The next morning, Big two shook me awake. Gesturing at me, he asked me to follow him. I then saw Big One cleaning up the makeshift site. I can only guess we are moving to a new place. Big One saw me looking at him and he gave me a huge smile. He actually looked kind with that smile but me who see them spar everyday knew these two were nothing but kind. I smiled back and said Good Morning which I doubt he understood.
The three of us then trekked through the dense forest going on an uphill trajectory. After a few hours of hiking, my legs were wobbling. I have never really exercised in the past and although in my mind I'm still 42 years old I will easily admit that my fitness and strength literally is horrible. I can imagine that if I was here in my previous body, I would have collapsed awhile ago. Now that I'm back to my 15 year old body I can still push on although it's taking my every ounce of strength and willpower to do so.
Seeing me panting and my legs shaking , the two took pity on me and we stopped for a 30 min rest before we continued trekking uphill. Soon we came across an animal that looked like a boar. It was completely white in color and personally to me, that was the most beautiful boar I have ever laid eyes upon. The boar saw us as intruders and immediately charged towards us. I saw long tusks that looked like spears from the side of its mouth. It had a comparable size to an adult Siberian tiger, weighing almost 400 pounds. The earth shook as as the boar charged to us.
I was panicking inside but calmed down after I heard Big One and Big two laugh. Big One was about to face towards the incoming boar but was held back by Big Two. Big Two took a step forward, smiled at us both then raised his sword towards the boar.
I didn't even see Big Two move, next thing I saw blood spraying out of a headless boar.
Big One laughed as he moved to the now dying boar. He then proceeded to disect the boar into small pieces. I guess that's our dinner tonight.
The three of us continued the walk till we reached the highest point. Here the earth was red in color. You could see the huge birds flying up in the sky, each looking extremely dangerous. Big one and Big Two then started to unpack. They lit a fire and started to roast the boar from earlier. All these while they were laughing and talking to each other.
By this time, I have already managed to learn many words from them. They were saying things like , Did you see how I cut down the boar with just one strike? The other was like ok, since you killed it, I will roast it. Tomorrow I kill, you roast.
I made up my mind to converse with them during dinner. When we sat together, I looked at the both of them and said, " me is Xu hao. You are Big One and you are Big Two".
They both looked at me surprised and then started laughing very loudly before Big One said, "Brother, he can speak like us".
"Where are you from Xu hao?" I was asked.
Not wanting to tell them I came not from this world, I said, " I don't remember anything, When I woke up. I was in this forest, then I met you and you know the rest".
Big one then said, " Us brothers are known as Wang Da Bao and Wand Ta Bao." Big One pointed to himself and said, " I am Da Bao and my brother is Ta Bao. We are twins and we are being hunted which is why we live in this forest. By the way, why is it you cannot speak the common tongue?"
"I really don't know. I really can't remember anything".
We kept conversing and I kept improving on my new language at an amazing rate. Even I was surprised as to how quickly I picked up the language. He said common tongue, which means there are many languages out there but there is also a common language for everyone to converse. I didn't worry about my accent anymore since there are many languages, other will definitely not be 100% fluent in the common tongue as well since it would be most people's second language.
I looked at the two of them and then said," can you tell me where we are at? And what do you plan to do with me"?
Big Two replied," can't be helped since you lost your memory. We are now in the dark forest. My brother and myself, we live here three weeks every month to train ourselves. Once a week we go to the Hibiscus town. As mentioned earlier, we are being hunted so we have no choice but to live here and increase our strengths. Then one day when we are strong enough we will take revenge on the people who slaughtered our entire family. Initially we planned to sell you to the slave dealer in Hibiscus town. All these years we lived here, we have never seen a person who dared come to this dark forest alone. Usually people come in groups to feel safe here. My brother and myself, we have been coming here since young. Our late father taught us how to hunt and survive here which is why we are very familiar with the surroundings here and the two of us can live here. But even then we have to be extremely careful. There are many dangers here especially in the deeper parts. We do not dare venture there as we fear we may never return. We usually don't trust anyone else to be with us. However, you have saved my brother's life when you alerted him to the twin headed viper. Because of that, we will no longer sell you or keep you as a prisoner. In two weeks , we will go to Hibiscus town again. You will follow us there and we will then part ways. As for you saving my brother's life, it's as if you have saved the both of us. Both of our life forces are connected to each other. If one dies, the other will soon follow. So in a way, you have saved the both of us. Although we shall leave you in Hibiscus town. We will be back once every three weeks. We can then catch up and if you are in any trouble, we will always be there for you. You are now like our third brother. Us two brothers here may not be rich but we have our strength. But saying that, you are way too weak. Starting tomorrow, you will train with us. In two weeks we will make you passable to live in Hibiscus town.
The next morning before dawn, I was nudged awake. I looked at the stupid siling face of Big One and said, "Time for training"?
Training consisted primarily of running, sparring and meditation. Big Two who seemed to be the smarter one kept harping on the importance of having a physically fit body and also the importance of meditation.
I took the chance to ask him about the earth wave they did and also about the fireballs from the snake.
He explained, through meditation, once can feel their inate element. The more one meditated, the clearer it will be until it manifests out of oneself and through repeated training one can then use their inate element of power.
The running I can bear as I seem to improve on my fitness very quickly. The sparring sessions, I would rather forget. Always one sided and I kept being on the receiving ends of beatings. They would always treat my injuries after and miraculously the next day I would be completely healed.
The first few times I meditated, I lost focus almost instantly. I kept looking at the two brothers who seemed to always be in the zone. How I envied them. When I closed my eyes all I could see was my past life and I realized that I keep missing it. Gradually, I got better and better at meditating. It was not until one week after that I completely managed to clear my thoughts during meditation. When I looked deep within myself into my mind palace,I keep seeing a deck of empty cards and a brush. What the hell is this? Where is my fire or lightning that I was dreaming about?