LEAPING FURTHER

Darius woke up by the feeling of something pointy hitting his forehead. Like a tiny stick was used to poke him over and over.

"Hmmm…" The young man groaned due to the annoyance, pinching his brows together Darius started waving a hand in front of his face.

"Stop," he groaned but the dove never stopped pecking his head.

"Croo-cooo…" the dove responded before continuing its task to wake Darius up.

The young man clicked his tongue, before waving his hand to shoo the bird away a second time. Alas, it did not work just like before so he finally decided to give up and open his eyes.

As he got up, Darius realized that it was already dawn or maybe it was dusk and he wasn't entirely sure. His memory is quite a haze, he could hardly remember what happened.

'I had a conversation with Ravana, about using the magic of her essence and gaining power… but what happened after that was a bit blurry.' He pondered with the memory inside his head.

'A flash of lightning?'

'No… it was something else…'

"Ah! You're awake! Thank goodness, I was starting to get worried!" Brennan chimed upon seeing Darius awake. Under the faint light of the sun, Darius could see Brennan's tired face. There are bags under his half-lidded eyes, while a scowl is etched in his thin lips.

"What happened?" Darius asked, eyeing Brennan. Feeling bad for the younger man for having to stand guard, while he just slept.

"Oh! Nothing much happened while you were sleeping, I just had to keep the fire going. Are you hurt?" Brennan asked in return.

"No." Darius shook his head. "The giant… did it die?"

"Yes, you killed it… don't you remember?"

"No, I could hardly remember what happened."

Brennan gasped, "Are you kidding me?!"

"It was amazing! You used magic!" Brennan exclaimed as he proceeded to tell Darius what happened.

"Suddenly your eyes were glowing, the purple electricity was emitting from your body. Then the sword also started sparking with magic power." He begun.

"Then you…" and he continued to describe how Darius cut off the giant's right arm, and how he killed it by stabbing its heart with great enthusiasm.

By the time the sun reclaimed the sky, Darius and Brennan were already prepared to set out.

Of course, that was after allowing Brennan to sleep for some time and taking a simple meal of bread and cheese.

The dove pecked Darius's head for the last time before flying off to guide their way.

Alas, the young traveler was off to another day of adventure.

"There!" Brennan shouted as the bird fell from the treetop.

"Well done!" Darius cheered, both men are smiling.

After three days of traveling south, they had exhausted their supply and had to forge from trees and catch small animals to feast on.

And for today's unlucky meat donator, is a wild crane.

The young men happily run to fetch their soon-to-be meal.

"Nice shot as always," Darius told Brennan.

But as they pick up the crane, the dove sat on Darius's head before restlessly pecking him.

"Aw! It's not me who shot it!" he complained. After the days of traveling with the tiny creature, the young men noticed that the dove was quite smart.

Whether helping them find fruits or keeping them away while standing guard. It always finds small ways to help.

"Besides we had to, do you want us to die before we could even finish the task Cernunnos entrusted to us?" he reasoned. And just as expected, the dove stopped pecking his head.

Darius laughed as the dove left and started attacking Brennan.

But unlike with him, the dove stopped after a while.

'Hmmm… taking favorites huh.' He thought to himself.

The sun started sinking over the horizon when they camped at the edge of the woods.

As they are roasting the crane, Darius could feel the dove's deathly glare. It was so full of hate and anger, that it made him uncomfortable.

"How much further will we travel?" Brennan asked, taking Darius and the dove's attention.

As a form of response, the dove used its beck to form four lines in the ground.

"Four days?" he asked, gaining a squawk.

Darius furrowed his brows, 'Maybe yes, maybe no?' he thought had no idea what the squawk could possibly mean. Who knows? It could be for four weeks.

"Well, there's no telling for sure... but for now. We will need some rest you can sleep first," Darius stated. Gaining a nod from Brennan.

In the middle of the night, Darius watches the sky peacefully until Ravana slithered her way into his mind.

'You need to learn how to use my power properly,' she began.

Her sudden appearance sent shivers down Darius's back.

'You can't always just pass out after a battle, if that occurs in a wrong situation you will end up dead.'

"Then what do you suggest?" Darius mumbled his gaze falling toward Brennan for a moment, ensuring that the younger man is still fast asleep.

