03/06/1164

Behind a Hut within the Monastery

*Splash*

As he poured cold water down his body, trying his best to not get the bandages on his head drenched, Zack’s body shuddered slightly.

Yesterday as well. I passed out in the middle of the training again. Why do these arms and legs hurt when they can’t even do something as simple as getting up successfully? Do they have any right?

As the clouds overhead used a gust of wind to make way for the moon, Zack’s body shuddered, feeling a chill.

“*Achoo!*” The boy sneezed.

Rubbing his nose, he walked away from the well behind the hut, wiping himself dry before returning inside the structure to change his clothes. Inadvertently, his gaze passed over the window, turning his eyes dazed with thought.

There’s still some time before Teacher comes. I should go do some exercise in the meantime.

While walking out the door, in a careless endeavour, the boy’s elbow hit against the doorframe.

“Nngh!” The boy’s lone eye shut tight. Although he swallowed his cry of pain, a muffled groan still seeped out. Feeling more pain than he should’ve initially, he used his other arm to turn his elbow to have a better look.

“Ufff—” However, his expression distorted as soon as his other hand exerted the slightest force.

Whilst hurriedly letting go, Zack couldn’t help but feel a chill. What happened? Why does it hurt this much? I just touched my elbow with the door. It shouldn’t have broken any bones, right? Or is it…

A look of deep thought surfaced on the boy’s face. Yet, he shook his head after some deliberation. No. It shouldn’t be from training with Teacher. Although his training is harsh, he doesn’t hit hard enough to break bones. Maybe I should… His gaze wandered off to the sheets scattered on the floor, a look of lethargy filling his gaze.

NO! I can’t. I still need to get stronger.

A look of fury stemming from indigence filled his face. His fists clenched as he couldn’t think back to why he stood here—his urge to become stronger, being fueled by his desire for vengeance.

A moment later, his feet stomped out, not giving the rest of his body any room to protest.

However, as soon as he took a step, his eyes widened.

“T-Teacher, w-who’s this?” Zack asked, taking sneaky yet curious glances at the person next to Zhu.

Looking at Zack walking out of the hut, Zhu asked, “Up already? Ready for some training again?”

Despite the question, there was no reply as the boy looked next to Zhu, his gaze becoming more and more focused by the moment, as if to burn a hole through the person next to Zhu.

“What’re you looking at? Looking to be beaten to start your ‘training’ from yesterday again?” A snake-like voice filled with annoyance jolted Zack up from his stupor.

After a few moments, he recovered and asked, “Is that a… Naga?”

“Yeah. Haven’t seen one before?” The person next to Zhu snapped back, causing Zack to shrink back.

Despite that, he took a long last look at the person’s features.

The man next to Zhu had facial features resembling a human in his middle-age, which Zack could only coin as a grade above Zhu next to him. A neat ponytail of dark-green hair hung over his shoulder. The person wore a loose shirt, giving a sense of mismatch within the Monastery’s environment.

However, the fact that he drew gazes towards him wherever he went didn’t stem from his attire, instead, stemming from the entirety of his being. His skin reflected the light of the sun overhead, covered under a layer of pinkie-sized green scales possessing a slight blue tint. When looking closely, Zack noticed a distinct lack of ears, leaving him much food for thought. Yet, the thing which drew attention to the most, prompting him to ask if the person was a ‘Naga’ was his long tail instead of legs, being as long as he was tall.

Slithering forwards, the Naga inspected Zack, grabbing his wrist and raising his arms if necessary as if appraising a piece of pottery. After a while, the Naga asked, “Little kid, you’re going to do training again today?”

“Yes. I haven’t completed the last task Teacher gave me. Although I did it once by fluke, that one doesn’t count.” Zack replied, his voice firm.

“Oh?” The Naga raised his brow. “Ever thought of it like… being lucky is also a sort of power?”

The words immediately rendered Zack at a loss for words, giving him some food for thought. The boy considered the words for a while before saying, “No. I didn’t. Luck isn’t reliable. Even if I can get lucky once, I won’t be lucky forever.”

“Well, you aren’t wrong.” The Naga nodded. “Will you be continuing with the same training today again or switch out to a different one?”

“Same one, until I complete it myself.” Zack replied, albeit sounding timid, his voice firm.

“Oh?” The Naga exclaimed, his expression unamused.

Meeting the Naga’s gaze, a bad premonition filled Zack’s heart. Yet, before he could shrink away to a safe distance, the Naga’s hand clasped his wrist. Zack tried to pull back, only to find his wrist not moving at all, as if stuck within a boulder.

Before the boy could struggle anymore, the Naga pulled on his arm, drawing him closer. His other hand swung in an arc, patting Zack’s back lightly, producing a faint yet distinct *Pat* sound.

Having been caught unawares, Zack’s expression contorted shortly. His eyeballs seemed to pop out of their sockets. He tried to struggle, but found that the more he moved, the heaver his limbs seem to feel, refusing to respond.

“W-what did you do?” Zack asked, apprehension filling his eyes. His gaze wandered over to Zhu standing there silently, watching as if he were a mere spectator to the show, with no intention to move despite Zack’s pleading look begging him to save him from the crisis.

“I just patted you because I felt what you said was right. Nothing besides that. What’s happening to you is in part your own doing.” The Naga replied, his rough scaly hand stroking Zack’s back as if to comfort him.

But each time his hand moved, Zack’s features contorted. The latter wished to scream, yet couldn’t muster the energy to do so.

*Pat*

Patting the boy’s back once more, the Naga gave a warm smile as he asked, “What about now? Still want to go to training? How about I pat you a few more times?”