The next day, the two were in the forest, crouched in a bush as they waited for their prey to appear.

“Look, there’s one,” Marcella whispered, pointing out a rabbit.

Elron knocked his bow and drew it back ever so slowly, trying to steady his shaking hands.

“Take your time, look at the target,” Marcella coached softly.

With a woosh and a thud, the arrow went right into a tree instead of the rabbit. The rabbit took a second to look around before taking off, adding to Elron's defeat.

“Welp, I knew I wasn’t going to be any good at this,” Elron muttered, feeling dejected.

“It’s your first time, don’t sweat it. It’s not like your class is an archer. It’s not, right?” Marcella asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“...” Elron remained silent, avoiding her gaze.

Marcella helped him out of the bush. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry into your status. We should head back now though,” she said, giving him a sympathetic smile.

They nodded to one another and then weaved through the forest until they were back at the manor. From there, they waved each other goodbye for the evening and parted ways. It was now time for Elron to train with Chron before bed, a session he dreaded. He could already see Chron standing there in his half plate armor from a distance.

“You’re late, boy,” Chron said gruffly, tossing some steel in the dirt.

“Pick it up.”

Elron bent down to pick the sword up, but before he could even straighten up, Chron was already on him. A boot quickly engulfed his vision, sending him rolling.

“Get up,” Chron barked.

This time, Elron scrambled to his feet with the sword in hand and took a shaky stance. A resounding clang echoed as he used all his energy to deflect the first blow. However, Chron followed up quickly, delivering a series of blows before cracking Elron in the face with the hilt of his sword. The prince went down in a heap.

“Where’s the follow-up?!” Chron demanded.

“Please… no more. I give up,” Elron groveled, his voice weak.

“No. A real foe would never quit, not untill you’re dead. Now, swing at me,” Chron ordered, his tone merciless.

With tears in his eyes, Elron rushed at Chron and tried to spear him.

“Give me a little more,” Chron taunted as he sidestepped the attack.

Elron’s voice cracked as he let out a war cry and charged the elf again. He swung his sword wildly, failing to land a single blow. Occasionally, he would get close, only to receive a punch to the face. After being hit, he would stagger and fumble briefly, just to do it all over again, and again.

“I can’t,” Elron gasped as he swung and collapsed.

Chron kicked him in the gut. “You’re a pathetic boy,” he sneered.

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“Please… stop,” Elron begged, his voice barely a whisper.

“You’re weak!” Chron spat, kicking him again.

“...help me,” Elron whimpered.

With one last kick, Chron declared, “You can sleep outside. It might harden you up for once.”

The prince lay there in the dirt as the sun went down, wheezing and coughing up blood. He tried his best to remain silent, at least until he couldn’t hear his mentor walking away anymore.

Soon after, another set of footsteps approached. “My prince, you poor thing. Let me help you,” said Holly as she carefully scooped him up.

She took him to his elven tree and placed him on the bed.

“Greater rejuvenation,” she casted, her hands glowing with healing magic.

“My head hurts,” Elron groaned, wincing in pain.

“It looks like it. Fortunately, it doesn’t look as bad as usual,” Holly said gently while examining him.

Elron wheezed, “I think most of my ribs are broken.”

“Shhh, talking will only make it worse. You will be all better in the morning,” she soothed as she stood over him, continuing to imbue him with a warm glow.

The soothing warmth and relief of Holly’s spell soon overtook him, and he fell asleep.

The next morning, the front door shook. “Hey Elron, you up yet? It’s time to go hunting again,” Marcella called from outside.

Elron sat up and groaned. “Come in,” he managed to say.

“Are you sure?” Marcella asked, her voice shuttering in concerned.

“Yes, and please keep your voice down. My head aches,” Elron replied, rubbing his temples.

Marcella walked in and slowly closed the door behind her. “Why does your head hurt? You weren’t drinking, were you?” she whispered, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Huh, no, I would never. Just a rough night in a new bed, I suppose,” Elron lied, trying to smile.

She looked at him intently, then replied, “If you say so.”

Elron slid out of bed, wincing as he moved. “Let me look for some better clothes here, and I’ll be right out,” he said, trying to sound more energetic than he felt.

“Are you sure? If you’re not feeling well, we can postpone things for tomorrow,” Marcella offered.

“No way. I’m not going to miss a chance to get out of here,” Elron insisted, forcing himself to stand tall.

“Missing the forest like a true elf. Okay, I’ll be right outside waiting for you,” Marcella stated with a small smile as she closed the door behind her.

Elron strained to throw some clothes on and quickly made his way out the front door. He kept his head down, afraid that he might catch the eye of either Holly or Chron.

“Let’s hurry,” he shuffled, trying to hide his discomfort.

She jabbed him in the arm. "You’re the slowpoke."

"Do you normally assault royalty?" he jested.

She gulped. "Excuse me, my prince, my sincer-"

"Just kidding," he interrupted, shoving her as he ran ahead.

She chased after him, laughing. "…you shit."

A couple of hours later, they ran into a river crossing. It was too wide to jump, and there was no means to cross it.

"Can you swim?" she asked, eyeing the rushing water.

"Swim?” he asked. “Do I look like a fish to you?" he snorted.

"Maybe a blobfish with that nose of yours," she teased.

He turned away from her and pushed up the mountain in a fuss. "Elron, it was just a joke. I didn’t mean it…"

"No, you said it. Let's just get up this stupid mountain already," he replied, his voice tight with emotion.

She grabbed the back of his arm, pulling him towards her. "I was kidding, sorry. It was just banter."

Tears ran down his face as ripped his arm back from her.

"Why does that bother you so much? C’mon, I like your nose,” she said.

Elron turned to her, leaning in close. "I hate my nose. It clearly makes me look like a half-blood weakling, and everyone, even my own damn brother, makes fun of me for it. That’s why it bothers me." With that, he stomped back up the hill.

She was at a loss for words. She didn’t know what else to say, and instead of him following her through the sparse forest, it ended up being her following him.

A few moments later, she pushed him under a downed tree.

"Shhh,” she whispered, holding her a singular finger up to her lips.