Limits

There was another word I thought I figured out. "The word Fal could potentially mean "the". It's used very often and never in front of words like "is" "can" or "you" but the use of it, is quite often". I thought that this would be the best guess I could make about the word Fal. If I assumed that everything I figured out was correct, then it would mean I knew 9 words that were used quite often

Fer - which would translate as "I" or "Me"

Lak - which would translate as "You"

Ak - which would translate as "It"

Ji - which would translate as "Is"

Ki - which would translate as "do" or "does" depending on the pronoun used

Rei - which would translate as "Can"

Lan - which would translate as "Are"

Peris - which would translate as "This"

Fal - which would translate as "The"

The list was not a long one but it was a start. I could now even create simple sentences. For example "I can do this" would be Fer Rei Ki Peris. The amount of sentences I could create was limited but having that list, I would be now better able to guess more words and add on to it. 'With time, I will be able to fill in that list and decipher the language, to finally figure out what the dark figure is talking about again and again, with no end visible' I thought.

When I woke up in the morning, I ate my breakfast as usual and returned to my training. Starting from the Strength Manual's modified diagrams. The next part of my training was to go around the route I selected as the most optimal and find out ways to improve my time as well as stealth. Although it was the same route and I kind of knew it, I didn't register all the details so I started running that route again and again.

For about 2 hours, I ran both ways using the same route. I did figure some basic stuff out due to that grinding process. I was now more focused on the objects that could hide me but at the same time, I was more aware of my speed. My time started to improve with more runs completed and I managed to do it in 14 minutes at the end of two hours. It was only a minute of improvement and I knew the route like the back of my own hand but that was also part of my training. 'If I'm very familiar with it, I can increase my speed and stay hidden' I thought.

Although this might've seemed pointless due to me using only one route, in one part of the forest. It actually helped me train my sense and find details while calculating the route. I was learning how to calculate the route, it wasn't simple running back and forward while getting familiar with the route I was taking.

I then had my lunch and decided to go hunt again for a change. I searched the forest and came out unlucky. After over an hour of searching, I found nothing worth hunting. I settled on few rabbits. 'I guess that few rabbits is better than nothing' I thought and returned to my camp.

Going back to my training, this time I chose a different route. It was 2nd most optimal road with 14,5 minutes travel time but a bit less objects to hide my presence. I ran the route back and forward for an hour or so and again improved the time by a bit less than a minute.

I thought 'This can actually work out. I'm getting familiar with those routes but the more familiar I'm the better. This way, I will be able to find tiny details that will increase my time and hiding capabilities'. After doing that, I changed to body training and did that for couple of hours before having my dinner. During the night, I started revising the 3rd diagram from the Strength Manual. I knew it would take time and my current capacity with 1st and 2nd diagram increased by leaps and bounds but nevertheless, I would need that 3rd diagram too.

I could now stay in the pose of the 1st diagram for almost 19 minutes, only a bit over than a minute away from my target of 20 minutes. That was of course without the weight on my back, arms and legs but it was something nevertheless. As for the pose from the 2nd diagram, I could keep it for a bit over 8 minutes. Which was improvement as well.

This proved how much my body grew but it was not enough. My strength was good but not great, I would need at least the same amount of strength that the man I met couple of days ago had. My skills were also lacking, I was working on it but without all my tools, I could only focus on something that didn't require them.

I could potentially train my Wind Daggers but that was not an optimal choice. It would take much longer than my stealth and if I were to believe what the man said about north, stealth would be very useful. 'I need to stay alive in order to do something. Being able to move undetected as well as knowing how to run away, will help me achieve that' I thought.

I was modifying the diagram and found some small details that I could improve but nothing major. I still had some ways to go but before that, I needed rest. I fell asleep and dreamt the dream I actually wanted to see. Now that I was more familiar with the language and had some basic stuff figured out, I ventured to the unknown. Although I could remember the words that were spoken, it didn't give me much without the dark figure saying them. It was very hard to pronounce them and I was afraid to get it wrong, if I did it by myself.

It was already hard guessing the meaning of those words and if I did it on my own, outside of the dream, I could stray from the right path, which I didn't need at that point. The dream finished after 20 cycles but I got nothing out. I had some guesses but they were far fetched and I needed more time in order to get a solid hint or clue that would either confirm or destroy my theory.

When I stood up and tried to do my usual morning exercise, I saw a group of humans approaching my camp from afar. I thought 'This can be bad. If they are as strong as the guy I met. I could be in deep trouble'. I stayed calm on the outside but inside, I was already planing how to take care of them. I didn't know their strength nor skills or their purpose but I knew one thing. They weren't friendly people. I didn't call out to them and simply waited in my camp for them to arrive.