Narrator
A sword...
Can protect your life.
Power...
Can change your destiny.
But...
A true friend...
Can change your heart.
As the days quietly passed...
Life in Restart Village returned to its peaceful rhythm.
The laughter of the previous celebration slowly became another happy memory.
The village once again welcomed each sunrise with warm smiles...
Honest work...
And peaceful hearts.
Golden rays slipped over the wooden rooftops.
A cool breeze wandered through the fields.
Whoooosh...
Birds welcomed the new day with cheerful songs.
Chirp...
Chirp...
Smoke rose lazily from the chimneys.
The familiar scent of freshly baked bread drifted through the village.
Farmers walked toward their fields.
Hunters prepared their bows and spears before entering the Death Forest.
Children laughed as they chased one another through the village paths.
Everything...
Felt alive.
At the center of the village...
The rhythmic sound of wood striking wood echoed across the morning air.
Tak!
Tak!
Tak!
A small wooden sword cut through the breeze.
Whoosh!
Then another.
Tak!
Again.
Whoosh!
At the center of the training ground...
Little V White practiced beneath the warm morning sun.
Although he was only four years old...
His movements had already become steadier than before.
His tiny hands gripped the wooden sword firmly.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
His breathing grew heavier.
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
Yet...
He never stopped.
Not because anyone forced him to.
But because...
He genuinely loved improving himself.
Not far away...
Brald White stood with his arms folded.
His calm eyes carefully observed every movement.
"Keep your balance."
He said quietly.
V immediately adjusted his footing.
"Yes, Dad!"
"Good."
"Again."
V nodded.
He raised the wooden sword once more.
Whoosh!
Tak!
His stance was still imperfect.
His strength was still small.
But every swing carried determination.
Just then...
A cheerful voice echoed across the clearing.
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"V!"
The little boy immediately turned around.
Running toward him as fast as he could...
Was another child.
His short brown hair bounced with every step.
A wide smile stretched across his face.
He waved both hands excitedly.
"Good morning!"
This energetic little boy was...
Kai.
The same age as V.
And...
His best friend.
Before V could even answer...
Kai tripped over a small stone.
"...Ah!"
Thud!
He rolled across the grass.
Silence...
For one heartbeat.
Then...
Kai sat up...
Scratched the back of his head...
And laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"I meant to do that."
V couldn't help laughing.
"You always say that."
Kai proudly crossed his arms.
"Because it's true."
Brald smiled helplessly.
"...You're both impossible."
Kai quickly picked up his own wooden sword.
"I came to train!"
V's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Kai nodded enthusiastically.
"This time..."
"I'm definitely going to beat you."
V smiled confidently.
"You said that yesterday."
"And the day before that."
Kai puffed out his chest.
"This time is different."
"It is?"
"Yes."
"I ate two bowls of breakfast."
V blinked.
"...That's your secret?"
Kai nodded seriously.
"A full stomach makes you stronger."
Brald covered his mouth.
Trying not to laugh.
"...An interesting theory."
The two boys walked toward the center of the clearing.
They stood opposite one another.
Wooden swords raised.
Brald stepped back.
"Ready?"
Both boys nodded.
"Begin."
Tak!
Their wooden swords met.
Kai charged first.
"Hyaa!"
Tak!
V blocked the strike.
Then quickly stepped to the side.
Tak!
Tak!
The sounds of wooden swords echoed across the clearing.
Neither child possessed great strength.
Neither had perfect technique.
Yet both fought with bright smiles.
Each exchange made them a little better.
Each mistake became another lesson.
Suddenly...
Kai swung too hard.
Whoosh!
He spun around once...
Twice...
Then lost his balance.
"...Whoa!"
Thud!
He landed flat on the grass.
V rushed over.
"Kai!"
"Are you okay?"
Kai stared at the sky for a moment.
Then raised one thumb proudly.
"I planned that landing too."
V burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You really didn't."
Kai grinned.
"...Maybe not."
Even Brald laughed quietly.
After another round of training...
Both boys collapsed beneath the shade of a large tree.
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
They breathed heavily.
Sweat covered their faces.
Kai looked toward the bright blue sky.
"Training is hard..."
V nodded.
"But it's fun."
Kai smiled.
"It is..."
Especially when we're training together.
V smiled back.
"Tomorrow too?"
Kai immediately answered.
"Tomorrow."
"And the day after."
"And every day."
The two boys bumped their fists together.
A simple promise...
Made without a second thought.
Completely unaware...
That this friendship...
Would one day become one of the most important bonds in their lives.
A gentle breeze wandered through the clearing.
Whoooosh...
