Adron never uses my name, the mere word increased the weight in his voice. I understood it now, more like he beat it into me now, why the gliders flew by me unguarded when I was walking but they charged away the moment I moved my hand. 

He was right, I was annoyed and I think, now that I know they are also a blest of sorts, I can't help but envy them. 

Control my thoughts? I wouldn't have taken him seriously if I hadn't seen Argen nibbling the glider's flesh with his beak a few trees away. I had gotten familiar with the bird in the last few days but seeing this side of him, I realized I never really knew him. 

The image of his innocent look shattered when I saw the same beak that used to gently peck my cheeks covered in dried blood. Imagining being taken by his apparent amiable attitude and then being eaten by it gave me chills. Now I understood what controlling my thoughts actually brought with it.

It all looked too obvious all of a sudden. For the gliders I was a maniac wandering about in their habitat so of course they were wary of me but Argen, he was like a monk to them, they never knew they were in danger until his beak pierced through their soft flesh.

"But how am I going to do it?" I asked.

Adron was really irritated. I could tell he was doing his best to hide it but it didn't work.

[Your body training regime, I am changing it a little. Now you will be doing eight hours of mental training and your physical training time is still five-]

"What? Eight hours?!" I yelled, truly shocked.

[Don't cut me when I am talking Brat!] He howled, his voice practically hammering my head. [You got any problems? Look, I want to go back as soon as possible and for that I don't care even if I have to work you to death so try considering things from my eyes, I am being generous here giving you plenty time to rest.]

I frowned but stayed quiet. He was right, I have to think things from his shoes too but thirteen hours of training is...Aah, never mind. I guess I'll pull through...somehow.

[Now onto the mental training. Sit however you want to too, just don't get restless later.]

"Wait! Let me eat something first!" My insides rumbled as I yelled as if to support my point.

[You have to earn your meal. Your first meal here will be the squirrel, catch one or starve.]

"What?! You are being unreas-" My mouth froze midway along with every part of my body. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead but even it seemed to have frozen in its place.

My body screamed at me to just stay petrified. 

I managed to roll my eyes very slightly to search for the source of this chill inducing aura. There was no one nearby. I think I saw Argen rushing back towards me, scared, but even he paused momentarily feeling the palpable aura.

My heart felt like it was being crushed by cold claws. A lump formed in my throat which I dared not to gulp down as any movement meant my death.

It was Adron. He had released his suppressed presence.

[Look Stevenson I am saying it only once. This thing has to work both ways. Don't take me for granted kid.] His cold voice made even my thumping heart freeze. Not the slightest hint of any emotion and yet I felt what I heard weren't words but spears of ice that skewered my very soul.

I gasped as he withdrew his aura. Even my lungs had refused to move in his presence. Argen who perched on my shoulder seemed worried unlike his normal self but even so, he stayed silent.

A long silence accompanied his words and there was a void inside me where I usually felt his presence.

"Ugh...So?" I wheezed. I tried standing up but crumpled on the ground having all strength sucked out of my legs. "What exactly do we do in mental training?"

[Sit down first brat.] 

I was relieved to hear his usual haughty voice. He was right, I may have taken him too much for granted, not considering how much he wanted to go back.

I sat back down calmly this time before he started explaining what exactly he meant by mental training.

[Kid your mental training will have three parts.

One- I'll try possessing your body. We'll do this until it becomes something autonomous, when you don't have to think about it. No enemy is going to give you time to meditate during combat.

Second- I think I can grant you my strength at will. Although it will be very less compared to what you saw near the lake, you will still be stronger than most of your kind if you can control it. 

You will have to learn how to direct raw power into any desired part of your body otherwise your body will be overwhelmed if you simply let the strength flow through it whole. Of course I will have to control the amount I give to you too since too much and you will be crippled.

And lastly, this is the only step where it's all up to you and hence the most important. Control your thoughts. Know that there is a reason behind what you are doing and strengthen your resolve. 

I am sure the life ahead isn't gold and roses, it will be hell kid. And hence, this is what will keep you together when the time comes. Kill the doubt before it ever starts to fog your mind. I can always tame you like I just did but in the long run it will tear your body apart so you need to have absolute control over your thoughts.

Also kid, we may be going to the city in a while but remember this training of yours is not going to end, even when we reach there or after that.]

He said the part about taming me with a hint of guilt.

Although the duration and difficulty of this training kept nagging my mind, even then, a smile crept up my lips surprising Adron for a moment which he tried to hide but wasn't quite successful.

"It's going to get fun huh?"