Muffled voices sounded throughout the cerebral space. One is a friend, the other unknown. The two voice questioned each other; but, neither gave much away. However, it was mutually decided by both: the boy must wake up.
The hooded man looked at the boy covered in rough-forest leaves, sleeping as if unaware of the danger he had faced. Sighing, the hooded man sent forth a wisp of his essence, eliciting a response from the covered face.
Elderond felt a cold sensation enter his dream, destroying the tranquillity that he had in the vision. The vision, which depicted luscious countryside, gorgeous meadows and vast flowing lakes now cracked and fractured. Stunned, Elderond screamed.
"No, this can't be, my peaceful dream!"
The black-haired body of the boy shook and darted forwards.
Elderond's eyes snapped open; but, his expression was one of confusion.
"What the hell?"
"This can't be happening again… Where am I?"
"Quiet child! All in good time, first eat and drink."
The brusque voice resounded throughout the enclosed space.
Elderond's head spun around, seeking the identity of the booming voice. A tall man cloaked within some form of earthen robe stood in front of him. The details unclear; however, strange energy could be felt, coming off him, one that made others turn tail and run.
Elderond didn't back down from the pressure but stared at the hooded man.
"How strange, you aren't affected by my aura…"
"Intriguing, you're quite different compared to other Hystian's, for one: you have no form of the ambiguous root within your body. It would also seem you don't have the capabilities to hold and manipulate essence."
"Just what in the Universe are you on about?"
"Tsk, did you not listen, boy eat first."
"Your questions will be answered- soon enough."
Elderond looked towards the tray laden with a single roll of bread and a jug of water, resting on the bedside cabinet. Then he heard a familiar voice sound within his cerebral space.
"Master, be wary the food could be, contaminated with a chemical substance."
Elderond's stomach began to grumble.
He took the bread roll and placed it next to his mouth; but, he hesitated.
Then head the brusque tone once again.
"I applaud you for your vigilance, yet don't you think if I wanted to harm you, I would have done it while you were incapacitated?"
The man was right.
Elderond took the bread and placed it in his mouth, chewing slowly, savouring the taste of its freshness. Next, he took the jug and poured it down his mouth, hydrated his moisture-brazen lips. His energy slowly returned as his body began digestion, transporting the nutrient to his muscle tissues.
Looking around, Elderond tried to spot his spear. The spear lay just to his right, at the edge of the bed frame. Even though the man had shown him kindness, not all people did something out of goodwill; many had ulterior motives.
He waited for the hooded man to turn his back. Swinging his legs off the bed, he gripped his spear in one fluid movement, launching at the exposed back. At this range, it was near impossible to miss, or so Elderond thought.
"Foolish boy, your technique is crude."
Twisting his heel into the floor, the man rotated his entire body, spinning diagonally in the air. The spear passed under him; even so, he grabbed the cracked shaft mid-air and flung it in one swift movement. The spear flew, impaling the wooden wall at the side of Elderond's ear, drawing a faint line of blood.
"Is this how you treat others boy, someone needs to teach you some manners."
Medea heard this and tutted it was only yesterday Master Elderond had nearly died how could she possibly have time to tell him on reading situations?
"Listen, well boy, at your current state, I'd only need to use one finger to decapitate you, merely one aura ability. You need to be more aware of your enemy, never underestimate them, regardless of appearance."
"Now, put on the change of clothes draped on the chair and meet me outside."
The hooded man left, leaving Elderond and the interface alone.
"I think we don't have a choice, Master."
"The feeling I get from that hooded man is to: never test his benevolence."
"You better get a move on."
"Indeed, it seems this is where fate has brought me. The question is: what am I getting myself into?"
"Only time will tell, it seems."
As the sun outside the crudely made window rose into the sky, Elderond donned his apparel and went outside. The scent of the forest- hit him, making him aware of the struggles of what had happened previously.