'Every time you are standing guard, you will follow my instructions to practice the use of magic.'

"Alright, it's not like anyone else can teach me how to use your power properly. We could start tonight…" Darius said, determined to master the art of magic as soon as possible.

Ravana chuckled, 'my thoughts exactly.'

'We will go back to the basics; close your eyes, relax, and ignore everything around you. Shut down all of your senses and focus on what's inside you.'

Darius imagine himself standing in the dark, there was nothing there. Just emptiness, but then, small purple orbs started appearing around him.

'Imaging collecting those little fragments of light.'

'Can you feel its warmth?'

Darius nodded, and as he did hathe was told he saw a small ball of flame in the distance. A small flickering purple flame.

"What's that?" He asked.

'Ignore it, you're not ready for that. Neither your mind nor your body can handle it, you can't use it yet.' Ravana warned.

Deciding that Ravana knew better when it comes to magic, he went back in collecting the small fragments of power inside him.

And as he goes, further along, he could feel his body growing warmer and somewhat heavier. It was as if something was coiling around him, constricting his movements.

Anxious, he started biting the insides of his mouth.

'Calm down,' Ravana warned as she felt the power starting to grow unstable.

'Just breathe and let the magic naturally flow.'

The young man started breathing more slowly. But he continued to collect the fragments of magic nonetheless.

Until it grows bigger and bigger, condensing into a huge ball of magic power.

'Great now channel the magic into your hand, slowly… or you'll blow yourself up.' Ravana warned.

As Darius started controlling the power he collected, electricity started crackling around him.

The faint purple light started illuminating around his entire body.

"It feels like my arm is being sucked in by a vortex," Darius mumbled.

'Just stay calm and keep going,' Ravana squinted her eyes, observing how far she can push Darius.

Electricity started forming in the tips of Darius's finger, unconsciously the young man raised his right hand. As if he was reaching for something in front of him.

'Slowly release the accumulated power.'

From the distance, an owl started hooting which took Darius by surprise.

He opened his eyes, losing his focus and control of the magic power in a critical moment.

Releasing everything all at once, the magic power exploded. Causing him to blast at least a meter away.

Smoke and dust filled the air. The smell of burning wood filled Darius's nostrils, forcing him to start coughing.

"My arm hurts," he complained.

'Of course, it will hurt. You blasted magic in yourself. Good going.' Ravana replied sarcastically.

"It's not like it's my fault, that damn owl distracted me."

'No time to act like a baby, try again.' Ravana ordered.

"Alright, alright" Darius sighed, a tad bit annoyed.

"What happened?" Brennan suddenly came to his side.

Darius deadpanned, darting his gaze to the ground. "I… I was trying to practice magic."

It's not like it was a complete lie, he just decided to leave keep some of the details.

"R-really… How though?" Brenan asked.

The use of magic was not a surprise to Brennan, after all, during their training both of them were tested. To see their capability to use magic, but unfortunately, Brennan was not one of the lucky people who can master the art of magic.

But since Oraculi doesn't use magic himself, he can't teach Darius how to use it. Leaving him at the mercy of old books, while Oraculi is trying to find a magic-wielding hunter to teach Darius.

"I'm just using what I've seen from Ravana before…"

"Your arm is red, are you hurt?" Brennan pressed on.

"No, I'm fine. Sorry for disturbing your rest, I'll try to be more cautious next time." Darius tried dismissing Brennan.

"Just go back to sleep, I'm completely fine. If anything happens I wake you up." Darius promised.

"Alright… then…" Brennan agreed reluctantly, eyeing Darius before returning to his previous position.

On the other hand, Darius watched Brennan close. Waiting for him to sleep, so he could continue practicing.

When Brennan was finally asleep, Darius returned to his practice.

'Again' Ravana instructed.

While Darius closed his eyes to focus, blocking everything around him.

For two days, the young traveler continued on their path. Following their guide just like they did several days before.

The dove was flying ahead of them, but suddenly turned back and started sitting on Brennan's head. Which it always does whenever it gets tired from flying.

"Oh look there's a town ahead!" Darius stated as the sight of buildings came to view.

"It's already early noon, maybe we could stay there for the night. It would be nice to have a good night of sleep." Brennan sighed.

"Sure, we can also restock our supply while we are there."

"Let's go then!" Brennan exclaimed as he sped up.