After Tears Come...Training?

In contrast to the bright and early morning, Elias woke up sluggishly, his gloom ridden visage squinting at the annoying sunlight.

'I cried myself to sleep didn't I… How pathetic.'

Before the derogatory monologue could continue, I heard a commotion coming from the living room; a loud thud shook the entire house.

Opening the door to investigate, I chanced upon one of the rare times my father comes home early. He had boar hauled on his back and another set on the ground; probably the reason for the noise.

Once he noticed my arrival, he 'gently' lay the other boar on a wooden stump right by the hatchet and made his way to me.

He sat his hulking figure down on my bed heaved a heavy sigh.

"Listen up boy, I'll say this one time. Crying is all right in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do. A wise man once said those same words to me, I believe his name was C.S Lewis."

Not even expecting him to say anything, out of the blue, my father spoke to me in wisdom aplenty shocking even the chirping birds in the distance as they held their tweets in astonishment.

I stared at him with my eyes as wide as saucers. I never thought such sage advice would come out of that man's mouth.

"What? It's like I never give you good advice." he frowned

'You don't!' I screamed in my mind, but I just smiled outwardly.

I was grateful for him, he gave me back some confidence in myself. So what if I cried, I will still train hard and survive until mother comes back. And even if she does not, I will make sure that I am strong enough to overcome any difficulties to reach her.

After a bit more contemplation and self-encouragement, I looked into his eyes, with gratefulness showing in my own, and expressed my gratitude.

"Thanks Dad."

"BAHAHHAHAH, don't worry about it Eli… How what's that wound on your chest?"

My vision trailed to the fresh injury marking my chest and yesterday's debacle came into mind. I was ashamed to say that I lost to wolves. Would he compare me to others and believe me weak? I was scared of his judgment, but I decided to let it all out

"There was a wolf with a space attribute, Could you believe that? He came out of nowhere! And those winds wolves are such a hassle to deal with! I can't see perceive their attacks clearly, much less see them. I can barely sense them right before they reach me, it's ridiculous!"

As I trailed on with my story, father's eyes widened gradually until they were almost twice their original size. At the end of it, he had a wide grin stretching his face and his hands held my shoulders firmly, squeezing my body.

'Not only has my son been dealing with C rank wolves whose attacks he could not see, and had to perceive through his senses. But he felled a space attribute C rank beast, one of the hardest enemies to deal with at that level, all at barely six years of age! What a great warrior you will become, Elias!'

"BAHAHAHA, that's my son."

"Why are you laughing? They're a real headache to deal with!"

"A headache you say? BAHHAHAHH, Don't worry about it. You said you can't see those attacks didn't you? Put on your gear and come out side, I'll teach you a few things to make it easier."

Listening to my father laugh at my struggle was frustrating. Was I wrong to assume that these beasts were strong? It seems I need much more training than I thought.

Flying through the window, Eset landed on her perch with a mouse tail still flailing about out of her beak. She must have heard me from outside, and ended her hunt prematurely to check up on me. What a good girl.

"What, were you worried about me?"

As if denying my claim, Eset tilted her head confusedly before noticing the rogue tail sticking out her mouth.

With a frustrated patter of feet, she reeled her head back and swallowed what's left of the poor rodent, turning my argument null.

"Oh forgive me, Eset, mighty owl who cares for no one…. Damn little diva"

A few feathers in my mouth later, Eset flew back out to continue hunting, and I got ready to train with father.

I donned a brown tunic, a leather vest and black trousers. I traced my fingers over the brown leather bracers my mother gifted me with sadness, before I schooled my emotions and strapped them on tightly with determination.

With a final look at the room, I took my heavy training staff and left the cabin with firm and powerful steps.

###

Outside the cabin, father was waiting for me with his axe drawn. That monstrous weapon never ceases to amaze me; the mere presence of it gives me shivers,

'I wonder how many that weapon has slain.'

"Elias, we did not talk about it before, I didn't think it necessary, but it is. My affinities are wind and lightning. Together, my magic is what I like to call storm magic. Sophia did not get far with your magic lessons, so I will teach you directly myself. Everyone with the capacity for magic, can use any of the basic elements, yet limitations still present themselves."

Once again my father's personality completely switched into that of a seasoned warrior; Well-spoken and concise, unlike the playful man he usually is.

Father stood confidently and waved his axe menacingly. Not even a moment after the arc he drew with the axe was completed, huge fault formed on the grassy plain beneath us.

"Elias, your natural affinities make your magic more efficient and inherently stronger. While those that are not, can be conjured, yet they are weak."

Extending his hand forward, a weak sphere of water shot out from his palm and dug a small hole in the ground.

'This… changes everything'

I nodded listlessly at his display. Not only was the strength of his wind element overwhelming, but the revelation about the other elements was a game changer.

"Alright, focus now. Let us transition to the main objective of our lesson. Wind magic, just like everything else, it requires Aeter. In order to perceive it better, and possibly see it clearly, you must learn to observe the Aeter behind the spell."

My father then raised his axe above his head and slashed downward slowly.

I wanted to surprise him and show off how accomplished I have become. I already deciphered the mystery behind the wind magic long ago.

'AAHAHAAHA. I can't wait to see the look on his face'

I concentrated as hard as I can and tried observing every thread of Aeter I could perceive. Yet, I did not see anything.

'Is he making fun of me, I didn't see any…'

-BOOM

Before I could continue my accusations, I heard a large collision echo in the distance.

Turning toward the sound slowly, I saw a tree in the distance whose trunk was marked by a large vertical slash.

"Did you see anything?" He asked provocatively, almost expecting me to fail.

"N-nothing, I didn't see a thing"

Father looked at me momentarily before he burst out laughing.

Peeved at his silly laughter I yelled frustratingly

"What's there to laugh about?!"

Unfortunately, his response came only minutes later when he had his fill of laughter, much to my displeasure.

Hunched over and holding his stomach, father wiped tears of laughter before responding to my earlier outburst

"Sorry, sorry. But did you see your face? BAHAHAH, you were so eager to act like act like a little know it all. You already know what to do, don't ya. Cheeky brat"

Not even minding the fact that the old man called me a brat, I quickly caught on to something else.

"How then, what did you use to fuel that attack?"

Father stood up straight and looked at me seriously, looking like he was about to utter the most significant peace of information that ever left his mouth.