Part 35 – Hoping to Continue Training
"Ahh—ouch!
No, no, I don't want it! Don't force me to drink that stuff!"
"You have to drink it. If you don't, you won't heal."
"No! I don't want it!"
I was wrestling and dodging the old man, trying to avoid the medicine he kept shoving toward me.
"You asked for it."
Before I could react, he grabbed my wrists, tied them together in a blink, and poured the entire bowl of medicine down my throat.
"Ahh—ugh—damn it!"
Satisfied with his victory, he walked out of the house.
"Ugh… I'm gonna throw up…"
Four days had passed since I was brought to this strange place.
Four days of trying—again and again—to escape.
Every time, the same thing happened.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Huh?"
I'd be halfway down the slope, yelling back at him:
"You can't stop me!"
And then—
Pain.
Falling.
Sinking into the swamp.
"I was wrong! I was wrong! Help me! Please pull me out!"
Begging for my life while he dragged me out like a wet sack of potatoes.
Another time, I tried again—
Hoot… hoot…
The sound of an owl.
"Oh god… what was that…?"
I had no strength left.
The forest at night was full of fog and mutated creatures.
What was I supposed to do?
One time, I fainted from fear of a mouse.
A mouse.
And woke up again in the old man's house.
…
Yeah.
That's why I stopped trying to escape.
What else could I do?
I was stuck here.
But sitting around doing nothing wasn't going to help.
I had to train.
I needed to train.
I got off the bed.
It still hurt, but at least I could move.
I stepped outside.
The view was… peaceful.
A forest with no visible end.
A few small patches of land near the house where potatoes and tomatoes were planted.
Another patch for mushrooms and herbs.
A tiny chicken coop.
And the old man, as usual, chopping wood with his axe.
"Well… this place is actually perfect for training. Quiet. No danger."
I sat on the ground and began meditating, tricking my brain again.
I visualized it, concentrated, and then tested the technique on the ground—
"Ahh! Damn it!"
My fingers felt like they were breaking.
The old man looked over.
"Tell me… are you trying to train, or trying to kill yourself?"
"…"
"You idiot. Your body isn't healed yet. And second—why are you practicing something you don't even know how to do?"
"What do you know? You don't understand why I have to do this! And besides, what do you even know about wind magic?"
"Wind magic?"
"What, surprised? Yeah, I have a rare magic. Only me and Master Ziar have it, and—"
"Ziar? He's still alive?"
"What? You know him?"
"No. I mean—yes."
"What? What did you just say?"
"Well… I've heard stories. About his bravery. His battles."
said, "Well… makes sense. Honestly, it really does."
"Yeah, and I'm proud to say I'm his student."
The old man replied, "I don't give a damn."
"Huh? What did you just say?"
"Do you know Zoe? Zoe Flora? Is she even alive?"
"Who? Who are you even talking about?"
The old man looked disappointed and walked toward me.
"Forget it. Doesn't matter anymore. So—you said your magic is wind?"
"And you're trying to trick your brain so you can focus your magic in one spot?"
"Huh? When did I say that?"
"That's not important. What matters is—you already know what you need to do."
"What do I need to do?"
"You have to visualize your brain without letting your brain realize you're trying to trick it.
Just picture it.
Then strike with the part of your body you want to use.
At that moment, your brain will act on instinct to save your life and follow your command."
And he walked away.
"Heh…
Crazy old man.
He's been stuck here so long he's gone completely insane."
It was like saying:
A police officer shouldn't shoot at a thief while chasing him, so the thief won't run away… and then shoot him later.
It made no sense.
But whatever…
I tried until late afternoon.
Nothing worked.
"Damn it…"
Exhausted, I collapsed on the ground.
"God… I don't know what else to do…"
Inner voice:
*Hey, idiot.
You've been doing it your way this whole time.
How about trying the old man's way for once?*
Fine.
I decided to listen to my inner voice.
I walked toward the wooden wall.
I visualized my brain.
Focused.
And then I struck—
BOOM!
"Oh my god…"
I saw the old man inside the outhouse, doing his business.
And I…
I had succeeded.
And I ran for my life.
End of Part 35