The Training Begins

Chapter 7: The Training Begins

Lucian's heart raced as the name "Murkmire Forest" echoed in his mind.

Even in the quiet village of Lor, tales of this place were whispered with fear. Few who ventured into Murkmire ever returned, and those who did were either incredibly powerful Mythbounds or driven mad by the horrors they had witnessed.

The forest was alive, hungry for the souls of the unwary, and here he was, standing at its edge with only Uncle Asher by his side.

Lucian forced himself to stay calm despite the primal urge to run.

"Uncle Asher, why are we here?" he asked, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to sound brave.

"Why do you think, boy?" Asher replied, his tone clipped. "You want to survive your Lunar Ascension Vision, don't you? You think you're ready, but all you've done is daydream about power without understanding what it takes to earn it."

Lucian opened his mouth to protest, but Asher cut him off with a raised hand. "I've seen too many would-be heroes die because they thought their dreams alone were enough. Power is forged in blood and pain, not idle fantasies. If you want to have even the slightest chance of surviving what's to come, you need to be tempered by the fire of real fear."

Lucian swallowed hard. "So you brought me here... to scare me?, well you've succeeded can we go now?"

"No, Lucian," Asher said, his voice suddenly softer but still firm. "I brought you here to teach you. This forest is unforgiving, but if you can learn to navigate its dangers, you might stand a chance in your Vision. If you don't, well... you won't have to worry about that Vision at all."

Lucian felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. "But how am I supposed to survive in here? I'm still injured, and I barely managed to hold my own against those guards!"

Asher gave him a long, searching look. "Your body may be hurt, but your spirit is what truly needs mending. Pain is temporary; strength, if you find it within yourself, is enduring. This forest will force you to find that strength—or it will break you."

Lucian took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He looked out at the dark, foreboding trees. There was no way back—only forward. If he was to become the Mythbound he dreamed of, if he was to protect the Ashwood Mansion and the legacy his parents left behind, he had to push through the fear and the pain. He had to trust that Uncle Asher wouldn't lead him to his death, though the old man's methods were as mysterious as they were harsh.

"What do I have to do?" Lucian asked, his voice firmer now, though still tinged with anxiety.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Asher's mouth, though his eyes remained serious. "First, you have to survive the night. I've marked safe zones for you to find—shelters where you can mend your broken bones and alleviate your pain."

The statement hit Lucian like a punch to the gut. "Survive the night?"

Asher nodded. "The creatures that dwell in Murkmire are drawn to fear and blood. Your injuries and the fear you're trying so hard to hide will be like a beacon to them. You'll need to keep moving, stay alert, and use your wits to avoid becoming their next meal. If you can make it to dawn, you'll have taken your first step toward being worthy of the power you seek."

Lucian clenched his fists, feeling a mixture of dread and determination. "And what about you? Will you be with me?"

Asher shook his head. "This is your trial, not mine. I'll be watching, but I won't interfere. If you want to survive, you'll have to do it on your own."

Lucian's heart sank, but he nodded, accepting the harsh reality of his situation. "Alright, I'll do it."

"Good its not like you had a choice anyways hehe. I'll leave you with this—though small, it's more than what most people get in this sort of situation," Asher said, shoving something into Lucian's hand. His voice was now completely devoid of warmth.

"Remember, Lucian—fear is your enemy, but it's also your teacher. Learn from it, but don't let it control you. Now hurry up and find the safe zone before you bleed to death."

Lucian looked down at what Asher had given him. It was a small, shabby-looking dagger with a rusted blade and a hilt that seemed ready to fall apart. He frowned, realizing how woefully underprepared he was for what lay ahead.

Raising his head to ask how he was supposed to find anything in the dark forest, he found that Asher had already vanished, leaving him alone in the looming shadows.

"Oh well, I'll just play along for now. Uncle Asher wouldn't take things to the extreme... would he?" Lucian muttered uncertainly as he began to explore his surroundings, trying to remain as silent and out of sight as possible.

The trees loomed overhead, their twisted branches forming eerie shapes in the darkness, and the air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decay.

For a while, Lucian searched fruitlessly, his frustration and fear growing with each passing moment. His injuries throbbed, each step sending sharp pains through his battered body. He could feel his ribs shifting painfully, and every breath was a struggle. He needed to find shelter—fast.

"Shit, still nothing," Lucian cursed under his breath, his panic starting to rise. He clutched his stomach, wincing as the broken ribs reminded him of the blows he'd received earlier. The pain was overwhelming, clouding his mind and making it hard to focus on his surroundings.

Unbeknownst to Lucian, something had been watching him since the moment Asher left. A pair of glowing eyes followed his every movement, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The attack came out of nowhere. Lucian was caught off guard as a massive wolf lunged at him from the shadows. The creature aimed for his throat, but in a stroke of luck, Lucian stumbled on a twig and nearly fell, causing the wolf's teeth to miss his neck by mere inches. However, the beast still managed to tear a large chunk of flesh from Lucian's shoulder.

"Arghhhh!" Lucian screamed in agony as he came face to face with his attacker—a huge, fearsome brown wolf. The creature was twice the size of a normal wolf, a monstrosity created by the evolution that occurred after the first interdimensional gate appeared. Its eyes gleamed with hunger as it licked its lips, savoring the taste of Lucian's blood.

Terror gripped Lucian as he stared at the wolf. His knees shook uncontrollably, and he clutched his bleeding shoulder, desperately trying to stop the flow of blood.

"What the hell are you spacing out for, even now you think you have time to worry of your injuries?" A voice rang in Lucian's ears, jolting him out of his fear. He didn't need to turn to know it was Asher, speaking from the shadows.

"You have a weapon. Your foe is in front of you. Forget everything else—its death is your only chance, nothing else matters. It's either that wolf dies, or you die," Asher continued.

Lucian knew Asher was right. There was no other option. He was too injured to run, and the wolf would easily catch him if he tried. A head-to-head confrontation was his only chance.

With that thought crossing his mind, a surge of adrenaline rushed through Lucian's veins. He looked the brown wolf in the eye and, with a newfound resolve, said through gritted teeth, "Come on, then."