Chapter 5
Kael followed the path through the forest, hand on the sword and eyes open. After two hours of walking, he reached an opening in the dense forest, in the middle of which was a small wooden house. The sun started to break through the trees, and the image was one of true peace.
He got closer and knocked at the door. After some tense moments, the door opened, and a young woman with green eyes, dark hair, and casual clothes looked at him.
"Sorry, miss, but I think this is for you." He passed the letter from Garfild.
She took it and started to read it, occasionally glancing up.
"Take that axe and go get some wood," said the girl.
"What? Weren't you supposed to train me?" Kael responded hastily.
"You don't have another version of getting out alive from this situation, and if you don't listen, you will make the round again," Sara replied without changing her expression.
"But—" Kael began, only for Sara to step back and shut the door in his face without another word.
Kael stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the closed door. His grip on the sword tightened as frustration bubbled over. "In the name of the gods, what is this madness?"
After a moment of fuming, he turned to the woodpile. Next to it lay a sturdy axe and a small pouch. With a sigh, he opened the pouch to find a folded piece of paper.
Unfolding it, he read:
"Chop 25 pieces of wood by nightfall. Missing pieces will result in no food."
Kael groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Fine! I'll do it, okay?" he shouted toward the house, though there was no response.
Grumbling under his breath, he picked up the axe. It was heavier than it looked, and his hands felt awkward gripping the worn handle. Scanning the area, he noticed several trees marked with a faint red paint, presumably indicating which ones to cut.
As he swung the axe for the first time, it bit into the wood with a dull thud, sending a jarring vibration up his arms. His inexperience was painfully evident, and it wasn't long before his hands ached and sweat dripped down his brow.
--
Kael sat on the grass, panting heavily, his shirt damp with sweat. He had managed to chop only ten pieces of wood so far, and the sun was now high in the sky. His stomach growled in protest, but he knew better than to stop.
"Just great," he muttered, glaring at the remaining trees. "This is supposed to be training?!"
From the window of the house, Sara watched silently, a faint smirk on her lips. "Let's see if he can survive the first day," she murmured to herself.
…
He somehow managed to get all the necessary wood and returned to the cabin. He put the wood in the stand and went inside.
"Come on, take a seat," Sara said, still preparing something to eat. "The food will be ready in 20 minutes. Now tell me what you learned?"
"That you try to kill me with chores?" Kael responded.
"Anything else?" she continued, not indulging his argument.
"I guess that I learned how to position myself and how to make decisive strikes," Kael replied.
"Good. What you emitted from there is patience, but that is not a problem for now. Here, eat. After that, go to sleep. Tomorrow is a long day."