El wakes up and barely manages to get out of bed with his injuries. He struggles out to the fields and works with the cattle while Bandlor watches. He makes the rounds to bring cattle into the barn to milk them and double-checks on all the expecting mothers left. One seems to be having trouble and he helps her deliver her calf.

  It takes several hours, but eventually, the calf is born. It takes a few wobbly steps before walking around the barn.

  After work. Bandlor and El go back to training. Bandlor ties weights to El’s arms and legs then has him put on a backpack full of metal bars. He then makes the teen run laps around the cattle farm. Arkin watches from afar, exchanging a few comments with Bandlor. The old man, Arkin, is happy to see El making something of himself but sad to see it happening so soon.

  After training, El retires to his barn, completely wiped from the day’s work. He overhears Arkin and Bandlor talking as he returns to his barn.

  "So you're just living amongst them like it's not a big deal?" Bandlors loud voice carries.

  "This is my village, I have a wife here, my kids are out making something of themselves, and I have El to watch over," Arkin replies, the old rasp in his voice missing.

  "You've lowered yourself. They can't even access this world's system."

  "And you've fallen further than where I choose to stand." Arkin's footsteps recede as he leaves the area.

  "Well fuck you too," Bandlor grumbles loudly before leaving.

  What was all that? El pulled his blankets over his body while lying in his bed. Too tired to process what he heard the teen decides to sleep on it.