The brother begin their training.
Bear and Guy are forced to sit and meditate in a room surrounded by large fires. Bear sits with his eyes closed, while Guy tries to do the same thing, but the fire distracts him.
During a different part of training, Bear climbs a mountain as wind and snow hit him in the face. Guy is trying to catch up, but he is struggling. His eyes tear up from the wind, and the tears freeze on his cheeks.
They continue training for months. Bear is meditating, but this time a handful of magic users are shooting a variety of magic at him. The magic bounces off or explodes on his skin, but doesn't harm him. Guy is sitting next to him and is doing a good job of mediating, but he is still stressed out as the magic strikes his body.
Months turn into years, and back at the Master's training ground, Bear stands next to a huge boulder. He takes a deep breath and then starts moving it across the open field. Guy is right behind him, pushing a boulder about the same size, but can't seem to catch up to Bear.
Time passes, and Bear and Guy are pre-teens now with long, uncut hair. Bear and Guy are fighting hand to hand in a blizzard. The Master watches them from the house with Ellian, who is cheering them on.
They continue to train, but this time Bear and Guy are sparring with wood swords. Bear knocks Guy down, but Guy gets up and fights harder.
Over the years, the Master continues to instruct Bear, as Guy watches and tries to learn on his own.
One day the Master takes Bear and Guy to the Blacksmith.
"A warrior is only as strong as his equipment, you must forge your own," the Master explains.
For months, the boys watch the blacksmith in between their training.
Finally, Bear begins to build his weapon of choice, and after weeks of work he makes a big two-handed sword.
"I wanted a sword that will force me to become stronger," Bear explains to the Master.
Next, Guy attempts to forge a sword, but when he heat treats the sword, it cracks. The second sword he forges is a massive complicated sword, but it breaks during testing.
The last sword Guy attempts to make takes a lot more effort and focus, and after days of intense focus, Guy makes a good sword.
"I forged a solid sword and will work with what I've got," Guy thinks to himself.
The boys are 15 and 14 now and are at the base of a mountain with the Master and Ellian, who is now 10 years old.
The Master addresses Bear, "This is your last training event. Get to the top in time. Bear, I expect you to get there first-" The Master turns to Guy, "and Guy, I expect you to give him a good race."
Bear nods, and Guy ignores the rude comment.
"This is my chance to finally beat him," thinks Guy as he looks over at Bear.
The boys get to the starting line.
"Go!" shouts Ellian.
The two take off running, Guy is immediately in the lead, which surprises Bear.
After a long sprint, the boys get midway up the mountain. They spot two men ahead on the trail, the two men push boulders down the hill towards them. Guy leaps over and dodges all the boulders, while Bear kicks some out of the way and dodges others.
They make it past the boulders and run into a cliff face and begin to climb.
Bear picks up the pass and catch up with Guy, the boys are neck and neck. They get to the top of the cliff and climb over. Suddenly, two men jump out of the woods and onto the trail in front of the boys. The two men have magic books.
The first man fires ice at the boys, but the Magic doesn't affect them. The second man uses the opening to summon a thick mist covering the area. The boys can't see a thing and get back-to-back, waiting on the next attack.
Suddenly, the mist around them turns to ice on their skin, but again it doesn't affect them.
"They have to know that magic won't work, they'll probably try to use the mist as a cover to physically attack us," says Guy.
Suddenly, they hear a cracking noise above.
"They're in the trees!" shouts Guy.
"No, they're not!" say Bear, he tackles Guy out of the way as multiple tree branches fall from the trees.
"They are freezing the branches, they're trying to crush us!" explains Bear.
The boys start running towards where they remember the magic users to be. Tree branches crash around them. Bear manages to avoid the branches, but one large branch lands on Guy, trapping him. Bear runs a head.
Guy tries his best to escape, but the branch is too big. Suddenly, Guy hears the two men yelling and the mist disappears. Guy sees Bear standing over the two Magic users who have surrendered. Bear runs over and helps Guy.
"This is a race I don't need your help," says Guy.
"I'm not leaving you behind!" with Bear's help, Guy is able to escape.
The boys look up and realize they're close to the mountain top.
"Are you ready?" asks Guy.
Bear smiles, "Of course."
The boys take off running, they race to the top of the mountain at full speed. At first, Bear is ahead, and then Guy, back and forth, back and forth. They're closing in on the finish line.
"You got to win! You have to show the Master you're not second best!" thinks Guy.
Finally, they make it to the top, the Master is already there waiting for them.
"Good job Bear," says the Master.
Guy lost the race.
The next day, the boys walk to the training ground where the Master and his daughter are waiting. Bear sits down in his usual spot while Guy sits behind him, he looks defeated.
"Your mind and body have become strong, strong enough to learn my technique," The Master tells Bear.
The boys watch as the Master raises his fist, and after a moment of thought, his hand begins to glow with energy. It spreads up his arms and around his whole body. He draws his sword, and the energy envelopes that too.
The Master slices his sword into the ground, causing a hug explosion. Bear in Guy, look amazed.
"That's not magic, was it?" asks Bear.
"No, it's something much stronger, it's a power passed down over time to a select few." The Master explains, "Magic users rely on cardio and muscle to fuel magic symbols. Once fueled symbols create magic depending on the symbols used. This power comes from the soul."
The master puts his sword away and takes a deep breath. The power fades away.
"I have not told you this, but we cannot use magic. For some unknown reason, the ability to use this technique also comes with immunity to magic and the inability to use magic," explains the Master.
Bear and Guy realize they have never actually tried to use magic before.
The Master continues, "To learn this power, there are two steps. The first is the deadliest. You must first unlock it on the inside. Like breaking a dam, the power will rush into your body, and if you're not ready, it could destroy you. To release this power without knowing how it feels to begin with is impossible, so I will give you something to help you."
"And what is the second step?" asks Bear.
"The second step is accepting the vision."
"The vision?" asks Guy.
"When used, this power will first show you a vision. This is a truth about yourself that you will have to accept, and if you don't accept what it shows you, you won't be able to use it. This is what we trained our minds for."
The boys don't fully understand, but nod in agreement.
"Okay Bear follow me," says the Master.
Both Guy and Bear get up.
The Master stops Guy, "Not you, go back to the house with Ellian."
"What? No, I'm ready!" says Guy.
Bear sticks up for his brother, "You said you would train us both. I understand it's dangerous, but he can do it!"
"I agreed to train him, not kill him. He isn't going!" The Master is serious this time.
"Go back to house Guy," says the Master.
The Master leads Bear away, leaving Guy behind.
Guy watches Bear leave, and after a moment Guy begins to cry, all the frustration from the last few years finally comes out.
Ellian grabs Guy's hand, "Come on let's go inside."
Guy wipes away his tear and walks back to the house with Ellian.
Toe be continued...