Shadow Slave novel Chapter 2156

Little Anvil was not so little anymore, having just turned seven. He had somehow grew into something that resembled an actual person now, albeit a mini version, and one could already recognize his father's features in his earnest, serious face.

Too serious, even. Jest had often wondered what kind of kids Warden would raise — with how serious and prone to giving lectures about chivalry the man was, his poor children were bound to grow up with a severe deficiency of fun in their lives.

It was already showing…

Perhaps that was why Anvil liked to hang out with Immortal Flame's daughter so much.

At the moment, though, he was laying on the ground, breathing heavily and staring at the sky with bleak eyes.

Jest coughed.

"That, uh… maybe we should end things here today."

The kid was weirdly fit for someone his age, but the training regime Warden forced upon the poor fellow was way too intense. Little Anvil really did nothing but study and practice all day long, which was a sad thing to see.

Then again, Jest understood Warden completely… in fact, all of them, the original Awakened, were a bit too harsh on their children.

That was because the Nightmare Spell was continuing to reap lives, with new youths contracting it each year. The thought of his son being sent into a Nightmare made Jest sweat, which was why he and his wife trained their little devil with an almost equal — but not quite — level of intensity.

They had faced the horrors of the Nightmare Spell unprepared, so if there was something — anything — they could do to coach their children on how to survive the danger, they were willing to do it. Not everyone had such a wealth of resources at their disposal, but they did, and so they used it thoroughly.

Thankfully, their second son was too young for sword practice… for now. Still, his training would have to start soon.

…No one was trained more intensely than poor Anvil, though, both in swordsmanship and intellectual pursuits.

Warden was not so strict even with Madoc, who was two years older. By now, Jest knew why, and while he understood that the younger of the two brothers had a different, somewhat inhuman constitution, it was still a shame to see him waste his childhood this way.

Anvil himself did not seem to mind, though.

Shaking his head, the boy sighed, then rose to his feet wearily and picked up the wooden sword.

"No, Uncle Jest… I can go again. Please instruct me."

Jest sighed. He didn't even want to joke at the moment.

'Warden… ah, I really need to talk to him.'

Warden was, without a doubt, an exceptional man. He was a fearsome warrior and benevolent leader, and more importantly than that, he was someone with a great and clear vision. Even his enemies did not question his nobility, and his intellect was truly formidable.

More than that, he was Jest's closest friend and benefactor. It would not be a stretch to say that everything Jest had was because of Warden… he would not even be alive if not for that excessively serious guy. His life would have ended on the day of the winter solstice, all those years ago.

And yet, despite what many seemed to think, Warden wasn't perfect.

In particular, as far as Jest could see, he was not treating his children — especially Anvil — right. Warden approached their education with his usual level of seriousness, and although he meant well, children also needed warmth and affection. Especially these two, who had lost their mother young.

It had happened during the First Gate Crisis… that damn disaster. Many people had suspected that the Nightmare Spell had more terrors in store for humanity, but still, no one expected that a few years after the first Awakened returned from the Dream Realm, the Dream Realm would follow them to Earth through the Nightmare Gates.

The Gates kept opening, and no one managed to close one yet.

Jest frowned.

There was no telling what other calamities the Nightmare Spell had in store. The future they were trying to build was dark and unclear.

So… perhaps Warden had the right idea to prepare his sons for the worst, after all.

'Ah, I don't know anymore…'

Jest remained silent for a moment, then smiled warmly.

"Sure, kid. Let's go again… be sure not to let go of your sword this time."

Since most of the human enemies that had threatened them were gone now, he had a lot of free time on his hands. That was why Warden had asked him to give Anvil lessons. ṜàℕŎᛒƐs̩

There were better swordsmen out there, of course, but there were few killers better than Jest in the world… if any.

Two worlds, really.

So, what he had to teach Anvil was not the sword, per se, but rather combat. Real battle was never clean and orderly like training spars — both people and Nightmare Creatures fought dirty, using anything and everything they could to kill the enemy and survive. Desperation was the best teacher, but it was hard for a child from a noble family to really taste it.

Clutching his wooden sword, Anvil frowned. Jest chuckled.

"What's with that bitter expression?"

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