The sun had just begun to rise, casting a warm golden light over the large city. Eratz stood at the entrance of the forest, adjusting the straps of his backpack. The morning air was fresh, and the scent of pine mingled with the earthy aroma of the woods. He took a deep breath, savoring the tranquility before the day's chaos.
"Eratz!" a familiar voice called out.
He looked over to see Mercury coming closer, her short blue hair shining in the morning light.
She wore practical clothes: a snug jacket, cargo pants, and strong boots. Next to her was Milo, his eyes sparkling with excitement, he bounced on his toes, full of energy.
"Morning," Eratz greeted with a smile. "Ready for the big day?"
"Always," Mercury replied, a grin tugging at her lips.
"Couldn't sleep at all!" Milo exclaimed, vibrating with enthusiasm. "I've been up since midnight!"
Just then, a small figure peeked out from behind Eratz. Colin stepped forward hesitantly, her eyes darting between Mercury and Milo.
She clutched the straps of her small backpack, fingers fiddling nervously.
"Guys, this is my cousin, Colin," Eratz introduced. "She'll be joining us today."
Colin gave a small, shy wave.
"Hi," she said softly, her gaze briefly meeting Mercury's before flickering away.
Mercury's eyes softened.
"Aw... what a cute girl. Hello, Colin, nice to meet you, glad to have you with us."
Milo leaned in.
"Hello, I'm Milo. I didn't know Eratz had a cousin, nice to meet you."
Colin blinked, her eyes switching to the sides.
"Um... nice to meet you too," she replied, offering a tentative smile.
Eratz chuckled.
"Alright, let's get started. First, we'll explore the forest a bit. It's important to understand the terrain."
They began exploring the forest, the leaves above filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns on the ground.
Bird-like creatures chirped, and the rustling of leaves added a gentle backdrop to their footsteps.
Mercury walked alongside Colin.
"Have you been in the forest before?"
Colin nodded slightly.
"A few times... but not here," she admitted.
"Stick close, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask, okay?"
Colin glanced up at her, a hint of appreciation in her eyes.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Meanwhile, Milo darted from side to side, his attention flitting between every new sight and sound.
"Look at that bird! And those mushrooms, are they edible? Oh, and what's that noise?"
"It's probably the sound of a predator looking for a talking prey." Eratz smirked.
Milo gulped.
"... Good thing that preys only exist in geography channel."
They paused near a large tree, its roots sprawling like ancient veins through the earth. Mercury gestured to markings on the bark.
"See these claw marks? They were made by a Sylvan Lynx. They're nocturnal creatures, so we won't see them now, but it's important to know they're around."
Colin examined the marks closely.
"They're higher than I expected," she observed.
"Very perceptive," Mercury praised. "It shows how agile they are. They're quite difficult to catch."
Milo leaned in, nearly bumping into Colin.
"Whoa, that's so cool! Do you think we'll see one someday?"
Colin stepped back slightly, a bit overwhelmed by his closeness. "Maybe?" she replied softly.
Eratz clapped his hands to get their attention.
"Let's move on to the next area."
As they walked, Mercury continued to share her knowledge of the forest's flora and fauna. Her tone was nurturing, and both Colin and Milo listened intently. Milo's attention would occasionally wander, prompting Eratz to tease him with gruesome tales of beasts lurking nearby.
Milo's eyes widened.
"Eaten alive... Without leaving a trace?"
"Yeah, even the outfits, it's like a sandwich with a bacon wrapping,
"... What's about the shoes?"
"They would try to wear them and squeeze them... Now if you have fake shoes... It's even worse..."
Milo glanced around nervously looking at his muddy basket.
"Mercury... Why were they cheaper than the normal price?"
Mercury tried to not burst in laugh.
"Eratz, seriously..."
After a while, they reached a clearing bathed in sunlight, a gentle stream running nearby.
"Perfect spot for some body destruction," Eratz announced with a playful grin.
Milo pumped his fist.
"Finally! Let's break our bodies!"
Colin glanced around, excitement mingling with nervousness.
"What will we be doing here?"
"Just some basic exercises to build strength and endurance," Eratz explained. "It might seem futile, but it's the foundation for everything else."
They began with running laps around the clearing. Mercury and Eratz adjusted their pace to match the kids.
Colin kept a steady rhythm, her breaths controlled, while Milo sprinted ahead enthusiastically before quickly tiring.
"Wait up... huff... ah..." Milo called, huffing as he slowed down.
"Remember the fate of the slower monster of the pack?" Eratz shouted. "Next time, don't use all your energy at the start. Steady your pace, focus on your breathing. If your lungs burn, slow down. If your stomach hurts, get ready to puke."
Milo nodded, trying to catch up with the others.
"Got it... but... ugh..." Suddenly, he turned to the side and emptied his stomach.
Eratz rolled his eyes.
"That's one way to lighten up."
Next came push-ups and sit-ups. Colin managed well, completing a formidable set of 10 for each, in opposite, Milo struggled, his muscles shaking as he tried to do his 4th push up.
"My life is flashing before my eyes... and it's ridiculous..." he groaned, collapsing onto his side.
Mercury knelt beside him.
"You're doing fine, the key is consistency. Keep practicing every day, and it'll get easier."
"Every day? Like tomorrow too?" Milo asked, eyes widening.
