Journey started with Master Bulan.

After that, I was there training with him for almost three years and had to return back when I was 15 to get into the academy.

During this time I had learnt a lot from him. Not only weapons but survival skills, basics of magic and much more which I would never have been able to if not for him. Unfortunately I was not able to learn the complete skills due to lack of time. And honestly my son, I was not as sharp and tough as you are now. I was always raised in a shelterd environment. Whatever I learnt was from observation and the adventures I had without knowledge of others during the night time. And sometimes when I ran away from home unnoticed.

That's why, I always encouraged you to go out and explore the real world. Books can only teach you so much. Simon indicated by keeping both his hand a feet away. Experience and knowledge will give you everything else to know and learn in life, my son.

Pheonix nodded his head looking serious.

Well.... son, come let us have our meal and then sleep well. I will be taking the watch tonight.

When Pheonix started to protest, Simon shook his head. "No my son, sleep well tonight. You will need it."

Next morning after packing everything. They started to move forward inside the forest. Even though they saw few wild animals at a distance, they were not attacked.

When they reached a clearance with a huge oval boulder in the center of it. They saw an old man with a long white beard and moustache sitting on top of it. Pheonix observed that there was not even a single hair on the old man's head and it was also reflecting the sunrays. Unable to control, Pheonix started to laugh hard.

The old man, opened his eyes and looked at the two new arrivals. When he saw Simon, he had a fond look and when he saw a boy laughing, he also had a mischievous smile and rubbed a hand on his bald head. This made Pheonix laugh harder. But the old man didn't mind it.

"I like the boy Simon. He is a straight forward one. I believe?"

Simon noded his head with an apologetic look. "Don't look like that my boy. I like those, who are straightforward. Come sit with me."

Simon sat next to the old man on the boulder and they talked for a long time. There was nothing of significance, but Pheonix saw the love in the eyes the old man towards his father and the respect his father has towards this old man.

After almost a couple of hours, the old man took out a basket from his pack and shared rice ball wrapped inside some type of leaf. All three of them had their lunch and after resting there for a few more hours both of them got up from the boulder and jumper down.

Simon my boy, I will be taking your Son with me for the next five year. He will be back at your home before the start of the academy. And don't worry about his safety. Till I live, no one can make a scratch on your son's body.

I know that master. I know that. And even due to unforeseen reason something happens to my son. We will never blame you.

Simon looked at his son with a warm smile and was surprised to see the same warm smile mirroring on his son's face. Pheonix even noded his head. " Yes master Bulan, no one will blame you if something should happen to me. Because it would be my mistake not to take care of myself. I will be considered a weakling."

The old man laughed heartily. " Ha ha ha..... Simon, my son. I think your son will be fine by himself. He is a tough one he is."

Bulan walked towards Pheonix and patted his back.

Ok Simon, rest here tonight, nothing will disturb your sleep. Take both the horses and leave in the morning. They won't be of any use where we are travelling.

Simon agreed and after saying goodbye to his son and his master, he slept peacefully that night. His Master and his son started a new journey together.

Master Bulan, what is your family name?

Ha ha ha... Kid you know, you are the first person to ask this question in ages. Hmmmm..... Everyone calls me "Bulan the Hermit". Lets consider it as my full name for now. It's been almost three hours since we started walking. Come let's rest for a while.

Both of them sat on a fallen tree trunk. Bulan remove a water skin from his pack and handed it to Pheonix. After resting for a while they started to move again.

While walking, Pheonix started to hear roars and howls in the distance.

"Master Bulan, where are we going?"

I thought you are not going to ask kid. We are going to my place. It's a six day travel from here.

Are we going inside the ancient forest?

No kid, we are moving along the border of the ancient woods. I will take you inside the ancient forest, but not now.

After another hour of walking, The old man stopped near a small pond. As it was a summer night, there was no need for them to lit a fire for warmth. They sat near the bank of the pond and ate the rice ball and a few pieces of meat that was inside the old man's pack.

"Pheonix is it? What do you think is the average life span of a human?" Bulan started to ask the boy after they finished their dinner that night.

Pheonix thought for sometime before answering. " I am not exactly sure Master Bulan. I had seen few in the city who are more than 140 years. And heard of many living beyond 200 years."

Good, good... As you said, it's not that easy to calculate the average life span of a human. In general a normal humal can live for as long as upto 150 years if he doesn't fall sick, get killed or died during a battle or a fight.

Master Bulan, you said a normal human. What about human's who are not normal? How long would they live? How would they look like? Where do they live? Do they mingle with normal humans or would they be living in a different place?

Bulan smiled and listened to the barrage of questions thrown at him.

" Good, unlike his father, the kid is observant." No need to start from the scratch with this one. Just need to polish a few things and then he would be good to go...." Bulan thought to himself.

"Now that's an interesting way of thinking boy. Human who are not normal." Bulan smiled at Pheonix who sheepishly scratched the back of his head.

Those of us, who practice a special type of meditation, the magic users, those who had consumed special elixir's and so on ..... Can live beyond 200 or even 300 years. They look similar to us and live amongst us.

For example your family members, the Dragonheart's are among them who have a longer lifespan compared to a normal humans. Those who share the blood of the Dragonheart's family can live over 200 years.

Pheonix was surprised to know this. But again, he knew his family was amongst a handful of magic users that he knew off in the entire city.

He even was aware that his grandfathe who was above 70 years, is as fit and healthy as a 30 year old normal man.