“You can call me BK, that’s what my fans call me”.

The Bloody Killer was born in the slums of the city. Orphaned at a very young age, he had to do what he had to do in order to survive. He often dreamed about what it was like to be popular. In his mind, popularity was equal to being rich. After all, how often have you seen famous people starving? So, he made up a persona and made-up rumors about it. The Bloody killer. Famous for gruesome deaths. He quickly became a myth in the slums. He even got some fans that donated his money.

Bk took out his swords and started to swing them around while walking toward Eric. He then quickly swung one of them and tried to plunge the other but his plan failed. As soon as he swung, Eric parried it and then pushed him with full force with the help of his body. Bk fell down and whispered, “Damn, you’re really strong for a kid”. Eric didn’t stop to converse and swung his sword again. Bk barely managed to dodge it by rolling towards the side.

“BK huh? Sure, I'll call you Bk. After all, you are my first real fight”, said Eric calmly.

Bk felt terror. It was quite odd for BK, to see someone face him with no fear in their eyes. And from a ten-year-old child no less. He stood up and tried to swing both of his swords at the same time. Eric was a step ahead once again. He hit BK’s right sword and then his left sword, and he hit them hard. BK couldn’t take it anymore and before he’d lose his guard, Eric kicked him just like BK had kicked him before.

Eric walked toward BK, at a slow pace.

The Bloody King was afraid, he saw his life flash in front of his eyes. He remembered how he stole candy from a baby and how many lies he spread. It was all over, or so he thought.

Eric held his sword near BK’s neck, smiled, and then proceeded to put his sword away. He then looked towards the crowd and then trotted away.

The crowd was surprised, but that surprise didn’t last for long. Little by little, they all shouted Eric’s name. Who was this ten-year-old prodigy and how far would he go?

The Bloody Killer looked over to his fans, they were all hiding in shame. His career was over. He wondered if maybe he took the wrong job from the start.

“You could’ve won this tournament if only I wasn’t here. I’m sorry kid, maybe you’ll have another chance in the future.”, said a knight who watched Eric Trot away.

Eric was happy. He felt like he had proved his worth. No, he thought to himself. He still had a princess to save. Before he could get lost in his thoughts again, he collided with another person. He looked at them. They looked like a small girl, about his own age.

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. Are you alright?”, said the young girl.

Eric didn’t reply, he got up and proceeded to go where he was going.

“Sir, if you don’t mind me asking. Are you a perhaps a knight?”, asked the girl in a curious tone.

Eric heard this one, he turned back and looked really close to the girl. The girl flinched back.

“No, not yet. Maybe one day!”, said Eric without missing a beat.

“But why do you ask?”

“Oh, you see. My mother got accepted as a maid in the king’s castle...”

“Wait. The king must have children, right?”, asked Eric, not letting the young girl finish.

“I don’t know? Maybe?”

“Good.”

Eric took a piece of paper out of his pockets and gave it to the young girl.

“If the King’s children ever get kidnapped by some dragon, then please send me a letter. I will go and save them!”, exclaimed Eric.

“I’m really sorry but I've got to go now. OH! I’m also really sorry for colliding with you!.” said Eric and then he ran away while waving his hands towards the girl.

“That was a weird experience.”, thought the girl, and she was right.

Eric went back to the Training center and told his trainers all about what had happened. Maybe there’s a chance after all! They thought to themselves. Maybe Eric winning will bring new students in and they wouldn’t have to depend on Eric anymore. They hugged each other and cried tears of joy.

“Oh right, who’s your opponent tomorrow Eric?”, asked one of the trainers.

“I do not know.”

“Why am I not surprised... It should be fine, right?”, thought the trainer.

Maybe...

Eric got up from bed, excitedly and he then proceeded to do exactly what he did yesterday. He was ready for his second win; he could feel it. He wondered when the king would ask him to save his children from the evil dragon, but first, he needed to win this tournament.

“...the young prodigy from this very town, Eric Gen!”

Eric woke up from his fantasies after hearing his name and walked toward the arena. The crowd was going wild, no one had seen a young child beat a grown-up man that badly before. People wondered what he would do when he grew up and how strong he would become.

