Elara stirred first, her eyes fluttering open to the soft morning light filtering through the window. She felt Rian's warmth next to her, his arm wrapped around her. Slowly, she turned her head, meeting his gaze as he began to wake. A tender smile spread across his lips.
"Good morning," Rian murmured, his voice husky from sleep.
"Good morning," Elara replied softly, her fingers gently tracing his face.
Their moment of peace was interrupted by the sight of the room around them. The bed lay in ruins, the frame broken. Blankets and pillows were scattered on the floor. The table was slightly askew, and the sofa showed signs of their wild week.
Rian chuckled softly, shaking his head. "We really made a mess."
Elara blushed, nodding. "We should get dressed quickly before anyone sees."
Rian sat up first, helping Elara to sit. She winced slightly, her body still sore. "Here, let me help," he said gently.
He found her clothes and began dressing her with care.
Once she was dressed, Rian slipped into his own clothes. Then he scooped Elara up into his arms, cradling her against his chest as he carried her out of the tavern.
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They walked along a forest trail, surrounded by the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves. Elara leaned on Rian, still sore but comforted by his presence.
Soon, they reached Elara's house, a cozy cottage nestled among the trees. As they approached, the front door flew open, and Elara's younger brother, Eli, ran out to greet them. His face lit up with joy as he saw his sister.
"Elara! The Hero!" Eli shouted, sprinting towards them.
Elara's eyes filled with tears of happiness as she opened her arms to embrace her brother. "Eli, I missed you so much," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Eli hugged both of them tightly. "I missed you too, Elara! I'm so glad you're back."
Rian ruffled Eli's hair with a smile. "Long time no see, kid," he said warmly.
Eli pulled away from the hug, looking up at Rian with wide eyes. "Did you save Elara again?" he asked eagerly, seeing Rian as a hero.
Elara smiled warmly at her brother, then glanced at Rian with a twinkle in her eye. "Yes, he did," she said, her voice filled with gratitude and affection. She leaned in and gave Rian a quick peck on the lips.
Eli's eyes widened in shock, his mouth dropping open. "Ew, gross!" he exclaimed, scrunching up his nose. "You kissed him!"
Rian laughed, ruffling Eli's hair again. "Get used to it, kid," he said with a grin. "Your sister and I are pretty close."
Elara chuckled, pulling her brother into another hug. "Don't worry, Eli. You'll understand when you're older."
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Rian, Elara, and Eli settled down at the small wooden table in Elara's cozy cottage. Rian had insisted on treating them to a meal, and soon the table was filled with warm bread, roasted meat, and fresh fruit. Eli dug in, his earlier shock forgotten as he enjoyed the food.
As they finished eating, Rian reached into his pouch and pulled out a small leather bag, handing it to Elara. "Here, this is for you and Eli," he said, placing the pouch in her hand.
Elara opened it and gasped. "Rian, this is 400 gold! It's too much."
Rian shook his head with a smile. "You two need it more than I do. Take it, please."
Elara's eyes softened as she looked at him. "Thank you," she said sincerely, squeezing his hand.
Rian then pulled out a folded piece of parchment and handed it to Elara. She opened it and read the flyer. It was a notice for an S-Class dungeon raid, calling for skilled adventurers to join the mission.
"The raid is in two weeks," Rian announced, his voice steady and determined. "I'll be spending most of my time training to sharpen my already elite skills."
Eli's eyes widened with excitement, and he jumped up from his seat. "Rian, can you train me too?" he asked eagerly. "Maybe you can help me unlock some magic and gain some strength to protect Elara in the future, and others who need it!"
Rian's gaze softened as he looked at Eli. "Of course, Eli," he replied warmly. "I'd be honored to train you and help you become stronger. But remember, it takes dedication and hard work."
Eli nodded eagerly, his determination shining in his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes!" he exclaimed.
Elara smiled proudly at her brother.
The next morning, before the sun had risen, Rian quietly slipped out of bed. He dressed quickly in a simple sleeveless shirt, pants, and running shoes. Grabbing an apple from the kitchen, he ate it swiftly for some quick fuel. Then, he picked up another apple and headed to Eli's room.
With a practiced aim, Rian gently tossed the apple at Eli, hitting him on the shoulder and waking him up. "Time for training, Eli. Hurry up, eat the apple, and get ready," Rian said in a stern voice.
Eli groaned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up and saw Rian standing in the doorway. He took a bite of the apple, his expression a mix of grogginess and determination. "Alright, I'm getting up," he mumbled through a mouthful of apple.
"Good. We'll start with a light jog to warm up," Rian said, crossing his arms as he watched Eli finish the apple and quickly change into his training clothes.
Eli stumbled a bit as he put on his shoes, still half-asleep but driven by the desire to impress Rian and get stronger. They stepped outside into the cool pre-dawn air, and Eli shivered slightly. Rian placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"We'll do one lap around the town together," Rian explained. "If you feel up to it after that, you can join me for more. I'm planning to do eight laps today."
Eli nodded, yawning. "One lap. Got it."
They began jogging at a steady pace, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet streets. Eli struggled at first, his breath coming in short bursts as he tried to keep up with Rian.
Rian glanced at him with a supportive smile. "You're doing great, Eli. Just keep your pace steady and focus on your breathing."
