During weather that could only be described as a Blizzard, Leonard was carrying his semi-unconscious friend Nathan.
"Are...We there soon, Leo?" Nathan muttered, visibly out of breath. His body was covered with wounds and his limbs barely hung onto Leonard's back.
Leonard turned his head, confidently saying "Of course! It can't be far, just rest for a while. We will make it to the Master's place!"
The snow poured down like an avalanche, making vision almost impossible for Leonard. What he said to Nathan was a lie. All he could do was grin, move his legs and tell Nathan that it would all be okay. Leonard kept walking. He did not know for how long. His thinking was that if he stopped even just for a second, he could not keep walking. His tenacity would be rewarded eventually, right? After what felt like days had passed, the snowstorm calmed down to a more managable downpour. His vision finally allowed him to see a few meters ahead, which made him locate smoke coming out of a small chimney.
"Nath, we made it, that must be his place!" Leonard shouted excitedly and with shattering teeth.
Nathan replied with a somewhat loud snore. Seems like he is still asleep. Leonard approached the door of the simple wooden hut, but he could not raise his hand as he was still carrying Nathan and couldn't muster the motor skills to knock while holding onto him. As such, he slammed his head against the door three times while shouting:
"Hello - is someone - Home?"
After a few footsteps could be heard, an old, slim man opened the door. He had a long beard, no hair on top of his head but long, grey hair at the back of it. He looked visibly confused as he asked:
"Yes, that would be me, but let me ask you a question of my own: Who climbs a mountain during a Blizzard?"
Just as Leonard wanted to reply, he fell to the floor, making sure to land face first.
"Please, take care of my Friend Nathan. He fought three Bears on our way here and is wounded."
"Speak for yourself, you must have massive frostbite! Wait...Three? Anyway, come inside." The old man explained while taking Nathan and carrying him into a bed.
Leonard smiled through the pain as he looked into the room; the entire building had only one room, with a small nook on the far left reserved for a queen size bed. The wall next to it was lined with bookshelves, filled with what seemed an organized and very well kept collection of literature. Another, smaller wall was reserved for a wardrobe and a big fireplace which seemingly doubled as a cooking top. This was where the smoke presumably came from that Leonard could see before they arrived. He slowly stood up, leaning onto a countertop, as the old man took out a folding chair and put it next to an armchair.
He had a long look at the two and pondered their appearance. Leonard was a man of about 185cm with purple hair, piercing blue eyes and a very rough demeanour. He was wearing a black and brown fur coat to keep himself warm. To Hammond, Leonard seemed very full of himself, but also confident and proud. His fists had a few scars on them, but they seemed gentle and counterpointed his outgoing, boisterous demeanour.
Nathan was the polar opposite of that. He was much shorter, maybe 155cm to his name, had wavy, shoulderlong blonde hair, and was wearing the same type of fur coat. On closer inspection, his fists semeed surprisingly battle-hardened, with many scars all over them.
"Come have a seat and tell me your story. I take it you're not just here because you enjoy exploring the countryside?"
The old man sat down in the Armchair as Leonard made his way to the smaller, now unfolded seat. He started boisterously yelling:
"We came all this way from our home village Principium to learn your teachings, Master! We were told you are a powerful cultivator of Magic and you know how to teach people to defend themselves. We would like to become students of yours!”
A scowl could be seen across the face of the supposed Master. His gaze solely focused on Leonard for several seconds. He stands up, grabs a book from one of his many shelves, sits back down and starts reading it as he says:
"I am no Master anymore. I don't teach anyone these days. Do you think this house is a Dojo of some sort? No. I live in solitude atop Prin Pinnacle for a reason, kiddo. I'll help you survive this snowstorm, but then you and your friend over there will leave. Besides, why should I teach you in the first place?"
Leonard became visibly frustrated. His eyebrows furrowed as he slammed his hands on his knees and started yelling:
"My friend Nathan's parents and my Mother were killed 10 years ago during the conquest of Kazzorak. They tried fighting back and that got them killed... We want to learn what they learned, as they also cultivated magic within themselves and used it in conjunction with martial arts, just as you do! We will absolutely excel, you can be assured."
"So you just want to connect with your parents and do not have any ulterior motives at all? Right. You did not even tell me your name or ask for my own!" The old Master exclaims, raising his right eyebrow.
"Why would I need to ask for your name? You must be the famous Master Hammond, the head teacher of the Dojo of the Magical Fist! As for my own name, you are forgiven for not recognizing the brilliance that stands before you. My name echoes far and wide, as my accomplishments shall only pile on! The name is Leonard Aster, and you will remember it!”
After that onslaught of words, Leonard struck a pose, albeit slightly clunkily as his limbs were still frozen from the blizzard. For a second, nobody talked. Only the crackle of the fireplace could be heard, as the old man's eyes widened. Suddenly, he snapped the book shut, his scowl turning into a laugh:
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"Hahaha, aren’t you an energetic fellow! Very well. If you two can successfully complete a test then I shall teach you. But if you do, you will follow every bit of training I put you through, no questions asked. Understood?”
“Of course! You will not be disappointed, Nath and I may be young but we will pull our weight just you see!” Leonard shouts, as he tries to alternate his pose, but instead sinks into his chair. Hammond stands up, grabs another blanket and puts it over him as he quietly speaks to himself:
“Aster… You were always full of surprises”.