But the crowd stopped, as silence took over. A Knight in shining armor walked out. Eric saw him, it was as if he was Eric’s dream personified. Eric smiled again, took his stance and he was ready.

“One of the King’s knights, sent by the baron himself. The one who won his fight yesterday with one swing. Knight Shine!”

Shine stopped a few meters before Eric, looked at him, and drew his sword without wasting a second. His stance was way more dignified than Eric’s. You could see the difference in battle experience between them.

That didn’t bother Eric, after all, he was the hero of his own story. The knight was just a small boss that he needed to defeat before reaching his dreams, just like yesterday. So, Eric swung his sword, as fast as he could. It didn’t hit Shine, it’s as if he teleported behind Eric.

“Nice speed kid.”

Eric swung his sword behind him, it missed again.

“Lacks accuracy though, but for a kid? You're pretty great!”

Knights, or King’s personal soldiers. They serve directly under the king. The baron got one of them as a favor from the king, thanks to his card game skills. The baron had put all his money on Shine, it’s no doubt that he was going to win the tournament.

“You’ve impressed me yesterday, so let’s end this now. Do not let it get to you. This is only because I'm older than you, when you’ll be my age, you’ll be way stronger than me. That is if you...”

Eric attacked Shine before he could finish his sentence.

“Oh, so that’s how it is.”

Shine easily blocked Eric’s sword and parried him, he threw Eric off-balance and took his sword from him.

“You’ve got a mean swing kid, what do you even eat?”

Eric was dumbfounded, none of his trainers could beat him this bad. It’s as if he’s facing a huge wall, a wall that he could never overcome. The result of the match was obvious by this point.

“I guess talent can only make you come this far.”

“But he did great, facing a knight at such a young age.”

“What a disappointment, honestly...”

Eric could hear all of this from the crowd, he could hear them clearly. Shine took Eric’s sword and planted it on the ground right in front of Eric and walked away. Eric couldn’t bear it, he picked up his sword, looked at the ground for a while, and then ran away, as fast as he could.

“What’s wrong Rally, you done? We’re getting late.”, said a mother to her child in the crowd.

“Yes mother.”, replied the girl, putting a piece of paper back where she had kept it.

Eric ran past the training center.

“Hey kid, what’s wrong?”, shouted one of the trainers. Eric didn’t hear him; he was lost in his own world.

“I guess this is it.”, replied another trainer.

“Time to find a new job.”

Eric stopped in front of his house, tears still falling from his eyes. He could barely see the door. He pondered on what he was going to say to his parents after his shameful performance. He waited there for what seemed like hours, but he knew that he was just delaying the inevitable. It took everything he had to open the door, and he was greeted by both his parents sitting there in their dining room. Eric went inside, unable to face his parents, having a staredown with the floor.

“Eric!”, screamed his mother, running and hugging her son.

“You realize how worried we were.”

“I’m sorry...”

“It’s alright son, everyone makes mistakes. Like we did, by letting our ten-year-old child join a fighting tournament where he could’ve lost his life”, his father chimed in.

“We thought It’d be fine, considering how you fight. You’re the strongest fighter we’ve ever seen and you’re only ten. And maybe you are, you just were unlucky to face one of the King’s men.”, his father continued.

“We’re just glad you’re not hurt.”

Eric’s father joined his wife and embraced Eric, together. Eric started crying, but they didn’t leave him. They hugged together for what felt like an eternity.

Eric retired to his room after the much-needed hug, and sat down near his window, looking at the stars. He pondered if he could actually save someone from a dragon, he didn’t really notice it before but he hadn’t really improved. He was still the same as he was back when he started to train. Will he ever be strong enough?

“Get him!”

“All our money, gone!”

“Stop!”

Noises came outside his window; a crowd was chasing some rich guy Eric never saw before. He decided to stay away from the whole commotion.

He went down and talked with his parents.

“I’d like to try out farming...I mean if it’s alright with you guys.”

Eric’s parents questioned his sudden change in attitude but didn’t question him further. Hoping that he’d explain himself when he was ready.

“Sure son! We'd love your help.”

And so, Eric started a new journey.