A Month After the Storm.
The frantic energy that had nearly consumed Rune had settled into a steady, disciplined hum. A month after his outburst, he sat in the manor's sun-drenched library, greeting his tutor with a respectful nod.
"Good morning, Scholar Hastein."
Hastein looked up from a thick, leather-bound volume.
"And a good morning to you, Young Master. Today, we step away from the abstract. We move to biology and the local ecosystem—knowledge that will be your lifeline once you achieve your Squireship."
Hastein pointed toward the window, where the dark, towering canopy of the Teveden Evergreen loomed behind the manor.
"The forest is not merely a collection of trees, Rune. It is a hierarchy. Within three miles of the entrance, the territory belongs to Apprentice and Squire-class beasts. Beyond that line..."
Hastein's voice dropped an octave,
"the higher ranks dwell. Creatures that do not merely hunt for food, but for the sport of the kill."
Rune listened, rapt, as Hastein detailed the complex social structures of the beasts and the lethal flora to avoid. He was fascinated—and slightly chilled—to learn that the forest followed rules as strict as any noble court.
The Invisible Wall.
That afternoon, Rune returned to his Ether training. With his "hidden eyes," he could see the swirling rainbow particles of energy better than ever, yet he felt as though he were pushing against a stone wall. He was at the peak of the Apprentice realm, but the transition to Squire—the ability to physically manifest Ether in his limbs—remained frustratingly out of reach.
Erik, noticing the boy's furrowed brow and stiff movements, finally stepped in.
"Young Master, even the finest blade needs to be set down occasionally. You are overthinking the flow. Go to the park. Find your friends. Perhaps inspiration is hiding in the mundane world."
Rune sighed, sheathing his practice sword. "Maybe you're right, Erik. I'll see you tomorrow."
The Mortal World.
At the edge of the park lake, Rune found his usual circle of friends. Amery was currently "slaying" Tove and Thora with a stick, desperately trying to "rescue" Siggy, the designated damsel in distress.
"Yo, Rune! Joining the fray?"
Tove called out playfully.
"Just getting some air,"
Rune replied, matching their tone.
"Training is... being difficult."
Thora let out a dramatic gasp, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Oh, no! Has our boy genius finally hit a wall? Welcome, welcome to the world of us mortals, Rune."
"I might be a mortal," Rune countered with a smirk, "but I'm still strong enough to kick your butt. Want to go for a round?"
"I'll pass,"
Thora laughed.
"I'd like to keep my dignity for lunch."
As the banter settled, Amery looked at Rune more seriously. "So, what's actually bothering you? You look... stuck."
"I am. I'm trying to break through to the Squire class, but I can't find the trigger."
The four friends stared at him, stunned.
"Squire?"
Siggy whispered.
"We're all still in the initial stages of apprenticeship. Amery just hit the middle. You're already at the peak?"
Rune scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Kind of. But knowing it and doing it are two different things."
"You know what my dad says?"
Tove piped up, eyes shining with excitement.
"He says if you want to level up, you have to fight something at your own level. Real stakes. No training mats."
"Yeah, but look at us,"
Siggy pointed out.
"There isn't anyone his age who can match him."
"I'm not talking about us!"
Tove whispered, leaning in.
"I'm talking about the Forest. We could go to the border. There are beasts there at Rune's level. We go as a group, and if things get hairy, we just yell for the guards at the gate."
Rune hesitated, a flash of concern crossing his face.
"I don't know... maybe I should ask my mom first."
"Wow,"
the two boys began to chant in unison.
"The genius is a chicken! Cluck, cluck, Rune!"
"Hey! Stop it!"
the girls interjected, trying to ease the tension, but the challenge had already landed.
Rune's eyes hardened. He looked toward the dark treeline of the Teveden Evergreen.
"Fine. Tomorrow at daybreak. We meet at the forest gates. Anyone who doesn't show is a worm for the rest of this life and the next."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the pact was sealed. The children dispersed to their homes, unaware that they had just traded the safety of the park for the ancient, hungry rules of the Evergreen.