My world-tree system-Chapter 95 - 94 : Obstacle courses

The days passed slowly in Vollua, marked by the expectation of the dragon’s awakening. His sleep was still deep, but after their meeting with Xaar’thul, Foster was no longer worried. He knew that his companion was preparing to be reborn with renewed strength.

Not wanting to waste time, Foster decided to use these waiting days to train Orëlas as a swordsman. The young elf had already demonstrated an impressive mastery of magic, but Foster knew this was not enough. A warrior had to be able to wield several weapons, be fast, agile and, above all, enduring.

But before delving into hand-to-hand combat, we had to start with the basics: the physical.

And for that, there was no one better than Köflik.

Foster met up with Köflik at dawn, as the morning mist slowly evaporated under the warmth of the sun. The veteran woodland elf stretched out, a smile on his face, already ready for what Foster was about to ask him.

- Do you want us to do some serious training for Orëlas?" asked Köflik, arching an eyebrow. Hm... He’s still young, but he’s got potential.

Foster nodded, his gaze determined.

- He’s a quick learner, but lacks the stamina and coordination of a real fighter. I want him to develop his reflexes, his agility, his strength... and above all his mental strength.

Köflik burst out laughing, crossing his arms over his chest.

- Ah! You want a real workout then! Not a gentle little initiation?

- Exactly.

Köflik’s smile widened and he nodded slowly.

- All right, then. I’ll build him a course worthy of a sylvan soldier. Hang on, Orëlas isn’t going to thank you after this.

Two days later, the training course was ready.

Foster observed with satisfaction the terrain Köflik had laid out on the outskirts of Vollua. It was a hellish circuit designed to test not only physical fitness, but also intelligence and resilience.

Orëlas, who had just arrived on the scene, observed the course with wide, incredulous eyes.

- Do you really want me to do that?" he asked, a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Foster smiled.

- Absolutely. If you want to wield a sword, you must first learn to master your own body.

Köflik approached and laid a heavy hand on Orëlas’ shoulder, his smile full of mischief.

- Look at this little jewel," he says, pointing to the course. You’ll start by sprinting between these fallen tree trunks. Next, you’ll have to climb this rock face using nothing but the strength of your arms. Once at the top, a suspended rope will allow you to cross the river. On the other side, you’ll have to jump over these ditches, crawl under these thick trunks, and finally cross a series of moving obstacles without losing your balance.

Orëlas opened his mouth, dumbfounded.

- And all this... in how long?

- As quickly as possible," Köflik replied, laughing. But don’t worry, you’ll be allowed to do it as many times as necessary.

Orëlas cast a desperate glance at Foster, who shrugged with an amused smile.

- All right, places. You’re the one who wanted to get stronger, right?

Orëlas took a deep breath and stepped up to the starting line.

Köflik raised his arm.

- On my mark... Three... Two... One... VA!

Orëlas took off immediately, pushing on his legs with all the strength he could muster. He zigzagged between the trunks with speed, but already missed a step and stumbled slightly on one of them.

- Lighter on your feet!" shouted Köflik.

Orëlas immediately corrected his posture and resumed his momentum, avoiding the next obstacles with greater fluidity.

When he reached the rock wall, he grabbed onto the natural holds and began his ascent. His arms trembled under the effort, but he gritted his teeth and kept climbing.

- Don’t tense up too much, just blow with your effort," Foster advised him.

He reached the top after several long seconds of effort, out of breath but proud. But he had no time to rest: ahead of him, the rope hanging over the river awaited him.

- Grab the rope and swing! ordered Köflik.

Orëlas took a deep breath and jumped. His hands closed firmly around the rope and he began to sway gently, building up the momentum he needed to reach the other side.

- More power to the swing! Foster encouraged.

With a final effort, Orëlas released the rope at just the right moment and landed on the opposite bank, rolling slightly to cushion the impact.

He quickly got to his feet and set off for the next section. He leapt over the ditches with more ease than expected, but at the last pit, his foot touched the end slightly and he fell forward, crashing to the ground.

- Gah!" he groaned as he sat up, covered in dirt.

Köflik burst out laughing.

- Not bad for a first! But keep your balance all the way, kid!

Orëlas grunted but didn’t let it get the better of him. He crawled swiftly under the trunks and finally reached the last part of the route.

Here, several suspended beams moved under wind and gravity, requiring balance and precision.

Orëlas took a deep breath and placed his foot on the first beam. It immediately wobbled under his weight, and he struggled to keep his balance. He moved forward slowly, his arms outstretched to compensate for the movement, but at the last moment, a gust of wind toppled the beam... and Orëlas fell to the sand below.

- Ahh, damn it!" he snarled.

Köflik and Foster burst out laughing.

- Do it again!" said Köflik. You’re almost there!

Orëlas, though frustrated, straightened up and immediately resumed his seat.

The rest of the day passed like this, Orëlas repeating the course again and again under the watchful eyes of Foster and Köflik. With each new attempt, he improved, gaining in agility, endurance and precision.

Foster saw in him the determination that had once characterized him. He was proud of him.

As the sun began to wane, Orëlas finished another attempt, sweating profusely but smiling despite his exhaustion.

- Not bad at all, kid," commented Köflik, nodding approvingly. Keep that up, and you’ll be able to wield a sword with no problem.

Orëlas smiled weakly, resting his hands on his knees, still out of breath.

- I can’t wait... but I think I’m going to fall asleep on the spot," he huffed.

Foster put a hand on his shoulder and smiled.

