CHAPTER 4 - Getting used to

It has been a few days since I first enrolled in the academy, and every day has been a whirlwind of new experiences and information.

The hours of lectures and classes seemed endless at first, and my head was left spinning as I tried to absorb every bit of knowledge being imparted to me.

But slowly, as the days passed, I began to settle into a routine. I learned which professors were the most engaging, which classes were the most challenging,

and which students were the most dedicated. The academy became familiar to me, and I could navigate its winding halls and courtyards with ease.

Each morning, I would wake up early and take my time getting ready for the day. I would savor my breakfast, enjoying the simple pleasure of a warm meal before the long day ahead.

But still i wasnt getting up early enough to catch Emma, she always was ahead of me with training.

I would make my way to my lecture, my footsteps echoing across the academy halls as I walked.

In classes and training grounds, I would pay attention, taking notes and asking questions when I didn't understand something or couldn´t do something.

The professors and generals were patient with us, taking the time to explain concepts until we truly understood them.

During breaks, I would stroll around the academy, taking in the beauty of the gardens and the grandeur of the buildings. I would stop to chat with fellow students, exchanging ideas and insights about what we were learning.

And at the end of the day, I would return to my room, grateful for the peace and quiet after a long day of learning. I would reflect on all that I had learned that day,

sifting through the information and making mental notes of what I needed to study and train more.

It was a slow and deliberate pace, but it allowed me to truly immerse myself in my lessons and make the most of my time at the academy.

But today was a different day.

The sun was setting as I made my way towards the dormitory, my thoughts occupied with the day's lectures and training.

I was lost in my own world when suddenly, I bumped into someone. It was Emma, my roommate. She smiled at me and greeted me warmly.

"Hey, how was your day?" she asked.

I shrugged,

"lectures and training, pretty tough right now."

Emma nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, it can be overwhelming. Hey, I heard about the test. Are you nervous?"

The test that she mentioned will be given to us by General Patrio.

It's a test of our first hunt in the dark forest, which is located a few kilometers outside the city and is home to many magical and hostile creatures.

General Patrio will randomly distribute a piece of paper to each of us, and on that paper will be a number.

This number would correspond to the level of difficulty of our mission. Based on this difficulty level, we were required to bring back the head of a creature that was at least as strong as the number on our paper.

I hesitated for a moment, not sure if I should admit my fears. But then, I decided to be honest with her.

"Yeah, a little bit. I don't know what to expect."

Emma placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and her touch felt warm and comforting.

"Don't worry," she said with a smile, "we'll help each other prepare. We're in this together, after all. We have a day left to train."

I felt a sense of relief wash over me at her words.

As we settled into our dormitory, I took a moment to look around the room. It was modest,

but it felt like a safe haven from the chaos of the outside world. Turning to Emma, I felt a surge of gratitude towards her.

She had been the first person to show me kindness since I arrived at the academy. Her confidence and determination were inspiring, and I was grateful to have her as a friend.

As we settled in for the night, we began discussing the upcoming tests and different ways to prepare.

We carefully went over our notes and practiced our swordsmanship techniques, taking turns to give feedback and offer suggestions.

The more we discussed, the more confident I felt about my abilities.

As the evening wore on, I felt a sense of belonging settle in. This dormitory had become my home, and I was determined to make the most of it.

The thought of the upcoming tests and challenges no longer seemed daunting with Emma by my side. I knew that together, we could overcome anything.

As night fell, we started discussing magical powers. The topic was fascinating to me, and I felt my curiosity growing with each passing moment.

I wondered what it would be like to have such abilities, to wield such power. Emma and I talked late into the night, lost in thought and imagination.

"Do you think that someone can possess a larger amount of magical power than the magic order?"

I asked Emma, curious about her thoughts on the matter.

She thought for a moment before responding,

"I believe it is possible, but very unlikely. After all, the last magical user in the Amestos was King Charleston II 200 years ago."

I nodded in agreement,

"Yes, it has been a long time since anyone has possessed some amount of magical power. But I wonder what it would be like to have that kind of power, to be able to wield it and control it."

