It’s been a little over three weeks now since I found Mute inside that tree. Last week she was awake: she was interested in the Arts. I taught her the basics and she got the hang of it pretty quickly, that was until she got stuck on one of the arts that requires a lot of concentration to maintain. For this past week, she has been doing nonstop training, I never realized how fascinated she was with the Arts or how determined she was to actually do it. But If she continues to be this determined, this can be good training for her with the Arts since a couple does require a lot of concentration.

At the beginning of this concentration training for herself, I would have to stop her because she would continuously make herself pass out from exhaustion. Obviously, I explained to her the continuous use of the arts will make her pass out which is bad. I guess I could set up a training routine in the morning for her since her stamina was lower than I thought.

At the end of the week, she managed to form the Art, it took her longer than usual but nonetheless, I’m still proud. When she did it without breaking her concentration she rushed over to me and practically dragged me away from my pet project. While Mute was training for that week, I was trying to make a bathtub for me and Mute.

Once she was done dragging me along to her little training area, she let go of me and started to show me the Art. The Art she was trying to make is called ‘Ziel Burst’ the Ziel used for this Art comes forth making it visible to everyone, the pure Ziel in the air must constantly be shaped, once you stop focusing on it; it will stop working and explode on the spot. Usually an Art, you just need to shape it once and it will stay like that but Arts like ‘Ziel Burst’ You must constantly keep it in that shape or it will try to go back into Its normal state. That was the part that was making it difficult for Mute.

Once she was finished making the Art, she launched it at the tree in front of us and utterly obliterated it.

***

Mute just finished her training and she used the bathtub I made, it was a successful build. First I made a tub made from ice and started curving the inside of a giant log to make a tub. Once I was satisfied with the shape I put the wooden tub inside the ice tub. I didn’t need to put ice inside since the water was already cold, it started snowing today as well.

Mute was lying down inside the bath while reading that book I got her. I believe the name of the book was ‘The Tales of Muto’. I started brushing her hair while she quickly read, I noticed another thing. I can't hear the pages being flipped, actually I can't hear the noise made from when you brush hair. I think she is actually cursed

***

The next couple of days I had her try to create two ‘Ziel Burst’ at the same time, it took her a while to actually do but it's still progress. In the mornings she would train her body to increase her stamina, Following my instructions to a T which was surprising. Kinda reminds me of my niece.

***

In two weeks she increased her limit of making ‘Ziel Burst’ to four at the same time. I started joining her in training, I’m not doing the same as her. I'm making sure I wont get rusty for slacking off on my own training, I made myself an ice sword for my training.

During my training Mute passed me a note

‘Can I join your training?’

“I don't mind training you as long as you don't get overwhelmed with all of this training”

She smiles, now that I think of it. It would be beneficial for her to learn how to use not only the weapons but how to fight with or without a weapon.

“We can start tomorrow after your Art training” after I said that she nodded and I Ruffled her hair before she ran off. I guess for the meantime I'll be making wooden swords, spears, and daggers. I guess we'll be best for her to learn as much weapons as possible. Become a jack-of-all-trades instead of proficient in only one weapon.

Next day rolls around and Mute starts her morning training of physical exercise to increase her muscles and stamina. After that she relaxes a bit and jumps into training with the Arts as I guide and teach her more. And finally for her afternoon training, weapon training.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

I take out the weapons I made and ask her to pick out what weapon she would like to start with, she picks the sword.

I taught off slowly by making her do practice swings and showing her the different types of forms. I would make ice dummies so that mute can practice swinging her attack upon it. Usually during her practice I would remind her over footwork, to keep her balance, and things of that nature.

My family loves the way of the blade, including their element into their fighting style with a sword. My mother was surprised when I was naturally gifted when it came to the blade unlike most of the Law Clan. But she introduced me to my aunt who taught me the way of each weapon and I was really good with the bow. I genuinely thought my parents would be upset but my father was the happiest and that surprised me. Ha! My eyes flashes pink before returning to bright orange.

