Yesterday, I faced some issues and couldn't post. To compensate, today's and tomorrow's chapters will be extended.
Arthur, who was prepared to run as soon as he came up behind the wolves, was stuck firmly in place and just a few meters away from him was the same elephant he had seen before, around it was countless other species as well, and among them were the same monkeys that had been the first to chase him.
- What the fuck? - Arthur whispered to himself as he looked around, he was surrounded at the moment, and all the animals had stopped running and were just watching him.
Arthur who was standing on the spot had never felt so suffocated before, so many eyes watching him with obvious hostility left him planted on the spot, he wanted to teleport immediately, however, he couldn't, his eye was glowing blue, but the spot he was on didn't change and as time passed the glow in Arthur's eye diminished until after several seconds the glow disappeared, the mark was still there and could be seen, but Arthur didn't try to teleport anymore, he just stood motionless looking at the ground.
The silence lasted for a long time and more than a minute passed in this situation and the tension made Arthur feel anxious, he ended up squeezing the stick that Samantha had handed him earlier, but as soon as this happened the grunting of the elephant and several other animals sounded, then the ground shook and before Arthur could raise his head the world seemed to lose its colors, and the sounds of grunting disappeared and everything went dark.
- It's going to be a long road... - Samantha said as she looked at the images on the screen she had created. After shaking her head negatively, her expression became a little sad and she muttered. - I'm sorry if we had time... I didn't mean to make you feel that way. - Samantha said this before sighing.
The place where Arthur's body had been before now contained several animals, the several meters that had been completely free between Arthur and the animals before were now completely occupied, several animals were circling and fighting each other over clusters of flames that resembled human limbs, this continued for many minutes until the entire cluster of flames disappeared. When the cluster of flames disappeared, small flames converged in the sky, and the number 1 was formed by orange flames, after this number was formed it began to squirm and from it another cluster of flames came out, and in a few seconds these flames took the shape of a human body, and in less than a minute the figure of Arthur was revealed.
- Coff! Coff! - Arthur started coughing before opening his eyes, and after coughing for several seconds he desperately opened his eyes and looked around, and all he saw was the number one that had just formed. - I-I... How am I alive? - Arthur looked at himself without understanding, looking around there was only the number one, and this left him confused, but unfortunately for Arthur his confusion was short-lived, as soon as he thought about reaching out to touch it a handful of flames separated from the number and began to change shape, this change was rapid, and in a few moments the staff that Samantha had handed him earlier appeared in front of him; raising his right hand to the staff he grabbed it and as soon as he held the staff it began to fall.
- Ah!" Arthur fell faster and faster as he screamed, and as he fell, he realized why he hadn't seen any of the animals as he looked around; he was simply too high, and it was only after falling for several seconds that he was able to see the various colored dots.
- Is this serious? I just... I thought I was dead, and I have to carry on like this?! - Arthur shouted as he got closer and closer to the ground.
Samantha, who was looking at the screen, had a sad look on her face, her smile, which was practically constant, was not on her face at the moment, her crimson eyes were shining thanks to the tears she had accumulated since the beginning of the training session; at the moment, an hour had passed and the number "1" that had appeared before had multiplied dozens of times, making the number displayed "35", and again, as in the last thirty-four times, a cluster of flames separated from the number and began to take the shape of a human.
Arthur appeared on the screen again and the staff appeared in his hand again, and now his eyes no longer showed fear or anger or even indignation, they just looked sad as they fell towards the various animals, he watched them and whispered to himself. - If hell existed, would it be like this place? - Arthur's words no longer had the insults or pleas for help that he had at first, and observing Arthur's expression, listening to his tone as he asked and remembering that he is only a boy of just over eight, his eyes that had been shining before began to overflow with tears, Samantha didn't know how many times she had cried seeing the boy's suffering, she didn't know how many times she had to hold herself back from stopping Arthur's training, but remembering that the seal was running out she just forced herself to continue ignoring his pleas, it was hard for her, but it wasn't a big problem; ; the real problem was when Arthur's cries and pleas began to cease, Samantha knew that this meant he was reaching an emotional state that was difficult to come back from, but she stood her ground nonetheless, she needed to do this for him and for herself too.
Samantha had stood her ground until now, but Arthur's words now reminded her of the same words she had said when she was twelve, the same words her family had made her say, and remembering the despair she had felt at the time she decided to ignore the seal that was about to disappear, she decided to ignore the urgency needed in the boy's growth and at least at that moment she decided to help Arthur, even if against the training she had received, she didn't care now, she would at least give him a break.
Arthur, who was staring at the countless animals with eyes full of resignation, changed his expression on the spot, from resigned to confused, then incredulous and even joyful; Arthur had a smile on his face while tears poured from his eyes as he looked at Samantha who was sitting on the bed looking at him.
- Thank you... - Arthur murmured in a slightly hoarse voice as he tried to hold back the urge to cry.
Looking at Arthur crying and thanking him, Samantha's conscience became extremely heavy, and her eyes filled with tears again as she stared at Arthur. - I'm sorry, I should have considered your training better. - Samantha said as tears streamed down her face.
- That's... Er... - Arthur stared blankly at Samantha, during the training he had indeed insulted Samantha numerous times, but then he had apologized and asked for help, but even though Arthur had shouted several times that he was sorry, deep down he felt only anger at her and the torture he was suffering, but now that she had apologized, and seeing her expression that overflowed with sadness, he didn't quite know what to do with his previous resentment, strangely he couldn't get angry with her at the moment and it just made him frustrated.
