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A Father's Love

~Cliiiinnnggg~

The sound of metals hitting each other resounded in the atmosphere.

"Kid, you are growing tough in your sword practice. Go easy on me because I'm already getting old," a man said as he held his sword tightly in his hand and watched as a young boy rushes to him swinging his sword.

"Uncle, how can I go easy on my enemy? you told me to not mercy on anyone who I see as my enemy," the boy claimed as he swung his sword to the man who evaded it and moved back.

"Gavin, it's what I said, I've been saying it but look well I'm not the enemy," the man replied hopelessly.

It has been up to five months since Gavin walked up to the man and told him that he wants to be a mage. The man had sadly told him that it was impossible because he was not born with magic and could not awaken any elemental ability like the others.

But to ease his sadness, the man then promised that he would teach him the skill of using a sword so that he will be able to protect himself from certain dangers. Gavin happily agreed and ever since then he had been learning quite fast, even making the relationship between the two better than it was at first.

Every day they would open the Inn in the morning until noon and then they would lock up and go home which they would immediately begin the sword practice until night when they will have their dinner and then go to bed.

 Luck had certainly been on their side ever since Gavin began to prepare the meals and as such, people began to troop into their Inn to order foods. 

Today was going to make it five months that Gavin began to live with the man and to celebrate it, the man had decided to let him duel with him but he didn't expect the boy to have mastered all his skills and even better it. 

"Fine, Uncle you can take a rest, I know you are tired," Gavin said and sheathed his sword. The man released a sigh and sat down on the chair close to him.

"I am proud of you, do you know that?" the man said as he drank from his bottle of water.

"I don't know because you haven't told me yet," Gavin smiled and sat down.

"Now I'm telling you this, you have made me proud. I never knew you would be able to learn all the sword techniques within the space of five months, when I was your age it took me a  whole year to learn them but here you are....learned and even mastered it, I can not be any less proud," the man said while booming with smiles.

"It's because you thought me well," replied Gavin to the man who of course began to smile again.

"It is true indeed, during my young age I was the best sword skill user so that explains why you are as great as me," the man said boasting of his old days.

"Uncle, something has been bothering me lately and now I have no choice but to tell you," Gavin suddenly announced causing the atmosphere to change.

"And what could that be?" 

"I want to join an adventure guild, I want to get stronger than I am now and you know I can't achieve that by staying at home," Gavin replied while looking at the man's face for any change. "I am not leaving for good, I'll always return during my free times," he added to make the man's mind relax a bit.

"But you don't have any ability, how will you be able to fight those monsters and creatures?" the man asked in a worried tone, this was what he feared most.

"You have thought me so well on how to use swords so don't worry I'll be able to protect myself," Gavin knew it would come to this,  a moment when the man will feel reluctant to let him go because of what had happened before. "I know what you are thinking uncle, I am not leaving you. I will be coming home alright? don't you want me to become stronger? Then...you have to let me go train myself with my fellow mates."

*Sighs* "I have heard you, as long as you promise me to take care of yourself then I will have no choice but to let you leave. Do you promise to protect yourself?"

"Yes, sir, I promise to."

"It's alright then, when are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning, I've prepared a few of my things and I'll use the money I've saved to transport myself."

The man didn't say a word and Gavin understood how he was feeling, he didn't wish for the man to be sad but there was nothing he could do, he needed to get strong and it will not be done by just staying at home.

 He had heard from some of the villagers that there were adventure guilds in the town; a group of people either young or old who go into portals, realms and dungeons to find magic beasts and fortunes. And after giving it a thought he made up his mind to join them.

***

The next morning, Gavin had woken up earlier than usual because he wanted to leave with the first train to the town. After dressing up, he went to the man's room and knocked on the door after which the man opened the door for him.

"I see you are set to go," the man said calmly to Gavin who nodded. " Well, I'll miss you boy but I want the best for you. When you join them be careful and be wary of those who pretend to be nice whereas deep down they are like devils, don't interfere with other people's business just mind yours or you'll end up falling into trouble, and as for those who do wrong to you....don't let them off easily because they don't deserve your good heart...."

Gavin listened with smiles on his face as the man kept giving him advice, he felt warm in his heart from the care the man was showering him. 

"Here, take this ring," the man said as he came out of his room with an odd-looking ring. "You must be curious about this ring right?" he asked as he saw the look of confusion on Gavin's face. "This is the sword of chaos, passed down from many generations. My son was the one who is supposed to inherit this from me but unfortunately, he is no more and I have no one else to pass it unto but you. It looks like a normal ring so you can wear it around and not attract unwanted attention but when you are in trouble, simply call its name and it'll answer you. Here take it and put it on your finger."

Gavin collected the ring and did as he was told, the moment he wore the ring he felt an immense pressure been weighed on his hand.   It felt like the ring was draining his blood and after some while, the ring was being coated with the blood.

"Why is this happening? it's sucking my blood!" Gavin screamed with his face covered in fear.

"It's making a contract with you as its owner, calm down soon the blood will disappear same with the pains you are feeling," the man calmly said and Gavin nodded and watched as the ring began to absorb the blood on it.

"It has stopped!" Gavin said still staring at the ring that had finished absorbing the blood.

~brrrrrrrrrr~

The ring made a vibrating sound as if it was trying to communicate with its new owner.