I show her many demonstrations of what to do, I would often praise and encourage her to do more. I told her it was okay to think outside of the box, in the midst of battle. A battle of life or death; who cares about respect or formalities, if need be to throw the dirt into your opponent's eye or spit your blood into their eyes. In this world, it's kill or be killed so don't listen to anyone who would banter about your fighting style not being respectful or would call you an animal because of how disrespectful you fight.

Mute wielded the sword pretty well for a first-timer but I can tell that she doesn't like wielding it and I understand how she feels. Once her sword training ends she gets to pick another weapon and that makes her happy.

***

Some time has passed and she has increased her Concentration a lot, now she can make up to eight ‘Ziel Burst’ like it's nothing.

Her progress throughout the month was a steady process and I moved on to teaching her more arts. I want to teach her more powerful arts but her current rank is 'soul'. I'll teach her all of the 'soul' rank arts.

If she goes down the magician route, the arts and the user are broken down to seven ranks. Soul, Sorcerer, Warlock, Elite Warlock, Acolyte, High Class, and Overlord.

Currently I'm an Elite Warlock, mute started addressing me as Master Warlock in the notes since I told her of my rank. I tried to stop her but she still continues but nonetheless, I hope to train her at least to warlock level.

***

These are the Arts I taught her so far as followed:

Hand of Sight: teleporting an object close by to your hand (Inferential)

Ziel Burst: making pure ziel into a ball and using it to attack (offensive)

Aid: heal any small cuts (support)

Illusion: make a simple illusion(Inferential)

Enchant: cover a surface with Ziel to make it stronger and harder(support)

Shield of Ziel: pulling two chords with the middle finger in an X shape in front of you will make the cords visible to everyone and will become a shield (support)

These are the basic Arts I know of, that I can remember; the stamina needed for these other arts cost more then 'Ziel Burst' and 'Hand of Sight'. Some of these arts cost twice as much as 'Ziel Burst' and even more if she wants to increase her effectiveness. For the next session I think I’ll teach her more about Ziel.

***

Before we started her Art training, I told her there is more to explain. Her only offensive art is ’Ziel Burst’ and with this she can be more creative with it.

I began by saying, you can make your art stronger by manipulating more strands but you need to know how to do it. A lot of events are to use multiple strands unlike lower level arts like ‘Ziel Burst’ but you can make it stronger by manipulating more strands.

Currently, she would be ranked ‘soul’ and she’ll know when she ranks up when she sees different color strands mixed in with the blue.

I tell her what each finger does when Manipulating the strands…

Thumb: Accuracy

Index: Speed

Middle: Control

Ring: Strength

Pinky: Space Time

Palm: Vitality

The Thumb is unique since pulling it won’t make you more likely to hit it. Instead, you pull the cord and aim your thumb at the target, essentially using your thumb as a sight on a gun.

The Index represents how fast you want the Art to go. The more pressure on the strand with this finger, the more Ziel is produced and the faster the art will go.

The Middle is the most used finger since it represents control. To cast an Art you need control over anything else or how else will the art form. You can use most arts with only the middle finger but it won’t be as strong and in addition to that, you're going to have to manipulate the strands in a different way since usually most arts are casted with more than just the middle finger. One of the upsides of using the middle finger (only) to cast spells is that the art itself will be cheap.

The Ring finger represents how strong you want the art to be. The more pressure on the strand with this finger, the more Ziel will be produced and that will make your art stronger.

The Pinky is used whenever teleportation or summoning is involved in the art

The Palm is usually used for support arts like healing. Once you find a strand, you’ll put your palm over it and push it onto the person who needs support. With your other hand, you will manipulate the strands to cast a healing art, the Ziel produced by the strands will enter your body. Using it as a path to the palm as the art forms inside your body.

By combining the middle finger and the index finger for ‘Ziel Burst’ it can become more deadly than usual.