"Where are we going today, dad?" August asked his father while following him through the town.
His father cleared his throat and kept walking,
"You'll find out soon enough."
His answer only made August feel more curious. But he had other concerns as well.
Normally, he would've been doing his training with the sword right now but today his father seemed to have different plans for him.
Not only that, he made August wear a protective battlerobe today.
"So does that mean we are not doing sword training today?" August asked. "And what about classes with mom?"
"I have already informed your mother," his father replied, "...that you will be absent today. Because…"
He turned to August as they finally arrived at the east gate,
"We are doing something different rather than your usual sword training today. And it will take time."
August nodded slowly and followed behind his father. He had crossed the barrier a few times before but the fear of getting assaulted by echoes never ceased to exist.
Even when he knew that lady mist would protect him, he couldn't help but be more careful.
The invisible dome of protection that loomed above the whole town. A barrier crafted with such precision that no mage could ever hope to achieve—the mages that August knew of that is.
Surely there might be stronger mages out there in the world. And the architect of this magnificent barrier, he should be out there somewhere too—an old friend of his father's.
They called him Aurelion.
'I wonder what kind of person he would be?'
As he stepped forward, the golden disturbance shimmered, letting him pass through the barrier.
Watching August cover his ears, his father turned to him, "it's alright son. You don't have to worry."
Slowly he took his hands off, taking a sigh of relief after not having to cry in pain.
Seems like lady mist was protecting him well.
'that feels nice'
"Come on," his father said. "We have to hurry."
With that he continued to follow after his father without knowing where they were headed to.
Moving through the difficult paths of the forest he gazed at the amazing sights. He had seen these places before, but only a few times.
Trees were tall as always, their green leaves were brimming with vitality and the noises of creatures living in the forest felt strangely soothing.
While the terrain was uneven and filled with tree leaves and branches everywhere, the forest seemed as lively as always.
At a distance August saw a tiny fluffy creature looking out for danger. Only when it saw August walking towards him did it immediately hide in its burrow.
Slowly, as they arrived in the depths of the forest, it started to get somewhat dark here. Thick canopies of tall trees covered the sky, blocking most of the light with them.
With so little sunlight, it started getting cold here too.
The shapes and sizes of the plants also changed significantly. Unlike the outer part of the forest, the vegetation here didn't seem so full of vitality.
August was immediately reminded of what importance the light holds in the life of a plant.
'Advantage of reading books.'
As he was silently gazing at the forest, his father asked him suddenly, "Do you feel afraid?" He turned to August, "...by this darkness of the forest?"
August gave a good thought then spoke, "No," he replied, "the darkness doesn't scare me."
His father raised a brow, "then what?"
August looked at his surroundings then shook his head, "nothing dad, I am afraid of nothing."
Hearing those words his father let out a chuckle,
"That's my son."
After the moment settled in, his father spoke again, "did you think my opinion of you would lower if you admitted your fear?"
Walking ahead of him his father shook his head,
"No, son you are brave and I know that. But fear isn't something to be ashamed of. It makes you stronger, it makes you human. How can a person grow if he doesn't fear anything?"
"But dad?" he asked his father, "you don't fear anything. Then how did you become this strong?"
"Who told you I don't fear anything?" His father's footsteps halted suddenly as he turned to face August,
"Every person dreads something, Augustus. If someone says he isn't afraid that means either they're lying or they are already dead."
August knitted his brows together in a frown,
"But fear is a bad thing isn't it?"
He smiled at August and continued walking,
"Son, it is anything but bad. Fear is good, it gives you strength, provides you with motivation. Look…" Pointing towards a small creature at a distance he said, "That small thing looks afraid to you?"
August looked in the direction, a small creature with two long ears was hopping forward with utmost caution. He turned to his father and nodded.
"Exactly," his father replied, "for that little guy …fear is life. The moment he stops being afraid of the predators, will be the moment he loses his life. It keeps him alive. But there is another thing also, the most important to be honest, "
August raised a brow as his father continued,
"He is afraid but he faces his fear everyday only to keep himself alive. Which means, it is only bad when you decide not to face it. That way it will kill you before the actual danger. Do you understand?"
August thought for sometime and then nodded in agreement. Indeed, he had learnt something very valuable today.
That little creature was truly scared but he did not hide back in his burrow but decided to face the fear. That's how he survives in the wild by being afraid but not letting the uneasiness get to his head.
Lost in his deep thinking August didn't even realise that they had finally arrived at the place.
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