Phoenix: The nuruk beast.

Chapter Seven: Bitter Work II

 The day seemed to end as soon as it started and it wasn't long before Aldrich had arrived back in the small field within the forest once more. There was a bracing chill in the morning air which complimented the soft chirping sounds the newly woken birds made. In spite of the unpleasant experiences that Aldrich had suffered in the past while in the forest, times like these that made Aldrich appreciate the beauty of the forest nevertheless. He looked around for Evelyn but didn't see anyone around. He knew it was highly unlikely that Evelyn had forgotten about their agreement.

"Evelyn?" he called wondering where she could be. He heard her voice, though faintly, call back to him from within the woods;

"I'm here Aldrich." Aldrich wondered what Evelyn would be doing as he followed her voice. He met her standing by a shallow stream that flowed quite swiftly along. He noticed she was unravelling ropes that were tied in a large bundle. It seemed to Aldrich like the kind of rope sailors would use to hoist their sails. Why she would need that, Aldrich hadn't the slightest idea.

"Hello Aldrich." Evelyn greeted as soon as she noticed him. "I trust you rested well." she added.

"What would you need that for?" Aldrich asked looking at the ropes.

"It's for training your strength."

Aldrich's brows furrowed in question upon hearing that, "I don't know if you noticed, but I'm already stronger than most. Wouldn't it be better to learn how to fight?" Evelyn who was now done unbinding the ropes, gave no response to his remark. Rather, she pointed to something behind Aldrich.

"Bring that over." She instructed. Aldrich couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was a boulder two times his size sitting behind the trees. He turned back and shot Evelyn a look showing his disbelief.

"I can't do that." He protested.

"You are stronger than most aren't you?" Evelyn teased with a smirk.

Aldrich approached the towering boulder and the closer he got to it, the larger it seemed to him. "Why do I even do this?" he muttered to himself. Luckily for him, the boulder seemed somewhat round. He placed his two hands on it and with a deep breath he began to push against it. He gritted his teeth forcing every muscle he had against the boulder and though his feet dug the forest soil, it wasn't long before the boulder steadily inched forward. A few minutes later, Aldrich had successfully brought a towering boulder before Evelyn.

"Why would you need this?" Aldrich asked while trying to catch his breath.

"You'll see." She threw the ropes all over the boulder and began tying knots all around it. "You might indeed be stronger than normal, but believe me Aldrich when I say you aren't nearly as strong as you should be." Once she was done with the boulder there were knots covering every part of it. She handed him two ropes that were left out of the knots. "Trust me Aldrich, I'll teach you everything you need. You just have to be patient." She added.

"All right, so what am I supposed to do with this?" he asked pointing back at the huge boulder behind.

"You are going to pull it up this stream." she said as she pointed to the far end of the stream. She pulled out a book from her pocket titled 'Riveildian Tales' and waved it at Aldrich.

"I will be waiting for you there."

"Isn't that my book?"

"I found it in your clothes the last time we met; you wouldn't mind me borrowing it would you?"

"No, not at all."

"You have till noon." She said before leaving him.

Aldrich pushed the boulder into the stream, the boulder was heavy enough to resist the current of the stream Aldrich however wasn't sure he was. He was almost thrown of balance as he stepped into the stream, the water was constantly splashing against his legs. He had to fold up his trousers above his knees stop it from getting soaked. He stared at the water flowing towards him and took deep breaths, he remembered the boulder he was strapped to and had to drag against the current of the water. Given that he was given up to four hours to do this he knew it would be far from easy.