As the next two weeks passed, they slipped by like the wind through the trees of the forest, invisible, yet felt in every leaf that stirred and every branch that swayed.
The days followed one another with such a steady rhythm that Lukas sometimes had the impression that he woke up, trained, slept... and then everything began again, as if time had lost its usual meaning.
But his body never allowed those days to blur together. Every morning brought a new discovery, and every training session a new achievement. His muscles remembered the effort of the previous day, his bones grew stronger with every impact, and his mind became sharper with every lesson.
At every dawn, he awoke before the sun, his eyes opening in the darkness with a precision that surprised even himself.
He put on his training clothes with quick, efficient movements, then automatically picked up the wooden sword resting beside his bed.
The gesture had become as natural as breathing. His fingers found the hilt without thinking, as if the wood were a natural extension of his hand.
He walked downstairs, ate a hearty breakfast prepared by Aurora, always more generous than the day before, always with something new to nourish his growing body, and a few minutes later, he headed into the old clearing hidden in the forest alongside Clavor.
Then the training began.
Runs through the forest, his feet meeting the ground with a confidence that had not existed before. Leaps over logs and rocks, his body learning to fly.
Climbing ancient trees, his fingers gripping the bark with the strength he had developed. Push-ups until exhaustion, his arms trembling beneath the strain.
Squats with increasingly heavier loads, his legs becoming pillars of strength. Sparring sessions with Clavor, his sword moving with ever-growing precision.
Thousands of repeated strikes until his muscles burned and every breath scorched his chest.
Every single day. Without exception.
Except on Sundays.
Clavor allowed only one day of rest each week, a sacred day of recovery and renewal. Yet, strangely enough, Lukas never remained idle on that day. His body might rest, but his soul needed to explore.
...
Sundays had become his favorite days.
Right after breakfast, he would call his four companions. Tilbo walked heavily just behind him, her enormous form a comforting presence. Prata disappeared among the trees before they had even left the manor, always ahead, always exploring.
Astra soared silently above the treetops, her golden eyes keeping Rourke within her field of vision.
As for the little rat, he alternated between Lukas’s tunic pocket and his shoulder, observing everything with endless curiosity.
His bright eyes captured every detail, his ears twitched at every sound, and his tiny nose quivered at every scent.
They wandered for hours, exploring the most remote corners of the forest. They discovered hidden streams, their crystal-clear waters flowing over smooth stones.
They found small caves concealed behind waterfalls, their interiors dark and mysterious. They climbed grassy hills covered with wildflowers, simply to admire the forest from above, its green mantle stretching all the way to the horizon.
Every Sunday seemed to reveal a completely new place, as if the forest were keeping secrets reserved especially for him.
Lukas loved it. It wasn’t just enjoyable. It was... liberating. A break from the intense training, a moment to reconnect with the natural world, an opportunity to remember why he was training so hard.
...
It was during one of those outings that he began to notice something curious.
His ability, Affinity with Beings, seemed far more useful than he had imagined.
The first time, he thought it was merely a coincidence. As he walked slowly through an area covered in wildflowers, he noticed that several butterflies continued fluttering around him, their colorful wings shining beneath the sunlight.
Normally, a single step would have been enough to send them scattering in panic. But these remained nearby, as though he were simply part of the scenery.
One of them even landed briefly on his sleeve before taking flight again, its antennae twitching with curiosity.
Lukas smiled but paid little attention to it. Coincidences happened.
On the next outing, it happened again. A group of small squirrels watched him pass without immediately fleeing. They remained curious, tilting their tiny heads as they followed his movements with bright eyes.
Days later, small birds remained perched on the branches above him even as he walked almost directly beneath the tree, their songs continuing uninterrupted. None of them seemed frightened.
It was strange. Very strange.
So Lukas decided to conduct a test.
...
On the morning of an especially sunny Sunday, when golden light filtered through the leaves in dancing patterns, he found a wide clearing surrounded by flowers, stones, and ancient trees. The place was perfectly circular, as though nature itself had carved out a green amphitheater.
It was peaceful. Quiet. Perfect for his experiment.
He looked at his companions, his gaze moving across each one.
"Prata."
His voice was calm but filled with purpose. The enormous spider slightly lowered her body, her legs shifting in acknowledgment.
"I want you to hunt a little farther away today."
She disappeared among the trees almost immediately, her dark body blending into the shadows.
"Astra."
The little eagle descended from a branch, landing before him with her golden eyes fixed on his.
"Keep watching Rourke... but from up there."
The bird spread her wings and flew to the top of a distant tree, her white form contrasting against the green canopy.
Then Lukas turned to Tilbo. The enormous ant waited patiently, her antennae moving slowly.
"You too."
He smiled as he gently stroked her carapace.
"Stay a little farther away."
Tilbo remained still for several seconds before obeying. Her massive body slowly moved away until it disappeared among the bushes, her intimidating presence withdrawing from the area.
Lukas imagined that her presence would frighten away any smaller creatures, but he wanted to see what would happen without her nearby.
Only Rourke remained. The little rat settled comfortably on his chest, his tiny body warm and familiar.
"We’re going to do an experiment."
The rat merely twitched his nose, his bright eyes fixed on Lukas’s.
Lukas then lay down on the soft grass, the cool vegetation yielding beneath his weight. He crossed his hands behind his head, relaxing his arms.
And remained completely still.
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