XX

Chapter 15.

PART 1.

Hatori lays down in his unfamiliar bed; he must now get used to sleeping in a moving vehicle. He remembers the days events.

PART 2.

“So, how are we going to travel?” I asked, once we left the castle. I’m going to definitely miss my two friends, even though the chances of me being accepted as their friend once I return are very low.

“What makes you think we’re going to travel?” Zeko asked in return.

I explain my reasoning to him. “Well, we wouldn’t be staying in the city. If you wanted to train me here, the castle is clearly the better place, despite the kidnapping.” I noticed his slight flinch in his hand, which I was holding. “So, wherever we must be going, we have to travel.”

“Excellent points!” He said. “You see, we mages took notice of the new options of transport from your world. After that, we decided to use magic to create the same thing for our own.” Said Zeko.

So basically, he said that we would be going in a car, which would be driven by magic. I don’t know how, though. I lack the necessary knowledge to understand that.

I also remind myself to stop underestimating these people. They might be magic users, but electricity is used widely among them, as proven by fans in my room back at the castle, and this latest thing I’ve learned. In short, they are not trapped in some medieval time, for which I’m glad. I hate that time. Putting it up in games or books is one thing. But living there? I think I would have destroyed that world out of spite.

“Also, boy, you’ll get practice in walking alone outside. Don’t worry, I won’t drop your hand ever. But you must learn to walk by yourself, do you understand?” asked Zeko.

“Yes master.” I answered, since I didn’t mind that level of independence at all. “Also, we’re going to my home. It is quite far away, and we would be visiting some places while continuing your training. So, get use to this.” He spoke.

“Yes master.” I replied, thinking whether this must be my destiny or something, reply to your teacher dutifully and respectfully.

PART 3.

While thinking about these events, Hatori falls asleep without even realizing it.

PART 4.

“So, now that I’m done explaining the levitation, let’s talk about your natural response during a fight.” Zeko was saying, while Hatori focuses on trying to levitate a small stone.

“I notice how you favor grapples, which is fine when you’re fighting against a single opponent. It might even suit you currently, since you have no way of striking your opponent accurately, for now.” He muttered the last part. “But when you have to deal with multiple opponents, grapples are really not a great way of dealing with them.”

Stopping his focus for a moment, Hatori asked. “So, how do you know that I favor grapples?”

Zeko didn’t want to reveal how he goaded Avinash to pick a fight with him, and observed him from a distance. “Because I’m so wise and knowledgeable. Clearly, brat, you’re lucky to have a teacher such as me.” Hatori ignored this answer, and went back to his practice.

Zeko just shook his head. ‘Kids these days, no respect for their elders.’ He grumbled in his mind. “Anyway, I’ll teach you some hit-and-run tactics, which should serve you well.” He said. ‘Until you can do some modification to yourself and raise the accuracy of your strikes… but you won’t need me by that point.’ He thought.

A few minutes later, after getting the stone to wobble a little, Hatori spoke to driving Zeko. “Master, what’s the point of fighting physically? I mean, don’t the mages fight using magic?” he asked.

On a side note, Hatori didn’t know that the car was driving itself, and Zeko is just moving the steering wheel around for the show.

“An excellent question!” He stopped the spinning of the steering wheel, and answered this question. “You see, while it is true that mages do fight using magic, all this physical combat training can give you an edge since no one expects that. After all, you can damage your opponent in both ways, either by magic, or by physically attacking them.” Zeko paused to take a drink of water.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Also,” he said, after gulping the water, “Even when it comes to magic, the person who has superior physical condition will win, since they would have better stamina, resulting in them being able to cast magic for a long period of time.”

“So, it helps indirectly with magic as well?” asked Hatori.

“Indeed. Someone with more control and stamina will always be superior in battle to someone who has only raw magical power.”

PART 5.

After stopping for lunch, where Zeko demonstrated his culinary skills, Hatori is now trying to work through the spell which Zeko’s friend Munshi sent him.

The spell is extremely simple to cast, doesn’t require any incantation, and apparently, doesn’t take long to learn. Though all those meditation sessions might have something to do with it.

‘Better make sure that Zeko doesn’t learn of this; he’ll be smug otherwise.’ Thought Hatori, while getting over his dizziness.

After learning the spell, Zeko told Hatori to walk around the clear area to get used to the spell. The spell works like a radar installed in his head, letting Hatori know the location of objects around three meters from him.

All of which is quite impressive, if he can get over the dizziness. “Ow!” Hatori grumbled after colliding with the tree. If he didn’t shift his face at the right moment, his nose would have been broken with a loud crunch.

Zeko muffled his laughter while watching Hatori stumble around.

“Note to self. Keep the mind clear while using this spell.” Hatori muttered to himself. Though he was far enough that Zeko couldn’t hear him, he could easily deduce what he was saying to himself.

‘It is a good thing that it doesn’t require any foci. It would have been problematic to teach him otherwise.’ Thinks Zeko. ‘That reminds me. I must get him one; his progression would come to a screeching halt otherwise.’

After seeing Hatori stumble around some more, and observing that the dizzy expression had been absent on his face, Zeko called him back. “Come on Hatori, we’re leaving.”

Hatori walks towards the car with a focused look on his face, using the spell to locate Zeko and the car. Zeko gives an approving nod at this. “You can use the same spell inside. Try to monitor things outside while we’re moving.” Said Zeko.

“I feel like this is a horrible idea.” Said Hatori, while getting in the car.

“What are you talking about, brat? You’ll be fine.” Said Zeko.

Much to the amusement of Zeko, Hatori turned out to be right. Not that Zeko didn’t know that he would have trouble keeping up with the speed of the car, since a lot of things would come and disappear from his range quickly. For now, he focusses on large trees or buildings.

PART 6.

After the training, the spell, as well as the physical workout and levitation exercise, a very drained Hatori steps off the car when they stop for the night.

Zeko took him to a pub, noting in amusement how he could sense Hatori using the radar spell subconsciously, although it remains to be quite random still.

“Look who walked in!” said a male voice, which resulted in a loud cheer.

“And what’s this?” Said another voice, but female this time. “He has a kid with him.”

Several people clucked their tongue. “You know sir, that just because you’ve trained a lot of kids, doesn’t mean that you can raise one. You’re not suited for it.” said the male voice.

“Keep talking like that, and you won’t be suitable for speaking, Subhash.” Said Zeko.

“Ooooohhhhh!” responded the crowd.

“Anyway. He’s my student.” Said Zeko, while directing Hatori to the direction of the male and female voice. “And these are the soldiers I trained.” He explained to the child.

“I can’t help but notice that he’s tired.” Said the female.

“Yeah, let him eat, and then I’ll put him on the bed. Now, tell me what's been going on recently?” asked Zeko.

Ignoring the conversation entirely since he has no energy to pay attention, Hatori ate his food, and nodded off at the table. But when Zeko grabbed him to carry off to the room, (which is always reserved for him at this outpost), he sprang up so fast, and tried to grapple him.

“Easy kid.” Said Zeko, handling Hatori easily. Since now he was awake enough to walk, Zeko took him to his room.

“Paranoid one, isn’t he?” asked Subhash.

“He is.” Responded Rani. “The most worrying part, is that I don’t think it’s because of Zeko’s training.”

“We all have gone through his training. Do you think that the king went too far in choosing him for that kid?” asked Subhash.

“Honestly, whatever rank we have, we’re just normal soldiers. We don’t ask those questions.” Responded Rani, while finishing her drink.

“Yeah, gotta disagree with that. I’m not some hammer which you can use and discard at your convenience.” Said Subhash.

(End.)