Chapter 8: The First Lesson
The early morning sun barely pierced through the canopy of the forest as Kor stood in the clearing, waiting for Talia. His muscles ached from the battle the day before, but there was no room for weakness now. This was the first step toward finding his parents, and he wasn't about to let anything stand in his way.
Yara sat nearby, sharpening her sword, glancing at him every so often. "Don't let her push you too hard," she said quietly. "She's still hiding something."
"I know," Kor replied. "But I don't have time to waste. I have to get stronger, fast."
Before Yara could respond, Talia emerged from the trees, moving with her usual fluid grace. She wore the same cloak as the day before, her face mostly obscured, but her eyes were as sharp as ever. Without a word, she motioned for Kor to follow her, and they made their way deeper into the forest.
After a few minutes, they reached a small clearing where the ground was littered with rocks and tree stumps. It was a place clearly chosen for training, isolated and surrounded by nature.
"This will do," Talia said, stopping in the center of the clearing. She turned to Kor, her gaze serious. "You've proven that you can survive, but surviving and mastering a weapon are two different things."
Kor nodded, his pulse quickening. He knew that this training was the key to finding his parents, to becoming someone who could face the challenges ahead.
"Draw your weapon," Talia commanded.
Kor unsheathed his knife, gripping the hilt firmly as he faced her. The morning air was cool, but sweat was already beginning to form on his brow. He wasn't sure what to expect from Talia—she had a presence that made him feel like she could strike without warning.
But Talia didn't draw her own weapon. Instead, she watched him for a moment, then shook her head.
"You're tense," she said. "Too eager. A skilled warrior doesn't rush into battle with blind emotion. You have to control yourself first, then control the fight."
Kor frowned, slightly confused. "But I thought—"
"You thought what?" Talia interrupted, stepping closer. "That strength is everything? That swinging a blade faster than your opponent is all it takes?"
Kor opened his mouth to respond, but Talia cut him off again.
"Your strength will fail you if your mind isn't sharp. Today, you'll learn balance and control. Until you master those, you'll never be more than a reckless fighter."
Kor's grip on his knife tightened. "Then show me how."
Talia's lips curled into a small smile. "First, you need to understand your weapon. The knife you carry—it's an extension of yourself. But it's also your greatest vulnerability. You must learn to wield it as if it's part of your own body."
She reached down, picking up a small branch from the ground and tossing it to Kor. "Use this instead of your knife. You're not ready for the real blade yet."
Kor stared at the branch, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. He was expecting intense combat training, not this.
"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice incredulous.
Talia's gaze hardened. "If you can't master the basics, you'll never be able to face what's coming. Now strike."
Reluctantly, Kor gripped the branch and took a stance, trying to imitate how he would hold his knife. He swung at the air, aiming for an invisible target, but Talia's voice cut through the motion.
"Too wide. You're leaving yourself open." She stepped forward, correcting his posture by adjusting his arms and stance. "Small, controlled movements. Keep your center balanced."
Kor tried again, focusing on keeping his movements precise. But it felt unnatural, and after a few more swings, he grew frustrated. "This feels pointless!" he muttered.
"Do you think I'm wasting your time?" Talia asked sharply. "If you want to find your parents, you need to learn how to fight with more than just anger. Your impatience will get you killed."
Kor froze, her words hitting a sensitive spot. His entire reason for training, for everything he was doing, was to find them. The weight of that truth sank in as he realized Talia was right—he couldn't afford to be reckless.
Taking a deep breath, Kor steadied himself and swung again, this time with more focus. His strikes became smaller, more controlled. The tension in his body slowly began to ease as he followed Talia's guidance, his movements becoming smoother.
For the next hour, Talia drilled him relentlessly on his form, correcting every mistake, every misstep. The branch felt lighter with each passing minute, and Kor started to understand what she was teaching him—how to control the weapon and, more importantly, himself.
---
By midday, Kor was drenched in sweat, his arms aching from the constant repetition. Talia finally called for a break, and Kor collapsed onto a nearby rock, catching his breath.
Yara had watched from the sidelines the entire time, her expression unreadable. She walked over, handing him a waterskin. "She's tough," Yara said, her tone light. "But I can see why."
Kor nodded, taking a long drink of water. "I just didn't expect it to be this… slow."
"Strength without control is dangerous," Yara reminded him. "She's teaching you how to stay alive, not just how to fight."
Talia approached them, her demeanor as stoic as ever. "You're improving," she said to Kor, though there was no warmth in her voice. "But you still have a long way to go."
Kor wiped his forehead, his exhaustion evident, but there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "What's next?"
Talia's expression softened ever so slightly. "Next, we work on your instincts. You have to learn how to read your surroundings, how to anticipate your enemy's movements before they happen."
She pointed to the trees surrounding the clearing. "There's more to battle than just swinging a weapon. The world around you is your ally if you know how to use it. We'll begin with an exercise."
Kor stood, his muscles protesting, but he forced himself to stay focused. "What kind of exercise?"
Talia didn't answer directly. Instead, she began walking toward the edge of the clearing. "There's a river about a mile west of here. I want you to get there without being detected."
"By who?" Kor asked, glancing at Yara, who seemed equally puzzled.
Talia stopped and looked over her shoulder, a small, dangerous smile on her face. "By me."
---
The next hour was grueling. Kor moved through the forest, trying to keep his steps light and his presence hidden, but Talia seemed to appear out of nowhere, catching him each time. No matter how quiet he thought he was, she always managed to spot him before he got too far.
"You're thinking too much," Talia said after catching him for the third time. "Stop trying to predict where I'll be. Feel the forest around you. Listen."
Kor gritted his teeth, frustrated but determined. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sounds of the forest—the rustling of leaves, the wind through the trees, the faint trickle of the river in the distance.
This time, when he moved, he let his instincts guide him. He didn't overthink every step, didn't try to second-guess where Talia might be. He just moved.
Minutes passed, and Kor continued toward the river, his senses attuned to the forest. He heard a twig snap to his left and quickly ducked behind a tree. He could feel Talia's presence nearby, but this time, he remained still, blending into the surroundings.
When he finally reached the river, he couldn't believe it. Talia hadn't found him.
As he stepped out from behind a tree, Talia emerged from the shadows, her arms crossed. "Not bad," she said, a rare note of approval in her voice. "You're starting to understand."
Kor smiled, feeling a surge of pride. "I think I'm getting the hang of it."
Talia raised an eyebrow. "Don't get cocky. There's still much more to learn."
As they made their way back to the clearing, Kor couldn't help but feel like he was finally on the right path. He was growing stronger, smarter, and more controlled. And with every step, he felt he was getting closer to finding his parents.
But he knew the hardest part was yet to come.
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End of Chapter 8