Fight To Live Another Day

Going further, several scattered trees were standing. They were quite huge and had a large leaf canopy, where at least hundreds of wolves could settle themselves down comfortably.

'These trees were specially grown by our wood type wolves. The tree you see there is for schooling purposes. The female wolves gather there to learn about our culture and its legacy. They get taught and shown all sorts of important knowledge a mother and a knowledge keeper needs to know.

But of course not every female wolf has to follow the path of knowledge. Some choose to be warriors, like Joanna you saw before. She is one of our most talented fighters and has a great gift.

There are also some males who decide to devote their lives to the knowledge path.

Raghnall is the best example. Raghnall is the chief wolf of the council. He is very wise and has a big heart. Maybe you will even meet him.'

Besides the schooling tree, there were several slightly tinier trees with thick bushes surrounding it.

'Those trees are for the wolf packs to sleep in. The bushes give us cover from the occasional strong wind here in the plains. And the tiniest tree, that lies the farthest away is where the council meets.'

Renn would have expected something greater for the council, but he guessed it made sense since the council wouldn't be too big of a group.

'So, nephew, you want to check out the training grounds with this old man?'

Renns attention was immediately caught. He shouted 'Yes!!!' wagging his imaginary tail.

He closely followed Phileo to the training grounds. At a remote corner of it, he first signalled Renn to sit down beneath him.

He looked seriously and Renn. 'Renn, do you know what affinities are and what they do?'

Renn thought a while before answering. 'Mhmm, there are several types of affinities, like fire, water or light! And... they make you use fire, water or true energy.'

'That's not a bad start. Yes, there are indeed several types of affinities. But more than you can imagine. For nearly every material in this world, there is an affinity. Some may be scarce, like a iron or actually light, but others like earth you find nearly everywhere. But don't mistake, that earth affinities are weak or you will be badly surprised.

I bet you already know, that the whole world is filled with true energy.'

Renn blinked.

'Then you also should know, that every living being possesses at least a vitality core. But it gets interesting when you have a spirit or even true energy core.

Those cores have different effects, but the most interesting and by far fascinating effect is what we call 'affinity'. We actually don't know why, but what generations of light wolves have observed is, that the true energy or the weakened and thinned out form spirit energy, is still in direct connection to the surrounding true energy. To break it down, beings which held spirit energy are able to manipulate the surrounding true energy partially in their own respective affine way.

And the greater the amount of spirit energy, the greater the call one can make. And if you possess true energy, even more so.' Phileo explained.

'So I can get stronger the more energy I have in me?'

'Yes, but don't think too lightly of that. The so-called process of 'absorbing' is extremely progressive and requires painstaking efforts.'

'But I could effortlessly absorb the energy my ma gave me.' He wondered askance.

'That's because her energy was in an already absorbed state. Let me explain it to you more precise.

Although true energy is abundant in this world, it is not accessible to absorption.

You need to absorb slowly by gradually filtering it so that your own body will be able to manage it. The filtered energy differs slightly from person to person and we believe that this slight difference is which defines your affinity.

But there is a shortcut, by absorbing already filtered energy, since it only needs to be slightly modified by your body before it can absorb it and that explains why you didn't feel any trouble absorbing your mother's energy. But you need to grow and absorb your own energy instead of relying on others work.' He reminded him kindly but seriously.

Renn blinked and felt how he wished to be stronger. He now understood how precious the energy was, that his ma had gifted him and wished to return the favour.

'But in your pursuit of strength, you need to know more than just to be strong. Strength corrupts. And absolute strength corrupts everything.

Great strength comes with even greater responsibility, do you understand that, Renn?'

Feeling the wisdom in his uncle's words, he blinked earnestly. 'Yes, I think I do, uncle.'

Phileo sighed. 'You think you know, but everyone has to experience it himself, to really understand what that means. That is wisdom and not just knowledge.' he said and Renn felt how Phileos eyes turned absent and mirrored an odd emotion he didn't know yet.

Renn did not dare to disturb his uncle's thoughts and stood silent for a while.

Phileo seemed to recover himself and suddenly said cheerily 'But you didn't come to hear an old mans sermon, right? Do you see the parkour over there? Let's see how deft you are!' and ran playfully ahead. Surprised, he followed his uncle eagerly to a kinda crazy looking parkour.