(Umar' POV)
The game continued, but each round ended the same way – with me on the ground, bewildered and astonished before I could even react. Aelarion's speed and agility were beyond anything I had anticipated, even knowing he was a dragon. It was a stark reminder of the physical differences between our species.
"Hey, Umar! Let me do my spell! Why do you not react when I come?" Aelarion asked, a mix of amusement and confusion in his voice. He was moving so fast that it seemed like he was merely a blur, a flicker of movement that was there one moment and gone the next.
I, still reeling from the shock of being outmaneuvered so easily, tried to muster a response. "Hmm, I-I-it's just, I think I might still be a little stunned," I said, laughing awkwardly, trying to mask my embarrassment. I avoided his gaze, feeling a bit sheepish.
Aelarion tilted his head, observing me with a curious expression. "Really? You seem fine, though! Do you wanna stop for now?"
Determined not to admit defeat, I quickly exclaimed, "No! Let's continue. I am just still digesting the heavy meal we had, that's it, right, it's the meal!"
A knowing smile crept across Aelarion's face, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "The meal? You sure about that? I thought it was because you were still stunned?"
I fumbled for a response, feeling slightly cornered. "Y-yeah, there's that too, i-it's both of them!" I stammered.
Aelarion's smile grew wider, his tone playfully teasing. "Really? Do you wanna give up then? I don't mind, you know? We can start again later. I guess this is my victory then, hehe, hehehe, hehehe..."
"Never!" I retorted, my competitive spirit flaring up. "Let's go again. I-I'll be better this time!"
As we resumed the game, I tried to focus, to anticipate Aelarion's movements. But it was like trying to catch the wind. He moved with a grace and speed that was almost otherworldly. Each time he approached, it was like a flash of lightning – quick, powerful, and impossible to predict.
The glade around us became a blur as we darted back and forth, our game of 'mage' transforming into an impromptu lesson in dragon agility. Aelarion's laughter filled the air, a sound of pure joy and excitement that was infectious, despite my repeated defeats.
As we entered our seventh round of the playful 'mage' duel, something shifted within me. Aelarion, the dragon boy with the speed of a gusting wind, was still a blur, but now, for the first time, I began to discern the nuances of his movement. It was an incredible feat, considering that Aelarion wasn't even using any spells to boost his speed. His astonishing velocity was purely physical, an innate ability of his dragon heritage.
This revelation made me acutely aware of the natural gap between our abilities. Despite this, I braced myself as Aelarion advanced, determined to at least attempt to dodge his swift approach. Yet, as swift as I thought I had become, it was still not enough. With a whoosh, I found myself on the ground again for the seventh time. But this time, I wasn't frustrated or embarrassed; instead, there was a newfound respect and a sense of achievement in having been able to perceive his movement at all.
Aelarion stopped and looked down at me, a playful smirk on his face. "You saw me coming this time, didn't you?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Pulling myself up once more, I brushed off the grass and dirt from my clothes. "Yeah, I don't know how, but I think I might be adapting to it. Ah! You knew I couldn't see you?" I replied, half in awe, half in jest.
Aelarion let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha, I figured it out the fourth time you fell. Every time I moved, your eyes didn't even follow me, so I realized you might not be able to react fast enough to me. You still don't wanna give up, do you?"
His observation was spot on. I had been completely outpaced in each round, but with each fall, my determination only grew stronger. Smiling resolutely, I responded, "Never."
The game continued, and with each round, I found myself becoming more attuned to Aelarion's movements. Though I was still no match for his dragon speed, the mere act of beginning to see and anticipate his movements felt like a victory in itself. It was a thrilling experience, pushing the limits of my reflexes and adapting to a challenge I had never faced before.
Our game of 'mage' had extended far beyond what I initially anticipated, reaching the 20th round. With each attempt, my ability to perceive Aelarion's movements improved slightly, though I was still far from being able to dodge his swift attacks. Exhausted, I lay on the ground, gazing up at the sky, now a canvas of stars, and engaged in more conversation with Aelarion.
"It's amazing, dragons are amazing," I said, still trying to catch my breath. "You guys are even better than everything I imagined. How are you so strong and fast? I've never seen anyone this fast!"
Aelarion puffed his chest out with pride, clearly flattered by my admiration. "Haha, well, I told you I was strong, didn't I? Master is even faster and stronger, but even then, I almost won three times!"
I chuckled, imagining the disbelief on my brother Isma's face when I would recount today's events. "Man, I can't wait to tell this to Isma. He always said he could beat a dragon in a fight. I wanna see you give him a lesson so bad! Hahaha."
Aelarion's eyes gleamed with a mix of pride and mischief. "You mean a lesson like the one I gave you?" he teased.
Despite my defeat, I couldn't help but laugh. "Haha, you didn't beat me yet, you know? I didn't give up yet. Haaa, Isma must be home by now. Mom and dad are gonna kill me; they must be on their way to the forest now..."
Aelarion's next words stopped me in my tracks. "Wow, you guys can go that far away from home without restriction? Three days' worth of distance, that seems unreal to me..."
I sat up abruptly. "Wait, what? What did you say?" I asked, confusion evident in my voice.
Aelarion seemed puzzled by my reaction. "Oh, I mean you have so much liberty to roam such long distances. I just think you're lucky!"
"No, no, I meant the three days. You said three days of walking?" I pressed, a sense of urgency creeping into my voice.
"Well, yeah, if you've been here for three days and they are only now getting into the forest, it means that you went pretty far, right? Wait- ah! You were asleep, of course, you couldn't know! You've been here since three days!" Aelarion explained, his tone casual as if the revelation was a simple matter of fact.
"Holy Balastorius crap! I am in trouble!" I exclaimed, my mind reeling. Three days? Had I really been unconscious or asleep for that long? The implications were daunting. My parents, Isma, everyone must be worried sick. The thought of them frantically searching for me, unaware of my inadvertent journey across continents, sent a wave of guilt and concern washing over me.
Aelarion watched me with a look of growing concern. "Umar, are you okay? Is something wrong?"
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to piece together my thoughts. "I... I had no idea. Three days is a long time. Back in Elarian, if a child goes missing for even a few hours, it's a cause for alarm. And here I am, days away from home without any way to contact them."
Aelarion's expression softened. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would be such a big deal. Is there anything I can do to help?"
I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "I don't know, Aelarion. I need to find a way back, but I don't even know where to start. And if Mr. Drakarion is right about the starstride lantern, I might end up somewhere else entirely if I try to use it."
The gravity of my predicament was overwhelming. Stranded in a foreign land, days away from home, with no clear way back – it was the kind of adventure I had always dreamed of, but not like this, not at the cost of worrying my family.
"We should head back," I said finally, pushing myself off the ground. "I need to talk to Mr. Drakarion. Maybe he's found something about the lantern. Maybe there's a way to control it, to get me back to Elarian."