During the day, near Mount Walse.
Hakken had prepared himself for his first training session. But Phis looked at him strangely.
"Why are you warming up, kid? This training has nothing to do with fighting." Phis turned away and started walking.
"Alright..." Hearing that, Hakken felt disappointed. He followed Phis.
Their goal was to climb the mountain. Hakken felt a little excited, thinking it had something to do with training.
"Boy, be careful... There are many large-horned goats here," Phis warned Hakken.
But Hakken took the advice as a warning about an enemy.
"Don't worry, I can handle those goats!"
*Punch* *punch*
Hakken act strangely..
"Soon we will arrive at the Walse spring," Phis said.
Hakken was still busy watching the goats nearby with an annoyed look.
The footsteps finally stopped. The Walse spring came into view. A long waterfall, with clear blue water blending with the green hills.
After arriving, Hakken was curious about what Grandpa Phis was going to teach him.
"Sit down, kid." Phis signaled Hakken.
Hakken obeyed, but was still confused about what he was supposed to do.
"Now close your eyes. Don't make any sound." Phis closed his eyes and assumed a meditation pose. Hakken followed the pose and closed his eyes.
…
One hour passed. Hakken still did not understand why he had to do this.
Feeling a bit nervous, Hakken opened his eyes. He saw fireflies starting to appear around the spring. Then he looked at Phis and saw animals gathering around him because of his calmness.
Hakken started to understand what he had to do. He focused again and calmed his mind and body.
Soon, Hakken finally heard the sounds of nature. The flow of water, moving branches and leaves, animal footsteps, birds chirping, and other sounds he couldn't name.
After a long time, Hakken managed to become one with the calm of nature.
"Boy, you learn very well. Your spirit adapts easily..." Phis's voice sounded in Hakken's head. It makes the focus goes blurry, but he tried to return to it.
"Is this telepathy?" Hakken thought.
But Phis answered Hakken's question.
"This is not telepathy. It may seem similar, but it is different."
Hakken still did not understand.
"What is the difference?" he wanted to ask.
"Thoughts spoken in the mind can be heard when you focus your hearing. Telepathy is sending sound from one mind to another." Phis explained the difference to Hakken.
He finally understood the training for today.
"We will stop here for today. The sky is getting dark. You should go home, boy." Phis stood up silently without startling the animals sleeping around him.
"Alright!" Hakken tried to stand up silently, but could not. The animals woke up and ran away in fear.
Phis smiled at Hakken's clumsy behavior, but he knew this child had great potential inside him.
Finally, they walked down the mountain.
…
Night came. Hakken returned home. He was almost late for dinner.
With messy clothes and a tired face, Hakken entered his home.
"Oh, my child. You look exhausted. Was Grandpa Phis too hard on you?" Shera approached Hakken and brushed the dust off his clothes.
"Clean yourself up, dear. I cooked your favorite meat dish," Shera said.
Hakken's tired face came alive again.
"Really!" Hakken rushed to clean himself up.
"Hahaha, when it comes to food, he is always fast!" Gran said while eating a plate of meat.
Sara nudged Gran and gave him a sharp looking gesture in her eyes.
"Don't act like you didn't, dad!"
Gran was nudged and dropped his spoon.
"Hey, hey, it's not good to use force during dinner you know!?" Gran trying to calm Sara down.
Hakken finally returned to the dinner table and ate heartily.
"Anyway, what did Grandpa Phis teach you, son?" Gran tried to start a conversation.
"Calmness. Hetaughtmeaboutit—"
"CAN YOU FINISH YOUR FOOD FIRST!" Sara thought, giving Hakken a sharp look.
Hakken felt the unpleasant atmosphere and got a bit pale seeing Sara eyes...
"Oh! Calmness, but I don't see calmness on your face..." Gran thought while holding his chin.
"Maybe calmness comes in a different form?" Shera thought, resting her cheek on her hand, with a face that said "it's okay."
"...I can hear all of you..." Hakken said, feeling a bit pressured.
"Oh right, where are you going, Father?" Sara asked.
Gran put his dirty plate in the middle of the table. "I got Call for a meeting. Something important."
"How long?" Hakken said while still chewing his food.
"Three months. Two months for the Journey to the Hoevand include go and back here, and one month staying there" Gran answered.
"One month?? That's a long time... Is the meeting really that long?" Hakken replied.
"Your father is a Magistrate, dear. Maybe he have other work to do there," Shera answered.
Hakken thought for a moment. "Hmm, Alright then!"
…
Morning came. Frankline arrived with a horse-drawn carriage.
Gran was already outside the Mansion waiting for Frankline.
"Be careful out there," Shera said while fixing Gran's shawl.
"Don't forget to come back!" Hakken smiled and waved.
"Don't worry, your dad is strong!" Gran said. Shera was still fixing his shawl.
"Comeback here faster.." Sara waved shyly.
After saying goodbye, Gran got into the carriage. He saw his family waving at him with full spirit and hope.
Gran's calm and relaxed face turned serious as he looked at Frankline holding the letter envelope.
"Let's continue where we left off yesterday."