Discarding his spear, ZaiWin officially decided to give up on the entire hunting task. He had much more important things to do now. Like practice his newly acquired control over the last and more troublesome of his daitai.

Even though he had tried to make it work on many different occasions, all unsuccessful, thanks to that kid it had somehow activated by itself. Now that it had finally obeyed his command he didn’t want to forget how to do it, the feeling of triggering it. It was also important to learn about its limits, so he could safely use it whenever he needed. How many times could he use it on a roll? How far would it take him?

When trying his best to decipher the daitai’s nature, ZenTar had told him that it would probably allow him do something like teleport himself from one place to another. He had been right, and he had been wrong, ZaiWin considered while putting some distance between him and the lake. He didn’t want to stay for too long where others might easily find him.

From what he understood, teleporting would mean that one’s body would have to be dissolved into tiny particles. Those particles would then move across space at an extraordinary speed, to reassemble themselves again at the intended destination.

As far as he could tell, however, when he’d used his daitai his body had remained exactly as it was. He could clearly recall the feeling of the harsh wind brushing against his skin. But, at the same time, the fact that he had moved at an incredible, inhuman speed, was also undeniable. It wasn’t as if he had disappeared from one place to reappear somewhere else. It was more like … he had slipped into another space, a darker space, and the violent wind there had carried him like a small leaf blown away by a hurricane, only to spit him out again where he’d intended to go.

More than teleporting he felt like he had jumped from one place to another. The difference being that in the middle of that jump he had stepped into some other dimension where things could move much faster. Or maybe time was just different over there, he considered. He wondered if he’d ever be able to stop his jump midway and take the time to explore that other side … But he was getting way ahead of himself.

First things first. He had to be sure he could control it at will.

Since he’d gotten relatively far away from the lake, ZaiWin looked around, making sure he was safely out of anyone’s sight, and focused his attention on a tall, lean tree just a few steps away from where he stood. He’d begin with small, easy things, he decided. That had always been how he’d learned to control his other daitai.

Taking a deep breath, he relaxed his shoulders and focused on the energy calmly flowing through his body. At this stage, gathering it and directing it came all too naturally to him, and so he easily assembled it, offering it to his stubborn datai to use as it felt fit. He still didn’t know how much energy it would take for it to work. Before he’d acted out of pure urgency and hadn’t really taken note of that.

The burning sensation on his back made his heart jump into an enthusiastic beating. It was still awake. For a moment he’d feared that it might have went back to sleep.

That tree, he thought, making sure his wish remain clear and firm. Take me to that tree!

It all happened so fast that he couldn’t help but gasp. Darkness and wind dragged him away and then … pain!

“Shit!!” he cursed out loud, falling back on his bottom, his hand flying to his aching forehead.

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True, the tree he’d chosen was standing right in front of him, all tall and imposing. But he had just slammed his head hard against it!

Rubbing his forehead he checked his hand to make sure he wasn’t bleeding. It had been such a strong head slam that it was sure to leave a bump, if not a bruise.

Scrambling to his feet, he dusted off his clothes and straightened the bow he now carried on his back.

Damn! That hurt, he scowled at the tree as if it were its fault.

With a sight he looked around again and chose another target. First he considered a large rock he could see from where he stood, but then thought it better and decided on another tree. He didn’t want to die from a concussion!

Taking a deep breath he repeated the process and bang! He slammed his head against the tree again.

Cringing in pain he looked up at his new huge enemy. Back then, when he’d tried to reach the kid, he’d been able to stop exactly where he’d wanted to go. Now he always seemed to be too fast.

Standing up, he chose another tree. Maybe the trees he’d chosen before were just too close.

This time around relaxing was a bit harder. Though he was no stranger to pain, like any normal person, he would still instinctively try to avoid it if possible.

There! Take me there!

A strong wind dragged him into the darkness but this time, the moment he felt it, he cut of the energy supply to his daitai.

Stop!

It was almost as if he’d been riding a horse at full speed and suddenly pulled it to a halt … only worse. A jolt ran through his entire body and he was outside again, but the momentum couldn’t be stopped just like that. And so he was thrown out, falling on the ground, rolling over himself. All he could do was raise his arms and protect his head and face. He hit hard against a tree, the pain spreading through his back, and his body finally became blessedly still.

Rolling over himself to lay on his back, he looked up at the green canopy above his head.

He was going to kill himself, he sighed, closing his eyes. Not to mention that ZenTar would have his hide if he knew that he had tried to practice one of his daitai unsupervised. Anyway, stopping midway was not a good idea, he concluded, wincing when he tried to take a deep breath.

Sitting up he discarded his bow as well, since it was only making things worse, and left it and its quiver leaning against the tree. He’d come back for them later on.

So, he had to clearly decide where he was going. Changing his mind midway would not be a good idea.

Opening and closing his hands he frowned. He could already feel his energy draining. This was what? The third time? By the way he felt right now he could probably only jump another three times or so. He did not want to drain himself to the point where he’d be completely defenseless. Not when people like CarFan and FeiWan were still lurking around.

Standing up he chose another target and rubbed his aching forehead. If he were back at Nox, ZenTar would have probably covered the trees with cushions, he sighed.

Clenching his fists he focused and allowed his energy to flow to his daitai.

There! Take me there!

Wind brushed through him and then a sharp pain made him take a couple of steps back.

Groaning in frustration he looked up at the tree. It hadn’t been as bad as before, at least he wasn’t sitting on his ass! But it still damn hurt!! He tried to rub his forehead but the pain was so sharp now that touching it would only make it worse.

Sighing in resigned frustration, he searched for a new tree. This time, however, he didn’t make it the central point of his attention. Instead he focused on the patch of grass growing just beside its thick roots. Maybe it would work …?

Sighing, he released all the tension the pain had brought him, and focused.

Another strong wind rushed through him and then there was solid ground beneath his feet again. And … no pain! At least no more than he’d been in before.

With a huge smile on his face he looked up at the tree standing just in front of him, no more than one finger away from his nose. He could even smell the moist scent of the wood. He’d done it! He could almost jump up and down from sheer enthusiasm.

He didn’t though. Instead he leaned against the tree and took a deep breath.

Thank the Heavens that he’d managed to successfully make it on his fifth attempt, he thought feeling droplets of sweat sliding down his neck and back. He had estimated that he could try one more time, and he still believed he could. If he’d be able to stand on his two legs afterwords was an entire different question. As to be expected, that daitai was extremely demanding.

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