The leaves above rustled softly.
Sunlight filtered through the branches...
Scattering patches of golden light across the grass.
For a while...
Neither boy spoke.
They simply lay beneath the old tree...
Watching the white clouds drift across the endless sky.
Kai suddenly broke the silence.
"V..."
"Hm?"
"What do you want to become when you grow up?"
V didn't answer immediately.
He quietly looked toward the distant Sacred Mountain.
Then...
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I want to become strong."
Kai nodded.
"I know."
"But why?"
V thought for a moment.
"So I can protect everyone."
"My family..."
"Our village..."
"And everyone precious to me."
Kai looked at his own wooden sword.
Then smiled.
"My dream is almost the same."
V turned toward him.
"Really?"
Kai nodded enthusiastically.
"One day..."
"I'll become a great warrior."
"A warrior who protects people."
"So..."
"No one has to cry anymore."
V smiled.
"Then..."
"I'll become even stronger."
Kai tilted his head.
"Why?"
V laughed.
"So I can protect you too."
Kai immediately protested.
"Hey!"
"I was supposed to protect you!"
The two boys stared at each other.
Then...
Burst into laughter.
"Hahaha..."
Kai slowly stood up.
He pointed his wooden sword toward V.
"One day..."
"We'll become the strongest team in Restart Village."
V stood as well.
His emerald eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Together."
Kai nodded.
"Together."
The two boys gently raised their wooden swords.
Tak.
The wooden blades touched.
No grand ceremony.
No witnesses.
Just two children...
Making a simple promise beneath the open sky.
A childish promise.
Simple.
Pure.
And sincere.
Not far away...
Brald quietly watched everything.
A faint smile appeared upon his face.
"...A good friend..."
He murmured softly.
"...Is a treasure that cannot be bought."
He knew...
Swordsmanship could be taught.
Strength could be gained.
Magic could be learned.
But true friendship...
Could never be forced.
It was something that naturally grew...
Heart to heart.
As the afternoon slowly faded...
The two boys walked back toward the village together.
Along the way...
Kai greeted everyone he met.
"Good afternoon, Grandpa!"
The old man laughed.
"Already finished training?"
Kai proudly puffed out his chest.
"I almost defeated V today."
V looked at him.
"...Almost?"
Kai scratched his cheek.
"...Well..."
"I almost almost defeated you."
The old man burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You'll get there someday."
Kai smiled brightly.
"I definitely will!"
A little farther ahead...
An elderly woman carrying a basket stumbled slightly.
"Oh my..."
Before she could drop it...
Kai quickly ran forward.
"I've got it!"
He carefully picked up the basket with both hands.
"Thank you, Kai."
She said warmly.
He simply smiled.
"No problem!"
V watched quietly.
Kai always helped others...
Without expecting anything in return.
That was simply...
Who he was.
By the time the two boys reached the White family's home...
The sun had already begun its slow descent.
Golden light painted the village in warm colors.
Lily stood outside the house with little Tia in her arms.
She smiled the moment she saw them.
"You two must be hungry."
Kai rubbed the back of his head.
"...A little."
V looked at him.
"A little?"
Kai's stomach answered first.
Grrrr...
For a brief moment...
Everyone became silent.
Then...
Laughter filled the yard.
"Hahaha..."
Even Kai couldn't help laughing.
"...Okay."
"I'm very hungry."
Lily giggled.
"Come inside."
"I made enough for everyone."
Kai's eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
Lily nodded.
"Of course."
Without hesitation...
Kai happily followed V into the house.
To him...
The White family never felt like someone else's home.
It simply felt...
Like another place where he belonged.
Far above the village...
Upon the Sacred Mountain...
The Legendary Dragon, Liza...
Quietly watched the two children.
A gentle smile appeared upon her ancient face.
"...Strength..."
She whispered.
"...Is not forged by training alone."
Her golden eyes remained fixed upon the two boys.
"It is also forged..."
"...Through the bonds we create."
The mountain became silent once again.
Only the wind continued its endless song.
Whoooosh...
Far beyond Restart Village...
A lone figure stood upon a distant hill.
His calm gaze rested upon the peaceful village below.
The drifting smoke...
The children's laughter...
The quiet rhythm of everyday life...
He observed everything without a word.
The breeze gently moved his cloak.
Whoooosh...
After a long moment...
He slowly turned away.
Step...
Step...
Step...
His figure gradually disappeared beyond the trees.
Only one name remained...
Alistair.
...
Far below...
The village continued its peaceful evening.
Completely unaware...
That beyond the forest...
Someone quietly continued watching Restart Village from afar.
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