Sylvas paced impatiently up and down the hallway. The house was filled with a silence that teetered between excitement and unease. His family stood at the door, waiting to welcome Rootmaster Aranthor, while Sylvas's mind was a whirl of questions. Who was this man really? How would he train him? And why was he going to share Sylvas's room?
A deep, resonant voice came from behind the door. Sylvas's father opened it, and in stepped a broad-shouldered man with stern but weary eyes. The leather bag he carried bore the marks of many years of use.
"Aranthor," Sylvas's father said, bowing slightly. "It's an honor to host you."
Aranthor inclined his head slightly. "Thank you for your hospitality. We all know this will be a long journey of learning. I am especially grateful for sharing your home."
As Sylvas watched them silently, Aranthor's observant gaze briefly rested on him. Just a glance, but it carried the weight of an entire world's worth of evaluation.
"Sylvas," Aranthor said, pronouncing his name carefully. "I understand we'll be sharing a room. Would you mind helping me unpack my things?"
Caught off guard, Sylvas nodded quickly. "Of course... I mean, yes, sure."
They climbed the stairs together to Sylvas's room. Aranthor set his bag gently on the desk. From it, he pulled out a few books, a pair of leather gloves, and a small, carved stone totem. Sylvas observed these items with curiosity, but before he could ask, Aranthor paused and turned to him.
"Surprised?" he asked.
"A little," Sylvas admitted honestly. "It's just... unusual. Sharing my room, I mean."
Aranthor nodded slightly with a faint smile.
"Training isn't just about lessons, Sylvas. A mentor and a student need to understand each other and spend time together. Living together will speed up that process. But remember, the boundaries of this room will always be yours to set. I am only here as a guide."
Sylvas felt somewhat reassured by this explanation. Aranthor pulled one of the books from his bag and handed it to Sylvas.
"This is a gift for your first day," he said. "It contains the basics about your spirit tree. It's a small step to start, but an important one."
Sylvas felt a strange excitement as he took the book. Aranthor's teaching style felt more like a companion than an authority figure.
"Thank you…" Sylvas said, bowing his head slightly. Then, after a brief hesitation, he continued. "Um, there's only one bed in my room. I'll grab the spare bed from my sister's room. You can settle your things in the meantime."
Aranthor listened calmly to Sylvas's words and responded with a firm yet kind expression. "Understood. In that case, we'll start training tomorrow morning," he said, taking off his jacket and hanging it neatly. He opened his black leather bag and began organizing his well-kept clothes in the wardrobe.
Sylvas watched Aranthor focus on his task for a moment before springing into action himself. Carefully closing the door behind him, he walked down the hallway. Reaching his sister's room, he gently pushed the door open. The creaks of the bed frame echoed softly in the silence of the house as he dragged it out. Every movement was cautious; he didn't want to make too much noise.
Lifting the bed proved to be a challenge, but Sylvas managed to carry it back to his room. His hands, damp with sweat, wiped clean against his pants as he placed the bed in a corner of the room. He smiled to himself faintly. "All set," he murmured, taking a deep breath as he straightened up.
For the rest of the time, Sylvas helped Aranthor arrange his belongings. Meanwhile, the initial formalities of getting acquainted weren't ignored. During their conversation, Sylvas began learning some intriguing details about Aranthor.
First, Aranthor's spirit tree was at maturity level three, mid-stage—a remarkable feat. Sylvas also discovered that Aranthor shared the same type of spirit tree as Kaelan, a clue that intrigued him deeply.
Personality-wise, Aranthor wasn't very talkative; he seemed more reserved. However, his extensive experience as a mentor was evident in every word and action. While his responses were concise, his knowledge and leadership qualities captured Sylvas's attention.
Other than that, Sylvas noticed nothing unusual about Aranthor. His behavior, thoughts, and demeanor were all natural and fitting.
Time passed quickly, and by lunchtime, a warm atmosphere filled the small dining table. A steaming bowl of vegetable soup in the center, accompanied by freshly baked bread, whetted everyone's appetite. While Sylvas's mother set the table with care, his father engaged Aranthor in conversation.
"Your travels must have been long," his father said, sitting across from Aranthor. "I hope you find some time to rest here."
Aranthor nodded lightly as he took a spoonful of soup. "Yes, the journey was arduous. But such is the nature of this work. A little more won't trouble me."
Sylvas sat quietly at one corner of the table, his eyes drawn to Aranthor's measured and precise manner, even as he ate. The mentor carefully divided the food on his plate, ensuring nothing went to waste, occasionally glancing around to listen to the ongoing conversation.
The calmness at the table was broken by his sister's voice. "How will the training begin, Mr. Aranthor? Sylvas seems a bit excited." Her tone carried a hint of teasing. Sylvas blushed slightly at her remark.
"We'll start with the basics," Aranthor replied evenly, fixing his gaze on Sylvas. "Everything has a foundation, and that foundation must be strong. This requires not just physical preparation but mental readiness as well."
