NOVEL WEB Chapter 5: Boy Named Kaen
The dojo was alive before the sun even rose.
Frost still clung to the railings. Wind rolled down the mountain slopes like a quiet beast. And in the middle of it all stood Rai Tsuki, the newest ghost among warriors.
He wore simple robes. Too big for his small body.His black eyes stared straight ahead. Hollow, but burning deep inside.His limbs were weak. His chest still bruised.But he stood.
Waiting.
The First Orders
The Master stood above the courtyard on the wooden deck, arms folded. He gave no speeches. Just one quiet sentence.
"Line up. Train. Endure."
The students moved in practiced rhythm stretches, stances, breathing drills.
Rai tried to copy them.
His knees trembled.His spine hunched.He couldn't even hold his hands straight.
He collapsed three times before the warm-up ended.
Whispers crept from behind him.
"He's shaking already.""Why'd the Master even take him in?""He's just a cursed stray."
The Flame Appears
A sharp voice cut through the courtyard:
"Back off."
Everyone turned.
A small boy maybe four years old walked toward Rai with a wooden short-staff resting on his shoulder. His bronze skin gleamed with sweat. Spiky black hair danced in the breeze. His golden-brown eyes burned like fire.
Kaen.
The youngest student before Rai arrived.
He stopped in front of him and held out a hand.
"I'm Kaen. You're Rai, right?"
Rai blinked.Hesitated.Then nodded.
"You looked like you were gonna die out here.So from now on… I'll be your partner."
Training Begins
That morning, Rai and Kaen trained together.
Kaen showed him how to hold his stance properly knees bent, spine straight, breathing deep. He even adjusted Rai's grip when holding the wooden blade.
"Like this. Keep your elbows tight. Yeah that's it."
Rai fell a lot.Missed swings. Lost balance. Bruised knees.
But Kaen never laughed. Never mocked.Every time Rai got up, Kaen gave a quiet nod.
"Again."
The Others Watched
The older students glanced over during drills. Some smirked.
"Why's the flame wasting time on that shadow?"
"Let him. When they both fall behind, the Master will toss them out."
Kaen heard. He didn't care.
He turned to Rai and grinned.
"They talk because they're bored.We train because we're hungry."
Small Progress
By midday, Rai could hold his stance for ten seconds without falling.
Kaen clapped once.
"See? Told you. You're not weak. You're just waking up."
Rai didn't smile. But something flickered behind his eyes.For the first time in days… it wasn't pain.It was will.
That Night
They sat beside each other in the sleeping quarters.
The candles were dim. Everyone else was resting.
Kaen looked up at the ceiling and whispered:
"You don't talk much."
Rai, lying beside him, didn't answer.
After a moment, he said:
"I don't know what to say."
Kaen nodded.
"That's okay.Just don't disappear."
Rai turned his head slowly. Their eyes met.
"I won't."