Three weeks of grueling training after that first day, Teclos was finally getting used to it. He was past the muscle spasms, stamina issues, and the complete lack of mana recovery he suffered in the beginning.
After the first week, the difficulty ramped up proportionate to Teclos's growth. He gathered mana faster and denser, released it with more force and destructive power, shaped it into a more stable and stronger form, and had overall better control.
Now, sitting in a lotus position, he could gather a dense sphere between his hands in about two minutes, as opposed to the small superficial ball that used to take him five.
Because of that, he could blast mana faster and stronger; now the tree actually had holes in it instead of shallow dents or scratches.
His shapes turned firmer and stronger. With basic darkness tentacles he could break a branch instead of just bending it, turn them into hands, badly mimic others' shadows, and even lift himself off the ground with ten shadow hands.
His control was still bad—sometimes putting too much force into his spells, sometimes too little, meaning the shapes would either collapse or smash something never meant to be smashed.
Another early morning started, and Teclos finally managed to get up earlier than Talmir. Yawning, he got out of bed and put on his boots, pants, shirt, and the leather jacket he'd received from Ralph.
He stepped into the kitchen, picked up a few of Saldia's herbs she'd prepared, and tossed them into two cups. Then he fetched water from the barrel outside on the porch and poured it into the teapot that was already warming on the stove.
Just as he poured himself a cup, he glanced toward the bedroom and smiled.
"Hah! I'm actually first. This reminds me of Earth somehow—being first on shift in the waiting room. Haha… I can't believe those were the good times."
The smile faded as he remembered his training regime.
He sat at the table. Halfway through his tea, Talmir appeared, already in full gear.
"Hmmm, you're up early…"
"Yeah, I'm starting to get more energy, I think. So I sleep less now," he replied.
Talmir poured his tea. After a sip he said, bluntly, "Today we have a sparring day, a hunt, and waterfall meditation."
"Ugh," Teclos recoiled. "Come on, Dad, it's winter. Can't we do something else than sitting under a waterfall?"
"No. It gets the blood pumping, helps our focus, and when we coat ourselves in mana it helps improve control."
"Ugh…" He frowned and swallowed his opinion. Once his father decided something, nothing moved him.
When negotiation failed, they finished their tea in silence and left for another day of hard work.
"Let's start with the waterfall and end there as well."
"What?! Are you mad? You want to go there twice today?"
"Like I said, it's ultimately good for us. And didn't Father Pella say not to whine so much?"
"I mean, if you explained things properly I wouldn't whine so much."
He knew Talmir explained things properly—he just wanted to annoy him. After these past weeks he could barely speak during or after training.
As they walked, a chilly breeze cut through the forest. It was a harsh winter—far colder than autumn. Everything was freezing; the first meter of snow had already fallen. Luckily for Talmir, and unluckily for Teclos, the waterfall was still roaring and very much unfrozen.
The waterfall was a landmark near Kolma—thirteen meters wide, loud enough to be heard from five hundred meters away.
Many animals came here, as well as beasts, but this place was a truce zone. Beasts and animals normally wouldn't attack anyone drinking or even resting near the water. A peaceful haven, and perfect for observing creatures in their natural habitat. One reason Talmir had no worries bringing Teclos here. And also the place where Teclos, on his first visit, had been scared shitless—something Talmir still enjoyed laughing about.
As they walked the winter path, Talmir chuckled at the memory. "You remember, this is the place you—"
"Dad! Stop…"
"I haven't laughed that hard since—"
"DAD!"
They finally reached the waterfall. Everything was quiet except the water—it was still very early.
"All right, let's get this over with," Talmir said. He stripped to his pants, and so did Teclos, and they walked into the freezing water.
"Ugh! This is the one thing that never gets easier…" Teclos complained.
"In about five years you should be used to it. Don't worry, son," Talmir reassured—failing to notice he'd only deepened Teclos's despair.
