Four years have passed and the forest is now familiar ground for Oblea and the child at her side.
The little girl clings to the edge of Oblea's cloak, her tiny hand gripping it for comfort as they walk. Her white hair glows like snow against her darker skin, a stark contrast in the shadowy depths of the woods.
Even in the dim light, the child's bright yellow eyes dart about, looking around with an intensity far beyond her years.
Oblea pauses, pointing to a cluster of stones at the base of a tree.
The child follows Oblea's gesture, her gaze locking onto the spot. She opens her mouth and tries to speak, her voice soft but uncertain.
"Wua… wuu. Wath cap-" she stumbles over the words, her small brow furrowing in concentration.
"Wraith Cap, good job Eska." Oblea says gently, offering guidance. She stops and points again, encouraging the girl to keep looking. She nods, her bright eyes narrowing in determination as she tries again.
Eska peers into the darkness ahead.
She squints, making an effort to spot whatever Oblea is pointing toward. After a moment, her expression shifts from focused to delighted. "Eko Stak!" she says cheerfully.
"Stalk," Oblea corrects gently, then adds, "Good. Now, what does that one do?" Her tone is steady but encouraging, waiting as the girl moves her eyes to the side, clearly thinking hard.
Eska hesitates, struggling to remember.
Oblea offers a hint with a single word, "Echoes." The girl's brow furrows further, then she asks, "Echoes is words?" Her curiosity breaks through her frustration.
Oblea turns, lowering herself to the child's level so their eyes meet.
"Yes. It can be used to enhance some specific magic chants," she explains. "Now, what's the difference between the Wraith Cap and the Echo Stalk?"
Eska presses her lips together, thinking intently, but eventually looks down and shakes her head in resignation.
Oblea kneels and wraps Eska in a warm hug.
"Don't worry too much about it," she says gently. "We live tomorrow because we learn today." Eska looks puzzled for a moment, then smiles and hugs her back.
Oblea guides their walk through the forest, pointing out everything from strange patches of flora to the sudden movements of shy creatures disappearing into the brush.
Each time, Oblea encourages Eska to observe and think, guiding her toward the right answers without giving them outright.
The sound of rushing water grows louder and soon they step into a sunlit clearing.
The grassy area opens up to reveal a small hut built from wood, sticks and leaves, nestled beside the river. Its entrance faces downstream, blending naturally with the surrounding landscape.
Inside, the hut feels cozy despite its simplicity.
There is enough space for the both of them, with two makeshift beds of wood, leaves and leather for blankets. There is enough space for a table and a small fireplace.
Oblea sets down her things, her eyes scanning the room with quiet satisfaction. The hut offered them shelter, but it was time and resilience that turned it into a home.
Seasons passed as Oblea worked tirelessly, teaching and protecting the child at her side. By the time six years had gone by, the forest had shaped both of them in unexpected ways.
Eska sprints through the forest, her breaths coming quick and sharp. Shadows shift as several boars pursue her, their heavy steps thundering behind.
She weaves through the trees, leaping and dodging with fluid precision, her movements as smooth as water flowing downriver.
In her rush, her foot catches on a hidden root, twisting her ankle mid-stride. She stumbles, tumbling forward and landing hard on her face.
Before a second passes, she scrambles to her feet, her knife already in hand as she prepares for the charging beasts.
A boar bursts from the darkness at full speed, slamming into her with a powerful ram. Eska raises her arms defensively, her knife grazing the beast's side, but the force propels her backward.
Using its momentum, she pushes herself away, landing unhurt as she regains her stance.
She glances back into the dark woods, expecting another attacker, but nothing emerges. Her attention shifts to the single boar in front of her, now shaking its head wildly. It seems dazed, as though it struck something in its charge.
"No brains," Eska whispers under her breath.
She shifts her stance carefully, positioning herself between the boar and a nearby tree. Gripping her knife tightly, she braces as the boar charges straight at her again.
She sidesteps, but not fast enough—the boar's horn grazes her left arm, leaving a stinging slash. As the boar crashes into the tree, Eska lunges, stabbing her knife into its eye while grabbing hold of its horn.
The beast squeals in agony, thrashing its head around. Eska grounds herself before the boar can properly react and pulls hard with both of her arms, forcing it to collapse face-first onto the ground.
With a sharp tug, Eska wrenches her knife free from the boar's eye socket. Its squeals echo through the forest as she drives the blade into its remaining eye.
The boar spasms wildly, flinging her aside.
The desperate beast gets back on its feet and begins running erratically, crashing into trees and rocks in blind panic.
Eska glances at her arm, noticing blood trickling from the wound, but it isn't deep.
She pushes the pain aside and shouts to get the boar's attention. "Hey, hey!" she calls, taunting it. The blinded beast charges toward her voice and as it gets close, she dives out of the way, slashing its side.
She repeats the tactic, striking the boar with precision each time it charges. Blood sprays across the ground, painting the trees and rocks in crimson. The boar slows down, its strength waning as its blood pools around its hoofs.
Eska approaches cautiously, gripping her knife with both hands. The boar struggles to stay upright, its breaths shallow and labored. Without thinking twice, she drives the knife into its neck, silencing its struggles as it collapses face-first into the blood-soaked ground.
She pulls the knife free, then sinks to the ground, exhausted.
Oblea's voice echoes through the forest, cutting through the stillness. "Your first kill! I can't believe I was actually here to see it!" she says proudly.
Eska looks around, confused, until her eyes catch a figure hanging from a nearby tree. Oblea clings to the hardwood, her glowing eyes peering down like a watchful predator in the dark.
With a graceful movement, she lets go of the tree and drops to the ground. She surveys the area briefly before crouching down beside Eska, gently taking her injured arm to examine the wound.
Eska winces but doesn't complain when Oblea applies an ointment to the cut. "You did well," Oblea says with a proud smile. "I'm very proud. But I did say I'd be the one doing the hunting." Eska looks down, almost ashamed and mutters, "I- I tripped and hurt my foot."
Oblea removes Eska's leather shoe and notices the swelling.
"Well, you did pretty good," she says, applying more ointment to the injury. "You adapted to the situation and kept yourself alive. You didn't waste time regretting your choices and you came out on top."
Eska smiles briefly, but her face falls into a frown.
"But…"
Eska begins, her voice trailing off with sadness. Oblea notices and offers reassurance with a warm smile.
"The other boars? They were taken care of—I saw the whole thing."
Eska blinks in surprise and asks, "You could have helped?"
Oblea chuckles and responds, "Of course, but then what would you have learned?"
She continues, her tone firm but kind.
"You learned a lot today. You tripped because you weren't paying enough attention to your footing, but you adapted quickly. You understood your situation, reacted appropriately, found your opponent's weakness and exploited it. Most importantly, you worked within your strengths and limits."
Eska's eyes widen as Oblea's words sink in. She looks at her hands, replaying the fight in her mind, a sense of awe washing over her.
Oblea lifts her gently, cradling her with care.
"Come," Oblea says softly, "I'll take you home, then I'll gather the boars." Eska smiles up at her, wrapping her arms around Oblea in a quiet embrace.