The autumn air was crisp, and Calanthir knew that winter was fast approaching. As he walked through the mystical Arcadian forest, he couldn't help but think about the preparations he needed to make for the colder months ahead. For too long, he had slept out in the open, seeking refuge in the trees when the rain poured down. But now, he craved a place to call his own.
He reached his favorite meditation spot, a secluded area with a small spring running through it, and smiled to himself. This was the perfect place for his new home. His initial plan was to use fallen logs to create planks, but he quickly realized that his magical abilities gave him a better option.
Standing in the grove with a little Chilla perched on his shoulder, Calanthir expanded his senses into the trees around him. The forest welcomed him, and he felt a surge of energy within him. With a mischievous grin, he decided to take a risk and build his new abode in the tree crowns.
Approaching a tall tree, Calanthir gently sent his mana into the tree, showing it his intentions. The branches slowly began to expand, fragile at first, but gradually growing stronger as he continued to provide the tree with his energy. He was careful not to force the tree to bend to his will, but rather to work with it and guide its growth.
Once satisfied with the first tree, he repeated the process with its neighbor, creating a stable platform of interwoven branches high up in the tree crowns. As he worked, Calanthir felt his energy slowly draining, but he pushed on, determined to complete his task.
When the platform was complete, Calanthir gently touched the tree, thanking it for its assistance. Though it didn't hum with the same strength as the tree spirit he had encountered before, it gave the slightest of vibrations, acknowledging his gratitude. There was more to be done, but it was enough for now.
Exhausted but elated, Calanthir made his way back to the old Tree in the clearing.
As Calanthir returned to his grove, he was immediately swarmed by a pack of energetic Chillas. Their excitement was contagious, and he laughed as they playfully toppled him over. He indulged in their antics for a while, but when their mother let out a sharp cry from the old tree, they scurried off to her in a flash.
The mother Chilla was now fully healed, and had decided to stay in the grove with her younglings. Calanthir sat against the tree and let out a contented sigh. He felt pleasantly exhausted and a fruit fell beside him. He eagerly bit into the juicy bloomberry, realizing that he could never tire of its delicious taste.
Suddenly, Ortak appeared beside him, interrupting his moment of relaxation. "Time for training!" he announced, and Calanthir looked up at him with a sour expression. "Don't give me that! You've played around enough today. It's time to work," he retorted.
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Calanthir begrudgingly got to his feet and devoured the rest of the fruit before taking his position opposite Ortak. The big man tossed him a rough staff, and Calanthir raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You can scamper around with the best of them now, but it's time to work on offense," Ortak explained. Calanthir shrugged, still not entirely sold on the idea of attacking someone, but he listened intently to Ortak's instructions nonetheless.
Ortal spoke of how to transfer his momentum into power, emphasizing that his core and legs were the driving force behind strong attacks. Calanthir followed Ortak's instructions, focusing on movement and strikes rather than sparring.
As he trained, he realized that the movements were similar to something he had seen before, probably in some old chinese movies many years ago. When he asked Ortak about the exaggerated movements, the big man explained that each movement had a purpose. By practicing them repeatedly over the years, they would become second nature and allow his body to move automatically in a fight.
Calanthir sighed at the thought of having to spend years perfecting these movements, but he bit back his complaints. He had made a promise, and he intended to keep it.
As dark crept in and a beautiful sky filled with bright stars revealed itself, Ortak called a halt, and they sat together beneath the tree together. Calanthir ate another Bloomberry, while the big man simple stared up at the stars.
As the sky grew darker, Ortak called a halt to their training session and they settled beneath the tree, gazing up at the beautiful night sky. Calanthir indulged in the sweetness of another bloomberry, savoring the taste.
After a while, Ortak spoke up, expressing a sense of jealousy towards Calanthir's future adventures. "My journey ended long ago," he said. "And while I'm grateful for still being around...well, can't help feeling a certain lust for adventure. Seeing how fast you grow and how much time is ahead of you, it is a little hard to take."
Calanthir was at a loss for words, but the tree's humming drew his attention. "Is there anything to be done for him?" he asked.
"Perhaps in time," the tree replied. "But he would not be what he was, that is not how it works. We get one life, child. Once that life ends, we return to the cycle and become something different, someone different. Ortak has done us a great service, however, and there are certain options. Perhaps being born as an animal but still retaining his memories could be an option. We are not sure; it is ultimately not up to us. We can only put in a good word."
Calanthir nodded in understanding, choosing to keep his thoughts to himself. Telling Ortak that there might be a chance, only to have it taken away, would be too cruel. Instead, he offered a comforting pat on the big man's arm.
Ortak smiled at the gesture, teasingly remarking, "Getting comforted by a child...how the great warrior Ortak has fallen." His words held a crude tone, but his expression was one of affection, and Calanthir didn't take offense.
They sat there for a long time, taking in the peace of the night, until Ortak eventually rose to his feet and waved goodbye, his form gradually dissipating into a fine mist.