The master led them to a forest far from the village for a special exercise.

"Today, you’ll have a unique lesson," the master said as they arrived at a wooded area.

"What are we doing?" Elliot asked, intrigued.

"Earlier, you both faced me in a sparring match, like it was a tournament bout. But now, you’ll face me here, in the forest," the master explained as he paced around the boys.

"But there’s not much difference!" Towan protested. "What changes just because we’re in the forest?"

"You need to learn to adapt to all terrains and adjust your skills to suit your surroundings," the master replied.

"That’s true..." Elliot murmured as he listened to his master.

"Your task is simple: land a clean hit on me," the master said with a smile.

"Hit you?" Towan asked, skeptical. "That’s impossible."

"I hate to admit it, but Towan is right. I don’t see a scenario where we can land a hit under equal conditions," Elliot added.

"Perhaps, perhaps," the master replied, slightly smug. "That’s why I won’t counterattack—only defend."

"Alright." "Understood," Towan and Elliot said, taking their stances.

Towan and Elliot exchanged a glance before launching into action. They knew that, even without counterattacks, defeating the master would be nearly impossible.

Towan was the first to act, charging at full speed directly toward the master. "Got you!" he shouted, throwing a straight punch. But the master sidestepped effortlessly, placing a hand on Towan’s back and pushing him forward. "Too predictable," he commented as Towan stumbled over tree roots.

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As Towan got up, Elliot decided to approach more strategically. He scanned the area and threw a fallen branch at the master to distract him before closing the distance with a quick side movement. But the master, with a fluid motion, dodged the branch and redirected Elliot’s punch toward a nearby tree, where his hand struck the trunk instead of the intended target.

"Nice try, Elliot. You used the environment, but you’re still too direct," the master said with a slight smile.

The brothers quickly regrouped, devising a plan. Towan hid among the bushes to attempt a surprise attack while Elliot kept the master occupied with a series of feints.

Elliot went for a high attack, followed by a low sweep. The master evaded both with a backward leap, and before he landed, Towan emerged from the bushes aiming a strike at the master’s abdomen. However, the master, still mid-air, used a low tree branch to propel himself sideways, completely avoiding the attack.

"Almost surprised me, Towan! But the sound of the leaves gave you away," the master said as he landed gracefully.

Frustrated, the boys decided to rely more on strategy. They moved to opposite sides of the forest, surrounding the master. Elliot threw a stone at a nearby trunk, creating a loud noise, while Towan rushed at full speed to capitalize on the distraction and strike the master from behind.

However, the master had anticipated their plan. With almost impossible precision, he turned swiftly and caught Towan’s arm mid-strike. "The sound was a good idea, but your approach is still too straightforward," he said before releasing Towan.

Elliot took the opportunity to attack from a blind angle, but the master used a fallen branch, placing it in Elliot’s path just in time to make him stumble slightly, sapping his attack of its force. "And you, Elliot, must learn to anticipate how I’ll react, not just plan your attack," the master remarked.

Both boys were panting, covered in leaves and dirt. They looked at each other, exhausted but determined to keep trying. Before they could make another move, the master raised a hand. "That’s enough for today."

"But we didn’t even manage to touch you once," Towan protested, dropping his arms in defeat.

"That wasn’t the goal," the master said with a wise smile. "The true purpose of this exercise was to teach you that the environment is always part of the fight. Learn to use it better. Every sound, every branch, every shadow can be your ally... or your enemy."

Elliot, though frustrated, nodded slowly. "Understood, Master. But next time, we won’t make it so easy for you."

"I hope not," the master replied, walking toward them and placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "Now, let’s head back. It’s time for you to reflect on what you’ve learned."