Episode 4: Healing and Growing

  Chapter 011: To Teach a Child

  It hadn’t even been an hour since he returned, and Vynelor was already being tossed around. The trees surrounding them rippled, simply being trees in this magical forest that couldn’t calm down. While the nation groaned under all sorts of consequences, a single child was just trying to stay alive. Or at least, trying to keep his HP from dropping below half.

  A small camp sat nestled in a clearing far from the roads. Beneath the canopy, a campfire crackled calmly. Four skewers leaned in toward the flames, each with a fish impaled, roasting them for a nice treat. The sticks were long, just sturdy enough to hold the weight without snapping.

  But as the fish roasted, a small body whipped straight over the fire. Smoke trailed behind the airborne boy before he smacked into the grass with a heavy thud.

  –8 HP

  HP: 82 / 129

  “Ow!” Vynelor groaned, his whole body rolling like a dustball before landing flat on his back. His arms flung out like a doll. He stared upward, trying to catch his breath, sweat tickling the edges of his ears. “You know… It doesn’t seem too bad to become a tree and not get in trouble.”

  Wallan stood nearby with his arms crossed. His cloak was pulled tight, and the stubble on his face only added to the intimidating scowl he had. A scar ran down his neck, and his eyes glared coldly.

  “You rearranged the rocks again,” Wallan said. “You moved the whole riverbed ten meters. What were you thinking?”

  “I wanted to make it prettier!” Vynelor shouted from the ground. “And it was cool, okay? It’s fun playing around when no one’s watching.”

  Wallan was fighting off a sigh, and a grunt slipped out instead. “You want pretty? Draw something. Plenty of stumps around here for stick figures. You don’t go rearranging rivers. Keep doing that, and bad people’ll sniff us out before next dawn.”

  “You keep saying that, but we never got spotted,” the boy muttered, sitting up slowly and rubbing his head. His black hair stuck out in wild clumps. A few were naturally pointy, but not to this degree. A wash in the river would do the job.

  “And why do you think that is?” Wallan replied, knowing full well he couldn’t afford to take his eyes off the kid for long.

  Vynelor’s system flickered back to life, almost like it had been shocked by the fall as well. Its sudden appearance made him look at the stats:

  Temperament Slate — 1/6 Awakened

  Worthseek ? Lv. 8: Your father wasn’t proud of what you did.

  He sighed and waved the display away like he could swat it from the air. His fingers passed right through. “Go away,” he whispered, furious. The system faded slowly, undisturbed by his frustration.

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he grunted, climbing to his feet and glaring at the man with sass. “What’re you gonna say next, huh? Let me guess. ‘Don’t use magic.’”

  “Ever.” Wallan stepped toward him, each stride slow. “I say it again and again, yet somehow your magic keeps getting stronger. Want to tell me why?”

  The child was quiet, glancing at a distant bush, finding more peace with its lush greenness rather than that imposed question.

  “Perhaps we have to go back to the basic questions. How does one get stronger? By training. So how did your magic improve?”

  Vynelor sighed. “We’ve been over this. Just move on. Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

  Wallan’s brows drew together. “Pardon? Say that again.”

  The boy dipped his head. “…Sorry.”

  Wallan exhaled heavily and crouched beside him. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a flat rune and pressed it to the boy’s chest. With a shatter and bits turning to dust, the stone got absorbed into his chest, sinking until none remained. Vynelor watched as his system flared back to life, lines writing themselves into view:

  ● System Update ●

  Constitutive Restoration Detected — From the one who once cradled you.

  Health Restorative Rune — Applied

  +Max Health

  HP: 129 / 129

  A warm light pulsed through Vynelor’s small frame, feeling that wave of comfort washing over him—similar to drinking down hot tea in cold weather. The bruise on his shoulder faded. The cut on his cheek sealed itself in moments. His system pinged softly, numbers ticking upward just enough to stabilize.

  He checked himself, and a giggly smile hugged his lips. He flung himself into Wallan’s arms. “Thanks! But if you hadn’t beaten me up for three minutes, this wouldn’t have been wasted.”

  “It wouldn’t be wasted if you’d behaved,” Wallan replied, poking the boy in the side. Vynelor flinched and laughed.

  “Funny how you’ve got gratitude and attitude in the same breath. Last I checked, ten-year-olds were better mannered.”

  “You’re just stupid,” Vynelor mumbled.

  Wallan gave a grunt and smacked the boy’s back. “You keep throwing yourself like that, I’ll stop patching you up.”

  “No, you won’t. You’re soft.”

  “I’m mean.”

  “Okay, you’re mean and soft.”

  Wallan raised an eyebrow. “I’m also fast. The benefits of relying on physical strength instead of magic.”

  “Oh yeah? With your Quick Speed?” Vynelor pulled back, eyes lighting up. He sprang to his feet. “Fight me, then! Just speed and strength, like hands and feet only. I’ll show you I can hold my ground without magic. And if I beat you, I get to use it from here on out.”

  He took a few steps back, crouching low with fists up.

  Wallan stood slowly and brushed his knees. His mouth twitched. It wasn’t quite a smile, but something close to it.

  “I accept,” he said. “You won’t win, so let this be another lesson, kid.”

  Vynelor gave a little bounce, rolled his eyes, and let his hands droop. “You and your lessons… Just get on with it.”

  “Alright. Real fight.” Wallan raised one hand. “No magic. First one down—”

  “Loses!” Vynelor shouted, already charging.

  VYNELOR

  Adaptation Path — 1/5 Activated

  Quick Speed ? Lv. 10

  Wallan moved in response.

  WALLAN

  Adaptation Path — 1/11 Activated

  Quick Speed ? Lv. 30

  The air tensed. Then the clearing erupted into motion.

  End of Episode 4