After my explosive accident, Isabelle decided we should stop training for the day. She told me to keep training what we had done that day.
Anna picked me up, and we headed back home. I excitedly talked to her about training with Isabelle and how I had blown up the dummies. She had seen the aftermath of our training, so she at least didn't show too much surprise.
When we got home, I decided to continue training sensing ambient mana. I had nothing better to do, so it felt like the best thing to occupy my time while I waited for Lavi to return for sword practice.
—--
A few hours later, I was back to being exhausted, sitting on the floor, breathing heavily. Some of my mana had been recovered, but it was slow as I was still only sensing mana around me.
I thought about my day so far and remembered something. “Hey Anna, who were those kids we saw in town this morning?”
Every time I used her name, I could see her face look sad. I mean, calling a woman I didn't know mom was not easy for me, no matter how my emotions fought me to do it.
“They were, well, were your friends. The school told them what happened, so I think that's why they kept their distance,” she explained.
I took a moment to consider what she said. “What happened?” I understood from context that I had fallen from a tree and hit my head, but what had led up to that? Also looks like I was going back to school sometime soon… great.
She gave me a tight smile and said, “I think for now, it's better not to think about it.” I could see she was struggling to talk about this. Something must have happened, but I decided to leave it for now.
—--
Finally, Lavi came home, and I pounced at him to start training. I had brought my wooden sword out and was ready to get started.
He patted me on the head as he walked inside to clean up. I pouted at the head pat and went outside to wait.
After a few minutes, he came out no longer in his work gear with the heavy metal plating and leather but wore something like training gear. Simple brown-colored clothes sat loose with a few protected areas with thicker patches of leather.
He held what looked like a one-handed short sword made out of wood. Wait, was I the weird one with the oversized anime sword? I thought to myself.
“I heard training went well this morning Eli, are you ready to get started?” I gave him a smile and held my sword in a way that felt comfortable, pointing the tip of the blade towards him. “Come at me!
—--
Not 10 minutes later, I was laying on my back, panting. DAMN THIS EIGHT YEAR OLD BODY! I thought to myself. I hadn't even gotten a single hit in, and he had just danced around my attacks. What kind of madman was he?!
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Look how lively you are today,” he said, looking down at me with a big smile. He had put away his training sword and was standing with his hands behind his back. “You ready to train some more?”
I sighed and got up. “Of course,” I said, trying to sound confident. I was not good with a sword by any means. Sure, I had done some sword training in my old world, but that was just for fun, and I did have some of Elias' muscle memories, so I wasn't a complete fool but come on!.
Yet, no matter how hard I tried to hit him, I couldn't. I was always too slow, and when I finally thought I would land a hit, he was somewhere else, tapping me on the head with his sword.
“How are you so fast!” I said angrily.
“I'm just older and more trained, Eli. Don't worry, you will get there,” he said, smiling a bit too brightly for my liking.
I thought for a moment before coming up with an idea. I took my stance again and began to focus. My dad noticed my gaze and took his stance as well, waiting for me to move.
“Elias, what are you doing?” he asked, as he could probably see my eyes start glowing.
I ran mana through my body, but not into a focus like my hands. But each muscle in my body, I tried to soak it with mana. I felt the current cover and coat inside and out. Unlike when I focused magic for a blast with the passing heat, I felt the heat painlessly roar throughout my body.
I felt my muscles tense and harden as my mouth split into a grin.
Then I attacked.
I flew forward in an explosion! the world around me blurred as I passed my dad, who gave me a startled look.
I kept going as I overshot my target further than I had thought, but that didn't stop me. I crouched down and did another leap towards him, swinging my sword.
He blocked it with his blade. Yes! I finally made contact! I thought to myself. But I didn't stop there, I followed up with another strike aimed for his legs that made him jump above my swing.
If I had more control, I would have taken that opportunity, but I was now going face-first into a bush.
—--
After my dad had made sure I was okay, he stopped laughing. I climbed out of the now broken bush and brushed myself off.
“I can’t believe Isabelle decided to teach you that on your first day,” he said. …”She didn't. That was my first time trying it,” I said looking down at my dirty clothes.
It was silent for a moment until Lavi finally just laughed again and said, “Of course it was,” shaking his head.
“Regardless, that was amazing. I know some soldiers I've worked with who can't even pull that off. You still need to work on your control, but keep it up!” he said encouragingly.
“Can you do it?” I asked, looking up at him. He smiled at me as I saw his eyes glow bright red. And all I heard was a “Boom!” before he was standing on the other side of the yard, leaning on the fence.
…Show off.