Emma's expression turned thoughtful,

"I suppose it would be both a blessing and a curse. With great power comes great responsibility, as they say. It would be important to use it wisely and not let it consume you."

I nodded in agreement,

"Yes, that's true. It would be a heavy burden to bear, but also a great privilege to have such power."

We fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in our own thoughts about the possibilities and consequences of possessing magical power.

But then, my thoughts turned to my battle with the mages in my hometown which was now two weeks ago.

I remembered how some kind of force had helped me fight and throw back the mages.

I couldn't help but wonder what it was, but at the same time, I felt unsure about sharing this experience with anyone else.

I paused for a moment, lost in thought. Should I tell Emma about this strange force that had aided me in battle? Or should I keep it to myself, at least for now?

I weighed the pros and cons of each option, but ultimately decided that it was best to keep this experience private, at least for the time being.

As I settled back into my thoughts, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What was this force that had helped me in battle? Was it something magical,

something beyond my understanding? Or was it just a coincidence, a stroke of luck in an otherwise dire situation?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. For now, I needed to focus on the upcoming tests and challenges, and on preparing myself as best I could.

The mystery of the force that had aided me would have to wait for another day.

As I pushed the thought of the mysterious force to the back of my mind, Emma and I continued our conversation about magical powers. We talked late into the night,

lost in thought and imagination. It was a fascinating subject, and the more we talked, the more intrigued I became.

As the conversation drew to a close, Emma looked at me with a twinkle in her eye.

"You know," she said,

"you are a good friend. I enjoy talking to you."

Her words warmed my heart, and I smiled in response.

"I feel the same way about you, Emma," I replied.

We sat in silence for a moment, basking in the warmth of each other's company.

The dormitory was quiet now, the only sound was the occasional creaking of the old wooden floorboards.

As the night grew late, we finally decided to call it a day.

We exchanged our final thoughts on the upcoming tests and our plans for the next day before saying our goodnights.

I jumped into my bed, feeling exhausted but content. As I closed my eyes,

I realized that I was finally at peace.

As the night grew darker, the room was enveloped in a thick silence.

The only sound that could be heard was the gentle rustling of the wind outside the windows.

I lay in my bed, my eyes closed, listening to the sound.

It was a soothing noise, one that seemed to lull me into a state of peacefulness.

As I listened, I felt myself drifting off into a deep sleep. The events of the day and the excitement for tomorrow faded away as my mind grew calm and still.

I listened to the sound for a few moments, letting it lull me into a state of peacefulness.

As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for the challenges that lay ahead.

But I also felt a sense of security, knowing that I had Emma by my side. I knew that whatever came our way, we would face it together.

With that comforting thought, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, ready to face a new day.

The next morning, I made a conscious effort to wake up early, hoping to catch Emma on her way to training.

As I lay in my bed, I could feel the coolness of the morning air seeping through the windows, filling the room with a refreshing breeze.

Finally, after several failed attempts, I managed to wake up early enough to see Emma leaving the dormitory. I quickly got out of bed and rushed to catch up with her.

"Good morning, Emma," I greeted her, slightly out of breath. "Are you headed to training?"

Emma turned to face me, a smile on her face.

"Yes, I am," she replied.

"Would you like to come with me?"

I eagerly accepted her invitation to train, but i still had to put on some clothes.

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As I quickly dressed up, Emma waited for me patiently. I grabbed my sword and joined her as we made our way towards the training grounds.

As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This was my first time training with Emma alone in the morning, and I was also eager to learn from Emma.

When we arrived at the training grounds, Emma led me to a secluded area where we could practice without any distractions.

"Alright, Kael,"

she said, unsheathing her sword.

"Let's start."

We spent the next hour practicing various swordsmanship techniques. Emma was a patient and encouraging teacher, and I quickly began to improve under her guidance.

My reflexes got a lot better, and i understood how to defend myself more efficiently with her as my sparring partner.

As we took a break, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Emma's willingness to help me improve. She was not only a friend, but also a mentor.

"Thank you, Emma,"

I said, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

"I've learned so much from you already."

