When they announced they were going to train that morning, it was actually meant for Alicia alone.

Harnessing the magic from Orb, Alicia moved the set of scarecrow-shaped targets covered by waist-length sacks out of the courtyard. Those human models would be the target practice and arranged in a row to form a horizontal line. She remembered Leith used to have these for magic shooting targets.

"Okay," said Nadine, who was sitting pretty in the chair with Gilmore. "Let's try the most basic first. Try shooting all those targets with your magic."

Alicia took a stance with the Orb hovering between her hands. "I thought when you said practice, I wisnae the only one who has to train."

"Hey, I'm not the one having trouble fighting. Although magic is a bit different, you should at least have an idea of fighting with ranged weapons."

Alicia seamlessly merged with Orb, the blue and purple aura emanating from them was almost blinding in the bright noon sun. With ease, Orb fired its energy blasts at each target, hitting all five with precision. Shooting magic was not as difficult as shooting a firearm or the like, apparently.

"Not bad." Nadine gave a small compliment. "Next, shoot one target while moving."

With a graceful poise, Alicia assumed her stance in the centre of the field. She took a deep breath, her eyes fixed upon the makeshift targets of straw and wood that hung before her. Her fingers tightened around the familiar orb in her hand, and with a burst of energy, she released a stream of blue and purple light towards the targets while moving. Though her aim was true, only one of the ten attempts found its mark upon the hanging dolls.

"Awright, that's enough." Nadine rose from her seat. "Your orb may hover with steady. But your movements are wobbly and unbalanced. And since you're synchronising with the Orb, maybe that's the reason your shot direction follows your movement as a whole, not just Orb's. " Nadine's hands went to Alicia's shoulder and waist and guided her body.

"Your upper body should be as stable as possible. Bend your knees slightly to support the weight."

"Like this?" Alicia tried to model the required gesture.

"Aye, more or less. Move with your feet like that. When your knees are supported," Nadine demonstrated a slow, deliberate movement, keeping her knees bent, "your knees can reduce the vibration coming from the upper body, and absorb the shock when shooting."

"Thus, reducing recoil and increasing accuracy?" replied Alicia with her vibrant tone.

"Now aren't you the canny lass?" The girls laughed after that. "Okay, what are you waiting for? Have it a go then!"

Alicia steadily trotted on once more, her knees aching with the unfamiliar motion of shooting as she walked. Though her body language betrayed her inexperience, her aim improved with each passing moment. Nine energy blasts found their mark, striking true against the dummy, while only one fizzled wide of the mark.

"Wow, you learn fast," praised Gilmore. "Is it because you fired magic?"

Alicia just chuckled. "Ah, c'mon, this is just the first try."

“Well, keep practising and maybe you can beat Leith’s wizarding skill,” said Nadine. “Oh yeah, you might be able to ask him for help to cast yer magic better.”

“Leith?” That Crimsonmane’s smooth face went dreich for a moment. “I dinnae ken. Isn’t it too early to tell Leith everything?”

“Say what?” Gilmore asked as he sipped his lemonade. “Who is he off tae tell? Yer papa? The hail House of Crimsonmane? Well, why not? At least they’ll treat you better when ye can cast spells, eh?”

Orb on Alicia's hand just chirped a melodious hum, making Alicia take another moment for thought. “I’ll consider it. But now, I want to learn close combat.”

“Then it’s your turn, muscle brain! Get your arse off the chair, you lazy bastard!” ordered Nadine.

Gilmore stalled. “Huh? I thought you’d be the one teaching her everything.”

“There's no way of that happening! My body is also sore, you know? Switch positions!”

With a heavy sigh, the lad got up and approached Alicia. Sometimes, a groan would escape him due to last night's aches and pains. “How come dae mages have tae learn any martial arts?" he complained. "I mean, ye could just do the ‘pew, pew, swinggg, whooshh’ and but. Ye dinnae feel sore at all after last night’s fray? My body hurts, ye ken.”

“Ah, dinnae complain, Gily. Just one technique! After all, whose idea is it to train after breakfast?” replied Alicia with a straight face.

“Whose is it? Hmm... I dinnae ken. Speaking of which..., what do you want to learn?”

“Eh, I dinnae ken. How to attack, I guess?”

“But I dinnae ken martial arts in magic.”

“At least they have the same moves as real martial arts, right? Like this flicker I’ve seen, they can control the natural elements with oriental martial arts moves!”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Are you really taking references from a fantasy flicker?”

“I dinnae ken. I think that characterises you more.”

“Hah! Nice sarcasm, Miss Crimsonmane.”

“That’s not sarcasm.”

Gilmore thought for a while, trying to find the ideal reference to utilise Alicia’s magic at close range. Then he recalled that she once hit the ultimate junkie, Caleb Dune, with her favourite sphere. He seemed to get a brilliant idea based on the expression in his eyes. Alicia gazed at him, full of hope.

“Och! You can manipulate Orb’s movements without touching it, can ye not?” Gilmore asked, which aroused Alicia’s anticipation.

“Aye, and?”

“Aye, just swing it around or something like that, then.”

Nadine spat out her lemonade.

Alicia sighed. “You really are a bad instructor.”

Gilmore took a breath as well. “Alright then, tell ye what. Let’s have a spar. When we fought last night, ye were pretty guid at using yer Orb for close combat. So I think ye and Orb seem tae ken what yer doing. I’ll train your reflexes and agility.”

“Yaldie! Awright, maybe that’s a good script.”

“But like any martial arts in general, your stance must be solid.” Gilmore demonstrated himself. Alicia then tried to imitate him.

