The Essence Flow-Chapter 27: The Wind Remains
“Boys,” Leon said suddenly, “today wasn’t just your last training session.”
Towan blinked. “You’re not about to say something cryptic like ‘now the real test begins’, are you?”
“No,” Leon said, stretching his arms with a yawn. “I’m saying I’m broke.”
Elliot blinked. “Wait… seriously?”
Leon nodded, far too casually. “Money’s tight. Training’s done. I’ve got business to take care of in Lockeheart, and I can’t leave you two on full babysitting mode anymore.”
Towan sat up straight. “What are we supposed to do?”
“Live,” Leon said simply. “Eat. Train. Work. Not in that order.”
Elliot looked at him suspiciously. “You do realize we’ve spent the past month
punching trees
, not learning how to pay rent.”
“That’s why you’re going to Stoneveil,” Leon said, brushing off his pants as he stood. “There’s a man there — Lytharos. Ask around and tell him I sent you. He’ll help you find work. And more importantly, he owes me a favor.”
“Is he gonna train us too?” Towan asked.
Leon smirked. “Not like I did. He’s a martial artist, sure — but don’t expect warm hugs and long speeches. The guy’s got a spine made of iron and a personality to match.”
Towan and Elliot exchanged a look. “So… like you, but crankier?”
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“Exactly.”
Elliot stood, frowning slightly. “Will you come back?”
Leon turned, pausing at the edge of the steps. For a moment, he didn’t answer. Then:
“Of course. I’ll swing by whenever I can. You’ll be fine.”
He glanced over his shoulder, a rare softness in his gaze. “You’ve already come farther than most do in years.”
He reached into his coat and pulled out two small pouches — coins clinking inside — and tossed them to the boys. “That’ll last until you find Lytharos. Don’t blow it all on weird bread.”
Towan caught his and grinned. “No promises.”
Leon started walking, the shadows of the trees stretching out ahead of him.
“Hey,” Elliot called out. “Thanks. For everything.”
Leon didn’t look back. But he raised a hand, waving without turning. “Make me proud.”
And with that, he disappeared into the trees — a quiet crunch of boots on dirt, and then silence.
Towan let out a long breath and looked at Elliot. “Well. Guess it’s just us now.”
Elliot looked up at the sky. “Think we’ll be alright?”
A gust of wind swept through the clearing, rustling the leaves. Towan smiled.
“We’ve survived Leon. How hard can the rest be?”
The next morning, the dojo was quiet.
Towan stood at the edge of the training yard, staring at the waterfall as mist rolled off the stones. The familiar rhythm of water hitting rock had become their morning soundtrack — and now it felt… distant. Like a memory that hadn’t even passed yet.
Inside, Elliot was stuffing books into a small cloth satchel. Training manuals, anatomy diagrams, a half-burned novel about an adventurer who couldn’t stop getting into trouble — he couldn’t bring them all, but he took the ones he’d grown attached to. The ones with scribbles in the margins. Notes. Little things Leon had muttered that turned out to be useful.
“You good?” Towan asked from the doorframe.
Elliot looked around the room once more. “Yeah. Just… gonna miss this place.”
“Miss the constant soreness and being yelled at, you mean?”
“That too,” Elliot said with a grin, slinging the bag over his shoulder. “Let’s go before I get nostalgic and decide to stay here punching logs forever.”
They locked the dojo behind them. Not that anyone would rob a place hidden halfway up a mountain, but still. It felt right.
Chapter 27: The Wind Remains
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