Sylvas nodded shyly. "I understand," he said, twirling his fork on the table. There was a desire within him to say something, but he struggled to find the right words.
Aranthor seemed to notice and turned to Sylvas. "If you want to ask something, don't hesitate. Every question has an answer, and you learn by asking."
Those words eased Sylvas's tension a bit. "Well, I just… Can I really unlock the potential of my Spirit Tree? I mean… can I truly become strong?"
Aranthor paused for a moment, setting his spoon down as he looked at Sylvas seriously. "Potential exists within everyone, Sylvas. What matters is how much effort you're willing to put into unlocking it. But you must understand this: no achievement comes without effort."
The silence at the table seemed to reflect the weight of those words. Sylvas, feeling somewhat satisfied with the answer, took a deep breath and continued eating his soup without saying more.
After the meal, Aranthor stood up and turned to Sylvas. "I'll rest now. Tomorrow morning, we'll make a small start. For now, clear your mind and take some time for yourself."
Sylvas nodded. Aranthor's demeanor was serious yet instructive, but it was enough to show that he wasn't a cold person.
Sylvas got up from the table, wandered around the house for a few minutes, and then headed outside. His destination was the place where he had agreed to meet Caelum the day before. Quickening his pace, he walked toward the lush green meadows. The sun was high in the sky, warm but not oppressive. The chirping of birds echoed in the air, blending harmoniously with nature's silence. As he walked, Sylvas found the sounds soothing, realizing that everything around him seemed to exist in a patient and orderly rhythm.
After an hour of walking, he finally saw the azure-blue lake. By the shore, with his feet dipped in the water, was Caelum. As Sylvas approached, he thought to himself, "He's too beautiful for a guy." Caelum appeared serene, the light reflecting off the water making him seem utterly calm, as though the world around him had come to a standstill. Sylvas quickened his steps toward him.
Sylvas walked toward Caelum with his hands in his pockets and a thoughtful expression on his face. When he reached the shore, he saw Caelum staring pensively into the water. Sylvas sat down beside him and, without removing his shoes, lightly touched the water with his foot.
"My mentor is staying in my room," he said after a short silence. His tone conveyed that he still hadn't fully come to terms with the situation.
Caelum turned his head to look at him. "Seriously? Wasn't there anywhere else in the house?"
Sylvas shrugged. "It was my dad's idea. 'The mentor and student should be together so you can learn faster,' he said. As if feeling his constant gaze on me is a good thing."
Caelum raised an eyebrow. "Imagine waking up and seeing him right there. No 'good morning,' just straight into training!" he said with a teasing smile.
Sylvas merely smiled in response. "I don't even want to think about it. But the guy's weird. He's always so serious. He talks, but… it's like he's constantly thinking about something else. He acts like he's completely at home but also keeps watching me."
Caelum pulled his feet out of the water and lay back on the grass. "Maybe that's just how they're supposed to be. Seriousness is the easiest way to seem strong. But for now, you're in a funny situation; admit it."
Sylvas rolled his eyes. "It's not funny at all. I feel like he's going to exhaust me before training even begins. Also, he took out a stone in my room and stared at it for a long time. I didn't even ask what it was."
"A stone? Then it must be something magical," Caelum said, resting his hands behind his head as he gazed at the sky. "Or maybe he just likes to play with it."
"I doubt it. He doesn't seem like the playful type. He's always so… disciplined, so… overly organized. It's more unsettling than you think."
Caelum turned his head to look at Sylvas. "It's unsettling because it's strange. But I think as you start dealing with him more, you'll care less. Maybe that's his method—to bother you enough that he gets your attention."
Sylvas frowned at this comment but didn't respond. Instead, he stared at the water and took a deep breath. "I don't know, Caelum. Maybe it's just me. Maybe he's normal, and I'm just overthinking it."
Caelum stood up and lightly tapped Sylvas on the shoulder. "You can think about it tomorrow. Come on, get up. That's enough overthinking for one day. If you're going to be uncomfortable, you might as well do it at home."
Sylvas stood up, smirking slightly. "You're way too laid-back. I wish you were my mentor instead."
Caelum laughed. "If I were your mentor, I'd make you laze around all day instead of training. That'd be bad for both of us."
With that, they spent a little more time by the lake before heading home. Sylvas's mind was still a bit muddled, but being with his friend had lightened his thoughts.
Sylvas decided to spend a little more time outside. Finding refuge under the shade of a tree in the gentle sunlight, he lay down slowly. The soft grass cushioned him as he gazed up at the vibrant blue sky, taking a deep breath.
"I live in a world far from the chaos of my previous life, much more peaceful and safe," he thought. His heart swelled with gratitude for all the beauty he now had. "I have a family that loves me, hands that protect me. And most importantly, unlike the loneliness of my past world, here, I even have a friend."
The light rustling of leaves in the breeze seemed to echo his thoughts. Everything was as serene as he could have ever imagined. Sylvas, cherishing the moment, decided to stay there a little longer, lost in the vast blue sky above.