Advanced training (1)(ch7)

ANGELS AMONG US : BOUND BY FATE

Chapter 7

[Rivers Rest village; located at the base Mount sierra; Edwin's House]

(12 Am at midnight)

All three of them had returned from the plain fields by the top of the mountain to Rivers rest village, it was midnight, Oliver sat at a desk, an ink pen in hand, writing feverishly by the light of a single candle. The flickering flame cast strange shadows on the walls, but he paid them no mind. His mind was focused on the task at hand. As an archivist in his previous life, he had learned a lot about mythical creatures and monsters, and he was determined not to forget any of it.

Oliver's pen moved quickly across the paper, and as he wrote, and thinking to himself . "Let's start with the basilisk," he said to himself as he was starting to write down

. "A powerful serpent-like creature with the ability to turn people to stone with its gaze. It's said to be so dangerous that even a reflection of its gaze can be deadly, Kevin always mentioned this monster ." He paused, considering what to write down next.

"There are many other creatures to write about, but perhaps the most interesting is the phoenix..."

So, with the paper and ink provided by Edwin, he began to write. He started with the low-level creatures he had seen so far, but his thoughts soon turned to the fearsome chaos monster he had encountered in the village.

"The existence of the chaos beings is really terrifying, there is no mention of 'chaos beings' anywhere we have learned so much about mythologies of other countries but we have not seen chaos beings, this is frustrating, are monsters and chaos beings different? Are they intertwined? Do they have the same ambitions? Are they enemies? Where did they even come from? , thinking about it makes my head hurts" he was drowning in thoughts of confusion As he was thinking deeply in the context of chaoses and monsters.

Then he continued writing; ".....and chaoses have the ability absorb ones souls , once an individual's soul has been fully absorb the body starts to decay and turn to ash..."

As Oliver continued to write, he was suddenly interrupted by a voice.

"Oliver?" It was Edwin, sounding curious.

Oliver quickly closed his notebook and stood up, trying to appear nonchalant.

"Yes, Edwin?" he said.

"What are you doing up so late?" Edwin asked.

"Just writing," Oliver replied, not wanting to reveal too much.

"All right," Edwin said, sounding satisfied.

"Well, it's late, so you should probably head back to bed, training is starting tomorrow please remember that."

"Good night," Oliver said, and he headed back to his room, book tucked under his arm.

The next morning, the three of them made their way to the top of the mountain. The horses pulled the carriages through the plain fields, the crisp morning air filling their lungs.

The silence was heavy, each of them lost in their own thoughts about the training ahead. As they reached the top, they dismounted from the carriages, taking in the breathtaking view.

"We're not going back to the village," Edwin said, breaking the silence.

"We'll be staying here, on the mountain." Oliver felt a twinge of nervousness at Edwin's words.

"What would this training entail?, so thinks are exhilarating fast" He tried to keep his face impassive, not wanting to betray his anxiety. Jasper, too, seemed unaffected by the news. But Oliver knew that inside, he was likely feeling the same way.

"We'll start your training as soon as you've had something to eat," Edwin said, gesturing towards a nearby tent.

They followed him to the tent, where a delicious-smelling meal was laid out. They all ate in silence, the anticipation of what was to come hanging heavy in the air.

After the meal, Edwin led Oliver and Jasper to the highest peak of Mount Sierra, where the air was thin and the ground was rocky. They stood at the base of the peak, looking up at the challenging ascent.

"This is going to be a difficult climb," Edwin said, "but it will be worth it. The air is thinner at this altitude, so your bodies will have to work harder. This will make your energy training that much more intense." Oliver and Jasper exchanged looks, both of them feeling a little nervous. But they nodded, determined to face the challenge.

"So master wants us to climb this peak...this actually looks impossible" Oliver thought to himself staring at the towering peak having doubts.

"The physical aspect of this training is only half the battle," Edwin continued.

"The other half is mental. Your concentration and focus will be tested as you climb, and that will make your energy training more effective. You'll need to stay present and mindful as you climb, not letting your thoughts wander. This will help you to channel your energy more effectively." Oliver and Jasper both took a deep breath, preparing themselves for the challenge ahead.

"And remember in this challenge you are forbidden to use your Atado"he said

"Are you ready?" Edwin asked. They both nodded, and they began to climb.

