Chapter 4

Sparring with Dareth

Matt had trouble sleeping that night. While he had a better place to sleep, he was still caught in the thought of what his parents wanted to do. He thought he was free from them, but the thought of them just continued to haunt him, and he didn't know why.
Matt woke up, finding himself in a basement. He wasn't used to it, having spent a week in the woods, but he brushes it off, relieved that none of the stuff he's been going through wasn't a dream. He was happy to just be away from his parents ever since he realized that they were selfish Christians that just wanted him to conform by making him sever his ties with the only ones he could consider his friends.

His friends. The only people that he thought understood him. He ran away so he wouldn't have to lose them, yet he ends up in this world without them. He did not want to believe he was the only one here. He was certain that those girls were out there somewhere, and he will find them, whatever it takes.

"Breakfast," Matt heard Dareth call out.

Matt made his way out of the basement and sat at the table next to Aaron. Dareth hands out pancakes for both of them. Matt was at first skeptical to eat them, since they had bugs in them, but he knew he had to eat if he were to survive, let alone find his friends, so he ate them. They were surprisingly good.

When Matt was done eating, Dareth approached Matt.

"If you want to find your friends," he said. "You'll need to prepare for anything this world will throw at you. Meet me in the Living Room in an hour. Bring whatever weapon you can find with you."

Matt nods his head and heads back to the basement.

1 hour later…

Matt was in the Living Room with his wooden spear in his hand. Dareth was on the other side of the room with a small rusty sword in his hand.

"The first thing you need to know," said Dareth. "Is that there are people out there that will try to attack you for your loot. You need to know how to fight them, and their weapons will not be made of wood. Take this."

Dareth hands Matt a spear that was made of metal, though it was rusty, just like Dareth's sword.

"You must do everything I say," said Dareth.

Matt instantly views what's about to happen like it's a star wars duel, and holds his spear in position to signify he's ready.

After a few seconds, Dareth charged towards Matt and swung his blade, but Matt quickly blocked the attack. Matt always kept watch and prepared for whatever move Dareth was going to make next, and blocked accordingly. If he couldn't block, he dodged. Over time, Dareth manages to disarm Matt and knock him down.

"Try again," said Dareth.

Matt gets up and grabs his spear, and the two duel once more, just for the same thing to happen.

Matt tries again and again, but with each round, Matt gets disarmed and overpowered.

Matt gets angry and shouts, "I'll never get good at this!" before stomping back to the basement.

Dareth looks with a concerned expression, and decides to speak with him.

Dareth entered the basement and saw Matt sulking in the corner.

"Can we talk?" asked Dareth.

Matt thought for a second and decided to let Dareth sit with him.

"Sorry you had to see me like that," said Matt. "I tend to get competitive and whenever I fail something, my first instinct is to try again, and not rest until I complete that goal, but if I find it too stressful, I just rage-quit. Oh, sorry, that term may be unfamiliar to you."

"I know what a 'rage-quit' is," Dareth replied. "I also have to say I'm sorry. I never really gave you any advice on anything. If you're up for another round, I can give you some pointers."

"Not right now," Matt replied. "I think I've had enough training for one day."

"That's actually a good idea," said Dareth. "Anyway, I've gotta get started on dinner."

Dareth leaves the basement, and Matt sits in the basement with a smile on his face, with his hope for finding his friends restored.