DREAMCATCHER || QIMIR

XIII: Their Past

It was already sundown, but I haven't been able to chip off even just a small piece of the rock. In fact, I already broke three sticks in the process, and the poor mini-tree was the one that had to suffer after I picked off almost all of its branches. I probably already hit the rock more than a thousand times, but I already lost interest in counting after I realized that I was nowhere near able to do what Qimir did.

Nevertheless, I tried to persevere, despite my shoulders and back already unbearably sore. I wasn't even sure if I would still be able to move the next day. I think I just pushed my body beyond its limits.

I glanced at Qimir who was near the shore, slightly offended that he wasn't bothering to look at me anymore and was too busy tending to the bonfire he had started. He probably gave up hope on me after just an hour of pointlessly hitting this damn rock.

"Time's up," I heard Qimir call out as soon as the sun set at the horizon. Grunting in frustration, I hit the rock one last time with all my remaining power, before finally discarding the stick on the ground. Qimir motioned for me to take a seat at the other side of the fire, and I complied with heavy steps.

As soon as I was close enough, he tossed a canteen of water towards me. I chugged all of its contents in one go as I flopped down on the chopped log that served as a makeshift chair. I cautiously looked at Qimir as I massaged the sore parts of my body, since I expected him to scold me or lecture me for failing all of his three given tasks to me today. But oddly enough, he seemed pretty chill about it.

"Your body needs some rest. You worked hard today." He acknowledged out of nowhere, probably felt my cautiousness towards him. "You should probably get changed."

He nodded towards the cave, implying to let myself rake through his clothes to choose whichever I wanted. If this was my first day with him, I would have refused, but at this point, I've already worn several of his clothes that his closet already felt like my own. I also started to get used to his smell that stuck to his clothes, which I think was also starting to get stuck on my own skin as well. I shrugged and dragged my feet to the cave.

Not really having the energy to rake through all of his clothes, I just settled with a simple lightweight sweatshirt which was the first thing I saw. I took my time to freshen up before returning back to Qimir, and I realized that he had started cooking over the bonfire what seemed like an eel. My stomach started to rumble at the smell, realizing that it has been a while since I've eaten proper meat. For the past days, all we've been eating were vegetables and soup.

As the night sky completely enveloped us, we sat around the bonfire in silence, the sound of the crackling fire the only thing that echoed in the open space.

Amidst the silence, I couldn't help but stare at Qimir across the fire. Although I barely knew him, I could definitely tell that he was very knowledgeable of the force and how to use it to his will. I thought back to the few moments I've seen him do it.

How he easily force-pushed the dock guard back at Olega; how he easily created a large water explosion with just a flick of his finger; how he was quick to make me levitate to save me from that cliff, and how he easily cut that rock with just a wooden stick.

As soon as he noticed me staring, he started to stare back at me as well.

"What?"

"I was just thinking..." I slowly narrowed my eyes at him. "...how I barely know anything about you."

Realizing that I was attempting to prod at his identity again, he chuckled and shook his head. "Does it matter?"

"Of course it does. You're my teacher now." I said as-a-matter-of-fact. "How could we build a proper relationship if we barely know anything about each other?"