Colin watched with concern.
"Are you okay?"
Milo sighed dramatically.
"My tummy isn't tumming at all..."
After a brief rest, Eratz gathered them. "Now, we'll work on channeling the power of one beast at a time, this is essential for any Beast Master."
Mercury raised an eyebrow.
"You're teaching them that already?"
"Yes, we're doing a full assessment today. Depending on the results, we'll adjust their training."
Colin's eyes widened slightly, with her smile growing timidly.
"Actually... I've seen that at the school's library. I've been practicing that a little with my Fire Spirit, I know how to do it a little."
Milo grinned.
"My Light Fairies are also very intelligent! We're ready, and at least this training won't make me puke!"
"Great," Eratz said. "Find a comfortable spot and focus on your connection with your beast. If you can do it, we'll move on to more advanced training."
"There's more?" Milo gulped.
Colin settled beneath a tall pine tree, closing her eyes. She took a deep breath, hands resting lightly on her lap. A calm enveloped her, and a gentle warmth began to radiate.
Milo, meanwhile, fidgeted where he stood.
"Okay, focus..." he murmured, squeezing his eyes shut.
Mercury approached Colin quietly, observing her. A soft glow emanated from Colin's hands, and wisps of flame danced around her fingertips, swirling gracefully.
"Beautiful," Mercury whispered. "You're really something."
Colin opened her eyes, which now shimmered like embers. The flames responded to her slightest will, weaving patterns in the air.
"It feels... so natural," Colin said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like the Fire Spirit is a part of me."
The atmosphere around her was serene, a sight to see.
Eratz watched with pride.
"You're more talented than I thought, Colin. I think you could really be stronger than me someday."
On the other side, Milo was hopping from one foot to the other.
"Come on, come on," he muttered, his fairies swirling around him, mirroring his scattered thoughts.
Mercury walked over to him.
"Take a deep breath, let go of unnecessary thoughts."
He nodded, inhaling deeply. For a moment, the light steadied, and a tiny orb floated above his palm. But then a bird chirped nearby, and his eyes snapped open.
"The shoes thief!!!" he exclaimed, the orb disappearing.
Mercury suppressed a smile.
"Try to stay focused."
Eratz sighed lightly.
"Milo, perhaps we need to approach this differently. From now on, we'll focus on helping you channel one fairy at a time. Every time you lose focus, there will be a penalty."
Milo looked up warily.
"...What kind of penalty?"
Eratz grinned mischievously.
A few moments later, Milo was hanging upside down from a tree branch, two rocks tied to his wrists.
"Now, Milo, repeat after me: one," Eratz called up calmly.
"HEEEELP!" Milo's scream pierced the forest.
Mercury watched with wide eyes.
As Milo endured his unconventional training, Colin continued to manipulate the flames with increasing confidence. She stood up, the fire swirling around her like a protective aura.
Mercury approached her.
"How do you feel?"
"Better," Colin replied, a small smile playing on her lips. "My arms don't ache anymore."
"Remember the feeling in your heart, it's the key for your growth, You need to replicate it everytime."
Colin nodded, eyes reflecting gratitude.
After some time, Eratz reunited the group.
"Excellent work, both of you. Colin, you're showing a strong aptitude for channeling, so we'll focus more on physical training to balance your skills. Milo, we'll concentrate on enhancing your channeling abilities. Do that until tonight... By the way, Milo, there's this new watch shop in town... Wanna pick something you want?"
Milo, with red wrists, groaned.
"You're not a teacher... you're evil..."
Colin chuckled softly.
"I'll do my best."
"That's all I ask," Eratz said warmly.
Mercury stretched her arms overhead. "Now that they're set for the day, shall we have our own training session?"
Eratz grinned.
"Yeah, I'm starting to feel sleepy. You two stay here and keep practicing. We'll be nearby if you need anything."
"Okay," they chimed in unison.
As Eratz and Mercury moved to a more open area, Colin watched them go, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Milo," she began hesitantly, "I know Eratz seems a little tough, but maybe if you focused a bit more, it would be better? He's not evil at all."
Milo sniffed.
"Then why is he laughing?"
"He didn't laugh..."
"He did! When you had your back turned, he mimed a laugh in silence! He's having fun torturing me!"
Colin shook her head gently.
"Or maybe he was just happy? Perhaps you misunderstood?"
"I'm getting wiser when my beast gets injured or someone is mocking me. I'm very enlightened now, and my beasts aren't injured at all!"
Colin suppressed a giggle.
"Maybe we should both focus on our training."
"... This isn't even a training... It's torture..."
Meanwhile, Eratz released his Thunder Lycaon and several other beasts to watch over Colin and Milo.
"Always a sight to see," Mercury whistled.
"Your turn," Eratz prompted.
Mercury summoned her own beast, a graceful bird with iridescent feathers shimmering between hues of blue and silver. A gentle mist surrounded it, and the air felt cooler.
"An Air and Water type," Eratz observed, impressed. "And rare."
She smirked.
"Meet the Azure Windrider, my baby boy."
He assessed the creature, sensing its strength.
"That's surprising, you have more in stock?"
"We're good to go like this, now let's get back to business, You, me, 1V1." she replied playfully.
He chuckled.
"In that case, I won't hold back."