The group traversed the dense and somewhat unnerving, dark forest, the raucous cawing of birds as they fluttered away sounding in time to each step. Despite the cold and rejecting atmosphere, they had traveled deeper into the forest in search of someone important.

Zilian was excited and worried, and not entirely certain about his decision. The Mountain have had taken so much from him, and he wanted to end their tyranny. He did not want to stop just his own misery, but also to everyone who had been affected by the seemingly unending war. Even now though, he was uncertain about how he would be able to end this war, or if he would even be able to, but he knew if he were to do anything he would need some proper training.

He approached Blade nearly a week ago about his change of heart, about how he had finally grown tired of being dependent and running away all the time. It was Blade who suggested that if he was to do anything then he would need this training, and so Zilian agreed. And that was why they were in this forest at this moment, searching for a man named Shade. He had the expertise and resources to accomplish just that, while Blade would teach Zilian how to master Lighting.

“So you can control lighting?” Erica asked him. This was not the first time she asked him ever since he confessed everything to her, and now it seemed she had a hard to time to wrap her head around the fact that he could control a force of nature.

“No, I can’t. I am not so sure of what I can do with it, just that I am able to do something with lighting.” He repeated to her in a monotone voice, since this was perhaps her twentieth time asking.

“And you can control earth?” She had pointed her finger at Blade, directing a reply from him.

Blade was much more confident in his reply, but this was no more than a second time answering her, “More than control. I can shape, shift or manipulate the earth that is around me, and even creating more earth than what is there naturally. On top of that, I coat a layer of earth my sword, then from that coat I am able to do the same shape, shift and manipulation from the regular earth.”

Blade then went on with all the shapes he could give the earth, techniques to speed up travel and the vast potential he had. However, all of this mattered little to Zilian at this point, since he himself was also trying to understand the ramifications of his own power.

Ever since the turn of events nearly a month ago on the farm, he had many questions as to what his father had intended for him and this sword. There were questions needing answers, and the only answer he felt right was that it was meant for him to make a change.

His interest perked when Erica’s conversation went back onto the topic of Shade, “So what can this Shade guy teach us? I kinda forgot to ask this earlier, but would he be able to help me get good at anything?”

Blade chuckled, “Could? I’d say he is the wrong guy if he couldn’t. The guy had learned every single fighting style there is to know, and when I say learn I mean that he has mastered perfectly every single last one of them. The guy is one of a kind.” His eyes trailed off, as if he was remembering the past.

“Have you ever met the guy?” Zilian queried.

He rolled his shoulder signaling so-so, “I mean I have once, but that was maybe ten years ago. Dad had him train me for a few months. Doubt the guy would remember me at first glance, but he should remember that time I was here.”

Erica tossed her hands out, stopping everyone in their tracks, “I saw something, over there in the bush.” She whispered.

Zilian tried to peer deeper into the forest, but saw nothing that raised his alarm. He figured she was just imagining things, and even Blade shrugged noncommittally.

Blade did not even bother to keep his voice low, “It’s too quiet for anyone to be here, I mean, the birds didn’t get startled or anything.”

Suddenly he heard hundreds of wings flapping all around them, black feathers floating down and impairing their vision. When the feathers settled down, they found themselves standing in the middle of a murder of black crows. The birds cawed at them from the branches they were perched on, sounding a menacing warning to leave.

Erica grabbed Zilian by the arm tightly, fear welling up in her just as it was in him. He tried to reassure her, but his voice came out a bit dry, “Maybe we’re trespassing on their territory?” The explanation was odd, but it was the best he could come up with.

Blade shook his head in disagreement, “No, I hear movement. Zilian, get ready!”

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They both reached for their blades preemptively to fend off the hidden menace, but were caught off guard as the ground underneath them lifted after a sharp snap.

Erica yelped in surprise after barely falling out of the net trap that the boys got themselves ensnared in, and she reacted by running away into the forest, but fell onto the ground as she bounced against a man who was hiding there.

“Humph!” She groaned from the pain of falling back.

Zilian tried to use his sword to hastily cut through the net, but he was a moment too slow and caught by surprise as more men appeared. Some ran by foot covered in brush as camouflage, whereas others came swinging in on ropes and jumping from the overhead tree brush. They yipped and yelped excitedly as they overran them, taking his sword away from him through the snare. They did not take Blade’s since it was too big, but Blade could not use it for that same reason.

