Artas congratulated Austin on his technique as they walked back to the shrine together. While Artas was trying to push Austin to his limits, he really did not expect Austin to pull off an effective technique like he did. Especially since Austin just started giving his Essence affinity. He definitely felt he made the right choice in his student.
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Artas wrapped an arm around Austin as they walked back and jovially said, “One day under my tutelage and you are already flourishing! What a great master I must be!”
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Austin rolled his eyes and tried to pull away, but Artas just pulled him closer and tighter. “I will admit that you have been extremely helpful.”
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“I’ll take it!” Artas smiled broadly. “I thought it would take me much longer to get some recognition out of you.”
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“What’s that supposed to mean?” Austin asked, somewhat offended.
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“You have just been pretty stubborn,” Artas said. “I thought I would have to get you to an incredibly impressive level to get you to realize how great my training is.”
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“I’m still willing to admit when someone has been helpful to me,” Austin sighed. “I’m not completely stubborn.”
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“I know,” Artas smiled. “Give metal a little heat and it starts to soften up.”
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“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” Austin rolled his eyes.
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“I don’t think, young man. I know,” Artas said as he pulled Austin even closer. Austin’s body now felt like it was squished between Artas’s arm and chest.
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Austin pushed and squirmed away from Artas. This time, he managed to break free. “There is no winning with you, is there?”
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“Of course not,” Artas said in a singsongy tone. “I’m the master and you’re the student.”
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Austin rolled his eyes once more as they arrived back at the shrine. He did feel a sense of relief as they arrived. After the extensive training, he just wanted to sleep. Immediately as they arrived, Austin walked towards the stack of books with the small pouch of pills on top.
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“You don’t want to stay up a little and talk?” Artas asked with sadness.
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“Not at all,” Austin said. “I’m ready to take this pill and sleep.”
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“I know, I’m just messing. You’ll need your rest anyway,” Artas said as he started to walk into his shrine.
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“Wait, what do you mean?” Austin asked in a worried tone.
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“Today was your easy day. Tomorrow will be much harder,” Artas waved his hand as he continued to walk away from Austin. “Good night.”
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Austin sighed as he grabbed the pouch off the top of the books. Despite his exhaustion, he was not worried about the next day. Instead, he calmly accepted that the next day would be more difficult. It was like he had already expected it, and Artas confirmed it.
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As thoughts of the next day filled his mind, Austin opened the brown bag and grabbed a pill from within. He quickly threw the pill down his throat and instantly felt its effects. His body and mind felt calm as warmth spread throughout him like a blanket. Before he knew it, he had already fallen asleep on the ground. The pill worked like a fast-acting sleeping pill, making Austin completely ignore any discomfort from the hard ground.
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Austin awoke to a sizzling sound accompanied by the aroma of meat. He rubbed his eyes as he awoke, surprised at how refreshed he felt. He had taken sleeping pills before, and every time he woke up with a grogginess. Instead, this pill not only gave him natural sleep but one that rejuvenated him. He was not even sore from sleeping on the ground all night.
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Austin’s hunger caused him to move towards the smell of the aroma like he was being pulled by an invisible string. After eating foraged food and the horrible nutrition bars, the smell of meat was almost hypnotizing to him. As Austin arrived near Artas, who was still cooking, drool involuntarily ran down his mouth.
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“Good, you’re awake,” Artas said as he watched over an iron skillet without looking up to Austin. “I was just going to wake you. Seems like you slept well.”
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Artas’s speaking snapped Austin out of his haze, and he realized his face was wet with drool. He quickly wiped it off with the back of his sleeve before he said, “I slept very well. I definitely get why the pill should only be taken before bed.”
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“Yep, that one won’t change. The effects always tend to make a person fall asleep,” Artas explained as he removed thick fatty cuts of meat and scrambled eggs from the skillet and onto a plate. “Could you grab those potatoes for me?”
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Artas handed Austin the plate of meat and eggs, which Austin took as he looked to a nearby table. On the table was a plate with chopped potatoes. Austin exchanged the plates and handed the potatoes to Artas.
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Artas let the potatoes fall into the fat left in the skillet, releasing a loud sizzling sound. He shook the skillet by its handle a few times, coating the potatoes in fat. Afterwards, he turned towards Austin and allowed the potatoes to sit and cook.
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“You ready for another day of training?” Artas asked.
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“I guess so. What do you have in store for me today?” Austin asked.
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“Now we can start on my itinerary,” Artas explained. “It will be breakfast, technique training, lunch, meditation, reading, dinner, then combat training. Now, I do have to ask. Have you settled on Champion techniques after last night? You are early enough that you could still change your mind.”
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Austin nodded along as he took in the itinerary. It seemed like Artas had every minute planned. Austin felt that he should have expected this. If he was going to make it to Copper, he imagined he would need intense training. Even then, he recalled the fact that he either created a technique or got very close to. He started to think that he might even make it close to Iron by the time they were done.
