Abarith
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Chapter 5: The Path Ahead
🕑 Added 2024-11-22 05:40:09 +0000 UTC"You both did well with the coffee run," their father said, a faint smile breaking through his usually stern face. "But that was just the first step. Given the advantage you boys have with your amulets, I will do my best to have you both unlock three Skills, for Body, Mind, and Soul. Jeremy, show us your new Skill.”
Running - Basic
Level -/10 - 100 essence
A basic form of rapid locomotion for bipedal beings.
Stride beyond limits, feet gliding in the pursuit of freedom.
Body -
“As I said earlier, Skills show how well you can do something, but to get the most out of them, they need essence. When Running - Basic receives 100 essence, its level will increase, and your Body stat will improve. This means greater strength, speed, and overall physical ability.”
“Now, we started with Running for your Body. Jeremy, you’ll work on unlocking a mind Skill. Andrew, you’ll keep working on Running."
Andrew’s shoulders stiffened slightly, though he gave a determined nod. Jeremy noticed the tension in his brother's posture and felt concerned. It felt strange to be moving ahead while Andrew stayed behind, especially when it was usually Andrew who led their pretend battles.
Their father gestured for Jeremy to move to the side. "For your mind Skill, we’re going to focus on memorization. Memory can be as valuable a tool as any weapon, especially when you’re on the battlefield."
Jeremy looked up at his father, excitement bubbling inside him. He was ready to learn something new.
"Andrew," their father called over, "head back to Mr. Hendrikson’s and try again with the coffee."
Andrew's face fell for a moment, his jaw tightening as he nodded. He turned and ran back towards town, his frustration clear. Jeremy watched as his brother trudged away, wishing he could help somehow, but he knew their father’s word was final.
As Andrew made his way back down the path, their father turned back to Jeremy. "Let's begin. Watch this sequence carefully," he instructed.
Their father demonstrated a series of movements—lifting his arm, pivoting, bending forward slightly, then twisting his torso. The actions were simple but had a rhythm to them, almost like a dance. Jeremy watched, then tried to mimic them.
"Good. Now, I’m adding more," his father said, extending the sequence step-by-step.
Jeremy followed along, but soon found himself struggling to keep up. He furrowed his brow, focusing harder, until the effort made his head buzz. His father’s expression remained unreadable, but Jeremy knew he was watching every move closely, silently assessing his progress.
Andrew returned from town, carefully carrying a mostly full cup of coffee. His father gave a glance at the half-full cup, and pointed back to town. "Again, Andrew. Full cup."
Andrew's lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded and turned back without a word.
Andrew made his way to Mr. Hendrikson's for what felt like the twentieth time. The familiar faces inside turned to watch him enter yet again, some offering bemused smiles.
Mr. Hendrikson gave him a raised eyebrow as he approached. "Back again, Andrew?" the older man asked, his voice amused.
Andrew forced a smile. "You could say that," he said, handing over the empty cup.
Mr. Hendrikson nodded and once more filled it to the brim. "Well, here’s hoping this is the one."
Andrew turned away, but he could feel the eyes of the customers on him. It was embarrassing, coming back again and again, constantly spilling coffee on himself. It felt like everyone knew that he wasn’t getting it right. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off their stares.
As he stepped out of the shop, Andrew began to jog once again, keeping steady steps. He focused on his feet, trying to make them lighter, smoother, against the uneven road. Andrew clenched his teeth, forcing himself to concentrate.
He wanted to make his father proud. He wanted to prove himself, not just to his father and brother but to himself as well. But the more he thought about Jeremy’s success, the more his frustration grew. It felt like the more runs he failed, the more Jeremy widens their gap.
By the time he returned to the field, he saw his father and Jeremy working together. His brother’s movements were fluid, his face set in determination. Andrew felt a pang of jealousy as he handed his father the half-empty cup. Without a word, his father pointed him back toward town.
Andrew nodded, turning around and running back to town. The frustration simmered, but he swallowed it down. He will succeed. No matter what.
Back in the field, Jeremy caught a glimpse of Andrew's clenched jaw before his brother turned away. He wanted to say something to encourage him, but their father’s attention was on him again.
"Focus, Jeremy," his father said. "You need to feel each movement and lock it into your memory."
Jeremy nodded, taking a deep breath. He tried again, repeating the sequence as his father added even more steps. It was almost like a dance, except his father kept moving in unexpected ways, keeping him from flowing into a rhythm. He found it difficult, having to focus on each and every movement, memorizing the speed that he needed to move each limb, and the exact angle at which it moved.
"Good," his father said, giving a nod. "You’ve made great progress Jeremy. What you’re working toward is Memorization. The ability to retain even the slightest details and to recall them precisely. Keep working at it."
Jeremy felt a thrill at the words. He was so close, like standing at the edge of a cliff. He wanted to take that next step.
Andrew returned once more, his cup still only half full. His father glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Try again, Andrew. This isn’t about coffee—it’s about finding control in your movement."
Andrew nodded, though his eyes were filled with frustration. Jeremy watched his brother turn away, wishing he could do more to help, but knowing that his own time to train with his father was limited.
The sun was low in the sky by the time their father finally called them to stop. He looked at them with a softened expression.
