Days passed under the relentless tempo of Garrick's training; the sun rose over Elaris, and Kai and Lia shook off the tired slumber, only to face, day after day of grueling training, the constant pressure of iron weights and the eternal sprints through the trees, their limbs screaming but their spirits growing incrementally like iron.
A month later, It was frosty morning after a rigorous training, Garrick led them into a deeper part of the forest than they had ever set foot in. The same heavy silence hung about like the morning fog: unyielding and thick as stone, and some indrawn glint of steel-tempered resolution shone in his gaze at last as he turned upon them.
You have been training hard," said Garrick, his voice low. "but strength and technique are nothing if you can't hold your own in real combat. Today you will be tested.".
Kai and Lia shared a glance, a spark of excited hope between them, but as Garrick stepped aside to clear a view, the excitment soon dimmed. For before them stood a wild boar, its frame massive with muscle, its eyes dark and calculating as it sniffed the air, sensing their approach.
In books, wild beasts were merely threats to be overcome, words on a page easily swept aside by heroes and champions. But now, in the dim morning light, with the boar's tusks gleaming and its nostrils flaring as it sized them up, Kai and Lia felt the weight of its reality. It was no mere creature; it was a force of nature, dangerous and unrelenting.
Without a word, the boar charged. The ground trembled as it hurtled toward them, its hooves pounding the earth like a war drum. Kai barely had time to raise his sword before the beast crashed into him, knocking the breath from his lungs as he was thrown backward, his back hitting the ground hard.
Lia darted to the side, her hands trembling as she tightened her grip on her blade, desperately circling the beast as she tried to distract it from Kai. She slashed at it, but her blade barely grazed its thick hide, the boar only growing angrier as it bared its teeth and lunged at her.
Kai and Lia fought together, every movement clumsy and slow as if they were stumbling through some bad dream from which they could not awaken. They tried to surround it, attack from both sides, but the boar did not relent, its wild eyes gleaming as it bucked and thrashed, slamming Kai to the ground and scraping Lia's arm with its tusks.
There was blood scattered all around the floor as they were both going back, taking gasping air and battered with bruises but without a word; Garrick crossed his arms and was staring at them with such an unwavering glare. His face was unyielding cold and blank, and one could already tell he did not even plan on doing anything for them.
Fear thumping in her chest, Lia's focus crystalized and she moved now with a purpose to herself: she dodged and parried, striving to strike at the monster's neck. Breathless, Kai worked his way back up on his feet and came up to flanking the other side; their wordless connection between them sent them both moving forward, even as lassitude gnawed at every movement they took.
And then it was almost in desperation that Kai lunged hard, his blade going into the shoulder of the boar. The beast screamed, its legs buckling, it crashing to earth. Lia's breath came in grotesque gasps as she stood staring at the still form before them, the weight of their victory settling over her like a shroud.
But as they looked down at the blood-drenched earth, hollow pains settled in their chests. This wasn't the clear-cut victory they'd read about. It was messy and painful and all too real. Lia couldn't eat that night, thinking of the creature's mad eyes and the warmth of its blood as it leaked into her hands.
---
Days passed, and with each encounter, they grew stronger, their bodies hardening, and their minds sharpening as they learned to navigate the forest's perils. Lia's agility increased ; she moved through the trees like a gust of wind, her steps light and precise, her reflexes so swift that she could evade the charging beasts with little more than a breath. Garrick watched her progress with mild surprise, a silent question lingering in his mind.
One afternoon, as Lia somersaulted over a snarling wolf and struck it down with a precise, fluid motion, Garrick muttered to himself, "What is Aurelia feeding that girl?
Kai was slower but his strength was effective; his strikes became sharper because he was pushing his mind to think at least a few moves ahead of these creatures, predict some pattern, and change attack tactics. The wild beasts weren't so terrible as this had become a matter of wits and endurance and the two friends could understand each other's strong points and weak points.
---
Weeks went by, and a new rivalry was born. Their sparring became more intense as each drove the other to breaking point. They initially were almost equal in most ways, but soon, Kai found himself at a disadvantage; more so, with the sword, Lia's movements flowed like water, and her strikes were pure precision and unrelenting. While Kai's strength lay in the consistency of his endurance, Lia's talent lay in the swiftness and fluidity with which she moved, her blade an extension of her will.
One night, after another sparring match where he found himself on his knees, Kai could not hide the dejection in his eyes. Lia panted and flushed as she sat beside him. "Hey," she said with a small smile, but Kai just looked away, pride hurt.
Garrick, who had watched in silence, called him over. Placing a firm hand on Kai's shoulder, he spoke in a tone both gentle and resolute. "It's not that you lack talent, Kai. But not everyone is meant to master the sword. There are other weapons that suit different strengths, and sometimes, the weapon chooses you."
As if he could soak up Garrick's words into his soul. He had always been captivated by the sword. He had admired heroes using it with such finesse and agility. But seeing his hands, which are calloused, made doubt creep into his mind: was he really not suitable for it?
Hating his own words, he nodded, and his gaze locked hard. "What can I try, then?"
Garrick led him to the weapons rack, a collection of blades, staffs, and axes glinting in the fading light. As Kai's hand brushed over the different weapons, he found himself hesitating, his mind drifting back to the dreams that haunted his sleep. He didn't fully understand them, but he felt a strange pull, as though something from his dreams was calling to him.
Without thinking, he wrapped his hand around the long shaft of a spear; smooth iron was cool beneath his touch. Garrick's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of recognition crossing his face before he doused it. Saying nothing, he nodded then smoothed his expression, almost wearing a wistful look.
"Just like her," he muttered under his breath before clapping Kai on the shoulder. "Let's see how you fare with it.".
From the moment Kai held the spear, it felt right. There was a balance, a rhythm to its weight that seemed to resonate with him, as if the weapon was an extension of his own body. Garrick taught him the foundational techniques, and within days, Kai moved with a newfound grace, the spear flowing in his hands as naturally as the air he breathed.
Lia watched, her eyes wide with admiration as Kai mastered the weapon with astonishing speed. She barely had time to react during their sparring matches, his strikes swift and precise, his reach far greater than hers. In battle, he wielded the spear with an almost instinctive ease, his movements smooth and powerful, his confidence returning with each passing day.
Though she was still faster, Kai's skill with the spear began to edge out her swordplay. And as the weeks slipped by, their rivalry grew sharper, but so did their bond. Each match, each shared victory over a wild beast, became a testament to their growth, their determination, and the silent promise they had made to each other—to become stronger together, no matter the cost.
Two months had passed since Garrick had begun their training, and as Kai and Lia stood in the clearing, their breaths steady, their stances firm, Garrick looked at them with a glint of pride in his eyes. They were no longer the two children he had once guided with careful hands. They had been forged in the fires of hardship, their resilience tempered by blood and sweat.
Watching Kai stand with his spear in hand, his face stern and intent, Garrick could not help but see the faint outline of another figure from his past, a figure who had wielded that same weapon with an unbreakable spirit.