The warmth of Syltar's hut enveloped Amukelo as he stepped inside, a stark contrast to the biting cold and emotional turmoil he had endured outside. Syltar, quick to sense the depth of Amukelo's distress, wrapped him in a warm blanket and guided him to a seat next to the stove. The gentle heat from the fire seeped into his chilled bones, but it did little to thaw the icy grip of grief that clung to his heart.
"What happened? You haven't visited me in quite some time," Syltar asked, his voice steady and calm, a soothing presence in the storm of Amukelo's emotions.
Amukelo's eyes, hollow and red-rimmed from tears, were fixed on the dancing flames as he struggled to articulate his pain. "I... My mother has died... I don't... don't know what to do..." His voice broke, the words barely a whisper amidst the crackling of the fire.
Syltar's expression softened, a rare glimpse of empathy from an elf known for their emotional restraint, possibly a result of their long lifespans which made them witness to countless human sorrows. "Loss is an inevitable part of our lives," Syltar began gently, choosing his words with care. "The fact that you lost your mother is a correct way of nature. It would be much worse for your mother to lose you."
Amukelo lifted his gaze to meet Syltar's, pain and understanding mingling in his eyes. The elf's words, though hard, carried a truth that resonated with him, grounding him in the harsh realities of life.
"You can either be overshadowed by your grief or use that emotion to become whoever you want to be," Syltar continued, his voice firm yet encouraging.
"I... I want to be a warrior... An adventurer... I promised... I promised my mother..." Amukelo's voice was firmer now, the seeds of a resolve taking root amidst his sorrow.
Syltar regarded him with a thoughtful look, then nodded slowly. "Then there is no better use of your bucket of emotions than to become one," he said.
"But... But how?" Amukelo's doubt surfaced, his practical concerns overtaking his brief moment of determination. "Everyone in the village is just normal hunters at best, and if I were to go on an adventure now, I would die as soon as I left."
A knowing smile crept across Syltar's face, the kind that hinted at deeper knowledge and plans. "I think I know the solution," he said, sparking a flicker of hope in Amukelo's eyes. "I will train you. In two years, you will leave this village and begin your adventure. There is no better teacher than life."
Amukelo's heart, weighed down by loss, now felt a surge of purpose. Training under Syltar, a prospect that both excited and terrified him, suddenly seemed like the path he was meant to take. It was not just a way to fulfill his promise to his mother, but a chance to forge a future that could make her proud, to transform his grief into strength.
Syltar's tone was firm and unyielding as he laid out the terms of Amukelo's new life under his tutelage. "From now on, you will sleep here, eat here, and do everything I say, do you understand?" His gaze was piercing, challenging Amukelo to commit fully to the path ahead.
Amukelo, his resolve steeled by the gravity of his situation and the weight of his promise to his mother, nodded firmly in agreement. Understanding the enormity of the commitment he was making, he felt a mix of trepidation and determination stir within him.
"Good," Syltar continued, his voice slightly softening as he acknowledged Amukelo's acceptance. "From now on, you will have to transform your sadness and grief into anger. This will be your strongest superpower. You will have to channel every negative emotion into your work. We will start tomorrow. Now take some rest, as you are chilled."
Amukelo listened intently, the concept of converting his grief into a driving force a challenging but intriguing strategy. It was a different approach to handling emotions, one that required harnessing them as fuel rather than being overwhelmed by them.
"Today, I will hunt for food, but from tomorrow, your training begins, and you will have to learn to do all that by yourself," Syltar added, setting the expectations high from the outset. He then gestured towards a spare blanket. "You can use this one. Choose to either sleep on it or cover yourself with it."
The day wound down quietly as Amukelo settled into his new surroundings, the reality of his drastic life change slowly sinking in. He wrapped the blanket around himself, choosing to use it for warmth rather than comfort, and tried to steel his mind for the days ahead.
The next morning, Syltar commenced the training with no concessions to the harsh winter weather. Amukelo, still in the thin clothes he had arrived in, felt the cold bite into his skin as they stepped outside. Syltar handed him a wooden sword and positioned himself a few feet away, his hands casually tucked behind his back, his posture relaxed yet unmistakably alert.
"Attack me," Syltar instructed, his voice calm.
Amukelo, fueled by a mix of nervous energy and a desperate desire to prove himself, swung the wooden sword towards Syltar. The blade sliced through the air but missed its target as Syltar shifted slightly, an almost imperceptible movement that nonetheless put him out of reach.
Frustrated but determined, Amukelo tried again, and again his attempts failed to connect. Each miss fueled his growing frustration, his swings becoming more forceful yet less controlled.
"How do you expect to protect anyone being this weak?" Syltar chided, his words sharp, designed to provoke and push Amukelo further.
The remark struck a chord, igniting a spark of anger in Amukelo. His eyes flashed with a fierce determination as he attacked repeatedly, each swing carrying more weight, more emotion. Hours passed, the cold seeping into his bones, his muscles aching from exertion, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"Enough," Syltar finally declared, his voice cutting through the cold air as Amukelo's arms dropped to his sides, exhaustion overtaking him. As Amukelo turned towards the hut, seeking the brief respite it offered, Syltar's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Amukelo," Syltar called out, his tone now carrying a seriousness that demanded attention.
Amukelo paused, turning to face his mentor, his body tense, ready for whatever came next. Syltar's gaze held him firmly, a silent communication that this was just the beginning, that the path he had chosen was not just about physical training, but a transformation of his very being.