Joey stepped out of the house, and Lucius caught sight of him from the corner of his eye. He stopped mid-swing, setting the axe head beside him, and leaned his weight casually on the handle, the motion smooth and practiced.

"Good morning," Joey greeted.

"Good morning," Lucius replied, his tone neutral but direct. "Did you eat the plate I left for you on the table?"

"Yeah, thanks again. Can I help you with something?" Joey asked, glancing toward the pile of wood Lucius had already split.

Lucius raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern in his voice as he replied, "Are you sure? I did say I want you back on your feet as soon as possible, but I didn’t think you’d be ready to jump in the very next day."

"I’m fine," Joey said, demonstrating with a few steps to show his improved stability. His arms spread slightly in a playful display of confidence. "Look at me, I’m moving way better than yesterday."

Lucius shrugged. "Alright, but before anything else, let me check that wound."

Joey pulled up his pant leg to reveal the injured area. Lucius crouched down, carefully inspecting it. The wound, though still visible, was healing remarkably well, almost unnaturally so.

"It’s scarred over pretty quickly," Lucius muttered, standing back up, his expression showing subtle surprise.

He turned toward the shed at the side of the house, where his tools were stored. "Wait here," he called over his shoulder, walking with purpose.

Joey followed at a slight distance, observing the way Lucius moved with effortless strength. As Lucius rummaged through the tools, the sounds of clinking and shifting wood filled the air.

"Ever swung an axe before?" Lucius asked, his voice muffled by the shed’s walls.

"Not yet," Joey called back.

"Aha, knew it was here somewhere," Lucius said triumphantly, stepping out with a slightly smaller axe in hand. Though smaller than the one Lucius had been using, it was still hefty by modern standards, something Joey immediately noticed.

"This was my first axe," Lucius said, a faint nostalgic grin crossing his face. "The first real weapon I ever owned. Used it for years until I was strong enough to handle the big one." He raised his massive axe briefly to demonstrate, its weight clear even in the short motion.

"You ever chopped wood before?" Lucius asked.

"Nope," Joey admitted, shaking his head.

Lucius looked at him skeptically. "Alright then, what are you good at?"

Joey tapped his temple with a finger. "This," he replied.

Lucius smirked. "Ah, a thinker, are you? Let’s hope you didn’t forget how to use that brain of yours," he quipped, his tone laced with irony.

"I don’t remember much, but you can see I’m not exactly built for strength," Joey said, flexing his arm with a wry grin.

Lucius burst out laughing. "Yeah, I can tell," he said between chuckles.

"Alright, let’s see what you can do. Take this," Lucius said, handing him the smaller axe. He picked up a chunk of wood and placed it upright on a chopping block. "Try splitting this."

Joey nodded, gripping the axe tightly. He focused on the piece of wood, lining up the shot in his head. Taking a deep breath, he lifted the axe high, screaming as he swung down with all his strength and....

missed entirely.

Lucius doubled over, laughing uncontrollably. He dropped to the ground, clutching his sides as his laughter echoed through the clearing.

"That was too good!" Lucius wheezed, wiping tears from his eyes.

Joey’s eye twitched as frustration bubbled up. He yanked the axe free from the ground where it had lodged while hearing Lucius laughter, muttering under his breath, "This time, I’m hitting it for sure."

Joey took a deep breath, gripping the handle of the axe tighter until his knuckles turned pale. He refocused his gaze on the chunk of wood, ignoring the sting of Lucius’ laughter still echoing in his ears. It wasn’t just embarrassment that burned in his chest; it was frustration, a deep urge to prove he could do it. He adjusted his stance, stepping forward slightly to ground himself more firmly.

The muscles in his arms tensed as he raised the smaller axe over his head, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the target. This time he wouldn’t miss. His breaths became shallow, his heartbeat quickening with the anticipation of the strike. A faint twitch flickered in his eyelid, a sign of the pent-up tension coursing through him. Sweat beaded on his brow, trickling down his temple as the weight of the moment pressed on him.

Lucius, still on the ground, gasped for air as his laughter subsided into wheezing chuckles. He wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye, catching his breath. As he glanced back up toward Joey, the sharp sunlight behind him made him squint. From his low vantage point, the light turned Joey into a stark silhouette against the blazing sky.

For a fleeting moment, Lucius’ vision blurred. Joey’s lean frame seemed to shift, transforming into a broader, more commanding figure. A man with strong shoulders and an aura of unyielding strength took Joey’s place. Lucius’ breath hitched as the shadowed outline stirred a memory he had buried deep within himself. The vision was brief but vivid, dredging up emotions he thought he had long since locked away.