As they continued, Eli found a rhythm, his breath evening out and his steps becoming more confident. They completed the first lap, and Eli looked up at Rian with a mix of exhaustion and pride.
"Do you want to keep going, or are you done for now?" Rian asked, his tone gentle.
Eli took a deep breath, considering. "I'll stick with you for another lap," he decided, determination shining in his eyes.
Rian nodded, pleased. "Good choice. Let's keep going then."
After the jog, they returned to the cottage. Rian led Eli to a clearing behind the house where they could train without interruptions. He started with basic stretching exercises to warm up their muscles. Eli followed along, struggling to match Rian's flexibility and precision.
"Keep your back straight, Eli," Rian instructed, gently correcting Eli's posture. "Stretching properly is important to avoid injuries."
After their stretching exercises, Rian led Eli deeper into the forest, where the trees grew thicker and created a natural obstacle course. The morning light filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Rian picked up several stones, each about the size of a fist, and placed them strategically among the trees to create a makeshift agility course.
"Eli, this is where we'll test your agility," Rian explained, gesturing to the course he had set up. "You'll need to weave through the trees and stones as quickly as you can. I'll time you so we can track your progress."
Eli nodded eagerly, his determination to prove himself evident in his eyes. "Got it, Rian."
Rian positioned himself at the starting point while Eli took a deep breath to steel himself. With a nod from Rian, Eli took off with determined strides, his small frame moving swiftly through the dense undergrowth of the forest. The first few obstacles came relatively easy as he deftly dodged between the trees and skirted around the stones Rian had strategically placed. His movements were cautious yet filled with eagerness to impress Rian.
However, as Eli ventured deeper into the course, the challenges became more apparent. His foot caught on a protruding root, causing him to stumble but quickly regain his balance. He pushed onward, weaving around the trees with increasing speed, albeit with occasional slips and near-falls.
At one point, Eli attempted a sharp turn around a large tree trunk, but his momentum carried him too far, and he crashed into the trunk with a soft thud. He rubbed his scraped knee but didn't let it deter him. Rian remained silent, observing Eli's progress intently.
The course demanded quick reflexes and agility, traits that Eli was still developing. He approached a section where the trees grew closer together, forcing him to duck and weave through the narrow gaps. His progress slowed as he hesitated, unsure of the best path forward. Eli's determination kept him going, albeit with a few more scrapes and minor falls along the way.
As he neared the final stretch, Eli's breathing was heavy, his little chest rising and falling rapidly. With a final burst of energy, he sprinted towards the last obstacle—a series of stones laid out in a zigzag pattern. He leaped over the first few successfully but misjudged the distance on the last stone, landing awkwardly and stumbling across the imaginary finish line.
After Eli stumbled across the finish line, panting heavily, Rian approached him with a neutral expression. "Eli, your time was 4 minutes and 15 seconds," Rian stated matter-of-factly. "That's not bad for a first attempt, but there's a lot of room for improvement."
Eli looked up at Rian, disappointment evident in his eyes. He accepted the roll of bandages from Rian and began patching up his scraped knee without a word.
Rian nodded at Eli's silent determination, then turned towards the makeshift course he had set up. He took a deep breath, focused his gaze, and without hesitation, he sprinted towards the starting point.
His first lap was steady as he navigated the obstacles with precision, his movements fluid and controlled. Each jump over the stones was timed perfectly, and he smoothly maneuvered through the tight gaps between trees.
As Rian completed his first lap, he didn't pause for rest but immediately began his second lap. This time, he pushed himself harder, his muscles straining slightly as he aimed to shave off a few seconds from his previous time.
By the third lap, Rian's speed increased noticeably. His breaths were steady, and his steps were purposeful as he mastered the course, anticipating each obstacle with ease.
The fourth lap saw Rian maintaining his momentum, his focus unwavering. He leaped over fallen branches and darted around trees, demonstrating the agility and skill that came with years of training and experience.
With each lap, Rian's technique became more refined. He adjusted his approach to each obstacle, finding the quickest routes and minimizing any unnecessary movements. His determination to improve was evident in every stride.
By the fifth lap, Rian's speed was impressive. He was now weaving through the course with almost effortless grace, pushing himself to the limits of his agility and stamina.
The sixth lap was a testament to Rian's endurance. Despite the physical exertion, he maintained a steady pace, his movements fluid and controlled as he conquered the obstacles with practiced efficiency.
As Rian embarked on his seventh lap, he focused solely on surpassing his own expectations. His muscles protested with fatigue, but his determination only grew stronger with each passing obstacle he conquered.
Finally, on the eighth and final lap, Rian gave it his all. His body moved with a precision honed through years of rigorous training. He leaped over the stones with a burst of energy, his speed reaching its peak as he crossed the finish line in a time that showcased his elite skills.
Breathing heavily, Rian walked back to where Eli was still patching himself up. He sat down next to him, catching his breath. "Eli," he began, his voice calm but firm, "you've got potential, but today's performance wasn't pretty. You need to work on your agility and focus. It's not just about speed; it's about technique and efficiency."
Eli looked up at Rian, his determination renewed despite the criticism. "I'll keep practicing," he said earnestly, his eyes reflecting his resolve.
Rian nodded approvingly. "Good. Remember, improvement takes time and effort. Now, let's head back to the cottage. You've got breakfast waiting, and we'll discuss what you can do to improve your agility training."