you want to train with me?”

“Huh?”

“I discovered this place yesterday and thought that it was very nice. So, I decided to train my Saber here. If you want, you can train with me. Perhaps, I can help you with your training.”

Hearing it, the girl made a surprise expression. However, she quickly nodded her head repeatedly. “Yes! I want!” Said her.

“You can come then. I will come after lunch when my training with brother ends. Then, I will teach you how to use the saber… Oh right, what is your name?”

“… Sia…” Said the girl softly.

“Nice to meet you, Sia. I’m Aiden.”

Then, with a smile, he extended his hand towards her.

…

When Sia Noah woke up, a luxurious room entered at her sight.

Observing the entire room with a lost face, the girl looked around to confirm her surroundings. Then, with a sigh, she spoke.

“It was a dream, huh…”

Thinking about the boy in her memories, she suppressed the sadness inside her.

“At the end, you were unable to teach me the saber, Aiden…”