The forest floor churned as the sound of light, followed by heavy footfalls, sounded. Elderond was running alongside Grandpa Lex. His breathing was steady but was slowly becoming ragged; however, Grandpa Lex was breathing fine, almost as if it was just a morning jog.
Elderond gritted his teeth, trying to enter the mental state to increase one's stamina. As he continued running, he recalled what was said that morning:
"Elderond, wake up! It's time to train, boy!"
Groaning, Elderond awoke and got up from his bed. A strange aroma assaulted his nostrils as he exited the open door into the dining room.
"Morning Elderond, get yourself seated. I made some fried meadow bird and some herb-infused broth. "
Elderond's stomach grumbles decided things at last. He sat down and began to eat breakfast. The flavours coated his tongue, bursting with succulent meat combined with a spicy but mellow tasting broth. It was a bonfire of flavour.
"The meal is excellent, Grandpa."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it; but, you better eat up and savour that taste because you won't be having much of that soon. Your body- will be pushed to its limit within the training. Luxuries won't be eared easily."
Elderond's face soured a little; however, his tenacity soon kicked in.
"Of course, I will do my best."
"Well, let's begin with what we should train first. From how I found you within the forest, it seems you collapsed from exhaustion first and blood loss rather than having lost all your energy. It seems we need to improve your stamina; thus, allowing you to fight longer."
"I've decided we shall run a course within this forest and see what your limit is."
"Wait, so I need to run for how long exactly?"
"Till you drop."
Elderond's face went blank. This training he had signed up for was going to be hell, and this caring Grandpa was a devil.
"Remember Elderond, training is all about steady progression; but, the only way to know how to train you is to know what your limits are first."
"Therefore, I can adjust the plan- to better suit you once I know what you can take."
Hearing this, Elderond felt much better at least Grandpa wasn't doing it out of pleasure to see him in pain; he did it for practicality.
"There is something important you must remember: when running, think about trying to carry a heavyweight a great distance. You take it slow and steady whilst controlling your breathing to ensure you reach your destination."
"Now, clean up! We are heading out."
Elderond came back to his senses just in time.
A tree appeared in front of his face. Twisting his torso and angling his feet, he manoeuvred around it just in time.
"Shit, that was close."
"Wouldn't have been so close if you weren't dreaming in some wonderland, Master."
"Ah, how lovely Medea, always here to scold me, aren't you?"
"If you weren't such a buffoon, Master, I wouldn't need to."
"Ah, well, in some sense, I am in the wrong; but, it's not like I was daydreaming about something lewd."
"Oh really? Teenage boys are notorious for thinking indecent thoughts *wink*."
The interface was once again driving him up the wall, albeit it was due to him being a bit of an idiot; but, he was a righteous man.
"Oh please, Medea, I was thinking about what Grandpa said in the morning."
"Funny, I never heard him say space out."
Just when Elderond was going to retort, he heard a familiar voice resound in his cerebral space.
"If you two love birds are done arguing, then get your head back into training Elderond, you'll reach your limit faster if you're distracted!"
"Sorry, Grandpa; but, Medea is infuriating."
Medea replied similarly.
"Not my fault he doesn't listen."
"Oi, did you two not hear what I just said now? Medea, act your role, you should be helping him, not pissing him off, and Elderond, Medea is far more knowledgeable than you; it's not wrong to listen to her advice."
Both Medea and Elderond harrumphed. But, deep inside, they were ashamed.
Thanks to Grandpa Lex, Elderond once more focused on the task at hand.
Maintaining a reasonable pace, he became level with Grandpa Lex and continued to run. His tendons flexed and strained as the muscles contracted, powering his legs which ran across the forest floor.
They had already run halfway across the left-hand side of the forest as it was reaching midday. Elderond's pace was starting to slow down.
Lex noted this and continued, keeping a vigilant eye on the young boy.
If he can still keep going, then let him keep going, thought Lex.
The sun was beginning to dip towards the horizon signalling, the coming of the afternoon. Elderond and Grandpa Lex had been running for four hours straight and, signs of strain could be seen- in both of them.
Lex was breathing slightly faster than before, taking deep, controlled breaths of the fresh forest air.
However, Elderond was gulping the air like a man stranded in a desert after a sandstorm. His legs spasmed due to cramps. His heart thumped within his heart, working overtime, transporting the oxygen in his blood to his muscles.
"Master, keep pushing- I know it's hard; but, if you stop like everyone else, how will you avenge those that killed your race?"
"Damn, I know."
Determination glowed within Elderond's cocoa-brown eyes. He kept pushing through the pain in his legs, chest and his lungs.
The trees within the forest started clearing up, revealing a rocky terrain and further ahead a mountain range. It towered up into the sky, showcasing the difficulty Elderond would have to overcome.
"My goal may be out of reach now; but, it's not impossible to achieve in the long run."
Cursing, Elderond continued towards the rocky terrain.
The rocks that lay across, sprawled along the path, skirted under his feet as he ran over them. The rocks tried grabbing his feet, attempting to ruin his running form.
Lex looked over his shoulder at Elderond running across the rocks like a disorganised acrobat. He couldn't help but smile a little bit.
"Keep persevering! Results, can't be obtained, without overcoming the difficulties put in place."
As the fifth hour approached, both the boy and the teacher were losing their energy reserves.
Lex started to breathe larger breaths of air, finally feeling the strain.
The opposite could be said- for Elderond. He was no longer running.
Slowly dragging his legs along the hard mud floor, Elderond was at his wit's end. His quadriceps were filled with lactic acid, making them rendered practically useless. His breathing came in ragged rasps blood could be seen from his cracked lips due to dehydration.
Despite all this, he used his arms to drag his legs along. Grandpa Lex waited for him at a clearing alongside a small stream, watching with worry.
"I refuse to give in!"
Unforchantly, for Elderond, his body had reached its limit, collapsing forwards onto the hard mud floor. Even with his body refusing, his mind was still active.
Crawling with his hands, he moved with every ounce of energy he had remaining.
The sun had finally dipped below the horizon as Elderond at last touched upon a green stem of grass.
"I did it…"
His eyelids closed as he sank into slumber from exhaustion.
Lex was shocked. This boy had pushed himself past his limits countless times. No mortal level Hystian could run for 5 hours straight and still have the energy to crawl themselves to the finish.
"This boy has the drive that's needed, for greatness, though will his heart bear what he might have to endure to achieve that greatness?"
The question continued to linger in Lex's head. However, right now, he needed to take Elderond home.
Patting the unconscious Elderond's head, he draped Elderond over his shoulder, manipulating the wind element, flying back to the wooden house.
"Well done, Elderond, one day you may even be able to complete the mountain range course."
As the words left his mouth, Lex looked towards the horizon with anticipation.
The birth of an anomaly began; this was the birth of a singularity.