The laughter drained from Lucius’ face, replaced by an uneasy silence. The air around him felt unnaturally still. His mind tried to grasp the image, to put it back together, but it slipped through his fingers like sand. A heaviness settled over him as he tried to push the memory back down, where it belonged.

Joey, oblivious to Lucius’ shift in demeanor, let out a sharp exhale. With every ounce of frustration and determination coursing through his body, he swung the axe downward in one fluid motion. His muscles tensed, his stance steady, and his scream rang out louder than any sound he had made before. His entire body moved as one with the strike, his will and focus channeled into the swing.

The axe slammed down with force, the sound reverberating through the clearing. But as Lucius’ thoughts snapped back to the present, it was clear what had happened. Joey had missed the mark once again.

Lucius burst into laughter once more, though this time it was less carefree. The lingering memory still hung over him, making his amusement feel oddly hollow.

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Joey yelled out in frustration, throwing his arms up. "Damn it!" he shouted into the trees, his whole body tense with anger.

Lucius wiped a hand across his face, still chuckling. "You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that," he said, pulling himself back to his feet. "But you’re missing the technique. Go grab me some water from the house and then I’ll show you how it’s done." He gestured toward the house with his thumb.

Joey’s anger deflated as quickly as it had risen. "Fine," he said, nodding. "I need a drink too. That was exhausting." He handed the axe back to Lucius and headed toward the house.

While Joey was inside fetching water, Lucius decided to pull the axe out of the large log. He approached it with the usual ease he expected, grasped the handle firmly, and gave it a tug.

"Hmm?" he muttered, eyebrows furrowing slightly. The axe didn’t budge.

Surprised, Lucius adjusted his stance, tightened his grip, and applied more force, not so much that it strained him, but far more than what he usually needed for something like this. Finally, with a grunt of effort, the axe slid free, leaving a clean gouge in the wood.

"What a hit," Lucius murmured, astonished. The axe had embedded itself so deeply that only the very top of the head and the handle had been visible. He stared at it for a moment, still processing.

Before he could dwell further, Joey’s voice snapped him back to the present. He turned to see Joey approaching, carrying a large jug of water.

"Here’s your water," Joey said, holding it out in front of him.

"Ah, thanks," Lucius replied, taking it and lifting it to his lips. He drank deeply, the water a welcome relief under the intense spring sun.

"Ahhhh, that’s exactly what I needed," Lucius said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

The warm season was in full swing, and though it was only spring, the sun beat down heavily, hinting at the approaching summer. The air was thick with warmth, and beads of sweat clung to both men.

"Yeah, I just downed three jugs myself," Joey said, his tone light but genuine, a small smile on his face.

Lucius chuckled and handed the jug back to Joey. "Just set it down for now. We’ll take it back later."

Joey nodded and placed the jug a few meters away, out of the way of their work area.

Lucius turned back to him, his expression shifting to something more serious. His playful demeanor gave way to a focused intensity, the aura of someone stepping into the role of a teacher.

"The first thing we need to fix is your stance," Lucius began. His voice was firm but instructive. "Right now, you’re wasting way too much energy with each swing. And because of that, you’re completely off target. You saw what happened."

Joey felt a flicker of embarrassment but nodded, listening carefully.

"The way you’re gripping the axe is also wrong. With that grip, you’re not channeling your strength efficiently."

Lucius picked up the smaller axe Joey had been using earlier. "Watch me carefully and pay attention to how I move," he said.

He stepped toward a new log and planted it firmly on the chopping block. His stance was grounded, feet shoulder-width apart, his weight evenly distributed. Lucius adjusted his grip on the axe handle, one hand close to the base for leverage and the other higher up for control.

He exhaled slowly, raising the axe high in a smooth arc, his arms extending fully. His gaze locked onto the exact spot he intended to hit. As he brought the axe down, his body moved in perfect coordination. His core tightened to channel his strength, his shoulders and arms guided the motion, and his knees bent slightly to stabilize the force.

The axe struck cleanly, splitting the wood in a single, precise motion. The two halves of the log fell neatly to either side of the block.

Lucius straightened up and rested the axe over his shoulder. "I hope that made sense. You have to practice this over and over until you don’t have to think about it anymore. It has to become instinct."

Joey nodded, his eyes still on the split log. "Yeah, some things never change," he thought. "Practice, practice, practice. Whether it’s in the modern world or the past, that’s how you get good at anything."

Lucius’ question snapped Joey out of his thoughts. "Want to give it another shot?" he asked, tilting his head toward the chopping block.

"Yeah, of course," Joey replied, a hint of determination in his voice.

