Taking on the trainings of Damon, was a daunting task. Despite the difficulties that he had promised, Damon seemed convinced Alice and Kazius could do it. He also seemed to very much enjoy having people to spend time with. He radiated loneliness, but also raw power. An odd combination. Regardless, he seemed to genuinely want to help them.

Kazius felt intimidated by the training goal, but he would not give up. Alice and him would stare at the beginning path of the first mountain. It was Mount Cyklon, the smallest out of the 5 nearby mountains that helped form the vast valley… Though it could still be far from called small. Kazius couldn’t recall seeing a mountain this tall back in Ratier.

They would approach, Damon watching from behind, supervising, as if waiting… It worried Kazius… Would something happen once they began to walk the mountain path? Tired of hesitating, Kazius would step up. The moment he set foot in the mountain path though, Kazius would struggle. A strong wind unlike anything he had ever experienced could be felt.

The wind was violent yet the trees in the mountain were still, unaffected. As if frozen in time. He had no warning about such a wind until he was feeling it for himself. Kazius would shield his face with his arms, his clothes swaying rapidly along with his hair. If he lost his footing, he would be blown away.

‘Shit…. Is the whole mountain like this?! Do this in an hour? Yeah right!’

“Kazius! Are you alright!?” Alice exclaimed, noticing his strain. Confused, she attempted to rush over only to squeak, being immediately blown back at just a step, landing on her butt.

“BuaHaHaHa! You are doing a lot better than I thought! Good job not being blown away immediately, Kazius… The only other person that I know to stand as soon as entering the mountain path is me! The second name for this mountain could be translated to Mount Wind… It is the home of wind spirits!” Damon exclaimed with a hearty laugh. “Now come on, what are you two waiting for?” He would question, crossing his muscled arms in a prideful manner, “Get going. This is just like swimming. Go in first and just start walking! Once we are higher up, if you start being blown away, I will catch you both. Don’t worry. Especially you, Alice. You can do it, come on.”

Kazius would grow concerned, Alice was still recovering. He could not turn back to look at her, not if he didn’t want to be blown away. Thanks to the wind, it was already hard just trying to hear Damon, even with his loud voice. Before he could try and protest and argue Alice should go rest, Alice would take another step and joined him.

Her hair would sway rapidly, as well as her robe. She wore it even now, despite not using the hood.

“Good! Come on, keep going!” Damon would exclaim.

Kazius would bite his lip, attempting to snap himself out of any fear. If Alice still wanted to go, how would he look it he turned around and ran? If he ever wanted to hope to try and beat Alex and Leo, he needed to grasp the moment.

‘I can do this’

Kazius would take another step, struggling, but managing to go forward. Slowly, but surely, he would keep going. With each step, the wind felt only stronger… Was it actually stronger or was he just being overwhelmed? He didn’t know… Still, he wasn’t giving up… And surprisingly enough, Alice was not far behind. She definitely was the descendant of Ratier himself, she wasn’t weak.

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Slowly, but surely, they would slowly move up. The path was rocky, but Kazius was thankful to even have a path at all. The two would keep shielding their faces as they walked, Damon walking not far behind them, watching them as they moved.

The climb felt like forever, but that was just because it was so difficult. They would keep going though. With each step, Kazius felt surer and surer. He would do this. Of course, there were moments where he or Alice would almost lose their footing, but as promised…. Damon would catch them both. He was walking slowly yet patiently.

At one point Alice would pass Kazius in their steps, but it seems she had gotten a bit overzealous. She would lose her footing, flying back, knocking Kazius over as well. Damon would end up picking both up, catching them. He held them as if they were each a sack of potatoes.

He laughed, seeming to be enjoying himself. Then again, considering how lonely he was, even if just standing around and walking, he probably was happy to spend time with friends. “You two did well for your first day! But I think it is about time we call it a night.”

“What? But we can keep going!” Alice whined, surprising Kazius. It seems she was just as determined as him.

“Perhaps, but it is already dark… I would be a bad teacher if I let you both keep going! And a bad friend! Which is way worse!” Damon exclaimed with another laugh as he hopped off the mountain. Normally such a thing was dangerous, but considering how he hopped down to save them the other day… Kazius did not react.

Alice though would scream as they fell… Her eyes wide the whole time.

Once they landed, poor Alice looked disheveled, her hair a mess. She panted, sighing, “Warn us first!” She huffed out, “I thought we were going to die.” She whined out.

“Oh! I thought you knew it would be fine, sorry.” Damon apologized sheepishly as he carefully put the two down.

“I am just surprised you weren’t shocked, Kazius.” Alice admitted with a sigh, “But it okay.” She assured Damon, who looked like a kicked puppy. He could be a bit of a gentle giant.

“Well, when he saved us… He jumped about 10 times that… To be honest, I am a bit disappointed we didn’t get farther. We were practically still at the base… To climb the whole thing in a day… Much less in an hour… it will take a while, it seems.” Kazius admitted with a sigh of his own.

“I see…” Alice stated, working on getting herself a bit fixed up, smiling a bit at the two. “Well, I suppose we will just have to try harder.” She chirped contently, “It was hard, and I am exhausted… But… It was fun. I will try harder tomorrow.” She added.

“Wasn’t it!? I wish I could be going up the mountain for my first time too. It is just a normal walk for me at this point!” Damon exclaimed eagerly with a laugh.

“Still, thank you for taking the time to do this.” Kazius spoke up.

Damon shook his head, “You are doing me a favor too… If I am being honest, not many like spending time with me… What they were saying… While we walked… I should be honest with you… The one they don’t like is me, not you…” He spoke, looking a bit solemn before smiling again.

Kazius was curious, but he would not pry, “I could tell… To be honest… I don’t know how… But I understand any language I hear or see… I can speak them too…”

“WHAT?!” Damon exclaimed in shock, “That is amazing!” He exclaimed only to then settle down, seeming to realize something. “So, the things my sister said… You heard all that, huh?” He sighed out, looking deflated, “I hope you aren’t mad… That I lied…”

“No, I figured you had your reasons…” Kazius assured.

“I don’t know what you are talking about… I wasn’t there… But you look like something is bothering you… We will hear you out. When you are ready.” Alice assured, knowing she had her own bad experiences in her past. When she opened up to Kazius, it had helped her a lot. Monster or not, Kazius helped those around him.

“I know what it is like to have people you care about think poorly of you… At least that I cared about. I don’t know your story… But you saved us, are helping us train, and even welcomed us in your home. Whatever it is you want to tell, when you are ready to say it… We won’t judge… You are a new friend of ours.” Kazius assured.

Damon would look at both, seeming touched. He would give the two a wide grin, clearly happy to hear them so earnestly call him their new friend. “I will… Soon… Thank you…” He stated, surprisingly soft spoken.

“Anyway, we should try and hunt dinner and then head back… It is already quite late. Azanor and Eve might worry.” Damon told them.

“At least Eve would be.” Kazius stated with a yawn, indeed tired.