Emma smiled at me,

"You're doing great, Kael. You have a natural talent for swordsmanship."

We continued to train, with each swing of our swords pushing ourselves further and further. The sweat poured down my face as my muscles ached, but I refused to give up.

By the time we finished, my body was almost completely drained of energy, yet I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

With Emma by my side, I was learning at a rapid pace and becoming stronger with each passing day.

As we walked back to our dormitory, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I knew that with Emma by my side, I could become better.

"Thanks again, Emma,"

I said, as we approached our dormitory.

"You're amazing."

Emma smiled,

"Anytime, Kael."

I nodded, feeling grateful for her friendship and support. We entered our dormitory, ready to go to our first lecture of the day.

Our lecture for the day was with General Patrio. This time our lecture focused on the speed and efficiency of our attacks.

As I stood on the training ground with the other students, General Patrio began his lecture on the importance of speed in combat.

He demonstrated various techniques for quick and efficient strikes, emphasizing the need to be fast and agile in battle.

Emma and I listened intently, taking notes and watching General Patrio's every move. We were both eager to learn and improve our skills, and it was clear that General Patrio was an expert in the art of swordsmanship.

Our lesson had finally begun.

We started sparring with each other, practicing the techniques that General Patrio had shown us.

The sound of clashing swords echoed through the training grounds as we battled it out, trying to improve our skills.

But after a while of sparring with different students, General Patrio approached Emma and me.

"You two have been showing great improvement," he said, nodding his head in approval.

We both smiled, feeling a sense of pride at the compliment.

General Patrio was known for being a tough instructor, and his praise was not easily won.

"I have something special planned for the two of you," he continued, a twinkle in his eye.

"I believe that you are ready for a challenge."

Emma and I exchanged glances, intrigued by what he had in store for us. We both knew that General Patrio never gave out praise lightly, so this challenge was sure to be a difficult one.

"What do you have in mind ?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

General Patrio smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"I think it's time for you two to face off against each other," he said, a sly grin on his face.

Emma and I looked at each other, unsure of how to react.

We had been training together every lecture, and while we were friendly rivals, we had never sparred against each other in a serious match.

But even so, Emma and I nodded in agreement, eager to test our skills against each other.

We stepped onto the training grounds and faced each other, swords at the ready.

Emma and I were both nervous, but we stepped forward and began to spar with each other.

General Patrio watched from the sidelines as we began to spar.

Emma moved gracefully, her strikes quick and precise. I sometimes struggled to keep up with her, but I was determined not to give up.

We moved around each other, blocking and parrying each other's attacks. Our swords clashed as we circled each other, looking for an opening.

General Patrio watched intently, occasionally offering advice or pointing out areas where we could improve.

As the spar intensified, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I knew I had to step up my game if I wanted to keep up with Emma.

I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves, and began to move more fluidly, anticipating her moves before she made them.

We moved faster and faster, the sound of our swords clashing filling the air. Our movements were almost a blur, as we dodged and weaved around each other.

Just as I thought I had the upper hand, Emma launched a surprise attack, catching me off guard. I stumbled backward, trying to regain my balance, but Emma didn't give me a chance.

She moved in for the win, her sword aimed at my hand. With lightning-fast reflexes, I managed to block her strike just in time, but her sword was too powerful, and I felt my arms shaking from the impact.

I gritted my teeth and pushed back, the force of our clash sending shockwaves through the air. The sound was deafening, and I felt the ground shaking beneath my feet.

I stood there, frozen in the moment, my mind racing with thoughts and questions.

I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed - the sheer strength and skill we just showed.

"So this is the power of Amestos" I thought to myself

For a moment, time stood still as we both caught our breath, our swords still locked in a fierce battle.

Then, with a sudden burst of energy, I rushed towards emma with my sword hitting her sword, sending her stumbling backward.

General Patrio stepped forward, his face a mask of awe and admiration. "Well done," he said, "you two have truly outdone yourselves."

As we lowered our swords and turned to face him, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. Emma and I had just engaged in an epic battle.

