The forest was slowly awakening under the first rays of sunlight, its dew-laden branches sparkling like thousands of diamonds. The melodious song of birds blended with the rustling of leaves, creating a soothing natural symphony. It was in this enchanting setting that two silhouettes emerged from a barely visible path, their steps carefully treading the moss-covered ground.
Elios, a young boy with jet-black hair and bright eyes, walked alongside Merlione, a feline-like Beast whose golden fur caught the sunlight. Their movements were fluid and silent, as if they were an integral part of the forest itself.
"You still haven't explained what we're doing here," Elios murmured, his curiosity piercing through his voice.
Merlione paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping the surroundings before settling on her young protégé. A warm smile illuminated her face.
"It's a beautiful sunny day, perfect for showing you around the forest," she replied softly. "At the same time, I'll teach you some survival techniques, how to orient yourself and, most importantly, how to hide. Remember, we're in the Beasts' forest. One day, you might encounter one of my guards."
Elios nodded, absorbing each word with intense attention. "Alright," he said, his voice betraying a mix of excitement and apprehension.
They resumed their walk, Merlione guiding Elios through a maze of gnarled trunks and dense bushes. Over the hours, she taught him basic techniques for hiding, camouflaging, and escaping without leaving traces. Elios worked diligently, his forehead furrowed with concentration as he tried to reproduce Merlione's fluid movements.
"Wow, your stuff is seriously hard," Elios panted after an particularly intense camouflage session. He collapsed at the foot of a tree, wiping the sweat beading on his forehead. "Who taught you all this?"
Merlione sat beside him, her gaze momentarily lost in the distance. "A long, very dear experience," she responded with an enigmatic smile. "One day, you'll have my experience, but you're still very young."
"Okay, grandma," Elios joked with a mischievous grin.
The blow came so quickly that Elios barely had time to see it coming. Merlione flicked his forehead, her face feigning indignation. "I'm not old!"
"Ow!" Elios moaned, rubbing his forehead. "*Hands hard as a man's,*" he whispered, thinking he was out of earshot.
Merlione's smile suddenly became frightening. "What did you say?"
"Nothing!" Elios quickly responded, a nervous laugh in his voice.
Merlione shook her head, amused despite herself. Her expression became serious again when she spoke. "I forgot to tell you: if you encounter a Beast, never engage in combat and always come tell me."
"Even if I'm stronger?" Elios asked, a defiant glint in his eyes.
The look Merlione gave him was enough to extinguish that spark of bravado.
Elios nodded okay.
Silence settled during their walk, then Merlione carefully chose her words.
"This forest," she began, "is an ancient beast territory, once strategically used to plan attacks against humans."
Elios responded with a resigned nod.
She continued, tracing the moving shadows between the trees: "Since the peace treaty between Bestia and the Holy Empire of Palladium, it has become a no man's land, an immense and silent border between Bestia and Palladium."
A tremor passed through her eyes. "But unfortunately, the Oni, an extremist group of Beasts, still harbor their hatred. They reject peace, still dreaming of eradicating humans."
Elios responded. "I'll be careful," he promised.
A fleeting smile touched Merlione's lips. "I hope so. Some here would not tolerate your presence for a second."
Then, suddenly changing tone, she asked: "And your flames? How are you progressing?"
Elios's face instantly lit up, chasing away the shadows of their previous conversation. "I'm making progress!" he exclaimed, excitement sparkling in his voice. "My flames now resist rain, and I've discovered something incredible: they change color according to my intensity and mood!"
"Yes, I know that," Merlione responded distractedly.
Elios looked at her in surprise. "Huh? But I haven't shown you yet..."
Merlione froze for a moment, realizing her mistake. "Uh... that's right, I meant to say... try that. Like, show me during the next training session."
"Oh, okay," Elios nodded, his excitement taking over again. "No problem!"
The sun began to decline as they took the path back. The air had cooled, and shadows stretched between the trees, giving the forest a mysterious atmosphere.
"I'll cook tonight!" Elios announced cheerfully as they approached their shelter.
Merlione gave him a suspicious look. "Hmm, that's suspicious. You want to cook? I hope there's nothing behind this."
Elios couldn't hold back a mischievous smile. "Actually, today is..."
"What?"
"My birthday!"
A flash of understanding crossed Merlione's eyes, followed by a warm laugh. "Ah, I see! It's been years since I've counted dates."
"Yeah, and you don't count your age either, grandma!" Elios shouted before running away.
"I'm not a grandma!" Merlione cried, chasing after him.
Their laughter echoed through the forest as they ran towards their house, concluding their day on a joyful note.
Years passed, three to be exact. Elios was now 13, and each passing day brought him closer to the man he would become, forged by Merlione's teachings and the trials of life in the forest. Their bond, already strong, had continued to strengthen, weaving between them a relationship that went far beyond that of a mentor and his student.
It was a family they had created, in the heart of this wild forest, far from the eyes of the outside world.