The loud cling of his pickaxe hitting hard ore snapped him back to the present.
Since then, he's been working just like what he currently is, a slave.
Luckily, the rock formation where he was mining was full of different minerals and ores that he already learnt of.
Its properties, structure, and hardness made Pheo able to determine precisely where to hit in order to maximize efficiency.
"You know, you've already long past your friend's record a few days ago" Don told him, "I'm sure that this should be enough to convince Parquatz"
"Why don't you take a few days off to rest?" He offered Pheo a break.
Pheo has already mined further than Ryu ever since they entered this place.
This isn't enough
He wanted to become stronger, at least strong enough to stand beside him in a fight.
Pheo looked at Don, his eyes the same as it was when he looked at Parquatz.
"In order to become as strong as him" He stopped and shook his head, "No, to surpass him"
"I must continue"
His motivation was not only fueled by the anger he had against Parquatz, but also about the fight.
If only I was stronger
Pheo thought to himself. He has always protected himself before, dreaming of his mother to finally break free from the icy prison that shacked her from him.
Don saw the fire in his eyes, the mix of vengefulness, determination, and desire to protect made him reconsider his previous opinion of Pheo.
He wasn't a kid who attached himself to the strong, he just hasn't awakened his potential yet.
Unlike now.
Pheo's attention broke as he heard the sound of something dropping below him.
He looked and saw a stick that had a blunt edge and a firm handle.
"You're wasting your effort on swinging that pickaxe like an ape" Don voiced out. He raised a stick against Pheo, the same kind as the one on the ground.
"Don't you have a bigger picture in mind rather than just proving Parquatz wrong?"
"Why would you care?" Pheo asked him.
He was one of the wardens that kept them captive. Eventually, Pheo would have to face him if he wanted to escape.
Why would he help someone who has a reason to rebel?
"Pick it up" Don told him.
Pheo was hesitant, but the demanding tone in his voice compelled him to grab it.
He quickly went on guard as soon as he saw Don was already inches away from him.
Pheo barely managed to block Don's swing. He shook from the impact, his eyes widened from the realization that he was being serious.
"Sloppy!" Don shouted out.
He began to constantly swing at Pheo, barely giving him time to keep himself from falling.
Each strike was swift yet felt heavy, he tried to watch Don's movements but it was unpredictable.
His movements were fluid. In the rare chances that Pheo was free to attack, he could see no openings.
Pheo then stumbled, making Don take the chance to sweep his feet.
He fell to the floor, his throat was inches away from Don's stick.
Don's eyes were unforgiving, it made Pheo shudder a bit.
"Get back up" Don gave him time to recover. He felt his hands burning, he looked to see tiny scars were already there.
"I didn't know you get stronger each time you get beaten up"
Pheo got back up, going straight for Don as soon as he could.
He went for a strike, but it was easily parried by Don.
"There is no greater way to learn how to fight other than experiencing it yourself"
Don shoved Pheo's sword away and struck him in the stomach. He coughed in pain as he flew back to the ground.
"You are as fickle as a leaf" He commented, "Goes to show why you lost against me"
Pheo's anger welled up, "Then why the hell are you even doing this!"
He quickly got up and went in for another attack. Don met his strike with his own, clashing with each other with neither side backing off.
While Pheo's eyes were full of rage, Don's eyes were thick yet collected.
Don shifted his sword, making Pheo fall over by himself. "Are you not angered from your weakness?"
"From the embarrassing actions you're displaying?" He provoked Pheo, trying to fuel him further.
"Shut up!" He got back up, gripping his stick harder than he should.
"Of course I am" He mustered out amidst the pain he was in. "This sinking feeling, this knot in my throat that twists itself over and over again as I could only watch when Ryu fought Warhound"
Pheo stopped for a moment, noticing that he was shaking in anger, his voice trembling.
"Even when I finally moved after Ryu called for me, I barely did anything." He admitted, "I only talked back when it was Ryu who was doing all the work"
"It's so pathetic, it's so miserable, its so... so... so..."
He couldn't muster anymore words, he had already dropped his weapon. He felt like he was falling with no surface to crash on.
"That feeling, do you resent it?"
Don dropped his stick, reached his arm out and placed it on Pheo's shoulder. It made him even more frightened at first, but it soon calmed him down.
Don kneeled down to match his height. "I can't promise you the strength that you yearn for, but I can teach you my way of being strong"
"The only person who could promise you the strength you desire, is you" He grabbed Pheo's shoulders and stopped him from shaking.
"Now tell me" Don's tone was serious, "So you resent it? The feeling of helplessness?"
Pheo looked at Don, one look can tell him that Don was being serious.
That's when Don saw Pheo's eyes turned to one of a warriors, one that has resolved themselves. It was then that he was sure of what he would say.
"I want to become stronger"
He lifted Pheo's stick back up, "Pick it up"
Don smiled warmly at him, he knew that this decision Pheo made would soon spark waves.
"Now watch me closely" He said before they started fighting again, with Pheo quickly learning from each loss he had.