"Good job, both of you,"

General Patrio said, as we finished the spar.

"You both have natural talent. And as i saw you also tapped into the power of Amestos"

"Not anybody can do that in their first year of the academy."

Emma and I both felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. It was an honor to receive praise from General Patrio.

"Thank you, General Patrio,"

Emma said, bowing respectfully.

"We are honored by your praise."

General Patrio nodded,

"You both have great potential. Keep practicing and refining your skills, and you will go far."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Emma and I feeling inspired and motivated.

We decided to go sit on the nearby benches to catch our breaths.

"That was intense,"

Emma said, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

As we sat there on the bench, I couldn't help but think about the power we had just displayed. The force behind our strikes,

the precision of our movements. It was as if we were tapping into some hidden well of strength, fueled by our determination to succeed.

"So this is the power of Amestos," I thought to myself, feeling a mix of wonder and happiness.

Emma and I sat there in silence for a few moments, catching our breaths and trying to calm our racing hearts.

The intensity of the spar left us both a bit dazed and overwhelmed.

As I looked over at Emma, I saw that she had a similar look of amazement on her face.

It was clear that we had both been pushed to our limits and beyond.

"That was incredible," I finally said, breaking the silence.

Emma nodded in agreement, still catching her breath.

"I've never was able to do that before, it was amazing."

I couldn't agree more. The raw power and energy that coursed through my body during the spar was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

It was both exhilarating and overwhelming at the same time.

As we sat there on the bench, I couldn't help but wonder what other hidden abilities the power of Amestos held.

It was clear that there was much more to discover and explore.

As we walked back to our dormitory, I felt a sense of exhaustion wash over me.

The spar had taken a lot out of me, and I was ready for a break.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

I had always dreamed of becoming a warrior and it was surreal to see my skills improving with each passing day.

"Hey, do you want to go to the cafeteria ?"

Emma said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I nodded eagerly.

We entered the cafeteria, the smell of warm food and chatter filling the air.

As we made our way through the line, we picked out our meals and found a table to sit at.

As we sat down, I couldn't help but notice how busy the cafeteria was.

Students were bustling around, talking and laughing with each other, and the noise level was high.

But still i enjoyed my meal and my free time with Emma.

After we ate we went to the dormitory to finally rest.

The dormitory was quiet and peaceful, a stark contrast to the busy atmosphere of the cafeteria.

Emma and I made our way to our room and sat on our beds, enjoying the silence.

"I can't believe how much we've trained today,"

Emma said, stretching out her arms.

"I feel like we're really making progress."

I nodded in agreement,

"Me too. I feel like I'm getting stronger every day."

We lay in silence for a few moments, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the dormitory.

Suddenly, Emma sat up and turned to me with a mischievous glint in her eye,

"Wanna play cards?"

"Sure, why not,"

I said, while Emma grabbed a deck of cards.

We spent the next hour or so playing card games, laughing and joking as we went.

It was a welcome break from the stresses of training and studying.

As the sun began to set outside, we decided to call it a night and get some rest for the next day's training.

"Goodnight, Emma,"

I said, yawning and stretching out on my bed.

"Goodnight, Kael,"

Emma replied, smiling at me before laying down.

I closed my eyes, feeling grateful for the day's accomplishments and for the friendship that had brought me here.

I jolted awake in the dead of night, heart pounding in my chest. My eyes darted around the dark room, searching for the cause of my sudden awakening.

And that's when I saw it: a figure standing outside my window, dressed in flowing robes and wearing a mask that concealed their face.

My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the figure, feeling a sense of dread wash over me.

Had this person been spying on me? Were they here to harm me?

As I watched, the figure began to mutter to themselves, their words barely audible through the thick glass of the window.

I strained to hear, but the words were indecipherable.

Suddenly, a bright blue light shot out from the figure's hand, heading straight towards me.

I didn't have time to react before the light hit me, enveloping me in a strange energy.

My mind reeled as I struggled to process what was happening. What did this person want? And what had they done to me?

I could feel my thoughts slipping away as darkness

closed in around me.

END OF CHAPTER 4