Chapter 916

Violet pulled Carissa aside to watch the sparring match. Knowing Carissa was worried about her grandfather, Violet had her apprentices compete. Martial arts was Carissa's favorite, and the match would likely distract her. Rafael sat beside Carissa, his main purpose being to stay with her; he cared little for the match itself.

Kevin, facing three opponents, was being pummeled. He could barely fight back, absorbing most of the blows. It was painful to watch, though fortunately, they avoided his head and face. A few body blows weren't a major concern, as the damage wouldn't be visible. However, Kevin wouldn't last much longer. Just as Rafael was about to intervene, Carissa called a halt. As a martial artist, she couldn't bear to watch the one-sided beating. Kevin's weaknesses were obvious: his foundation was solid, but his techniques were a mess—incoherent and unstructured from stance to strikes.

Violet, relieved to see Carissa's attention shift and her expression soften, asked, "How many years have you been practicing martial arts?"

Kevin, still gasping for breath, couldn't answer before Violet prompted, "Answer your martial aunt's question."

Carissa stiffened. She didn't want to be their martial aunt; they were from different guilds. Kevin, rising unsteadily, replied, "I've been practicing since I was seven, so twenty years."

"Who did you study under originally?"

"I never formally apprenticed," Kevin answered. "I trained with the household instructor and my cousin. Later, Galen taught me, and with the crown prince's guard, it was mostly him." He paused, adding, "I also picked up things from others."

Everyone laughed. While his eagerness was commendable, his haphazard approach was problematic. Mastering one thing before moving on was key.

Violet frowned. "No wonder you're all over the place," she remarked. She'd noticed this in earlier classes but hadn't focused on Kevin then. "If you enjoy martial arts so much, why didn't you apprentice formally when you were younger?"

Chapter 916 (continued)

Kevin's silence was followed by a long sigh. His difficult journey to find a mentor explained his eagerness to seize this opportunity. He'd started at age seven. His family had found a mentor, but he died of a heart attack hours before the apprenticeship ceremony.

So, he trained with the household instructor while his family searched. At eight, they found an expert from the Stormshore Guild, but there was a catch: only five apprenticeships were available, first-come, first-served. Ernest immediately set out with Kevin, aiming to reach the guild ahead of competitors. He rented a boat and disembarked at the designated port.

Disaster struck. The boat capsized, and they barely survived. Any chance at the Stormshore Guild was lost.

At ten, Edwin helped find a mentor at a newly opened martial arts school in the capital. Kevin would be the eldest apprentice. Everything seemed set, but luck failed him again. Heavy rains caused the school building to collapse, injuring the mentor and ending the school. The injured mentor left the city, claiming it was unlucky.