They reached two boulders beneath the waterfall, placed long ago by hunters.
They sat simultaneously, legs crossed, backs straight, eyes closed.
As they meditated, the difference in their skill appeared immediately. Talmir's pressure surged like a ferocious predator guarding its cub. Water curved away from him; a thick white aura surrounded him. Wind swirled around like a barrier ready to tear apart anyone who approached.
Meanwhile Teclos was wrapped in a tiny dark aura sheet—quiet and small, but full of arrogance and a slowly building strength. Opposite of the flashy aura beside him, Teclos radiated a chilling presence.
The air grew colder around him; the daylight dimmed; the waterfall darkened to a deeper blue. Onlookers would probably avoid him first rather than Talmir—despite the massive power difference—because of the sinister aura he gave off.
If one were an aura master, the emotions were clear: one aura was angry—directed at a parent—and the other calm, serene, yet highly alert.
After two hours of this, animals and beasts began approaching for water.
Teclos started shivering uncontrollably.
"Looks like two hours is your limit now. That's good progress."
"T-t-thanks… I-I really l-like this training, Dad."
"Oh! Good."
"T-that was s-sarcasm…"
After drying off and gearing back up, they walked toward the village. Talmir explained the next phase.
"This will be your first time doing this. We're doing a hunt like training. I'm the hunter, and you're the prey."
Teclos paled with cold sweat, but before he could argue Talmir continued:
"There will be opponents you cannot defeat. When that happens, you run with all your might. I'll teach you that now."
Teclos gulped. Talmir was never gentle with training.
"The key to escaping is erasing your presence. Everyone does it differently, but the basics are the same: suppress your mana, a steady and shallow breath, and find a good hiding spot. Remember that when I track you."
"Yes, Dad."
At the village, Kosak and Darnel were waiting.
"Oh look who it is—my long-lost partner," Kosak called.
Darnel laughed.
"Yeah yeah, it'll probably take at least two months before I join again," Talmir said.
"Hmmm, is the boy that talented?" Darnel asked.
"Are you kidding?" Kosak laughed. "He's on par with the best fourteen-year-olds I've seen."
"Huh. Blessed with a gorgeous wife and a talented kid… I kinda want to smack you," Darnel joked.
"Good luck with that. I won't visit your funeral."
Ignoring them, Talmir told Teclos, "I'll lean on this gate for five minutes talking to these two idiots, and you start running."
Teclos gave a thumbs-up and sprinted off at full speed.
"Wow, he's a speedy kid," Kosak said.
Teclos had named his running technique Shadow Steps. When he stepped down, he released mana into the ground; the mana sprang up beneath him in a platform that launched him forward. Bouncy underneath, hard on top—the rest depended on his mana control.
He ran like his life depended on it, choosing a relatively safe route toward a nearby village. He'd trained there with Talmir before; risky, but the best option. He could follow the river for a long stretch, hiding his tracks. His hiding spot was a cave with a narrow entrance near the village. He needed at least twenty-five minutes to reach it—and avoiding Talmir for twenty minutes was no small task.
Along the way he saw harmless animals—good. That meant no predators nearby.
Reassured, he sped up to reach the riverbank quickly.
Meanwhile, Talmir chatted casually.
"You're not worried at all? The kid's fast," Kosak asked.
"He is," Talmir admitted. "But I can track him easily."
Darnel smirked. "I wouldn't be so sure. Unlike you, the boy is smart."
"Since when do you know my son better than me?"
"I don't—but he has Saldia's blood in him, so he isn't as retarded as you," Darnel teased.
Kosak burst out laughing. "Hah! He's right! He may be your son, but at least he got his brains from his mother!"
"Oh shut up. Maybe I am an idiot—but at least I can count to ten without taking off my boots, unlike you two."
After more banter, Talmir pushed off the gate.
"Want to bet I find him before sunset?"
Kosak shook his head, but Darnel jumped at it. "You're on! Free beer for the winner."
