Chapter 8
After a month.
"Morning," said Kael with a smile on his face. "Did you prepare the tea?"
"If I left it to you, I'd probably choke on it," she responded. "Morning to you too."
At the table, admiring the beauty of the forest.
"So what do you think of my 'slave-training'?" she says with a chuckle.
Kael turns to Sara. "It's efficient, but I still think you were enjoying torturing me in the beginning."
Sara laughs. "A little, you can't judge my can you?"
"No, I can't, and I still have to win against you." he responds. "Just then, I can leave this forest with my mind at ease."
"So be it, but first we have work to do." Sara replies, slyly emptying her cup of tea.
That afternoon, Kael was standing with a wooden sword in his hand, in front of him was Sara with a wooden knife.
"Are you ready?" Asked Kael.
"The question is, are you?" Says Sara. After that, she charges at him, her knife aimed at his arming hand.
Kael dodges the swipe and responds with a vertical slash, which is blocked by Sara's dagger. Seizing the opportunity, Kael aims a lateral slash, landing a hit on Sara, but at the same time, Sara's dagger hits his upper arm.
The spirit watching all this starts to hum.
"It's a draw, and I didn't agree to let you bet on me, Fi. Who was the other part of this wager?" Kael responds.
"I was," Sara responds. "And your hit is more lethal than mine, so you win. Congratulations."
"So that means I finish my training?" Kael asks with a little sarcasm in his voice.
"Yes, let's celebrate it, and tomorrow you will start your adventure." Sara replies with a proud smile.
That night was quiet, the sky was clear, and the stars were glowing with light.
While Sara was preparing the food, Kael was keeping an eye on the fire.
After some time, Kael breaks the silence. "Can I ask you something? What is with that illness you have?"
"Illness?" Sara asks.
"Yes, the wooden thing, why is that?"
After some time of thinking, Sara lifts her head and turns to him. "I will tell you, but it's a long story."
"Tonight is beautiful, and long," he responds with a smile.
She smiles back. "It all happened 200 years ago. A group of four dumb hads started on an adventure to save the world. They did, but one of them was needed to sacrifice himself to keep the evil spirit from reincarnating using his body to trap him in."
"This is about the demon lord, right?" Kael interrupts with a thinking tone.
"The leader of the group, Afilon, took that challenge to bear it. While he was still conscious and in control, the group got to an elf forest. The elves, who have long lives, use a special magic stone that freezes the person wearing it in time. That means that the person is functionally immortal, but there is a drawback."
"Let me guess, the wounds are not healing normally," Kael interrupts.
"How did you get to that?" Sara asks intrigued. "You're right about that, but how?"
"You were defending your right side the most, and your body is wood on that side, so that wound means that your body reacted and learned to the stress it experienced." Kael explains.
"You are correct. The drawback was that the wounds the person is getting will heal abnormally. I have my nails made out of wood, which is surprisingly movable but not as my original flesh. Gerok was having metal instead, and Henry was having stone."
"And Afilon?" Kael asks.
"I don't know. I haven't visited him at all in the last 178 years. Anyway, we each learned some things from the elves, to the agony of Gerok. He is a dwarf. What we humans call elf magic is just magic we forgot about. And after that, I came here and chose this simple lifestyle." Sara concludes, handing him a bowl of rabbit stew and polenta.
"Do you feel lonely?" Kael asks.
"Sometimes, but it's not a big deal. As long as this bracelet is on my hand, I will be here." Sara responds.