Chapter 7: Into the Forest''s Shadow 30/07/908


    Yonas'' body still ached, but he forced himself to move. His broken arm remained bound, the pain a dull throb under the bandages, but he wasn''t about to let it stop him. He needed to prove, if only to himself, that he wasn''t as weak as he had felt against the goblin.


    He took on small tasks—gathering firewood, refilling his water satchel. Each motion tested his endurance, and bending down to collect sticks was a challenge he hadn''t expected. Without his dominant arm, even simple movements required focus. His body protested, muscles stiff and sore, but he pushed through, driven by a quiet promise to himself: I won''t lose so pathetically ever again.


    Nasir watched, his expression calm but observant. He didn''t offer to help, only murmuring, “This pain is temporary.” It was a simple truth, but it settled into Yonas'' mind, echoing with every step he took.


    When Yonas finally sat down, his chest heaving with effort, Nasir handed him a small portion of dried meat. They ate in silence, the forest breathing around them, a living backdrop to their quiet meal.


    “You know,” Nasir said, breaking the silence, “In a real battle, no one will give you a moment to catch your breath.”


    Yonas nodded, biting into the meat. His jaw ached, but he kept chewing, kept moving forward.


    “You need to tear your muscles to build them stronger,” Nasir continued. “Every step forward is a chance to grow. But strength also means knowing when not to push too hard.”


    Yonas didn''t reply, but his expression hardened, a flicker of determination in his eyes. He wouldn’t question Nasir—he had faith in him. His body might have limits, but his spirit didn''t.


    As the sun rose higher, Nasir led Yonas deeper into the forest. “Today, we focus on tracking. The forest speaks—you just have to learn how to listen.”


    Nasir knelt, brushing his fingers against the forest floor. “Look for footprints, broken branches, a change in the smell of the air, even worn patches of ground. Anything that feels out of place.”


    Yonas crouched beside him, his own hand hovering over the ground. He tried to focus, but every rustle, every shadow, pulled at his attention. His movements were hesitant, his eyes skimming over details he needed to see.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    After an hour, his frustration grew. He hadn’t found a single sign—not even a hint of animal tracks. His breath quickened, but then he forced himself to stop. He let out a long breath, a smile tugging at his lips.


    “I’ll get even better,” he whispered, turning his frustration into a quiet resolve.


    Nasir said nothing, but his approval was clear in the subtle nod he gave.


    The forest around them felt like a different world. Strange plants with soft glows lined their path, casting a pale light in the shaded underbrush. The air had a pulse, a rhythmic thrum that Nasir described as the forest ''breathing.'' Yonas couldn’t feel the elemental energy, but he could sense the life around him, the way everything seemed to move with a purpose.


    As they walked, Nasir began to tell a story. “There’s a tree, hidden somewhere in a place not many dare go. The Tree of Four Elements. It glows with a purplish hue, a beacon for legendary creatures. A rank 9 elementalist created it, and it’s said to breathe elemental energy into the land around it.”


    Yonas’ mind drifted, his imagination painting pictures of the tree—its leaves shimmering with light, its roots winding deep into the earth, connecting to everything. His heart beat faster. Could he find it one day? Would he be strong enough to stand before it?


    The afternoon turned to evening, and Yonas attempted to hunt. Nasir had taught him to track, to feel for changes in the ground, but he struggled. His fingers traced the earth, but he found nothing. No tracks, no signs of life. He bit back his frustration, reminding himself that asking for help wasn’t a failure.


    “If I really can’t find a way forward, I’ll ask,” he told himself. But not yet. He wasn’t stuck—just learning.


    Their meal that night came from the small creatures they had managed to catch. Yonas chewed slowly, the taste of his own effort making every bite more satisfying. It wasn’t just about the food—it was about the proof that he was getting better, no matter how small the progress.


    As darkness settled, they sat by the fire. Nasir guided Yonas through meditation again. With less pain in his body, Yonas found it easier to concentrate. He closed his eyes, breathing slowly, his thoughts focused on his goal—to become the strongest elemental swordsman.


    “The mind is a pond,” Nasir’s voice was steady. “Let the ripples settle. Only then will you see clearly.”


    Yonas sat still, his breathing even, his body relaxed. His thoughts drifted, brushing against memories of his family, his promise to them, the image of the glowing elemental tree. He could almost see it in the darkness behind his eyelids, a symbol of his dreams.


    When he opened his eyes, the fire had burned low. The forest was alive with natural sounds—animals calling, leaves whispering in the wind. He lay down, staring at the stars. They seemed impossibly far away, but they shone all the same.


    His last thought before sleep claimed him was simple and honest: I’ll keep trying. No matter how distant my goal seems.