The first thing John heard was the noise. People were talking all around—or maybe it was just that his hearing had improved. Alana's hand tightened around his, a silent gesture of reassurance before she released him. John felt the corners of his mouth lift in a smile. He didn't need to say anything; he started walking towards the royal academy grounds where Bob was most likely at. Along the way, John noticed that the crowd of people started to make a gap for him and Alana to walk through. He expected that people would be afraid of him after what he did before.

  He noticed a cluster of children huddled near the alleyway, their voices a chorus of pleading. Among them stood a boy, his ribs stark beneath his tattered shirt, his eyes hollow with hunger. John noticed he wore only shaggy rags for clothes. He had long, unkempt, red hair and small horns coming from his head. What caught his attention was the black eye. John had a feeling that he was acting as a guard for the other kids.

  John had an idea. He walked over towards the kids. They all stopped talking and looked at him. John smiled at the boy. "I'm getting ready to go fishing outside of the city. I need to get some guards and a friend first, but if you would like to bring your friends along, I will show you a way to feed yourselves, and you won't need to beg anymore. I will show and teach you guys today, but the rule is, if I do this, you must teach the other kids how to do the same. The more of you that know how, the better. Just remember to do the same for others in the future. So, if that sounds good to you, I will meet you at the city gate here shortly—that is, if you would like to join us."

  John didn't wait for their response. He turned back to Alana and started walking towards the academy. He went to the training sandbags that he had set up with Bob before. As expected, Bob was yelling at a guard who was having balancing issues. He was a heavy guy; John wasn't sure if the guy was part orc or something else. Bob fidgeted, his gaze darting around the training grounds, his hands clenching and unclenching.

  "Bob, I understand what happened before, and just so you know, I'm not upset. Just like that guard, some things just need to be practiced. The thing to remember is that making a mistake is okay sometimes, if you learn from it and don't repeat it in the future. This is how people grow from experience. If you don't change or learn, then that's just laziness. What do you think, Bob?" John reached out his hand to shake Bob's hand.

  Bob went to shake John's hand, but his eyes grew very round. "You made it to the 20th floor already?"

  "Yup, training is good, but what is the point if you aren't using it to level up? You should take some time and get to a higher level. If needed, I could help, but before that, I ran out of fish. We are going to go, and I wanted to see if you would like to join us. Also, I ran into some kids that were begging for food. I will be teaching them how to fish and cook. So, keep that in mind if you want to go."

  "Sure, I will go! By the way, I had some guards wanting to learn, but they were wondering why you use a rod. Why not just use a net?"

  A chuckle rumbled in John's chest. "It's the thrill of the catch, the fight. It feels more personal. Don't worry, I will show you an easy way to make a fishing rod."

  Then the group of people headed out of the town. When they were outside, there were more than 50 people, most of them kids. They didn't go very far before John set up a campfire. He explained why he was setting up a ring of rocks to prevent the fire from spreading. He did this for the very little kids. He noticed that it was all mixed races. He said out loud to himself, "Heck, you kids could start a Beggars Guild just for homeless kids like yourselves."

  John heard Bob clear his throat. "So, how do you make a fishing rod?"

  "Well, the first thing is finding a branch." Then he showed them how they could make line out of plants and how to use the fire to harden parts of the stick to make the rod harder. It took John a while to get one set up because he would help the kids while explaining. John was just repeating what his grandfather taught him as a kid. Then he showed them how to use a stick as a hook. He dug around and found a worm. He tore it in half and showed the kids how to put it on the hook. He put the worm on the kid with red hair's rod and a small girl's hook. The setup was just a simple pole rod. The little girl shrieked with delight as her makeshift rod bent double. "I got one! I got one!" she cried, her eyes wide with excitement. "What do I do now?" John helped hold the rod and helped her pull the fish onto the shore. Another kid jumped on it. Then he heard the other boy yell, "I got one too!"

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  John took the fish off the girl's rod. "See, you even still have the worm left. Good job! I will show you how to cook it shortly."

  This went on for most of the day. The sun was starting to set, so they started to pack up. They caught a bunch of fish. The aroma of sizzling fish filled the air, mingling with the crackle of the campfire and the laughter of the children. Fat sizzled and popped as it dripped into the flames. John watched them devour the fish, their faces smeared with grease and grins, eyes wide with the simple joy of a full belly. A wave of warmth washed over him.

  "Don't forget to save the bones," John called out to the group. "They make the best hooks!"

  As the flames danced and the stars emerged, John found himself relaxing into the easy rhythm of conversation. Alana recounted a humorous story about a mishap in the marketplace, and Bob, emboldened by the firelight, shared his aspirations to become a master swordsman.

  "That's a worthy goal, Bob," John said, his gaze reflecting the dancing flames. "Just remember that true mastery comes not just from skill, but from discipline, and from using your strength to protect those who need it." He paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "Have you ever heard of being 'one with the sword,' or the 'sword's heart'?"

  Bob shook his head, his brow furrowed. "No, I can't say I have."

  John noticed that the chatter around the campfire had died down, everyone seemingly drawn into their conversation. He leaned forward, his voice low and intense. "A sword cultivator... the sword is life itself. It never leaves that person's side. To be one with the sword, you have to learn to wield sword intent. Feel the blade, ask yourself what type of sword you will be. One that kills all in its path of slaughter, or a blade that protects. The sword in your heart is the sword that needs practice. You must sharpen the blade in your heart. Live your life like the edge of a sword."

  He looked up at the night sky, his voice taking on a distant quality. "I heard a saying before: 'Anything can be your blade. With a single piece of grass as my sword, I can cut the very heavens in half.' They say that was how the heavens and earth were made. The Sword God cut the void in half, making the heavens and the earth. For this very world we stand on is his blade's surface."

  He told Bob about his idea of making a cooking guild. It wasn't that John was asking; he was just explaining what he was planning. He wanted to help the people of the world.

  As they walked back towards the city gates, Alana felt a quiet sense of contentment. She had always admired John's strength and determination, but today she had witnessed a different side of him—a gentleness and compassion that touched her deeply. She squeezed his hand, a silent promise to stand beside him, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

  Bob, meanwhile, walked with a newfound purpose. John's words about the "sword's heart" echoed in his mind. He thought about the guards he trained, the people of the city, and the responsibility that came with wielding a sword. He vowed to become a protector, a shield against the darkness, and to live his life with the sharp focus of a well-honed blade.

  My name is Red. I know it's a simple name, but that's what you get from a beggar with no parents. I was having a horrible day. Last night, I was beaten by some drunk who was trying to take a little girl. I was proud of stopping him. I liked the girl; she felt like my little sister. I noticed a man dressed in black and a dark elf approach. I was shocked to hear what the man said. Fishing? Wait, crap, this is that John guy! I'd heard so many rumors about him. After he left, the rest of the kids talked, and we agreed to meet this John. I had such a fun time. Eating is such a wonderful thing. Why didn't we think of this before? I learned so much stuff... but the thing I can't stop thinking about is making a Beggars Guild. But more importantly, the Sword God. I looked down at the ground... I'm standing on his blade. What type of blade will I become? What is this feeling in my chest? Wait, is this hope?

  At that moment, Red had no idea that a sword was forming in his heart. It was black with a white edge. This sword would become very famous in the future.