- That’s what a warrior learns. You did a good job today. Tomorrow, we start again.

Orëlas grunted but nodded.

Foster gave Köflik a satisfied look. This training had only just begun.

The days passed in Vollua under the intense rhythm of Orëlas’ training. At dawn, the young elf set off on the infernal course designed by Köflik, tirelessly repeating each exercise under Foster’s watchful eye. At first, progress was painstaking, each obstacle seeming an insurmountable mountain.

The first morning after initiation, Orëlas awoke with a sore body, every muscle screaming from the strain of the previous day’s trials. On his way to the training ground, Foster crossed his arms as he saw his pupil shuffling in, looking half-dead.

- Do you want to start with a lighter warm-up today?" asked Foster with a mocking smile.

- Screw you," growled Orëlas, rolling his eyes.

- Where did you learn this vulgar expression?- Uncle Köflik often uses it," Orëlas replied, yawning.Foster cracked his knuckles; he knew someone who was in for a rough time.

Despite his aches and pains, Orëlas took to the course without a second thought, his determination intact. This time, however, his fatigue handicapped him more than he thought. He missed his grip on the hanging rope and crashed into the river. He stumbled over the tree trunks and, when he reached the last part of the course, his balance failed again, sending him once more into the sand.

Foster approached as Orëlas, trembling with frustration, struggled to his feet, his hands buried in the ground.

- I’m doing everything wrong..." grumbled Orëlas, his eyes dark with disappointment.

Foster placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

- This is normal. Your body adapts, but it takes time. You can’t gain strength and agility overnight. What’s important is that you keep trying.

Köflik, who had been watching in silence, stepped forward.

- You’re still stiff in your movements. When you run, remember to relax your muscles rather than contracting them. Let your body adapt to the environment instead of fighting against it.

Orëlas nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow before returning to the starting line, determined to do it all over again.

The following days were just as demanding. Foster ensured that Orëlas followed a strict routine: get up at dawn, warm-up exercises, then several runs on the course, followed by muscle-strengthening exercises.

Little by little, Orëlas began to improve. His muscles were growing, his movements more fluid, his breathing more controlled. Where it had previously taken him several tries to complete a single passage without error, he was now able to link most obstacles together with greater precision.

One morning, after a week of intensive training, Orëlas managed to complete the entire course without falling once. He landed on the ground after the final balancing test, panting but beaming with pride.

Köflik applauds, crossing his arms.

- That’s what I’ve been waiting for, kid. You’re finally starting to get it.

Foster smiled, patting his pupil gently on the back.

- You see? All you had to do was persevere.

Orëlas, drenched in sweat but beaming, nodded, a dazzling smile on his face.

- I’m beginning to like it.

As the days went by, the improvement became spectacular. Where he had stumbled before, he now moved with natural agility. His steps were precise, his reflexes sharp, and his stamina had multiplied. Foster, who at first had to keep reminding him to breathe and pace himself, could now see him covering the whole ground with impressive fluidity.

One evening, after a particularly intense session, Foster had a word with Köflik on the sidelines.

- He’s progressing fast," Foster observed, watching Orëlas stretch out in the last rays of the sun. He’ll soon master this course with too much ease.

Köflik nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

- I was going to suggest that you intensify your training. It’s time to take it to the next level.

Foster crossed his arms, puzzled.

- Do you have something in mind?

Köflik smiles.

- Always. I’m going to add new elements: moving obstacles, load training, and above all, combat situations under physical strain. He’ll have to learn to react quickly, even under fatigue.

Foster nodded, fully in agreement.

- Just do it. It’s ready.

The next morning, just as Orëlas was expecting his usual training session, Köflik greeted him with a smirk.

- New version of the course," he announced, pointing to the modified drive.

Orëlas eyed the terrain with suspicion. Hanging logs now clattered on the path, hidden traps slowed passage, and the rope over the river had been replaced by a series of unstable stones.

- Oh no..." murmured Orëlas.

Foster approached and laid a hand on his shoulder.

- If you want to wield a sword, you have to be able to deal with unpredictable situations. That’s part of the game.

Orëlas took a deep breath and dashed forward.

The new obstacles came as a shock. Where he had previously excelled, he stumbled again, missed several holds, and more than once ended up with his butt in the mud. Köflik didn’t hold back his acerbic comments.

- TOO SLOW! Do you think your enemies will wait for you gently?

Orëlas gritted his teeth, accepting the difficulty without giving up. He began again. Again and again. And again.

After an hour of successive failures, he managed to avoid the hanging logs for the first time. An hour later, he crossed the river by skilfully jumping from one stone to another. Then, little by little, he began to integrate the new mechanics, adapting to the increased difficulty.

As the sun began to sink, he finally completed the course without fail, collapsing on the ground, short of breath but eyes shining with satisfaction.

Foster approached and held out a canteen of water.

- You’ve just passed a milestone, Orëlas.

The young elf grabbed the gourd and drank greedily before huffing:

- I’m... so tired... but it’s worth it.

Köflik burst out laughing and sat down next to him.

- Good talk, kid. A good warrior isn’t just strong, he’s able to take it, adapt and never give up.

Foster turned to Köflik, a satisfied smile on his lips.

- He’s ready for the next step.

Köflik nodded.

- Tomorrow, we start with weapons training.

Orëlas, lying on the ground, grunted as he raised a thumb in the air, unable to move any further.

Foster laughed softly as he watched his pupil. He was proud of him. The young elf had just broken through a barrier, and soon he would become much more than a mere apprentice. He would become a true fighter.