The Legend of Marvin

The sun was already high in the sky as Richard, drenched in sweat, kept striking relentlessly at a massive rock with a sword he had just forged. Each blow echoed through the courtyard of the Marvin household, but despite all his efforts, the blade refused to cut cleanly through the stone.

— I've been hammering at this rock for hours, Grandpa! Richard exclaimed, wiping his forehead. When are you finally going to teach me new spells?

Henry, who had been watching his grandson with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow and replied in a calm yet firm tone:

— You can't even forge a sword sharp enough to cut through this rock, and you already want to learn more advanced spells?

Richard lowered his eyes, discouraged.

— Sorry, Grandpa... I feel like I'm useless.

He sighed, clenching his fists, then added in a low voice, barely realizing he had spoken:

— Sorry, I don't know what came over me...

Henry observed him for a moment before his expression softened slightly.

— What's wrong, Richard? Do you want to stop training?

Richard shook his head.

— No, it's just that... I was thinking about Mom and Dad.

A silence settled between them. Henry looked away for a brief moment.

— That's true... I miss them too, he murmured.

Richard clenched his teeth, staring at the ground.

— It's been ten years, Grandpa... Ten years since they've been gone.

Henry placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder and looked at him with kindness.

— I know, Richard... But they would have been proud of you. And so am I.

Richard looked up, surprised. His grandfather wasn't the type to express his feelings so openly.

— Keep training. One day, you'll be able to wield forge magic like no one else. And when that day comes, you'll understand why I train you this way.

Richard took a deep breath and nodded.

— Alright, Grandpa. I'll keep going.

Then he paused for a moment, catching his breath after his many failed attempts. He turned to his grandfather with a more serious expression.

— Grandpa, can you explain to me again how to forge a sword?

Henry raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised.

— Oh? That's an unusual request...

He crossed his arms, a slight smirk on his lips.

— Before explaining how to forge a sword again, I'd rather remind you what forge magic truly is.

Richard nodded, focused.

— Uh... alright.

Henry placed a hand on the rock Richard had been trying to cut, then continued in a calm voice:

— Forge magic is a very special kind of magic, based on two fundamental principles: manipulation and assembly.

Richard listened intently as his grandfather continued his explanation.

— Manipulation allows us to influence the surrounding energy, while assembly consists of merging that energy with our own spiritual essence.

Henry paused and looked Richard straight in the eye.

— And you know what this essence is called, don't you?

Richard answered without hesitation:

— The Azalyth.

A proud smile appeared on Henry's face.

— Exactly. Every living being possesses a certain amount of Azalyth. Without it, using magic would be impossible.

Richard nodded, absorbing the information. Henry continued:

— But for us, the forge mages, Azalyth plays an even greater role. It not only amplifies our control over energy but also allows us to give it a physical form. That's how we create weapons and objects using forge magic.

Richard clenched his fists, thinking about everything his grandfather had just told him.

— So, if I really want to master forge magic… I need to be able to manipulate the energy around me and merge it with my own Azalyth to give it a stable form, right?

Henry smiled, proud of his grandson.

— That's exactly right. But understanding the theory and succeeding in practice... that's another story.

Richard took a deep breath, then smiled with determination.

— In that case… teach me, Grandpa. I'm ready to start over from the beginning if I have to.

Henry burst out laughing before placing a hand on Richard's shoulder.

— That's what I wanted to hear. Alright, let's go back to the basics.

And so, training resumed with a brand-new approach.

After Henry's insightful advice, Richard took a deep breath, closing his eyes to concentrate. He channeled his inner energy, feeling the Azalyth flow within him, pulsing like a living force.

Little by little, an intense blue aura began to surround him, crackling slightly in the air. The energy condensed gradually, taking a precise shape in his hands. Through his will, a sword appeared, forged entirely from his Azalyth.

Henry observed the scene with an intrigued expression. He had never seen Richard so focused before.

But Richard didn't stop there. After materializing his weapon, he tried to amplify its power by coating it in a denser aura of Azalyth. His breathing quickened from the effort, his body trembling slightly under the pressure of the energy he was wielding.

Once ready, he raised his sword and struck the rock before him with all his might.

CRACK!

The impact echoed through the air, lifting a small gust of wind around Richard. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the rock hadn't shattered completely, but a massive crack now ran through its center, proof of his attack's strength.

Richard, out of breath, leaned on his sword, sweat dripping from his forehead.

Henry, on the other hand, displayed an expression of both surprise and pride.

— I've never seen you accumulate that much Azalyth before, he said with a satisfied smile.

Richard gave a tired smile.

— Me neither, he replied, chuckling softly before collapsing onto the ground, sitting.

Henry crossed his arms, watching his grandson.

— That was a good attempt. You're improving, Richard. But this is only the beginning.

Richard looked up, his eyes shining with new determination.

— In that case… I'll keep trying until I can break this rock into a thousand pieces.

Henry burst into laughter.

— That's the spirit!

As Richard caught his breath after his training, one of the Marvin household's servants appeared, bowing slightly before Henry and announcing in a composed voice:

— Master Henry, a guest has arrived.

This declaration surprised Henry, but Richard suddenly froze, realizing what he had completely forgotten.

— Damn… I forgot to tell you, Grandpa, he mumbled.

Henry raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

— Forgot to tell me what?

Richard looked away slightly, visibly embarrassed.

— I... I invited someone.

Before he could say more, a figure appeared at the entrance to the training garden. Dressed in an elegant yet practical outfit, she stepped forward confidently, observing the surroundings with curiosity.

Recognizing her instantly, Henry displayed an amused smile.

— Well, this is an unexpected visit! Princess Elisabeth, it's a pleasure to see you again after all these years.

Elisabeth inclined her head slightly in respect.

— The pleasure is mine, Master Henry. I had to come and greet you now that I'm in Valdrith.

Henry crossed his arms, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

— I heard that it was my grandson who invited you. That's surprising... Judging by his character, he's not the type to invite a princess so easily.

Richard sighed, visibly annoyed by the direction the conversation was taking.

— It's not what you think, Grandpa. She just wanted to see you, that's all.

Henry laughed.

— Oh, really? And yet, I get the feeling that you two have grown quite close.

Richard ran a hand over his face, exasperated.

— Tch… it's nothing like that. I just thought you'd be happy to see her.

Elisabeth, listening to the conversation, simply smiled, amused by Richard's discomfort.

— That's true, she confirmed with a teasing look. I didn't come for him, but for you, Master Henry.

Henry shook his head, laughing.

— You remind me so much of your mother…

Elisabeth seemed surprised by the remark.

— You knew her well, didn't you?

Henry nodded, his gaze tinged with nostalgia.

— I was her master, after all. She was an exceptional student, one of the most talented I've ever trained.

Richard watched his grandfather and Elisabeth talk, remaining silent. Deep down, this meeting sparked a new motivation within him.

After a few more exchanges, Henry smiled at his grandson.

— Well, Richard, since you're responsible for this invitation, why don't you give her a tour of the house?

Richard groaned slightly but nodded.

— Alright… follow me, Princess.

Elisabeth smiled, amused by his grumpy tone, and followed him, while Henry watched them leave with a satisfied smile.