"I already feel like I have no arms." Koby muttered.
"In the short term that you've been in Nyxoria."— Rowan said watching him closely—"You've managed to force feed aura through tiny networks in your body. Your body might not be able to expel aura like it's supposed to."
He studied Koby's reaction.
"Is... is that a bad thing? That sounds bad."
"Very. It means you're either going to die a brutal death."— Rowan said flatly—"or you might just become another ordinary resident of Nyxoria."
" Huh?"
The words settled heavily in Koby's mind, dark and oppressive, like storm clouds ready to burst.
"In due time, I'll explain it to you. For now rest up and heal your body." Rowan added.
Koby was at a total loss for words. He wanted to ask more, but the questions tangled in his throat.
What exactly is going on here? For the first time since arriving, he missed home.
Him? Missing home?
He realized it was because of the fear.
The knee deep, bone chilling fear, he felt.
James, Kai, Raya and Axle moved towards a cluster of trees, with a machete and an axe.
"What are we doing here, exactly?" James asked.
" We're gathering some wood."— Axle replied casually.—"We're all out at the cottage and unless you wanna spend a cold night, I thought we should get some." he then handed an axe over to Kai.
" Wouldn't twigs and branches work?" Kai asked refusing the axe from Axle's hand.
Axle rolled his eyes.
"Is he always this hard to talk to?" —he directed the question at Raya and James, before turning back to Kai—"If we were travelling and camping, it might."
"I was just confirming. I'm very easy to work with." Kai smirked
"Is that so?" Axle said dryly.
"Yeah, it is." Kai replied, still wondering what was up with Axle. He was pissing him off and he didn't just know why. Something about him just rubbed him the wrong way.
"What am I doing here then?"— Raya asked, concern evident in her voice.—"Shouldn't I be with Koby helping with his healing?"
"Koby is going to be fine, Raynell. And you are here to gather up the wood we cut down. Division of labor stuff." Axle said as he handed a machete to James, who took both the that and the axe and handed it to Kai. After a moments glance, Kai took the axe with a sigh.
He and James struck at a nearby tree with as much strength as they could muster. The blade bit into the bark, but the tree barely reacted—its trunk shuddering once before standing firm. Axle watched them for a moment, then laughed softly, shaking his head.
That angered Kai a bit. This boy was toying with them.
"Why don't you try adding some aura into it?" Axle suggested.
"And we know how to do that perfectly." Kai snapped sarcastically, leaving James shaking his head in despair, while slapping his forehead.
" The same way you draw out your weapons and fire out attacks. Think of it as holding your weapons with more than just your hands." Axle explained further.
After a brief pause, Kai let out a long breath.
"Nah, it's not working."
" Well, Rowan definitely has his work cut out for him." Axle said.
"Excuse me?" —Kai said irritation flaring, but there was no trace of annoyance on his face.—" I don't like your tone, Axle."
"Let it go, Kai." James muttered.
"No, I won't. He's been trying to test us all this time. With the cutting wood? I saw Rowan go out with an axe and so I know that he was likely getting wood. But that's okay, you come out here and give us advices that are not practical to cutting down this tree"— he said kicking the tree—"do you think we want to be here?"
Axle remained silent, still keeping his smirk.
" I like that you aren't a pushover, Kai." he said at last. He stepped forward, took the axe from Kai's hands, and grasped it firmly.
A faint yellow glow wrapped around his arm and unto the axe.
With a single swing, the tree came down.
Handing the axe back to Kai, he went over to a tree stump and made himself comfortable, dismissing the moment.
" Let's see if you guys are quick learners."— he called over his shoulder.—"or if you're all aiming for magnificent deaths."
A few days passed by in quiet rhythm at the cottage. By then, everyone was now accustomed to the cramped living space— and to each other. Koby was healing nicely, he could now move his arms with minor pain and he was already helping out around the cottage. Kai and James spent most of their time outside with Axle. They seemed to have found common ground with Axle and so the infighting was minimal while they tried to learn more about their abilities through him.
Raya helped Axle with chores around the cottage—cleaning tools, sorting supplies, doing things in an orderly manner rather than the frantic scramble they'd known when first thrown into this world. She knew about farm life, so she adjusted faster than the others.
Rowan and Axle were in charge of hunting, since the crew had not learnt to use their aura properly yet. But today, Rowan had decided that it was time to start their training, and so he cal
led everyone together one night by the fire.