Arthur felt frustrated, even if he didn't feel angry with Samantha now, he was still resentful of her situation, he unconsciously frowned with a frown, which when put into his childish expression made him adorable, like a child who was hurt.
Looking at this childish expression that appeared to be hurt made Samantha feel more at ease, she thought to herself. 'Looks like it wasn't so bad, thank goodness'. Samantha put a gentle smile on her face and faced Arthur, but even though she had put a smile on her face, the tears didn't stop immediately.
- Arthur. - Samantha called out to Arthur in a slightly hoarse voice.
- Hmm... - Arthur stared at Samantha who had called his name.
- I'm sorry, my negligence made you suffer needlessly, I'm going to modify the training a little, is that all right with you? - Samantha asked Arthur as she wiped the tears from her face.
- ...Uh... - Arthur just nodded to Samantha as he watched her dry her tears with a smile still on her face. 'Strange... If you're going to regret it so much, it would have been easier not to do that stupid training. Arthur thought to himself with a bemused expression on his face; despite being in a strange mood, he had calmed down and had practically forgotten what had happened while he was in Samantha's presence; at the moment, neither of them had realized it, and it would be a long time before they realized how much the bond Samantha had created between them would bring them closer over time.
Looking at Arthur's expression, Samantha knew that he was dissatisfied with the training, so she decided to explain its purpose further. - Arthur, I know the training is difficult, but you really need it in your current state. - Samantha paused to take a breath and intended to return, but Arthur didn't wait for her to resume her explanation this time.
- Have you ever been through such crazy training? - Arthur asked with a frown.
- Not exactly. - Samantha replied and waited to see Arthur's reaction.
After hearing Samantha's reply, Arthur felt suffocated, the anger he had left behind returned and became even more explosive, his expression, which could be described as a child throwing a tantrum, changed profoundly for the moment, there was only anger on his face. With his eyebrows furrowed and his crimson eyes staring at Samantha, he asked. - You've never done that! Then why ME?! Why did I have to do this shit?! - Arthur screamed as tears began to well up in his eyes.
- Arthur... - Samantha, who wanted to explain further to Arthur, was interrupted by a tearful whisper from Arthur. - Arthur: Why? Because I had to... all that... - Arthur began to cry as he continued to ask Samantha.
Seeing Arthur's state Samantha let the tears she had just dried run down her face again, then she got up and walked over to Arthur. Arthur, who was crying, closed his eyes and started to wipe his tears with his arms, but it didn't work, he just kept crying and wiping them over and over again, and this went on until he felt himself being pulled forward, instinctively he tried to go backwards, but there were two arms around him that stopped him, before Arthur even opened his eyes he heard Samantha's voice. - I'm sorry. - A single word caused even more tears to fall from Arthur's eyes, and he asked. - Why did you do that? Why did you do that!? - Arthur's voice was shaky when he asked, and if it hadn't been for his "bond", the boy would already have sutured.
- I'm sorry, I really am. - Samantha gave Arthur no answer, and just apologized again.
Arthur was still angry, he still wanted an explanation, but at the moment, not even he realized that the only thing he wanted was to hear those simple words, he kept asking the same questions, and Samantha just kept apologizing, and gradually he calmed; after he calmed down, he even returned Samantha's hug, and stayed like that for a few minutes. When Samantha saw that he had calmed down, she sat down on the floor and put him on her lap. - Can you accept my apology? - Samantha asked in a gentle voice as she stroked Arthur's hair, who was still hugging her. - Uh-huh. - Arthur nodded.
Samantha kept stroking his hair as she asked. - Do you want to know why I gave you this training?
Arthur didn't answer immediately, he pondered for several seconds, only after more than a minute had passed Arthur turned away from Samantha and sat down facing her, taking a breath of air he stared into Samantha's crimson eyes with an uncertain expression and spoke. - I think so.
- Do you think? - Samantha smiled at Arthur's words.
Arthur nodded like a typical child and stared at Samantha, seeing Arthur's actions Samantha couldn't help but let her lips arch into a dazzling, joyful smile, she then looked lovingly at Arthur, the way a mother would look at her child, and after stroking his hair she said with a more restrained smile. - I was taught in a similar way, the only exact difference being that I never died. - Samantha said calmly as she stroked Arthur's hair with a smile on her face.
- Not once? - Arthur was surprised when he heard Samantha's words.
- Yes, not once... Well, back then I was training the flame mark and not this one, so it was a different situation in a way. - Samantha said with a thoughtful face.
- It's still incredible! I don't see myself being able to handle so many animals on my own! - Arthur said with obvious admiration in his tone and expression.
- I couldn't cope on my own. - Samantha, who seemed to be thinking about the past, couldn't keep the smile off her face at the moment.
- Did they help you? - Arthur asked, his voice a little low, and in his expression, it was possible to see a certain disappointment.
- Hmm... I guess I could say yes, but I honestly didn't appreciate the help. - Samantha brought the index finger of her left hand to the bottom of her lips and pushed them upwards while she thought, she didn't even seem to notice the disappointment in Arthur's expression at the moment.
Arthur looked at her uncomprehendingly, it made no sense to him that she didn't like receiving help with training. - Why?
- Hm? - Samantha stopped rambling and looked at Arthur, seeing the doubt in his expression, and remembering Arthur's experience she understood the reason for the question, so she adjusted her posture, and with both hands placed Arthur on her lap. - Arthur, my training was different from yours, but it was the same at the same time, do you want to know why I said that? - Samantha asked as she looked straight into Arthur's eyes.