Submission (#6176) Approved

It has been a few days since Greywind spent a whole afternoon with Cinder in the library of Ealei. They spent hours upon hours reading different books, comparing stories and notes, while trying to find the most efficient way to get the ball rolling.
The overall idea was that Greywind would train his body and do a bunch of different exercises so it would be easier for him to channel his mana into his visible breath. He knew what his breath looked like - he had spent enough time in Strynhalde, so the mental image came quite easily. But actually focusing his mana was a whole other story. So, he vowed, he would train his body and mind.

At least, that was the plan.
Now, looking at the wild parkour Cinder had built into the branches of Yggdrasil, Greywind began to question the whole endeavor.
“You know, I’m not trying to get wings? Just cloud breath.” The white elnin raised an eyebrow - at this point his usual reaction to Cinders shenanigans. Wondering how on Eyre he was supposed to manage getting through this in one piece.
“Did you do a test run for this? Like…at all? With anyone? Or am I your first guinea pig?”

“Actually…”, Cinder chirped from a few branches above his head, “...We did test runs.”

“And?”

“...”

“Cinder!”

“... noonecouldfinishthem…”

“What was that?”

“I SAID... I’m sure you’ll be the one to finish it!”

“You’re lying right through your big fluffy lop ears, darling.”

“I’m just really confident you can do it!”

“Uh-hu…”

Greywind took a deep breath, and examined the parkour in front, above and beneath him more closely. Cinder definitely wasn’t lazy and Greywind knew, he had a little bit of help from the locals. There were planks to run across, ropes to swing along, hoops to jump through and little flags to catch. It was nice that Cinder trusted his abilities so much, but Greywind was wondering if his partner didn’t overestimate his strength this time.
But then he shook his head - no! He couldn’t let his doubts win. He needed to focus and to be fully in the moment. Cinder put so much effort into putting all this together - so now it was his turn to put even more effort into finishing this exercise.

[...]

Around evening hours it was clear that even Greywind wouldn’t be the one to finish the parkour as it was. The white elnin had slumped over on a wooden platform, catching his breath, while his heart was pounding rapidly in his chest. Frustration and annoyance dominated his feelings; Greywind didn’t like feeling defeated. But the past few hours showed him that maybe…just maybe… he needed to take a few steps back and adjust his workout accordingly to his current abilities.

Cinder was next to him, setting down a bottle of water and gently nudging it towards Greywind. “Here love, that will help a little…”
Greywind just nodded in defeat and reached for the water bottle, while still trying to catch his breath.

“Back to the drawing board?”, Cinder suggested, quietly making mental notes of what not to do next time.

"Yes, please."

[...]

Greywind decided to take a different approach in order to succeed. He needed to amp up his workout routine slowly, and that’s what he did for the past two weeks. Now, he was getting the hang of it and things started to look more promising. He and Cinder were staying in a small Inn, on the outskirts of a village in Yggdrasil. The village and the giant eldertree that cradled it were connected by a network of wooden bridges that spanned from branch to branch. These bridges were woven with care, using the sturdy branches of the tree and ropes crafted by the villagers. They served as pathways for both the villagers and their furry companions. Greywind saw the bridges as his training ground, a place to challenge himself and build his endurance.

Every morning for the past few weeks, as the first rays of dawn painted the sky in shades of pink and orange, and the ocean around them shimmered golden, Greywind would wake next to Cinder in their cozy treehouse and embark on his daily training routine.
He would gracefully make his way to the nearest bridge, his white fur reflecting the soft morning light, and his long hair braided and tied up, so it wouldn’t get caught in any stray branches. With each step, he'd focus on his breathing, aiming to extend the distance he could traverse without resting.

As he roamed the bridges, he would test his balance and agility. Some bridges were narrow, requiring nimble footwork, while others swayed gently in the breeze, testing his concentration. He'd often spot villagers going about their daily routines below, their faces lit up with admiration for his dedication. But Greywind wasn't doing it for the praise; he was doing it for himself, determined to surpass his own limits… and to eventually beat Cinders cursed parkour. He was still hung up about that, but he would find a way.

Over the weeks Greywinds stamina began to improve. The bridges that once seemed endless became conquerable, and the swaying branches beneath him felt less daunting. He was no longer panting by the time he reached the other side of Ealei. He was proud of his progress, but he knew that true mastery would take time.

In the evenings, when the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of violet and indigo, Greywind would return to his treehouse, with Cinder waiting. The smaller one used the free time he had while Greywind was training, to read up even more about the cloud breath and he was also studying local wildlife and cuisine. Every evening Cinder surprised Greywind with a new local dish - some more adventurous than others, but Greywind relished the time they spent together and he loved tasting all the seafood Ealei had to offer.

[…]

And so, eventually - he found himself at the start of Cinders parkour again, this time a lot more confident and ready to take on what was in front of him. He felt ready, he felt prepared, he knew this was going to turn out okay and he would conquer this quest.

“Ready?” Cinders voice carried from the branches next to him, and Greywind nodded, as he felt his muscles tensing up and his whole body was vibrating with anticipation.

“Let’s do this one more time-!”