The first few steps were easy enough, but as they got higher, the climb became more difficult. The rocks were more slippery, and the air was thinner, making it harder to breathe.

"The more we climb the more the air gets thinner making it hard to breath and concentrate and the rocks are becoming slippery as well and my muscles are starting to hurt" Oliver thought to himself

But Oliver and Jasper pushed on, focusing on their breathing and their footing. Edwin kept pace behind them, offering encouragement when they needed it. "Breathe deeply," he said, "and focus on the task at hand. Don't let your mind wander." Oliver and Jasper took his words to heart, keeping their focus as they continued to climb.

Oliver and Jasper made their way slowly but surely up the peak, their muscles burning with exertion. They were covered in sweat, and their legs trembled with fatigue. But they pressed on, driven by a determination to reach the top. As they neared the peak, the air became even thinner, and their lungs burned with every breath.

- huff huff

Jasper and Oliver were both panting, their muscles aching with fatigue. Jasper's mouth was set in a tight line, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Oliver could feel the exhaustion setting in, his limbs trembling with the effort of climbing. He looked over at Jasper, who was still giving him a cocky grin, and he felt a spark of anger.

"I feel like landing a kick in his cocky face right now, I won't let him win again" he thought to himself looking at jasper as they were still climbing

Jasper might be stronger, but Oliver would not let him win. He redoubled his efforts, his body straining with the effort.

As they continued their climb, Oliver's breathing became more labored, his concentration wavering.

"I..I'm loosing my breathing concentration" he said as he was starting to get dizzy and heavily panting his eyes wide opened

Suddenly, his foot slipped, and he started to lose his balance. In an instant, he was falling, his heart pounding in his chest. But just as he was about to hit the ground, something caught him. It was a tree, growing out of the rocks, with thick, leafy branches that cushioned his fall. All that was created by Edwin's nature atado

"Are you all right?" Edwin called. Oliver managed a shaky nod, still shaken from the fall.

Oliver's eyes widened as he realized what had happened. It hadn't been luck that had saved him, it had been Edwin's nature Atado. Edwin had used his abilities to create the tree at just the right moment, saving him from a potentially fatal fall. Oliver lay there for a moment, trying to catch his breath. The tree that had saved him swayed gently in the breeze, its leaves rustling above him. He looked up at the branches, their green leaves catching the light.

"I'm just glad I was able to save you in time ," Edwin said, his voice full of relief.

"Another few inches and you might have fallen over the edge." The edge of the peak was just a few feet away, a dizzying drop down the mountain. Oliver felt a shiver of fear, the realization of how close he had come to falling hitting him.

Oliver scrambled to his feet, his heart still pounding from the near-miss. He looked out over the landscape below them, a patchwork of green fields and hills, the small village nestled in the valley.

"Thank you," he said to Edwin, his voice shaking. Edwin smiled. "You're welcome, Oliver"

Edwin helped Oliver to his feet and supported him as they continued to climb. It was slow going, but they eventually made it to the top. As they reached the summit, they saw Jasper sprawled on the ground, completely exhausted. His skin was pale, and his breathing was ragged. He looked up at them, a weak smile on his face.

"I win," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He closed his eyes, completely spent from the exertion.

Oliver and Edwin both looked at him, their hearts filled with concern. They sat down next to him, offering him some water.

Jasper's eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at his two companions.

"...,"

He took a deep breath, and sat up, feeling a bit more refreshed. Oliver looked at him in amazement.

"That was amazing," he said.

"You were completely drained, and yet you've recovered so quickly." Jasper shrugged, but there was a small smile on his face.

"It was thanks to the water you gave me, drinking the water helped me to breath more calmly I was able to use the cold energy of my atado to be able to cool down the hot temperature in my body ," he said.

"Nature Atado: full restoration"

As Edwin spoke, a soft green light began to emanate from his hands, flowing over Oliver and Jasper. It was a gentle, soothing energy, like a cool breeze on a hot day. The light seemed to seep into their skin, and they could feel it repairing their tired muscles, rejuvenating their energy. It was like they were being bathed in a pool of refreshing water, washing away all the fatigue and strain.

"But don't get too comfortable," Edwin said, as he helped Oliver to his feet. "The training continues. We you must push yourselves even further, so that you can reach your full potential."