Bastian wiped the sweat dripping down his forehead, his body sore after hours of training with Lazhar. Today marked the first day of many grueling sessions to come, and though his body still felt weak, there was one thing that began to burn inside him: determination.
The morning had started with intense physical training. Lazhar had taught him the basics of survival on Mad Hat Island, a place rife with violence and chaos.
"You need to know how to fight, Bastian," Lazhar said, watching as Bastian's movements were stiff. "This world is not a friendly place. Only those who can fight will survive."
Bastian followed every instruction attentively. Push-ups, sit-ups, running, and various other physical exercises that had initially felt overwhelming were slowly starting to feel easier. His body was becoming accustomed to the pain, and even though every movement was exhausting, something was burning inside him. He couldn't afford to be weak. He had to be strong if he was going to survive.
After the physical training, Lazhar led Bastian to the back of the weapons shop. There, Bastian saw various weapons scattered across a table, ready to be assembled. Some of them looked intricate, with sophisticated mechanisms.
"This is the most important part," Lazhar said, pointing to the weapons. "On Mad Hat, you need to protect yourself. Not just with physical strength, but also with your mind. Weapons are the tools that will save your life."
Bastian nodded, intrigued by the mechanics of the weapons. He had always been fascinated by technology and machinery, and now, in a world full of threats, he found that weapons could be the key to survival.
Carefully, he began assembling a light rifle that lay before him. His nimble hands worked quickly, connecting the pieces one by one. He felt calm as he pieced the weapon together, as if the world around him had vanished, and he was solely focused on the small components that needed to be fitted precisely.
"Look at that, Bastian," Lazhar said in a low voice, showing a hint of pride. "You've got a knack for this. Not just fighting with your body, but using your brain as well. These weapons will help you protect yourself."
Bastian gave a small smile, feeling more confident. He realized he didn't just need physical strength, but also the intelligence to choose the best ways to survive. Weapons were the best way to face the dangers of Mad Hat.
As Bastian worked on the weapon he had just assembled, loud noises from outside the shop caught his attention. Frowning, his eyes fixated on the slightly open door. Suddenly, a young boy appeared in the doorway, staring at Bastian with sharp eyes. The boy was about ten or eleven years old, with a lean frame and somewhat messy hair.
"Hey!" the boy shouted, stepping in boldly. "Who are you? New around here?"
Bastian raised an eyebrow. The boy seemed unafraid, even with all the weapons around the shop. In fact, he seemed more interested in Bastian than the weapons themselves.
"My name's Bastian," Bastian answered, a little suspicious. "Who are you?"
The boy smirked mischievously. "I'm Arthur. I've seen people like you here before, folks who think they have more of a right to be in Mad Hat. But I've never seen someone like you."
Bastian felt something strange about this boy. From his appearance, Arthur clearly wasn't an ordinary child. His eyes spoke of experiences darker than what his age should have known.
"Why are you here?" Bastian asked cautiously. "Looking for trouble?"
Arthur chuckled lightly, as if unafraid. "Trouble? No. I just want to learn from someone stronger. You look like someone who could survive here."
Bastian shrugged. "I'm just learning from people with more experience," he replied. "Don't expect things to be easy around here."
Arthur stepped closer, moving with confidence, and suddenly grinned. "So, you're strong, huh? Prove it. I want to see who's the better one here."
Before Bastian could respond, Arthur quickly launched an attack, using his agility to try and strike Bastian in the face. The movement came so fast that Bastian was caught off guard, but with his sharp reflexes, he managed to deflect the blow easily. Immediately, Arthur stumbled backward.
"Hey, you okay?" Bastian asked, slightly confused. "You really want to fight me?"
Arthur got up quickly, brushing dust from his clothes. "I'm not giving up that easily. I can see you're not someone easy to beat." Arthur stood tall, his eyes filled with determination. "How about we try again? This time, I won't back down."
Bastian merely nodded. "Alright, try again. But I warn you, if you keep this up, we'll end up with some wounds."
The brief fight began again. Arthur executed faster and bolder moves, but Bastian calmly evaded and countered with quick strikes that forced Arthur to stumble back.
After a few moments, Arthur finally stopped, exhausted. "Alright, alright, I lost," he said, laughing lightly, though slightly out of breath. "But you're really something, Bastian. I've got a lot to learn from you."
Bastian furrowed his brow, still puzzled by the boy. "Why do you want to fight me?"
Arthur smirked. "Because I want to get stronger. You know, I have dreams. And for that, I need someone who can teach me."
Bastian sensed there was something interesting in Arthur's words. Maybe this boy could become a useful ally in this chaotic world.
"Alright," Bastian said finally. "But don't expect me to let you win easily. You'll have to train hard if you want to get stronger."
Arthur grinned widely. "I'll train hard. You'll see me improve, Bastian."
And so, the relationship between Bastian and Arthur began, though filled with fights and testing each other's strength. However, in a world so full of danger, sometimes only people like them could survive.