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“Helloooo,” Artas waved his hand in front of Austin. “Anyone in there?”
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“Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought,” Austin replied quickly. “I think Champion is the way to go for me. It feels like it really fits my affinity.”
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“If you are set on it, that’s fine. But don’t just think about what fits your affinity. Any of the types of techniques can fit an affinity,” Artas tapped Austin’s chest. “What matters is that it fits you.”
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“I mean, I feel like I like Champion techniques,” Austin said. “It feels like it gives me more options than Beast, and that was the other type I was interested in.”
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“As long as you are sure,” Artas smiled before he turned away from Austin and back to the skillet. He looked over the frying potatoes and then declared. “It’s done! Time for breakfast.”
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Artas prepared plates for the pair, and they sat down to eat. Austin was surprised that the food was so delicious. He did not usually eat scrambled eggs, but the eggs had an amazing, silky smooth texture. The meat reminded Austin of bacon except with more of a meaty bite to it.
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“This is really good!” Austin involuntarily smiled as he swallowed a piece of meat.
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“I’m glad you think so. They come from animals from my home planet of Lykinia,” Artas replied. “We have huge fat boars on the planet, and their bellies make the best meat. The eggs come from huge birds called osteros. They are actually a sort of companion animal for a lot of people on my planet. Many people use them for transportation.”
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“Riding a bird sounds so strange,” Austin laughed.
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“Yeah, well, what do people on your planet ride then?” Artas snapped back as if he were actually offended.
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“Well, in modern day, most people drive cars. They are like self-propelled vehicles with wheels,” Austin explained. “We used to ride horses, though.”
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“Well, that car thing sounds strange to me,” Artas said. “I guess it’s to be expected from people without Essence. They make up for it with technology. People on my planet do ride horses, but I find an ostero makes a better companion.”
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“Yeah, I imagine our planet will be quite different once the Game is over,” Austin replied.
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“More than you think, actually. The Survival Game also serves as a sort of safe haven during the process of terraforming the planet,” Artas explained. “Your planet will look a lot different when you return. Not only will landscapes be different to incentivize the growth of new Aethers, but your planet will be joined with at least two others. There will be new people of all kinds of species on your planet.”
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“Wait, really? What about my home? And what will these other people be like?” Austin asked in a worried tone.
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“You will probably have to find a new home,” Artas said with a tinge of sadness. “The other people…well, some may want to make peace while others may want to harm you. The planet will be ripe with resources, and a lot of people don’t like to share.”
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“So we are going to come back into a war zone?” Austin sighed. He hoped things would be easier when they got back to Earth, but he felt like they were just going to get even harder.
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Artas nodded and said, “Most likely. Essence and Aether attracts war. There are many who abuse the power of Essence.”
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Austin clinched his fist and said, “That means I have to get stronger than them. If I’m going to make a world safe for my family, then I have to.”
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“Looks like I motivated you even more,” Artas grinned.
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“That’s right,” Austin said in a serious tone before he swallowed the last of his food. “Let’s get training.”
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“That’s what I like to hear,” Artas said as he stood up. “Let’s go.”
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Artas led Austin back to the field where they had trained the previous night. Scattered throughout the field were floating orbs made of twisted wood. The orbs moved at various speeds and in a variety of different directions. Some stood still while others seemed to zoom around fast enough where Austin could barely track their movement.
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“I had a feeling you would stick with Champion techniques,” Artas explained as they arrived. “So I set up this field for you to do target practice. It seems to me that the advantage of your shield is its ability to move quickly and come back. This will be a good way to solidify your technique.”
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“Oh, I think this is perfect,” Austin said as he gazed at the area ahead of him.
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“And maybe you can work on the name of your technique while you are practicing?” Artas suggested.
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“What’s wrong with the name of my technique?” Austin seemed offended. “It describes my technique perfectly.”
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“I guess it does do that. It just seems like a bad name. Not to mention the super part of the name,” Artas laughed.
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“You think so? I thought the name was cool,” Austin sighed.
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“Just think on it some,” Artas suggested. “Now get to it. I’ll be meditating, but you can ask me questions if you need to.”
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Austin nodded as Artas walked to the edge of the tree line and sat down in a meditative posture. After watching Artas walk away, Austin turned to look at the various targets. Essence flowed through his arm as he turned towards the targets. As it flowed, he made sure to isolate the metal Essence from his pure Essence. He definitely looked forward to when his Essence was completely metal and he no longer had to separate it. He imagined the process would be much easier then.
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In a flash of light, Austin’s shield appeared on his arm. A strap attached the silver shield to his arm, and he held another strap with his hand. Now that he was not in a battle, he could observe the shield more. He was shocked by how it felt like the perfect weight for him, as if the shield was made for him. Of course, he knew it was, but it was still a shocking situation.
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After taking in his new shield, Austin looked towards the targets and entered a ready stance. He felt excitement rise inside him as he prepared to start his practice. He felt like a kid who just got a new toy.
