Black Heart The demon's Child

The sun, now well above the horizon, filtered through the dense canopy above, casting long, dappled shadows across the forest floor covered in snow.

The cold air clung to everything as Aria followed the man deeper into the woods, her breath turning into white clouds. Her body ached all over from the restless night spent in his cave, but she pushed the discomfort aside. Today was the first lesson, and she needed to be ready.

The cave that was to be their new home was warm, not as cold as the bite of the wind outside.

Surprisingly, it was a comfortable-one with all the furs and firewood-kept by him to keep out the bitter winter weather. But the minute she agreed to take his help, that minute she knew her life had moved into another world, where meaning of survival was not only about warmth but also about strength.

She needed to learn how to fight, how to hunt-not just because of the food, but as protection.

The man, who hadn't yet provided his name, moved through the trees with a silent grace; his footsteps fell silently on the snow beneath his feet.

Aria watched in amazement as he simply seemed to blend into the surroundings, the very forest a part of him.

Behind them, Black Heart sat serenely on the edge of a boulder, wrapped in thick furs.

The black flames that coursed upon his body barely fluttered that morning; their light, dim against brilliant daylight.

Dark eyes followed every gesture his mother and the stranger made, silent, watching with that unnerving stillness that had become a part of him. He never cried, never laughed. Just watched.

"The first thing you must learn," said the man, who broke into the stillness, "is to move without making a sound. Otherwise, you are of no use on a hunt or during an encounter when an enemy hears your approach."

Aria nodded, clenching the cloak tighter round her slight frame. She had never been a fighter, never had to hunt for anything before this. She'd spent most of her life doing little else but hiding and running, yet now she was forced to do a lot, lot more-be stronger for her son.

"Watch me," the man instructed, treading delicately across the snow. He floated across, the weight of his feet making the smallest of dents. "You gotta feel the earth under you, move with it-not against it.

Aria tried to imitate his steps, but her foot sank into the snow with a loud crunch. She winced.

The man turned to him, his face unreadable. "Again.

She made another step, this time more considerately, trying to distribute her weight more evenly. It was a bit quieter, but far from perfect still.

Relax," he said, "You are thinking too much. Let your body flow. You cannot be stiff, or you will make noise. In the forest, you need to be a part of it, not an intruder.

Aria frowned in concentration, willing herself to be more fluid. She took another step, and that time it was softer; the sound was muted beneath her.

The man nodded his head in approval. "Better."

They spent what felt like hours practicing this, moving through the trees, trying to make as little noise as possible.

Anytime she faltered, the man would stop, correct her stance, and have her try again. His patience surprised her, though his sharp eyes never missed a mistake.

Meanwhile, Black Heart sat upon his perch, studying all motions with dark eyes, as if soaking it all in like a silent spectator.

By noon, Aria's legs were sore from the exertion, but she was starting to get the hang of it. She could move more quietly now, her footsteps softer - though far from perfect. The man seemed to be pleased with her progress.

"You learn fast," he said, one of those rare compliments.

Aria took a small sense of pride in that, though it was curtailed by exhaustion.

She hadn't slept, her mind too full of thoughts about the mysterious nature of the man, her son's future, and what they were truly up against. There would be no room for weakness now.

"Next," the man said, stopping by a large oak tree. He reached behind it and pulled out a long wooden staff, handing it to her.

"You need to learn how to defend yourself. The wolves will not hesitate to attack if they find you. And there will be others... much worse than wolves.

Aria took the staff, its weight foreign in her hands. She had never before held a weapon, but there was little time to waste on second thoughts. She squared her shoulders and waited for his instruction.

Hold it like this, the man said, his hands firm but gentle as he adjusted her grip on the staff. You need to be balanced, grounded. A weapon is of no use to you if you do not know how to control it.

Aria followed his instructions, feeling the solidity of the staff in her grasp. It was weird, like holding onto a piece of her new reality.

"Good," the man said, drawing back. "Now defend thine self."

In an instant, he sprang forward, his staff lashing out in a swift, quick motion. Aria had barely time to raise hers in defense; the force of it sent a vibration down her arms.

"Too slow," he said. His voice was firm, but not unkind. "Again."

They repeated the exercise ad nauseam, each time his strikes coming faster, harder. Aria's arms burned with the effort, her muscles screaming in protest, but she pushed through the pain. She had to learn. She had no choice.

Black Heart watched it all, his small face expressionless as he sat in the snow. His dark eyes never wavered, never blinked. He seemed utterly unmindful of cold, the flames in his hair dancing softly but no more than that, to melt the snow around him.

She could feel his eyes on her, his silent judgment, though she knew it wasn't malicious. He was just. watching, learning, as she was.

This time, the man struck again, and Aria managed a better block of the blow; her staff held firm against his. He nodded in approval.

"Good. You're improving."

The praise only sent a surge of satisfaction through Aria, shortly followed by another blow, this one higher up and catching her off guard. She stumbled backward, but remained on her feet.

Always stay alert," the man with a slight, ominous narrowing of his eyes said. "The moment you let your guard down, you are dead.".

Aria nodded, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. She could feel the sweat trickling down her back despite the cold.

This was harder than she had anticipated, but she wasn't about to give up. Not when so much was at stake.

The lesson continued, the man teaching her fists in the fundamentals of fighting-how to block, how to strike, how to move in quick and efficient movements.

Aria struggled at first, her base being very clumsy and uncoordinated, but as time passed, she slowly began to get into a rhythm.

The staff started to become an extension of her, and though she was far from mastering it, she could at least hold her own.

Finally, as the sun was beginning to set low in the sky and casting long shadows across the forest, the man gave a halt.

"Enough for today," he said in a quieter voice, lowering his staff.

"You're doing well." She sank on the ground, and her body heaved with exhaustion, her arms feeling like lead, her legs barely holding her up. Yet, her chest felt a sense of accomplishment, a small pride flickering that she had made it through the lesson.

Black Heart sat as he had all day, staring into her, his gaze riveted on her face. He hadn't stirred; he hadn't even whispered, but in his eyes, at last, was something-something almost.approving.

Aria smiled weakly at him, her heart so full of love for her strange, silent child. She would do anything to protect him, to keep him safe.

Even if it meant learning to fight-to kill. The man nodded at her, his face impassive as always.

"You will need to be stronger, faster, but this is a good start." Aria nodded, her determination now solid. She'd get stronger-for Black Heart and for both of them.

The long road ahead, and yet so much to be learned. But for today, it was a first step-and she would not turn back.