Regis, Barahir and Elebor roast and eat the deer meat, and Regis walks under a tree and starts meditating. However, while entering a tranquil state of the mind, something unexpected happens.
What… What's going on? Why can I… What? Regis ponders, looking around. He looks at his hands, feet, body, everything.
This… is this a different world? And why am I translucent? What… What is this!? Is this my soul..? Regis thinks to himself, confused, mouth agape because of shock.
"This world is… chaotic…" Regis mumbles, walking around the rough and jagged terrain.
What… is that… a volcano!? SHIT! IT'S ABOUT TO EXPLODE! Regis exclaims in his mind, turns around and sprints as quickly as he physically can.
"GlurgGlurg"
What the hell!? The lava is flowing down way too quickly! Please, I have to survive! Regis thinks to himself, still sprinting in the other direction as the lava catches up to him at an alarming speed.
"Huff" A ROCK! THERE! I MUST HIDE THERE! "Huff… Huff…" Regis uses the last of his stamina to reach the rock.
Suddenly, Regis falls to the ground. "Huh..? What-" Regis looks back. His eyes go wide, breath shallow, coming in quick bursts.
"This… how could this ha-" Regis gets swallowed by the lava, and opens his eyes, hyperventilating.
"HahHah No way… how… No wait… how am I even alive!?" Regis mutters, pinching his own cheeks.
"OW! So this is reality… then what was that… I wonder…" Regis ponders, speaking to himself. He then feels a hand on his left shoulder.
"Child… how was the experience?" Elebor asks, his hand on Regis's shoulder.
Regis, without even turning to look at Elebor, answers: "It was… unlike anything I'd ever felt before. Just what was that world..?" Regis asks.
"That world… you are not yet ready to know about it yet." Elebor answers, his voice taking on a deeper and darker tone.
"I shall teach you about it when you're ready." Elebor adds, and takes his hand off of Regis's shoulder.
"... Alright then. I'll trust your word." Regis accepts.
Elebor walks back inside of his hut. Barahir and Regis follow him inside.
"Well, get back to sparring, children." Elebor commands.
Regis and Barahir start sparring yet again. The blade of the sword and the tip of the spear meeting each other, making a distinct sound.
Oh, he's good. Granted, we both started today, but damn, he's good. Regis thinks to himself, really focused on the spar. His pupils are constricted, and his movement seems to flow into one another.
Hmm… this Regis child is good. Very good. He's managed to adapt to Barahir's fighting technique and has subconsciously started to counter it on his own… Not bad, child. Not bad. Show me more. Elebor observes quietly, arms crossed.
What is this? Since when did his attacks become so heavy!? I refuse to lose to this human! Barahir thinks, angrily. He tenses his muscles and uses a stab attack against regis's liver.
Regis sees the attack coming towards him, but is too late to respond. Just when it is about to hit, his sword drops to the ground.
"Enough, child. I said you could cut off limbs, not cut off the other person's ties with life." Elebor intervenes, grabbing Barahir's wrist. He glares at Barahir, a glare that could slice even a boulder in half.
"Sorry… I got too carried away there…" Barahir apologizes, clearly sorry.
"It's okay, child. But do not get swept away by your anger. Anger will cloud your judgement. You must learn how to control your emotions and use them as tools, not become a tool for your emotions." Elebor reminds Barahir and Regis.
But this Barahir child… so he can be swift and precise, huh? Interesting. Two unpolished gems. I've picked up two unpolished gems, and now I shall polish them both. Elebor smirks at the thought.
"Barahir. Don't feel too bad. This is exactly what happened with me and my family. Anger clouded my judgement, and in turn… I killed them." Regis supports Barahir, patting his shoulder with a smile.
"Ah. You're right, aren't you? Regis. It seems I will also have to learn to control my emotions." Barahir chuckles, shaking his head, and lightly slaps Regis's hand off of his shoulder.
Tsk. Bastard. I should've killed him right then and there. Why is Grand-Uncle siding with that scummy human bastard? I just don't get it.Next time, I'll make sure to cut at least one of his limbs off. What an irritating bastard. Barahir angrily thinks to himself, biting on his nails in frustration.
"Sigh Hey, Grand-Uncle. When are you going to start teaching us again?" Barahir asks seriously.
"After you two have gotten used to sparring and hunting." Elebor clarifies with a glare.
"Right… right… okay then." Barahir folds under Elebor's glare.
For the next few days, things are normal, and Regis and Barahir are slowly getting used to hunting and sparring.
"Okay then, children. You two shall spar one last time, and you shall be allowed to venture out into the forest by yourselves for half a day before returning to start receiving my tutelage." Elebor says, his chest pumped and chin lifted high.
"Yes!" Both Regis and Barahir exclaim in delight, getting into their respective stances.
Hoh… so they've even developed a rough idea of a fighting style after sparring and hunting for only a few days, huh?What amazing talents… I cannot help but wonder what they'll be like once I nurture them properly… I am getting shivers just thinking about it. Elebor observes, his lips curling into a small, pleased smile, reflected in his eyes.
Regis and Barahir charge at each other, one using swift and precise movements of the sword, while the other moves like a steadily flowing river, one move leading to another.
Tch! This blond-haired, green-eyed human scum is getting on my nerves! Take this, Regis you fucker! Barahir screams in his mind, and latches his sword into Regis's right shoulder.
"AAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Regis screams, face shriveled up and wrinkled in agony, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
"Seems like I won, Regis." Barahir says in a "friendly" tone. A wry smile is planted on Barahir's face, as if mocking Regis for his moment of weakness.
"Well done, Barahir. It seems that you have won. Now you both shall venture out into Elahim for half a day. He who dies shall not receive my tutelage." Elebor says in a matter-of-fact, flat tone.
"Y… Yes." Regis agrees weakly.
"Yes, Grand-Uncle!" Barahir agrees gleefully, the wry smile still not leaving his face.