(Omar sits angrily on the damp forest floor during his time in England. His forehead is beaded with sweat, and his breathing is heavy. Beside him lie his sword and pistol, along with a small open booklet on pages describing the types of stones and their effects in combat: how many steps, how many minutes the weapon can endure. His eyes stare into the horizon as he sees the blue clouds)
Omar: During my time with Ana, I lived through 80 years of training, but I didn't use stones back then. And now, after losing in the "Gate of the Earth," I managed to get new equipment, but... why am I so weak?! This is painful, to die like this. I want to get her back quickly, just...
(He grips his sword tightly, its cold hilt touching his hand.)
Omar: I haven't been able to train with it well yet, but I was able to fight. And now with this sword, I'm supposed to be stronger.
(He begins to stand up slowly from the ground, lifts his heavy sword, and starts moving in quick, repetitive steps, drawing circles in the air.)
Omar: I must become stronger... I must...
(He rushes towards the nearby rocks, destroying them one after another at an extremely high speed, without drawing any drops of blood from his hand.)
(Muttering in a low, muffled voice)
Omar: Damn... damn... damn! I mustn't show my weakness. This is too slow!
(His swift movements become faster, and his destructive blows become more precise and lethal.)
Omar: ...
(His steps gradually slow down. He begins to draw blood from his hand in large, massive amounts, to feed the thirsty sword.)
(He places the blade of his sword in a nearby mountain crevice and fires an explosive bullet from his pistol at the same point. The mountain trembles, then collapses before him to turn into a pile of gravel and dust.)
Omar: It's never enough... Damn it!
(He takes his sword from under the rubble to begin again, and again, and again, and aga....)
Omar: I am tired.
(He lifts his head to the sky, and looks at the scattered clouds.)
Omar: A blue cloud... It's funny, my head is reflecting colors now.
(He closes his eyes which are almost bursting from redness. A single, hot tear rolls down his dust-stained cheek, then he opens them, stands up calmly and leaves... leaving behind a trail of destruction and silence.)
Here ends the first side chapter of Sword of Eternity: The Long Covenant's Journey