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Golden beams of warmth pierced the glass of the small wooden cottage, angled just in a way that Nathan would be the only one woken up by them.
“A bed? Why am I sleeping in a bed? Did Leo manage to find Hammond’s house?” Nathan thought to himself, while widening his field of view. He rubbed his eyes as he could not believe it; Across the room, Leonard was sleeping within the small wooden house, with a fire keeping the entire room warm and bright.
Nathan pulled the blanket away, which revealed that his wounds were treated with some sort of ointment and secured with bandages. He stood up, surprised that none of the wounds hindered his movement. As he was looking out of the window, he was shown a beautiful morning atop a fully snowed in forest clearing atop the Prin Pinnacle which they climbed. As he kept looking, he spotted an old man only wearing pants and no shirt or shoes. The man down a huge log of wood onto a chopping block and put his hands together, as if praying or meditating.
“That must be the master! Did he treat me? No matter, I have to express my gratitude to him and Leonard!” Nathan thought to himself, as he hurried outside. He rushed outside, yelling:
“Are you Master Hammond? Thank you for the help!” and bowed his head.
The old man seemed undeterred, still folding his hands together for a few seconds, when suddenly his right arm in its entirety seemingly disappeared for a split second. Hammond then approached Nathan while smiling:
“Yes, and you are Nathan. Your friend Leonard told me all about you two, you must thank him later once he wakes up. He gave it his all.”
Nathan looked at him, noticing the immense muscle density for an old man. Hammond walked past him toward the cottage.
“Of course! Leo is always there for me when I need him most. He’s the best! But...How did you treat my wounds? I was mauled by three different bears!”
His gaze then wandered to the right, as he saw the log that was sitting there suddenly split into sixteen perfectly fireplace sized pieces.
“Woah, how did you do that?” Nathan asked.
“That was just a little parlor trick I taught myself over the years. Very useful when your job is selling firewood, don’t you think?” Hammond said, while turning his head toward Nathan, smiling from ear to ear.
“Come inside, I want to talk to you and Leonard.”
Nathan did as he was asked, ignoring that he was ignored.
“Hey Leonard, wake up! Today is the beginning of our training with Master Hammond!” He says, as he shakes Leonard’s torso back and forth.
“Huh, what…Nath! You’re up!” Leonard yells excitedly, and hugging him.
“I knew you would take those wounds like a champ!” He added while holding him.
Nathan accepted the embrace, while saying “I only made it because of you. Thanks, you’re the best!” he says, as he pushed him away “But wait, that’s beside the point, our training starts now!”
“What!? You’re right, this has to wait. Master, I am ready for our test!” Leonard shouts, as midway through his sentence his focus shifts toward the old man. Hammond pulled out four gloves out of his wardrobe, turned toward the two younglings and said “Before we get to our test I’d like you to show me what you can already do. Leonard, you said your parents already showed you the basics, so what is the most impressive magical feat you are capable of doing?” He put the gloves next to him, while preparing himself for what comes next.
“Oh you won’t believe your eyes. Watch this!” He said, as he stood up, assumed a wide stance and started proclaiming:
“I am Leonard Aster, the great and amazing Leonard Aster and this is my pinnacle! Hyah!”
He punches forward, as a torso sized, blue burst of magic can be seen rushing toward Nathan.
“Come on Leo, don’t do that inside! That could destroy Hammond’s furniture!” He responded, while clapping his hands together which completely evaporated the burst of magic that Leonard shot outwards.
Hammond claps as well: “I did mean for you to go outside as well, but that was great magic control to nullify that Mana Burst without causing it to disperse. Well done, both of you seem to know at least the basics of mana control!”
And with a very firm, seriously raised voice, Hammond exclaims:
“You pass. I will teach you.”
Leonard excitedly says: “Wait really? I thought we had to go through a test! Explain yourself!”
Hammond chuckles:”That was the test. What, did you think you’d have to run up a tree by channeling mana into your legs or something insane like that? I just wanted to make sure that I knew what level you were at, and I was especially surprised at you, young Nathan.”
“What, me?” He questioned.
Hammond turned his focus toward Nathan: “Yes, while output and power are all well and good, control and defense are just as important. But this shall wait until tomorrow. For today, we actually have work to do.”
He gestured Leonard and Nathan to come with him as he headed outside infront of the firewood. The sixteen pieces all fell in a perfect circle from the chopping block.
“We’re going back to your village and we will sell some firewood.” Hammond says, as he points towards multiple stacks of logs and wood.
“What?!” Both of them scream at the same time, completely overwhelmed at the prospect of going back down.
“We barely made it up here!” Leonard screams.
“So you have done it once. Then you can do it again, but with a handicap this time.” Hammond said as he put firewood into a huge basket. “Don’t worry, you can carry this thing on your back, that makes it easier!”
“That is not the issue here! What if we get attacked by another bear?” Nathan added.
“Then I hope it will back down when I ask it nicely.” He said, laughing at his own words.
As the two younglings reluctantly packed their baskets full of firewood, a white-hooded figure watched them from atop a snowy tree without being noticed. It blended into its surroundings almost perfectly, watching their every move. "interesting. I found you and you're taking in new students? I wonder how you’d feel if those weren’t around anymore?”
It chuckled to itself, as it vanished while only a small amount of snow fell from one of the branches as the only evidence that it was ever there.