He picked up the smaller axe again, feeling its weight as he turned toward the chopping block. He grabbed a fresh piece of wood, placing it carefully on the center of the block. His movements were slower this time, more deliberate. Joey took a step back, exhaled deeply, and adjusted his grip on the axe handle, his mind replaying Lucius’ instructions.

"Feet shoulder-width apart," Joey murmured to himself, shifting his stance to feel more grounded. "One hand low, the other higher for control." He slid his hands into position on the handle, gripping it tightly but not too rigidly. He flexed his fingers slightly, trying to find the balance Lucius had demonstrated.

"Focus on the spot. Pick the mark," he whispered, narrowing his gaze to the center of the log. His eyes traced an invisible line to the wood, as though imagining the blade already splitting it in two.

Joey raised the axe, this time with steady control rather than brute force. The muscles in his shoulders and arms tensed, his core tightened to support the movement. "Use your whole body, not just your arms," he reminded himself, repeating Lucius’ advice under his breath.

For a moment, everything else faded...

the sound of birds, the rustling of trees, even Lucius standing nearby. All Joey focused on was the wood and the path of the blade in his mind.

With a deep inhale, Joey swung the axe down. His movements were slower than Lucius, but they carried intent and focus. The blade struck the wood with a solid thunk.

"Good hit," Lucius called out encouragingly, a grin spreading across his face as he watched.

Joey looked at the log. It wasn’t split cleanly like Lucius’ attempt, but the blade had sunk in, leaving a clear mark. The wood cracked slightly along the grain, a small but definite result.

It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. He hadn’t even split it all the way through. But Joey didn’t care. The feeling of the axe connecting with the wood, of seeing the mark he’d left, filled him with satisfaction.

He grinned to himself, savoring the small victory, even if it wasn’t flawless.

He straightened up, allowing himself a small smile.

Lucius noticed and nodded approvingly. "Not bad for your first proper swing. You’re getting it."

Joey tightened his grip on the axe, the small success giving him confidence. "Alright," he thought. "Let’s do this again."

As Joey continued, he began to find a steady rhythm with each swing. He picked up another piece of wood, carefully set it on the chopping block, and adjusted his stance. He murmured Lucius instructions to himself as he worked, repeating them like a mantra. His hands gripped the axe more naturally now, the motions becoming smoother with each attempt.

The second log took three strikes to split, the third four. Each time, the blade connected with the wood, sending satisfying cracks through the grain. The repetitive thud of the axe against the logs echoed in the clearing, a testament to his growing determination.

Joey’s focus sharpened with every swing. He started to anticipate the feel of the axe as it struck the wood, the slight vibration traveling up the handle to his hands. It was as if his body was beginning to understand what his mind was still learning. By the fifth log, he was no longer hesitating before each strike, and by the seventh, his movements felt almost automatic.

Lucius, observing from a distance, noted Joey’s steady improvement. The younger man was still rough around the edges, but there was a clear effort to apply everything he had been taught. Satisfied, Lucius nodded to himself and stepped away.

"I’m going hunting tomorrow," Lucius had said earlier, his voice carrying back to Joey as he headed toward the house. "If you’re feeling well enough, you can come with me. But only if you think you’re ready."

Joey didn’t respond immediately. His focus was on the next log, the next swing, the next chance to improve. The sound of Lucius’ footsteps faded as he disappeared into the house, leaving Joey alone with his task.

By the time Joey finished splitting the tenth log, he was drenched in sweat. His arms burned with exertion, and his hands ached from gripping the axe. But as he set the axe down and surveyed the neat pile of split wood in front of him, he couldn’t help but smile. The pile wasn’t huge, and his technique still needed work, but it was progress. Real, tangible progress.

He took a moment to catch his breath, leaning on the axe handle as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. The warm spring air carried the scent of fresh-cut wood, mingling with the earthy aroma of the clearing. He felt a quiet satisfaction in knowing that he had contributed, however small the task might seem.

Piece by piece, Joey began carrying the chopped wood into the house. Each trip was deliberate, the weight of the logs grounding him in the moment. Inside, he found the corner where Lucius stored the firewood, likely near the kitchen area. The stack there was neat and orderly, a reflection of Lucius’ practicality.

Joey carefully added his pieces to the pile, straightening them as he worked. The repetitive motion of lifting, carrying, and stacking gave him time to reflect on the day. His body was exhausted, his muscles sore, but there was a deep satisfaction in doing something useful.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Joey felt like he had accomplished something real. It wasn’t flashy or groundbreaking, but it was enough to remind him of what it meant to build something from the ground up, one piece at a time.