Goals and challenges

Chapter 376

Both Ean and Shu were panting, they were on the floor, soaked with sweat and shirtless to let the wind refresh their bodies.

The two stayed on the ground for half a minute before they regained their breath and looked at the sky; whatever training they were doing, it was surely paying off.

Shu then took a deep breath and laid back against the ground, looking up at the blue and clear sky with a calm expression on his face

" Ean "

Shu said as the other man just turned to look at him, now gaining his attention

" What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish? "

Shu questioned, his tone was calm but curious; Ean has had many conversations with Shu, conversations about the past, their friendship and status, but never what they had in mind for the future

" My goals? I don't think I have any, to be honest my goals at first were to win over the favor of my family; but the entire Bermudez family got killed in the war Romulus started.. "

Ean paused and then scratched the back of his head; he hadn't really thought about this, what he had in mind at the moment that is

" My other goal was to have revenge for my brother; I thought of doing so by killing Ayami's mother, Elena, but before I could come to forgive her or have my revenge, she died in that war, so to be honest all I can do now is protect my kingdom from any danger "

Ean explained as Shu nodded, closing his eyes seconds later before thinking deeply to himself about his own question

" What about you? "

Ean replied, as Shu just opened his eyes, staring over at him to then sit up; leaning forward to hug his knees, his grey eyes staring at the grassy ground of the mountain

" I don't have any— "

Shu paused, and then tilted his head, thinking a little more

" Well I did; I used to live in a mountain, the big one you see to the back of this village. There I lived with my grandfather, he was killed and so because of his death and interest to see the outside world, I decided to march on, looking for something fun but also for revenge and then.. "

He scratched his cheek a little; although what he was saying should be taken seriously Shu himself didn't seem to care much about his own upcoming, nor the death of his grandfather as his face showed no emotion whatsoever; maybe he grew to accept it? Maybe became numb to the pain

" Well then I realized that my revenge was impossible to get; the person who killed my grandfather was a being of a different reality, I can't just travel around the world in hopes of finding him, I simply won't, and now, well now I don't know what to do with myself "

Shu said as Ean would then turn his attention away from him, looking up at the sky before smiling a little

" I guess we're both lost "

As Ean and Shu conversed their sons were going around the village causing trouble, all three, both of Shu's sons, Dio and Raven, as well as Ean's son, Asterlin.

They were running around, seeing who could run more laps around the village in a minute.

" Yes!! "

Raven yelled as he slid across the ground, stopping himself from running anymore to then place his hands at his hips as the other two boys stopped beside him; all three panting

" I won "

He yelled once more, annoying the two other boys who just stared at him with squinted eyes and frowned faces

" Okay fine you won, but you only won that challenge, I have another one! "

Asterlin said as the two other boys just turned to look at him, staring at him with a straight face, waiting for his challenge calmly

" Okay I got it! "

He said as he clasped his hands together, starting to rub them against each other while laughing like an idiot

" Whoever catches the biggest pray in an hour wins! "

As soon as he said that, he rushed forward, heading toward the part of the village which lead to the forest, leaving behind the two other boys who were confused for a second before rushing after him.

" You cheater!! "

Raven yelled

" You got a heard start, that's unfair!! "

Dio yelled as well; the two sounded angry and robbed, but if they knew what Asterlin knew they wouldn't really be complaining about that.

Asterlin knew where a big animal was, he didn't need a head start, he just needed enough time to lose the other two so he could get the biggest pray he's seen and he wouldn't let any of the other two win.

These boys were competitive; although these challenges were stupid and childish they found glory in knowing that they were better than the other two.

All three had separated into the forest, Dio had left to the right, the part of the first where there were the most trees; making it a very small and stuffed are.

Raven headed toward the left, where there were almost no trees being a very wide area with a lot of space and light; a lot of free space to roam around.

While the two brothers went opposite ways, Asterlin headed toward the deepest part of the forest; where it was dark and cramped, filled with many different types of creatures/animals

Although the forest was equally as dangerous for four and five years old like them, the deep part of the forest held the strongest beast known to man kind, a beast even a seasoned soldier would have trouble with; a true monster, as monster which at the moment found itself deep into the part of the forest where Asterlin was headed.

Though of course, this was the beast he was thinking of and even though he didn't know the true danger he was facing, it wouldn't have mattered if someone told him about the beast; if it was a challenge between the three of them, he'd do anything to proof he's better, just like the other two would.