"You’ve both done well today," he said. "You’ve worked on your body, and you Jeremy have begun training your mind. But tonight, we’ll start on another Skill, this time for your soul. We’re going to work on unlocking Introspection."
Jeremy and Andrew exchanged glances, both surprised.
Their father nodded, as if expecting their reaction. "Introspection is one of the most valuable Skills you can have. It helps you understand yourself, your strengths and weaknesses. With it, you’ll have an easier time creating and refining other Skills. But it takes time. You’ll practice it every night starting later."
Dinner that night was quiet. Their father had tried cooking, doing his best to cook something like their mother, but it just was not the same. The soup was thin and oily, and the vegetables were a bit undercooked. It was good, but it was not made by their mother.
They ate in silence, the absence of the others clearly on their mind. The table felt empty without Alicia's laughter and their mother's gentleness. Jeremy missed the happiness that used to fill the room, and he knew Andrew felt the same.
Their father sat across from them, looking distant. After a few bites, he cleared his throat. "I know it’s different without your mother here. And Alicia... I miss her too," he said, his voice strained. "But we’ll get through this."
Jeremy nodded, letting out a breath he did not remember holding. Andrew kept his eyes on his plate, not acknowledging anything. They finished the meal in silence.
After dinner, their father asked Jeremy to head to their room while he stayed back with Andrew. He put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder and had him sit down again.
"Andrew," he said gently, "I know you’re working hard, and I know how rough today was. But I need you to understand something."
Andrew looked up at his father, frustrated. The constant failure throughout the day had worn him down.
"You’re not behind," his father continued. "It’s that Jeremy is ahead because he has two amulets. That gives him an edge—a massive one. You’re doing incredible yourself, a normal kid without an amulet would take about a week to unlock Running. I took around that long myself when I trained with my father."
Andrew's eyes widened. "A week?"
His father nodded. "Yes, and you’ve already made much more progress in one day than I did back then. You need to remember this is a process. You’re not falling behind, son. You’re doing just fine."
Andrew took a deep breath, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "It’s just hard watching Jeremy move ahead."
"I know," his father said. "It’s okay to feel that way. But you need to focus on your own progress, not compare yourself to your brother. You’ll get there."
Andrew nodded, understanding what his father wanted to say. He still felt frustrated, but now there was also relief—he wasn’t a complete failure.
His father patted his shoulder. "I’m proud of you, Andrew. Keep at it, and you’ll unlock that Skill soon."
Andrew managed a small smile. "Thanks, Dad."
His father stood and gestured for Andrew to head to his room. "Now, get ready for bed. I want both of you relaxed before we start practicing Introspection."
As they have settled in their beds for the night, their father came to their room. He sat on the edge of Jeremy's bed while Andrew sat across from him, looking both curious and determined.
"Tonight, we’re starting Introspection," their father said. "This isn’t a Skill you’ll unlock overnight. It takes patience. Close your eyes, and let your thoughts come and go. The goal is to think about the day, and what you have done, without being emotionally attached.”
Jeremy and Andrew nodded, lying back on their beds and closing their eyes. Jeremy took a deep breath, trying to relax. He let the events of the day come to mind—the coffee runs, the Memorization training, Andrew’s struggles, the emptiness of dinner. So much had happened the past few days that it felt overwhelming. He felt a mix of pride for almost unlocking Memorization and guilt for getting ahead while Andrew struggled. The image of Alicia's empty chair flashed in his mind, stirring a mix of sadness and confusion. He realized he hadn't fully processed everything that had happened.
His father noticed and spoke softly. "It's a lot, isn't it?"
Jeremy nodded slowly. "Yeah. These days have really been a lot. It’s hard thinking it."
"That's understandable," his father said. "Introspection isn't just about calming your mind; it's about making sense of your experiences. It will take time—maybe months with the amulets you boys have—but each day, you'll get just a little better at it."
Jeremy considered his father's words. Maybe he was expecting too much too soon. He closed his eyes again, accepting that it would be a gradual process.
Across the room, Andrew lay still, but his mind was racing. He kept replaying the coffee runs, each failure piling on top of one another. He wanted to let go of his frustrations, but the more he tried, the more they reminded him that the gap between him and Jeremy was growing larger and larger.
Their father’s voice broke through the silence. "Just observe. Don’t judge. Be aware of what you’re feeling."
Jeremy felt himself relax a little more, getting closer to the calm his father described. He could sense Introspection just out of reach, like something on the edge of his awareness.
Andrew, on the other hand, was growing more restless, and the harder he tried, the farther he felt from the goal. He opened his eyes, frustration clear on his face. His father looked at him with understanding.
"It’s okay, Andrew. This takes time. You’ll try again tomorrow."
Andrew nodded. He wanted to catch up, to be even faster Jeremy, but he knew it wasn’t going to happen any time soon.
"Don’t worry if you don’t get it today, or this week, or even this month. Introspection isn’t easy, but it’s worth it, trust me. In time, you’ll see how much it helps."
He wished them goodnight and left the room. Jeremy let his eyes drift shut, feeling determined to try again tomorrow and get even closer to unlocking Introspection.
Across the room, Andrew stared at the ceiling. He took a deep breath, trying to let go of his frustration. He repeated what his father said—he wasn’t behind, it was that Jeremy was far ahead.