"Life is tough; yet, those that overcome their hurdles will reap great rewards."
"Hmm, never knew you were interested in Philosophy, Master."
"I'm merely stating the obvious, and right now, the obvious is that you're annoying me, Medea."
"Ah, Master, I'm glad you're back to your usual self, otherwise who would I vex? He-he."
Elderond walked past the open door and was greeted- by a beautiful view. The stream in which he had fallen from turned out to be a waterfall, gently cascading down into the forest, guarded by sentinel-like trees. The small wooden house he was in overlooked the sprawling forest floor as it was built: on a hill within a clearing.
Looking around, Elderond saw that there was a small well-constructed, on the left, a bucket sat on the ground, stranded in a sea of green grass.
"This place… looks like a place of solitude- is this man some hermit or something?"
"He could quite possibly be true Master; the layout is very simplistic."
"Boy, come here."
The brusque voice echoed throughout the clearing, bringing Elderond back to his senses.
He moved towards the hooded man and looked expectantly at the covered face.
"Now, you must be wondering who I am and why I saved you."
"To put it simply, I am merely an elderly man living in solitude. The world's activities don't interest me."
"Now, if you were to call me something, call me Grandpa Lex. You would be the age of my grandson if I was married and had a son myself."
As the hooded man said this, Elderond summed up that the man was at least 60 years old.
"The reason I saved you was something taught to me by my master. The strong should save the weak: if one's aura doesn't contain malicious intent, then they should be given a chance to live."
"Sounds like some riddle."
"No, merely it is just an exaggerated way of saying use your consciousness when faced with the unknown. Not all things could be evil."
"Furthermore, I've never had a son, I thought maybe as repayment for saving you, and you would give this old man someone to talk to for some time."
An embarrassed expression appeared on the mouth of the hooded man. Elderond swore he saw some redness approve the mouth; but, he wasn't sure.
"Careful Master, this old man may have lascivious thoughts."
"Oh please, he could have violated me at any time while I was unconscious."
"Not every old man is some nonce."
Medea chuckled, glad she had gotten on Elderond's nerves again. She was fond of him; but, that didn't mean she would treat him nice.
The hooded man took off the hood and turned to Elderond.
A wrinkled yet handsome face greeted him: some stray hairs could be seen, littered, around the combed-brown sprawled mass.
His eyes shone blue, tinged with the colour of purple. The same colour scheme of his hair was portrayed- in his beard while a bright smile coated the well-formed lips.
The man's body: was masked by the earthen robe. His is tall stature-combined with his wideness, gave the impression that he was somewhat robust.
"I thought you said you were elderly; you don't look older than 45."
"Aha, boy, are you trying to get on my good side? 45 eh? Well, maybe a long time ago, I am about 160 years old."
"Wait… how that is even possible."
Medea became irritated.
"Master, don't you think that if inter-universal travel is possible, there would also be a way to prolong one's death or live longer?"
Elderond sighed. He wasn't thinking optimally today.
With a harrumph, Medea went silent once again.
"I assume the voice in your head just told you how; but, it is true, once you have mastered the use of aura, one can live past the age of 150 years. Then to live further, you must ascend past mortal limits and unlock the use of essence."
"Incredible! So, Grandpa Lex, you have already learned essence."
With a satisfied expression, Lex scratched his beard."
"Indeed."
"By the way, you said you knew about the voice in my head. How did you know?"
"By manipulating my essence, I can search into the soul of the person; thus, finding the other which resides within you."
Elderond was shocked. The use of essence seemed incredible.
"Boy, answer my question: will you stay and talk with this old man? I'm sure I can teach you some things that may aid you in your future."
"Yes, Grandpa."
With a satisfied smile, Lex turned around.
But, his expression became dark. This boy had the strings of fate attached around him. Once other masters discovered his whereabouts, he would face unparalleled danger.
Would the boy overcome life's tribulations?
He would have to wait and see.