Chương 11: Getting a Disciple

[So let me get this straight, you want to climb Yggdrasil and hide in it? All so you can hide well?]

"Exactly! This is the best hiding spot in existence there is no way that anyone could…"

[What about the birds? They'll see you from miles away.]

*SHOCKED*

He looks as if his world worldview was toppled over. Like some flat earther that suddenly discovered that the planet is round. Well, the old one, for all I know this one might very well be flat, even if unlikely. He stares at me directly.

"You…. you…you are master of hiding! I have been trying all my life to find the best hiding spot. I thought this was the best one ever, but you instantly saw the flaws in my plan! You are amazing!"

[Please that's only because I saw a roc flying up there and before, as I told you, it was only luck.]

"That's true! You managed to find me instantly earlier too! Even able to use luck to find me! You are the first one that managed to do that!"

What?! I don't know what to say.

This Bear could turn anything into a skill. Then again, some cultures do believe luck to be a skill in itself. Can't say I disagree either. Now this Bear is all impressed with me.

"Teach me, please! I will be the best disciple you've ever had! Please! Please!"

Somehow it is hard to imagine that these words are coming out of that enormous creature. Even making puppy eyes. I somehow can't resist it.

[Alright, I will!]

And now this heavy bear is jumping with joy making the ground tremble. He is so happy, yet his paw is still all messed up. Yep, definitively something wrong with this bear. Many things actually.

"Alright teacher what will be the first lesson?!"

I need to find something that will satisfy him. I should probably find a safe place to live too. Wait, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone!

[How about you find us someplace to settle? The more hidden the better. It should be near here! Show me your skills!]

He leads me happily in the forest until we reach a big boulder. He puts his paws onto it and pushes …hard. This rock is gigantic, even bigger than him. Yet he manages to quickly push it out of the way. Underneath a tunnel is revealed. It leads downward in the earth.

Seriously is this a bear or an oversized mole?! I look at him carefully. No seems my initial judgment was right. He points inside, telling me to head in.

The interior is surprisingly vast for something built underground. I hear the sound of the boulder moving again and the entrance is now closed. Did I just lock myself with a savage and bloodthirsty-looking bear?

Well yes, but actually no. He still has this silly smile on his face. Yes, I don't feel any danger whatsoever.

"How is it?! Impressive right?!"

[Hum, how long have you been using this place?]

"For a few years and no one has ever found it! Whenever I nap here, I never get disturbed no matter what!"

I don't know whether to praise his efforts or deplore how heavily he misunderstood the situation. When he pushed the rock, he made such a ruckus it's impossible that the others are unaware of it, whoever they may be. This much is obvious.

[They know you are hiding here.]

"WHAT?! They know I am hiding here?!"

[Well depends...]

"Tell me!"

[Do these others you are talking about have ears?]

"Yes, they do!"

[Then they know for sure!]

"Oh no! I didn't think of that. But every time I come here; I make sure no one follows me!"

[Yes, it's impossible no one knows. It just is.]

"Even with the soundproofing magic I added?! Wait no you obviously saw through that. There must be something else I am missing!"

Wait there was sound-proofing magic in place?! Why didn't he start with that? What am I supposed to tell him now? This is getting complicated…

"Oh, I see! You must want me to reflect on it and think about it myself! Alright, I will think long and hard until I figure it out, teacher!"

Ah, whatever. I'll leave him to his own devices for a while. I have been climbing down for such a long time without feeling tired at all. A bit of time with this bear and I am already feeling exhausted. Yeah, this is pretty much mental fatigue. Sleep is necessary for the brain to process all the information that happened during the day.

I'm not sure what is happening with my situation. I don't have a normal physical body, hence my brain shouldn't get tired. Can a soul get tired?!

Then again, many people would be doubtful that a soul even exists. Most living beings don't usually bother thinking about such pointless topics. It's only the humans that think of stuff like what happens after we die or if there is something more to what we can see.

Right now, I have no clue how it is possible, but I feel tired. I will sleep. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a good day too.

I truly had a lot of fun these last weeks. I rediscovered how to use my body. I rediscovered all these sensations. I also made a …friend, I guess? I could call him my disciple but I'm pretty sure I'll slip up at some point and he'll realize how I am nothing but a normal guy.

Well, he seems like a good bear. How am I so trusting of a wild creature? You'd have to see him in order to understand. He probably won't try to maul me once he understands it was all one big misunderstanding.

As I lie down, I hear the droning of my companion. He tends to think aloud a lot. Mumbling about all the precautions he can take to hide better. Thinking about every detail that could possibly reveal where he is hiding.

What a one-tracked mind bear. Oh well, I guess this makes his charm in a way. I wonder what new idea he will have come up with tomorrow when I wake up. It probably won't be that crazy right? Naw, it totally will be.

Who am I kidding? *sigh*