The Original Realm

Aldric stopped in his tracks, spinning around to face Luke with an expression that could only be described as incredulous. "Hold on," he said, his voice sharp with disbelief. "Say that again, Fool. Slowly this time, so even my old, fluffy ears can comprehend your nonsense."

Luke squared his shoulders, his expression firm despite the doubt gnawing at his insides. "I said I'm going to kill Solen. That monster destroyed everything, and I'll make him pay."

For a moment, silence hung between them. Then Aldric threw his head back and laughed—a loud, belly-shaking cackle that echoed through the forest. "You? Kill Solen? Oh, this is rich! Truly the finest jest I've heard in decades!"

Luke's jaw clenched. "What's so funny?"

Aldric wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "What's funny is that you, a scrawny, clueless little twig of a boy, think you can take on a genius abnormal like Solen. He's not some brute swinging a club, you know. He's a tactical mastermind, with powers that defy logic. And you..." Aldric leaned in close, his bright eyes narrowing. "You can barely outrun a bear."

"I'm serious," Luke said, his voice steady despite the burn of embarrassment.

"Serious, are you?" Aldric stepped back, crossing his tiny arms. "Fine, let's see just how serious you are." His eyes gleamed as they scanned Luke from head to toe, a faint glow of energy passing over him. Then Aldric froze, his jaw dropping.

"You haven't even awakened your Advent!?!" Aldric's voice rose an octave, his expression morphing into one of absolute shock. "You're telling me you're planning to fight Solen without even unlocking your inner power? Are you mad?"

Luke blinked. "Advent? What's that?"

Aldric's face contorted into an exaggerated mix of horror and fury. "You don't even know what Advent is? By the Relics, boy, are you completely useless? How in Aethereon did you survive this long?!"

Luke bristled at the insult. "Hey, I've done just fine so far."

"Fine? Fine?! You're a walking disaster waiting to happen!" Aldric snapped, his fluff puffing out in irritation. "If I were to train someone—and I wouldn't, mind you—you would be at the bottom of the list. The very bottom! Below the caterpillars! And they don't even have hands!"

Luke smirked, an eyebrow raising in challenge. "Train someone? You? Please. You're just a ball of fluff. What could you possibly teach anyone?"

Aldric's mouth fell open, his tiny fists shaking in outrage. "A ball of fluff? A BALL OF FLUFF?! I'll have you know that kings beg to spar with me! Warriors tremble at my name! I've fought beasts bigger than your imagination, boy!"

"Sure, sure," Luke said, waving a dismissive hand. "Sounds like you're all talk."

"All talk?!" Aldric's voice cracked with indignation, his tiny form shaking with fury. "You dare to insult me? Me?!"

Luke's smirk grew wider. "Then prove it. Let's make a bet."

Aldric's eyes narrowed, his fury simmering into curiosity. "A bet, you say? Fine, Fool. What's your wager?"

Luke crossed his arms, a flicker of determination in his gaze. "If I can land a hit on you, you train me. No excuses."