Chapter 6: 6 - Physical, Magical, Initiation.
I have now just about turned 13.
During these years, I realised that the recovery rate of my body was even better than it was when I was 8 and younger.
The magicka that inhibits every living being, it gives more energy, recovery rate and even to some extent an increased life-span. Ever since I 'unlocked' my magicka which I'm still not sure how it worked, my body's injuries that would take weeks to heal would take days (without restoration magic) and soreness/fatigue that could only decrease after a long, nice sleep would go away after an hour or 2.
I still had to sleep for at least 5 hours a day to feel well-rested but I used this increase in recovery to train harder than ever before.
I used vines to tie thick wooden pieces on every part of my body that acted as weights and ran as fast as I could, after I couldn't run any longer, I did squats, push ups, sit ups and even flips such as front flips and side flips.
I then dragged myself to the lake and did as many laps as I could swim around it as long as it was better than last time.
I found 2 heavy wooden sticks that could be mistaken for any heavy metal with their weight and swung over and over, in every angle, every corner, even when my limbs screamed at me not to move. The muscles and ligaments in my arms were repeatedly torn and re-created while my wrist and elbow joint movements became smoother as my wrists could bend in almost superhuman ways while my elbows could extend out ridiculously fast at full speed.
My dexterity with my weapon would be considered perfect to anyone on Modern Earth but to me, it still wasn't enough, I could switch grips and increase precision even more, there was room for improvement. I ran around the whole campsite and further. Over and over in random, unexpected directions and used the uneven terrain to run everywhere, even on and around trees.
My hand and feet co-ordination increased to the point where I could find my balance instantly after flipping, turning or dodging.
I fought in the Young Elite Pit too. Kilnar was one of the strongest if not the strongest fighter there, the fact that I fought him my first day at the young elite pit was just idiocy, I sometimes wonder if these 'people' have brains.
I lost. A lot. After my first encounter with Kilnar in the pit, I made sure to be wary against all methods of attack. I even managed to use illusion magic, subtly, to make it seem like my blade is slightly shorter and further away than it really is. It worked incredibly well and allowed me to get many easy hits in but I lost almost as many as I won.
There were 2 times where I was left in an almost fatal encounter, but luckily, I was able to get away with my ability which I still don't know what to call. I'm not sure if it slows down time, makes my reflexes and body temporarily increase to ridiculous levels or.. anything, really. The first time was when I got my feet and shins trapped in ice.
She was super fast and almost killed me due to sheer surprise. I don't even know how I never thought of it, and berated myself repeatedly afterwards. The only reason I escaped was my 'ability' rushed to my legs and allowed me to overpower the ice, letting me escape and hit her with sparks, then fireball, which locked up her limbs temporarily and blasted her backwards.
The other time was when my right leg was smashed with a hammer, leaving me on the ground, where he lifted his hammer that was about to slam down and splat my skull. I.. used my functional leg to get up and leap to his neck and cut his throat, killing him.. They cheered. The crowd of 10-20 adults watching cheered.
That day my disgust for this tribe increased even more.
I tried, I really really did. Everyday, over and over, in everything that I could, but i'm still weak. Even among the forsworn, I could be killed by any high level tribesman, nevermind the true powerhouses of the world.
I was moved to the 'Elite Pit' recently. The place where the young adults played. Apart from me, the people there were at least 16-17.
I was cheered at by my 'mother', complimented by others, and even Tarlok said I had amazing potential for the forsworn and could become a great briar-heart or even leader.
'Urgh, there's no way i'm giving away my heart. I'll find a way to escape, just wait.'
I healed my own injuries after fights, worked on the limited amount of spells that I knew and even improved my lightning abilities.
I managed to hold the shocks in, charge them, and release them in one huge burst of energy. I'm sure that was probably a spell in the game but I did it without guidance or help, just myself, which I felt quite proud of.
Draining and recharging my magicka, as much as I could, allowed my magicka to increase more and more. It was a slow progress as it took over 2 hours to recharge each time but I diligently drained myself repeatedly leading to a very large 'mana pool' as I like to call it.
Anla has a book that explained the basics and general knowledge of 'the arcane'. The amount of spells that I could cast for someone of my age was almost twice as much as an average nord/breton which was my race, like most other forsworn.. which meant that my magicka was almost at the level of an Altmer.
Right, that was another thing to mention. In this world, races were far more distinguished in racial abilities. While in the game, for example, you could use magicka no matter what race with barely a change but here, the elves, especially Altmer, really did have a great advantage in magic.
'No wonder the Thalmor are such arrogant pricks. Still hate them though.'
I wanted to explore, adventure, enjoy this world. There were cities, dungeons, dwarven ruins, ancient mysteries and quests.
But I was still too weak. I need to find other ways to gain strength. In the game, you could just kill others, gain experience and levels, and become the strongest in a few days.
Here, that's not how it works.
I won't lie, but I have a suspicion. A suspicion that the skills are present here too. Skills such as Alchemy, Blacksmithing, One-Handed Wielding, Two-Handed Wielding, even Sneak. It was incredibly subtle, as if you got a miniscule amount of essence of a skill after every usage of it.
Every successful swing of your weapon, or hit with a spell, it added up. Everytime I drained my magicka, it increased in quality and quantity by a tiny amount that could only be noticed after days at the least.
That's why even now, there was a large difference in strength between me and the true powerhouses here like Malira, the Hagraven or Tarlok the Weapon Master.
* 2 Years Later *
I'm now 15 years old. I'm around 5 feet 11 inches tall, maybe 6 feet, I can't really tell, I have fairly broad shoulders and my body is full of compact muscle and scars which I could never have dreamed of having in my old world. My short hair was slightly longer than when I was younger but still black and slightly spiky.
I have a defined jawline, normal sized but slightly thin nose and a normal mouth with a small amount of a stubble appearing. Eyes that are an even brighter blue than before along with strong black eyebrows and overall, I'd say I look good. Better than the completely boring and average looks of my old life at least, though I am missing a couple of teeth from all of the fighting I was forced to do, and am almost always dirty.. for my standards anyway. Everyone else thinks i'm a clean freak.
..
This year, the dragons will start to attack. I'm not sure when, it could have already happened or happen at the end of the year. I have no way of finding out until I leave the forsworn.
Apparently, I'm ready. I'm about to go on an initiation ritual to become a briar-heart. 'The youngest briar-heart in generations', they said.
I'm not sure what this 'initiation ritual' is, but I don't think it's good, why I didn't sneak out at night already.. I don't know, but now that i'm here, with the other talented members, ready to become a briar-heart, it's all starting to catch up.
I kept telling myself that I wasn't ready to live on the outside world, that I wasn't strong enough, but surely I could beat some common bandits or something, right? They'd have money that I could take, better than staying here, but I procrastinated. I was a procrastinator extraordinaire in my old world but I thought I stopped those habits when I came to this world.. guess not. Now it's too late, I have to escape this time, or not at all.. shit.
I'm leaving with 12 others, all older than me by at least a few years. We're leaving somewhere but I haven't been told much other than it's something that I must do to be worthy of the forsworn elite or some other bullshit.
I don't have many other chances, I have to escape soon or it will be too late. Give away my heart? Fuck that! I already have to wear this ridiculous armor and mask.
I have a hint, though. My 'Mother' pulled me aside with a prideful smile and said to me, "Son, today you'll prove your worth and become a true warrior of the forsworn. You'll bring pride to me and the tribe." she said as if I would absolutely do it just because she said so.
'I'm trying to ignore it, but I have a terrible feeling that I know what they will try to make me do, I just hope I'm wrong.'
..
'Really hope i'm wrong..'
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