“Put yer feet slightly wider than yer hips. Tilt them a wee bit to the side, and yer knees should be facing the same direction.” Gilmore did his own instruction. There seemed to be a lot of detail to pay attention to, but Alicia seemed to keep up with it well. Her hands returned to their usual manner when controlling the Orb, only wider this time. Gilmore was also ready with his fighting stance.

"Awright, wee lass! Are ye ready to be battered?"

"W-what? No! It's just training! Dinnae do it hard, please!"

“Just joking!" Gilmorel laughed. "Nadine, the cue!”

“Okay, get ready,” Nadine shouted like a referee. “Ready! Set! Fight!”

By the Big Yin’s unquestionable skill, Gilmore launched his clenched fist at Alicia’s forehead as fast as Thunderkeeper’s lightning! His mitt was so close, one of his finger joints almost touched her forehead! Alicia barely felt the wind from his fist, but she broke her own stance and collapsed in shock.

“Gily! I thought you said you were feeling sore! Told you to not hit me hard!" the girl grumbled.

"But I didnae even touch ye!" Gilmore defended himself.

"Ye almost broke my glasses!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Gilmore offered his hand to help her up. “Jist a wee warm-up, hen, jist wee a warm-up. I could see ye were out of focus. You have Orb. Nae need tae be feart. Use it tae fend off my attacks, then chuck it intae the open gap tae launch yer counterattack!”

The two of them put on a fighting stance again, and Nadine shouted the signal. Gilmore played with his eyes and bullied Alicia with his body gestures. Alicia’s eyes darted around, scanning for any hint of where the next attack might come from.

A kick from Gilmore's left foot initiated the match! But Alicia, quick on her feet, dodged it just in time and retaliated by launching an orb of magic at his ankle. The magic sphere, barely evading a direct impact on his bones, breathed a spark of energy into his leg, creating a stunning sensation and forcefully diverting his limb in a different trajectory.

“There she is!” Gilmore exclaimed. “Now get rid of this!” Gilmore attacked with his right foot, and Alicia managed to parry in a similar fashion. Gilmore followed up with two punches from his right hand, swiftly followed by two from his left hand. He then unleashed a powerful kick with his right foot, only to be succeeded with other rapid punches. However, Alicia, in perfect harmony with the Orb, repelled each of Gilmore's relentless assaults with gracious dancing. Her feet moved in perfect harmony, stepping and rotating according to the rhythm of her being. Though she was caught off guard once and nearly lost her balance, her focus was stronger than ever before. As a result, Alicia swerved from Gilmore’s assaults like a snake. It was as if she was in a trance, her mind fully absorbed at the moment, and she had almost forgotten that her body was still recovering from injuries.

Gilmore decided to take a step back.

“I bet you’ve never taken a martial art class before! How can you be that agile?” yelled Nadine from her chair.

Orb explained to Alicia with its chant. Combining thoughts with mine can slightly increase your basic sense abilities, Alicia!

“Orb said my senses improve a little when synchronised with it,” Alicia answered Nadine. “Maybe that points out a wee bit why my reflexes are up.”

Hooray, finally the young girl got new perks.

A strain of warning came out of Orb again. But Alicia, you can’t get that and other advantages if you lose half your focus. Especially now!

“Now? What do you mean now—” The raw fist nearly dislocated Alicia’s jaw, causing her to slip and fall. Gilmore went on with a round of kicks and consecutive attacks at the half-sitting girl as she tried to roll over from the heavy blows and stand up. Gilmore’s attacks were more supple and adroit than before. Alicia tottered. The Rhino Murray did not give her the slightest chance to gather some of her lost focus.

“Ye cannae always fend off attacks, Alicia. Find yer momentum to gie me a skelpit lug!”

“How can I attack if I’m not given a chance?”

“Really, Alicia? Ye really ask for an opening from yer enemy?”

Alicia was forced to throw Orb into Gilmore’s fist, then took her momentum to commence the first attack. Orb weaved around the Big Yin, but even his massive body could easily slip out of the wonder sphere. Alicia knew she had to keep attacking Gilmore until she decided to back off and give her some time to complete the rest of the synchronisation to gain full power. But the spectacled lass knew she could not strike forever either. Controlling Orb excessively was also a drain on her strength.

Alicia controlled Orb in her hand with wild abandon to grab another momentum, blasting magic energy into Gilmore’s abdomen. The experiment was successful; Gilmore lowered himself in reflex while deflecting it with both hands and took a few steps back. But something else happened. Gilmore did not feel any jolt, pain, or anything. Just a strange gust of glimmering wind. Gilmore unceremoniously darted towards Alicia with his face still hiding under both arms.

Instead of gathering concentration, the bookworm stuttered. The same thing as last night happened again. None of her volleys of shots could subdue the galloping rhino. Some even went off on their own.

Confused, Alicia grumbled, “C’mon! Why are you broken again? Shoot proper!”

I’m not broken! I told you to collect focus—

Orb’s voice suddenly was just another bird chirping for Alicia, as her eyes and mouth were wide open due to Gilmore’s shoulder ramming into her poor belly! The rhinoceros slammed her to the ground, ala a professional wrestler.

Gilmore got up with his feet still on his knees. “K.O!” howled the Big Yin with half arrogance. Nadine then got up from her seat and ran to the lying Alicia.

“Hey! Are you all right? Did Gilmore hit you too hard?”

Alicia lay on the grass just like that, breathless. Her dewy vision struggled to discern the form of a girl with bronzed skin—a silhouette due to her being obstructing the ray of the sun.

The exercises she deemed intense only amplified the pain coursing through her body. Even her hands struggled to muster the slightest movement because of numbness.

Out of breath, Alicia tried to compose a sentence, “Until... what time... do we... practice?”

Nadine glanced at Gilmore for a moment.

“I think we have enough for today.” []