"Master Harry, why..... why are..... we....not staying....this night at... Mistwood town?" Asked a heavy panting Daniel.
"Our training started the day we stepped out of the Capital's gate, and we don't have time to waste as these guys should reach their home by four months." Harry informed Daniel as they stood at the edge of the Misty Mountains.
" We are entering one of the dangerous place in this kingdom. Everyone, I mean, Daniel, Bella, Daisy, Lilly and Irene be alert and don't wander off far from us. " Harry instructed them and then started walking inside the Misty Mountains. Gulping audibly, Daniel, Bella and Daisy started to follow the others. Even though Rodric, Lilly and Irene were there before, they were only at the perimeter of the Misty Mountains range.
That night while sitting on the roots of a huge tree, Harry revealed his plans. " Lads, I will take Rodrick and Daniel inside the mountain and will try to see their endurance before starting their Iron Body transformation training. If not a full body transformation I will see if they can achieve an Iron hand and the Iron leg."
All six of Harry's disciples looked at each other and noded their head, then Alan said, "I have a solution for them to achieve full body transformation. But, the effect will be at most 70% of what we had achieved."
Alan then took out a few glass vail's filled with a translucent green liquid. This portion will numb the pain by 80% but due to the numbness of your muscle and tissue, the absorption of essential energy will be reduced by 30%.
Harry looked impressed at Alan, and nodded his head in approval. Alan continued, " I would suggest you guys to first have the iron hand and if possible Iron leg transformation done in the traditional way. If you feel you can't take the pain anymore, you can use one vial of portion every time, before the start of the process."
Both Rodrick and Daniel nodded in agreement. Relief visible on their face.
"Sleep well you two, from tomorrow we will start our real training." Harry said with a wide grin. Then he turned at Alan and looked thoughtful for a few seconds." Alan, why don't you all start your journey towards Winden city? You can come back after 4 months to the meadows and get us back to the Winden City in no time."
Alan looked surprised but grinned wide. Not only Alan but other five were also grinning widely. "Will do that Master Harry, will do exactly that." Alan said rubbing his hand in exitement.
"By the way, you will encounter Blacky and her mother, tell her that I will come back for her in six months." Harry agreed to relay Alan's message to his beast friends.
Everyone slept peacefully whike Chris agreeing to take the guard duty for the night.
Everyone went to sleep, after a few minutes of discussion and planning. After an hour Daisy got up, came and sat next to Chris, and looked up at the sky. As they were still at the edge, the sky was visible and was full of starts. She started to whisper in a low voice.....
"Chris, do you know, I always considered you as a star in the sky. Such a talented person, you had achieved so much at such an young age. I always admired you. Your silence, your smile and your patience made me gravitate towards you. Unknowingly, I started liking you. In fact I fell in love with you without my own knowledge."
"I tried to let go of my feeling more than once. But, once your hearts accepts someone, then it will loose all its rationality to think and listen to your mind. I am so sorry, because of me you felt so awkward infront of everyone before we left my home." Then she lowered her head and sat silently.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Chris spoke, " Daisy, Let me tell you something that I had almost forgot these past few years...."
Then he began his story. Loosing his parents infront of his eyes as a kid, how he started to work at healing halls, cleaning sickly and injured peoples waste. Carrying out the cleaning duty. How his determination of being a good healer made him survive all his hardships.
" You know Daisy, I never felt loved since my parents death when I was around 6 years old. For the next 7 years what I got from everyone was pitty or disgust at my fate for me, being poor and orphan." He became silent for a few seconds, before continuing again with a distant look and solemn expression. Daisy was now looking at Chris with unblinking gaze. Shocked to know how much he had to suffer during his childhood.
"Until, One day my brother's took me to their home. That day, everything changed. It showed me that even being a wealthy person, how someone can welcome you with open heart. Accept you without any reservation or judging you by your past or your social status. That day I felt loved for first time in more than 7 years. The love that kept growing along with the time. I found not one but two loving families. Two sisters, Five brothers aunt's and uncle's, grandfather's and grandmother's. Even I found good friends, he pointed at Irene, Rodrick, Daniel and Bella.
And now I came to know that, I am lucky enough to be loved by someone. Do you know why I didn't accept you immediately? I wanted to talk to you and show you how my life after my studies and travel will be. My life will not be living a happily ever after one. It will be filled with blood, pain and sorrow. Yes, there will be satisfaction of healing someone and making their family members happy. The dream and the goal towards which I strived and dedicated so much."