Sen was still disoriented the tight grip of sleep still lingering in his eyes. The warm sun was now past the horizon almost reaching its apex. The beautiful singing of the birds like a lullaby was dragging him back to the dream in spite of his valiant attempts not to. One after another his feet walked through the forest floor as he followed the other footsteps in front of him.
The canopy was as thick as before. Light still struggled to reach the underlay thanks to the mosaic of the leaves. A cool breeze shifted across the forest chasing away the dexterous heat from the sun.
Their footsteps crunched across the forest floor as they approached a clearing. Dym lead his eyes searching carefully for any shriekers that might take them for eyes prey. Liora followed behind him tightly clenching her orbed staff with a gentle clinging from her two short blades as they collided with every step. Her steps were cautious and hesitant often startled by some simple rattling in the trees. She gazed at Dym paced along wondering why this maniac brought them back to a forest with hunting beasts.
Sen came in last his body lazily treading behind them, with some occasional bumping into trees. His obliviousness to the forest sounds was deafening and annoying especially to Liora.
" Why did you bring us back here ? " Liora asked her eyes darting around even in the slightest of noise.
" Don't worry Liora , there are no shriekers anywhere close to us. " Dym said as he walked forward.
" I'm not worried about the shriekers… well not as much as the river poisoning. " she said.
" The river ? " Sen asked his eyes half shut .
Liora scoffed.
" I'm afraid that the river poisoning could be spreading. "
" Wow yeah. Never really thought of that. " Sen exclaimed.
" Hmph , as expected from a simple minded person like you. "
" That's a valid concern but around us are some really thick trees and there are many more closer to the river. " he said as he brushed away a branch .
" So … "
" So they act as wind breakers, No — poison breakers . " Sen interrupted.
" Great to see your finally with us , Sen . " Dym said after the boy vibrantly answered.
" Just in time because we're here. " He added.
Ahead of them was a brown patch of brown of ground expanding over a small distance. Tree stumps remained across the ground like small wooden platforms, reminder of their former glory. Around it the forest trees grew lushly, evergreen as they expanded deeper across the land.
The trio walked to the center of the clearing . Sen's eyes wondered around trying to guess what Dym had brought them here for. Liora , arms crossed, stood to the side her face with evident not contempt.
" Alright you two. Two day from now we're moving out for the mission. In as much as I wish it not , something may occur and we might be needed to face it through combat. " Dym started.
" So I need to know your combat capabilities and how compatible they are to one another. " he said ushering to Sen.
" I already know Liora's capabilities but as for you Sen the rough details in your file won't be enough. "
" Oh by the way, Liora , " Sen said turning to her. " I've being meaning to ask you about your arcane… "
" It's non of your business. " she snapped. " Focus on your own. "
Dym watched as Liora as she paced away from them angry.
" I guess she isn't ready for him to know. " he thought.
He gave a silent sigh.
" I doubt she'll ever want him to know. "
" Anyway Sen focus. Stand on that tree stump. " he said turning to Sen.
Sen walked towards the tree stump. His gaze lingered slightly on the slouching girl ,who for some reason he didn't know, had offended.
Sen's full mass rested on the top of the tree stump. The scorching sun was in his eyes blinding him of what Dym was doing .
" Dym sir . Now what ? " he asked shielding his eyes with his hand from the sun rays.
" Listen closely Sen. Around this clearing I've set up crossbows that will trigger on my command. Your job is to evade the projectiles they fire at you. " he started.
" What ! "Sen freaked. " you mean there are arrows aimed at me right now. "
" No need to worry they are just small darts that sting a little bit. You just need to evade them anyway you can."
" Also if you tried to leave the tree stump the small darts will change to real arrows that really hurt. " he added.
" So better watch your step. "
Sen swallowed a gulp. Judging by Dym's tone ,he wasn't joking.
" You ready ?"
" Just dodge all the darts. " he thought .
" Yes. " he answered Dym.
" How hard can it be. "
Suddenly a whistling sound shot past his ear. He barely reacted as the sharp sound from the passing projectile reverbed in his ear.
Behind him , pinned to the tree stump a sharp and precise dart settled as the momentum from its spin died down.
" That was fast. " Sen thought as his muscles culled into action .
Then a second whistle shot. But these it was directly aimed for his head.
The whistle shape as ever passed nearly glazing his ear out.
" Did they miss ? " he thought.
" No . Warning shots. " he said.
" Sir Dym is telling me to take this seriously. "
" Ok then , bring it on. " he said heaving a calming breath and letting it out.
The third shot came. This time he sensed it though not as early as need. Aimed for his shoulder the dart came. Sen shifted to the side. The whistling sound came and behind it the sound of tearing fabric.
Sen clenched his shoulders. A piece of his cloth hung out exposing his inner clothing.
" I need to sense and dodge them faster. " he thought as he prepared to dodge the fourth dart already slicing through the air towards him.
Time passed. Sen was still on the tree stump. The tree stump was covered with darts and according to Sen's count they neared fifty. His clothes were in tartars with slight bleeding across his cheeks. He panted heavily trying to catch his breath from the relentless projectiles.
The next dart came , the whistling no longer a bother for him. It passed but not before making away with a pierce of his fabric.
He cursed under his heavy breath as he settled for the next attack.
" Tch ! They keep on scarring my clothes . If these keeps on I'll be naked by the end of the day. " he thought .
" Damn it. All that time with Orin was for nothing. " he thought clenching a fist.
At the side Dym watched Sen dodge the next dart. Liora on the other hand couldn't care less as yawned and she continued to scribe on the ground with a stick.
" Looks like he's getting frustrated. " Liora remarked her eyes barely leaving her scribbles.
" Yeah it seems so. " Dym said.
" I guess we should call it a… "
" I've got it !! " Sen shouted interrupting Dym's thought cycle.
Dym's eyes widened. He chuckled slightly, enough that Liora heard.
Her gaze shifted to Sen .
" What is he even thinking ?! " she asked surprised at the spectacle.
" Why are his eyes closed ? "
Spiraling through the air the next dart came. With it, it's natural sharp acoustic sound sliced through the air. The distance between it and Sen narrowed by the second, it's trajectory locked to his chest.
" Is he just going to stand there ? " Liora asked her attention undivided she watched Sen.
" His clothes will be … "
She paused after realizing something.
" Wait , what happened to the whistling sound? "
There was a brief silence . The whistling from the dart had suddenly disappeared and on the wooden stump Sen stood with a smirk. To his side the dart rested alone on the mossy floor of the forest.
" He deflected it ? "