''RING... RING... RING...''

The phone rang incessantly.

''PICK THE PHONE UP! YOU ASSH##E!''

He opened his eyes to see his friend's furious face.

He was being yelled at to pick up the phone by his friend, who was driving the car. He was riding in one of his friends' cars and quickly searched for the phone to answer it.

His friend turned his head towards him and shouted.

''THE PHONE HAD BEEN RINGING FOR HOURS. Pick It Up.''

Suddenly, a bright light from behind caused his friend's face to slowly turn dark.

'CRASH....'

Then he floated weightlessly.

...

''Son... Son... Are you alright?"

He heard a familiar voice calling out to him. He opened his eyes to see his worried father standing over him, holding a wooden sword.

"Are you able to move? Stand up slowly if you can.'' His father said it reassuringly.

Suddenly, a bowl of water poured onto his face. He struggled to breathe.

''Are you okay? Brother?'' He saw his little sister's worried expression as she stood there, holding a bowl.

''Hey! You don't put water on someone's face when they're struggling to breathe!" His father shouted at his sister.

''I saw Uncle do it before. Why can't I do it?'' His sister replied defensively, lowering her head.

''Because that is a dangerous and potentially harmful action, and every situation is different, and you need to listen and understand before taking action," his father explained sternly, realising the severity of the situation.

''Son, stand up slowly if you can.''

His father assisted him in standing up by supporting his body.

He slowly started to regain his balance, feeling a mix of pain and relief.

''Son, I know you are eager to learn, but like I told you before, you need to learn to understand your surroundings first before you take action. Don't just rush forward without thinking.''

He slowly picked up the wooden sword from the ground and steadied himself, ready to begin.

''Son, one more thing. It's not about what your opponent 'is doing'; it's about what your opponent 'will do' and how you react to it. Remember that anticipation and adaptability are key in any battle.''

His father took a few steps back, readied his sword, and shouted.

''NOW!''

He slowly walked towards his father, pointing his sword. He moved forward, and his speed gradually rose. Before he reached his father, he swung his sword with all his strength onto the ground.

The impact on the ground caused a sudden dusting of dirt in the air, causing his father to stumble back. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, he swiftly tightened his grip on the sword and lunged forward, aiming for his father's exposed side.

Surprisingly, his father took a step forward and deflected his sword with ease, effortlessly parrying the attack. The force of the parry sent a jolt up his arm, causing him to momentarily lose his balance. Regaining his composure, he quickly adjusted his stance and prepared for his father's counterattack.

The next thing he saw was his father's elbow propelled onto his face, surprising him. He quickly shut his eyes.

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''Son, never take your eyes off your opponent!''

His father's voice echoed in his ears.

'THUD'

...

Uncertain memories rushed through his mind in fragments. Two varied memories juggle together.

One with his father and sister, and another one with his friend. He wasn't sure which one was which. He couldn't seem to recall the details or distinguish between the two. It was all a blur, leaving him feeling disoriented and confused.

He was certain of one thing: the two memories were completely different from one another. However, they felt a connection to him. But he was having trouble figuring out how.

Surprisingly, at the same time, he was capable of understanding everything. He was able to comprehend two worlds beyond his physical and intellectual capabilities.

He was aware that he was different, despite not knowing who he was or how old he was. He was unsure of which world he belonged in, but he was certain that he did. Or he might have belonged to both, too.

He had a hard time getting his heavy eyes to open. All of his energy had been consumed in the battle with that creature. In the end, he managed to force them open.

As his vision adjusted to the light, he realised he was in a completely different place than where he was before.

As the temperature dropped to a chilly level, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. The gentle breeze awakens the sounds of nature.

He was laid down in a clearing that had tall trees all around it. The tall trees that surrounded him gave the impression that he was still in the forest, but in a different location.

The moon shines brightly overhead, casting an ethereal glow on the tree leaves.

He could see flaming embers blazing through the air out of the corner of his eye. Furthermore, he sensed the sound of fire crackling.

When he tried to move, he realised he was on a soft surface, like that of a mat. There were also some clothes that covered his entire body.

He tilted his head slightly and saw a small bonfire crackling nearby.

There were two figures on the other side of the fire. He couldn't quite make out what the two figures were doing from where he was because they were in between him and the fire.

One of the figures was quite big compared to the other. The smaller figure was crunching down, while the larger figure seemed to be standing tall.

When he tried to move, his limbs felt heavy and stuck, as though they were being pulled down by an unobservable force.

He was in excruciating pain, but he wasn't sure where it was coming from. His entire body screamed in pain.

''Ah...'' He groaned, his voice barely a whisper.

''FATHER... FATHER... He's awake'' A voice called nearby.

He heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching, growing louder with each passing second.

Suddenly, his nose became aware of a smell. The smell of cooked meat penetrated his nose.

The aroma was strong and enticing, causing his stomach to growl in response. It was a stark contrast to the pain he was experiencing, creating a confusing mix of sensations within him.

His vision became clearer as he saw two unfamiliar individuals approaching him. He couldn't clearly see their faces. He could only see their shilloutettes, their features obscured by the bright light from the bonfire.

They were two people, an old man and a young man. He became aware as they drew nearer.

The old man was enormous, with a long, grey beard and deep scars etched into his face. The young man, however, was much more attractive and appeared to be in his late teenage years. He shared the same structure as the older man.

They both wore ragged clothing that was stained with mud. The tattered clothing they wore looked strong and sturdy despite their scruffy appearance.

''Hai there, how are you feeling?" The old man asked with a concerned expression. The young man remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

''I...'' His lips quivered as he struggled to move them.

''It's okay, take your time, we are not going anywhere," the old man reassured him.

"I... Where am I...?" He spoke in a low voice, attempting to get up.

''Please don't force yourself; lay back down and take it easy.'' The old man responded by gently placing a hand on his chest and insisting he lay down.

''Let me introduce myself,'' the old man responded with a warm smile.

''I'm Bigon, and this is my son Ibber.'' The old man continued, gesturing towards the young man standing beside him.

The young man shyly nodded in greeting.

''My son was the one who found you. From what he said, it was a pegasus that attacked you.''

Bigon paused for a moment, moved closer to him, and explained to him.

"I have treated your wounds on your chest."

The Bigon made a gesture towards the chest. And pulled down the cloth that was covering him to reveal the bandage.

His entire chest was covered in bandages where the creature had previously struck him. The bandages were in layers upon layers, demonstrating professionalism.

He looked down and slowly nodded, grateful for Bigon's help.

''Tha... nk you,'' he whispered.

''Can I ask you something?''

''Yes...''

''Was it really a pegasus that attacked you?''

"I think so... It looked like a horse with wings and a horn."

''Are you sure...? Because they are not the ones to attack people. Whenever they encounter humans, they are known to be peaceful and gentle beings.''

''I don't know; it just attacked me unexpectedly,'' He replied, his voice filled with uncertainty. "Maybe there was something wrong with it, or maybe it mistook me for someone else. I can't say for sure."

''Oh, I see. That must have been quite frightening for you.'' Bigon nodded sympathetically. "It's not every day you come across a creature like that. Maybe it was just having a bad day or feeling threatened in some way. Either way, I hope you're okay now."

''Mmm...''

''And I must have misunderstood the nature of that creature. I didn't realise they could be so aggressive.'' Bigon looked concerned as he reflected on the encounter.

Bigon sat beside him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

''And I forgot to ask you, what's your name?''