Nilish stood, Mouth agape at the sight of Deirdren's hand regrowing on his right arm.

"What did you do Deidren? Do you even know what could happen because of what you've done?"

"Aye, I think something awful is going to happen." He spoke matter of factly

"How will this affect the mortals? Where did the rest of your hand go?"

"My dear, I'm not omnipotent."

"What in the world were you thinking?"

"Ah! I was thinking I'd like to try me wife's ol' domain."

Silence overtook the room for a brief time before Deirdren would get up and Disappear, In his place a towering man with gray-blue skin, and flowing gray hair.

"Who are you? Where's my Deirdren?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I ducked my father's swing, his splintered sword arcing, narrowly scraping by my head and bouncing off the ground. 

As his sword hit the ground with a thud I stepped in to try and attack, the tip of my sword aimed directly for his chest. He was surprised, but taking it in his stride he slid his sword along the ground and into my left foot, sending me tumbling to the ground.

"Great work dodging that attack, you used your size to your advantage. I can't believe it's only been a week since we started actual combat training, your ability to avoid attacks is unbelievable." He said, helping me up to my feet.

I just nodded in response, disappointed I didn't land a single hit.

Father regarded my expression, looked me up and down, and smiled. "One more time? This will be our last chance before my trip."

I nodded again, distancing myself from him in the field on the other side of the village from my house. I watched my father intently, leveling my blade toward him before entering a wide stance. His form seemed to split again, There were numerous 'Variations' of my father, all in the same place, stretching, swinging, and readying his stance. All of these variations were almost spectral, while the real one stood ready to fight.

We charged each other, meeting in the knee-high blue grass, I saw multiple variations perform an overhead swing, so I dodged to the right going to my father's side. I watched as a number of variations blocked that side so I held myself from attacking.

All around me I could see variations turning and attempting an attack, I stepped back out of the way trying to dodge them all as an attack was about to land square on my left shoulder I raised my sword to block. "Yes! I blocked you!" I pushed up with my sword, watching as the variations lessened and became more uniform I swung my leg forward, planting it between me and my father to hold myself upright, leaning forward into him.

He slid his sword along mine, spinning slightly so that despite the size of it, it would come out of the bind. Without wasting any movement he turned into a full spin to slash at me sideways, hitting me right in my arm and causing me to fall over, but I rolled into the fall getting back on my feet quickly.

There were only a few variations left I could see, I stepped towards him blocking a thrust with my guard I once again pushed up, feeling my grip loosen, I was disarmed. I watched my sword fall to the ground.

"That was excellent, keep it up like that, and ill be able to take you out on a hunt for your birthday when I get back." He ruffled my hair, removing the tie that had been used to keep it out of my face during our training.

"Really?" I asked, I didn't expect he'd take me out on a hunt so soon

He only laughed at my response, "Why don't you go collect some berries. Your mother is making a pie tonight and I don't know if we had enough in the ice pantry."

I nodded as I ran off toward the house to grab a basket, but before I got far I was picked up by the wind. I looked back to my father, his hand raised. He simply nodded as he gestured, stretching his arm forward quickly, his arm briefly glowing with a green color. With that, The wind took me away, and before a minute could pass I was in front of my house.

I entered to a familiar sight, my father on the floor begging for my help. I simply ignored it, I knew it wasn't real, or at least I don't think it's real. I quickly reached for a basket and left running to the forest to collect berries.

It's been almost a year since that day when I started seeing these things, I was so sick I wasn't able to go to the festival. The dream especially shook me, since then I've been getting used to everything I've seen while training my strength with my father. I've seen the forest disappear, terrible storms, death, murder, and armies destroying my village. It was hard to come to terms with these things not being real, but I'm used to it now. If I focus i'm able to see what I call Variations, multiple versions of people or whatever I'm focusing on, in every movement that they could make, a second before they make them. So I have even been able to make use of it, but I don't know exactly how useful it is.

My thoughts were interrupted by a snarling sound, Quickly I placed one last berry in my basket as I turned around. I was greeted by the sight of a snarling Botuskar, its bristly black fur looked ragged, and its breaths were deep, its beady eyes shined red with a fiery rage. 

I dropped the basket as It charged me and I was barely able to dodge its twisted yellowed tusks, I slid along the ground to its right side and quickly focused my eyes on it, I could see its powerful hooves digging into the ground and changing direction. I couldn't run, it was far faster than me.

I thought for a moment, but my body seemed to move on instinct as it charged me again, I dodged to the right allowing the tusk to pierce my hand as I used the momentum to swing atop the beast.

"Great I'm on top, now what?" I yelled as I road the botuskar trying to steer them clear of my berries.

Before I could react I had accidentally steered it straight into a tree, It's tusks stuck into the tree about a foot. It writhed wildly, throwing me off, I tore my shirt on a pile of gravel. Taking no chances I grabbed the heaviest rock I could and beat the beast's head with it, I must have hit it a few dozen times before it stopped struggling. My hands were covered in blood, my heart was pounding.

I pulled its tusks from the tree and examined my catch. The body was mostly intact we could probably eat it. Grabbing the basket and hanging it around my neck, I took the boar by the tusks and started dragging it toward my home.