A man revealed himself from the group, apparently the leader of the small band, “What do we have here? What is the price for trespass in these parts men?” Directing his question to his band.

“Tax! Tax! Tax!” They chanted.

He shrugged defeated, and stepped forward the net and spun them around. He was just toying with them at this point. “What can I say? My boys love their coins. Of course, what would a few small pesky kids be doing around with money in the middle of nowhere? So you would have to pay with entertainment, yes, a dance for this yay-hearted crowd!”

“Yeah!” The group chortled and snickered comically.

“Let me go!” Erica was fighting against the man who had a firm grip on her, yet she still fought and flayed herself to release from his grip.

The leader nodded to grant her wish, and the big man released her. He asked Erica the question that Zilian honestly had wanted to ask him first, “What are you folk doing here?” His question was sincere, no threat hung in his words, but his tone merited attention.

Blade shouted right behind his ear as he tugged on the snare, “Shade you mule-headed fool! Release us now and maybe we can give a less than half interesting story, perhaps your boys might have something to digest!”

He got the man’s attention, “How’d you know that name?”

He grabbed on the snare to see Blade face to face, which Zilian silently thanked as he was getting sick from the constant spinning. He saw the man’s eyes widened in recognition, he chortled and slapped his knees, laughing.

Breaking from his laughing bout, he spun his finger in signal to someone, “Let these boys loose! They’re not trespassers.” A cry of dismaying aww from his men was let out, “They’re our guests!” Then the men cried joyfully, hooting their excitement.

Zilian was wondering what kind of crazies he got himself stuck with this time, before he got too much time to contemplate on it though, the snare snapped and fell to the ground with a loud thump. He pulled himself free from the net and was offered a hand from the leader, he took his hand, pleased for the help up.

“What in the great heavens are you doing here…” However, he was interrupted by Blade.

“Please, don’t use my actual name, I am Blade now.” He saw a look of plea in his eyes, catching an embarrassed look as his eyes darted between him and Erica.

Their host scratched his head curiously and then shrugged, “Meh, not my place I guess. I am not surprised you took the name Blade, did you know he wanted to be called Dagger?” He asked Zilian.

He simply shook in surprise, “No, I just thought that was his name.”

He received a gentle slap on the back and was directed into the forest, with Zilian and Erica following him side by side, “Hohoho, great heavens no. Speaking of names, mines would be Shade, so what would yours and your friend’s name be, lad?”

“Zilian, and she’s Erica.”

He waved a hand to Erica and called her on over, “Over here lass, share me your story and how you became the unfortunate friends of Blade here.”

“Hey!” Blade barked.

They ignored him and gave him their story, starting from their escape of the farm. They talked and exchanged their experiences, occasionally having a good laugh with Shade and the other men. Eventually they came across a path and followed it with Shade, that is until they came across a dense vine and brush barrier.

“Yo Dopey-dope-doper! Let us through!” Shade called into the wall.

Zilian had no idea what he was calling out to, until sound of wood grating on stone groaned. The barrier spread open as if it were a curtain, sliding aside and permitting them to walk past it with ease. Beyond the forest curtain, he was left astonished of the world that was settled beyond.

An entire village worked and toiled all about, walking on paths crisscrossing the ground and wooden bridges among the treetops. Massive tree houses decorated almost every tree, systems of water flowing through canals and wells stretched past the wooden monstrosities. He saw groups of children playing in different groups, some running after a ball and others huddled together playing something on the ground. It was an average normal world, hidden like a precious jewel in this deep forest.

There were a few curious looks directed their way by some of the passerby, but no one showed any particular interest. They were probably reassured by Shade’s presence. Shade stepped in front of them and waved his hand across the view, welcoming them to his home.

“Welcome to our humble abode, everything that is mine is yours.” He winked at them as if to prove his sincerity, “And straight down to business lads, what is it you want from me?”

Blade crossed his arms and offered a brief, but straight to the point explanation, “We want to end this war once and for all, and to do that we need your help.”

Shade flexed his fingers together, Zilian heard them all pop loudly. A gleeful smile painted Shade’s face, he deduced down to the heart of the situation. To Zilian, it always seemed everyone else was able to understand everything that he could not.

He exaggeratedly took a deep breathe, “Nice lads. Let’s get you trained, and together we’ll end this war.”