"Deal."
Then Talmir launched into the sky, a miniature tornado swirling around him. He vanished from sight in less than a second, truly Kolma's fastest hunter.
Teclos reached the river but stayed hidden beneath the treeline, running toward Ragla along the riverbank. Enough foliage hid him from Talmir's aerial view.
"He should've started the chase now. I need my first hiding spot."
He spotted a moss-covered fallen tree. "Good enough." He dug a small hole beneath it, slipped inside, and covered himself with moss.
His plan: wait for Talmir to pass overhead twice, then move.
At the same time, Talmir reached the river.
"Hmmm, where is that brat? He shouldn't be far… Safe route or dangerous? If I were him…"
After a moment he flew toward Ragla. "He's still a coward, so he should be here."
Just as Teclos predicted, the trees bent suddenly and the roar of wind blasted above him like a giant beast.
"Damn, Dad can be scary… All right, lets wait a bit."
A few minutes later, Talmir stopped in mid-air.
As he didn't find anything he asked himself.
"He couldn't have—right? He wouldn't go into the mountains?"
Worry surged.
He spun around and darted toward them.
"I hope he's by the waterfall and not in the mountains."
Again the sky roared, the trees bent, and Talmir passed overhead.
"So easy… That should give me a few minutes to reach Ragla."
Teclos burst out from beneath the fallen tree the moment his father's aura vanished toward the mountains. He wasted no time—he sprinted along the riverbank with every ounce of mana he could muster. Shadow Steps flared beneath his feet, each landing exploding into a springy push that hurled him forward. His breath steamed in the winter air, but excitement thrummed through him. "I can make it. If he wastes even a minute searching those cliffs, I can reach Ragla."
The terrain shifted as he approached the village. The trees grew thinner, replaced by frozen bushes and patches of brittle grass peeking through the snow. He kept to the shadows where he could, slipping between frost-covered roots, avoiding open stretches as if they were poisonous. His mana pulsed steadily—half full still—and though fatigue ate at his legs, he pushed on.
When the wooden palisades of Ragla finally appeared between the trees, he nearly cheered. Smoke rose lazily from a few chimneys; the bells hadn't rung for noon yet, and the village lay half asleep in the pale dawn. Perfect.
He slowed down as he neared the outskirts. Speed wasn't his ally anymore—silence was. He pressed himself against the cold earth and slid behind a cluster of stacked firewood. Beyond it, he spotted what he was looking for: a narrow path leading behind the blacksmith's shed and down to a small hollow at the cliffside near the river. The entrance to the cave was little more than a jagged crack between two boulders—barely big enough for a child.
Teclos crouched low, checked the sky, and dashed for it. No gust of wind followed. No sudden pressure. No predator-like aura.
"He fell for it."
He dropped to his hands and knees and squeezed himself inside the crack. The stone scraped his shoulders, and the cold bit through his jacket, but the interior widened just enough for him to lie flat. From here, he could hear the faint roar of the waterfall in the distance—and, more importantly, nothing else. He had enough food till evening, so he started training his mana in the quiet small cave.
Meanwhile, far above the valley, Talmir shot across the sky like a spear wrapped in storm winds. His expression had changed from cocky amusement to tight-jawed concern.
"Idiot boy… what were you thinking?"
He scanned the treeline once more, but there were no bent branches, no disturbed snow, no lingering mana traces. Only the mountains loomed ahead—steep, merciless, and riddled with dens.
Talmir cursed under his breath.
"I swear… if he climbed toward that cave…"
He hated it—truly hated it—but he angled himself toward the highest ridge, toward the cave hunters avoided unless absolutely necessary.
His stomach churned.
His heartbeat quickened.
And for the first time in years, the fastest hunter of Kolma felt fear creeping in.
And so the hunt continued—soon ending in an unexpected defeat for Talmir. Both a proud moment for a father, and a shameful stain for a hunter.