Ral did the morning drills just like everybody else. He would never say it out loud, but the drills Yepla has everyone do would be considered a joke back at the Somas camp. There was some stretching, then running a lap or two on relatively even ground (they didn’t even need to scale a wall!) and then stance and form practice on basic weapons. The latter, in his opinion, was the most useful as he could translate any stance or form to the staff - this he had to do by himself as the staff wasn’t a weapon even considered among the people in the Academy.

“Theoretically it’s a defensive weapon,” Verne had said to him. “With manipulatable tips, yes, but you will find most manus users unwilling to learn how to use this added function and will simply prefer a sword.”

He and Verne had spent nearly every waking hour together since arriving back on the island. Rask had declined to join them at the Academy to prowl around the Heart, or perhaps return to Sansre. “While you help your sister get better and find out a method of closing these things once and for all,” Rask said. “This is the best use of our time. I don’t want you to feel guilty about this, Ral.”

Ral tried to do as he was asked, but immediately after she woke up he found Aris was less than willing to talk to him. Perhaps that argument they had in her dream state kept her opinion of him cool - or perhaps he did something wrong trying to insert himself into her life. He could occasionally sense her in the room even if she turns herself invisible but he couldn’t bring himself to call out to her since she was obviously avoiding him. He couldn’t confer with Camaz or Laell that often, knowing Aris would be working with them. She wanted space, he would give it to her - if only he knew why.

So all he really had was Verne to rely on. The man generously shared a flat with him even though he would be perfectly fine in some cave off the side of the island. Ral spent a good half a day exploring the slippery rocks and steep cliffs and found a few spots he could live in if he could stand the constant roar of the Blood Ocean. However Verne assured him that it would be best for both of them if they became roommates, saying something about ‘propriety’ and ‘public opinion’ that Ral only half understood.

It was strange seeing the person who cared most for his well being was a Sekrelli noble. Verne patiently showed him all the facilities the Academy had to offer, introduced him to key people in the Manus department and even showed him where to get the tastiest food. But a part of Ral wondered if Verne took care of him simply because he was ordered to.

After their ‘drills’ they finally got to the part Ral looked forward to the most. In the small grassy patch of land the Manus department laid claim over, a small handful of similar aged students paired up to spar. A few simply did very simple opening or blocking practices as requested by more senior students. Others prepared for actual sparring. And like most days, Verne and Ral paired off.

A part of Ral wondered if he accepted this Sekrelli’s hospitality because the man could fight.

There were obvious caveats over the entire exchange. First of all, they weren’t really fighting, just sparring. Secondly, just as Ral wasn’t used to seeing how Sekrelli noblemen handle a sword, Verne was not familiar with the Somas or Freerunner way of fighting. But it’s what made the whole thing so interesting to Ral. Fighting Verne wasn’t a struggle against his own limits nor a screaming reminder that he was unlike everyone else around him but rather like a puzzle to solve.

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Verne held himself differently compared to others. Perhaps in Somas terms, he had attained a kind of stillness within him. In Ral’s mind, the Somas’ way of stillness was to gather, compress and pressurize latent energy then to let it out in a burst to attain unnatural speed. However Verne doesn’t use the stillness for speed at all as Ral is consistently faster than him in every movement. Even then, Ral finds it near impossible to land a hit on him.

They practiced under the shade in the most uneven spot of the training grounds. Everything was drowned out as the focused on lunging at each other, dodging, and parrying. It was like Verne had every answer to any problem presented to him. If Ral tried to grapple him, he would twist a certain way and counter with the sharp edge of a sword. If a pointed end of the staff made its way too close to him, he would have already responded with the blade at the neck. Rushing him as fast as he could yielded unsatisfactory results as Verne was able to block almost every time. Ral supposed he could overpower the other man but Verne was able to throw him off balance before he gained footing to wrestle him to the ground.

The stillness must be a boon to him somehow. Ral rushed forward again, staff transformed to a sharp spike ready to strike. Verne intercepted at a perfect angle and it glanced off. With a smooth pivot he sent Ral flying off to the side, completely off balance. He landed on the grass with a groan, more frustrated than injured.

“That was a close one,” Verne said kindly.

“We both know that’s not true,” Ral said, rolling on his back.

There was some kind of intense focus that the stillness fed. Something that just made Verne incredibly calm. Just as the thought crossed his mind, a voice drifted over them. “Mmm, yeah I can attest that it was nowhere close,” Aris said.

Ral raised his head to see his sister’s hooded form standing between the trees just a few paces away. He opened his mouth to say something but quickly noticed that stillness from Verne was suddenly … not there. Without thinking, Ral got up as fast as he could and slid right into the spot most vulnerable for a swordsman (directly behind) and had him in a light choke hold before he could react.

“Interesting,” Aris said thoughtfully. “You are either embracing ardently or Ral’s caught you, Verne.”

“The latter,” Verne gasped. He tapped his surrender and Ral let him go. “Good one, Ral.”

“Hardly fair, you were distracted,” Ral said. Distraction was enough to shake the man’s stillness, he just needed to know how to do it every time.

“Distracted by what?” Aris asked.

“You,” Ral said. Verne looked away sharply and Ral mentally slapped himself while hastily adding: “I mean you’re like a ghost coming out of the forest like that without a sound or warning. Scared the sun out of him.”

“Hm. Apologies,” Aris said, sounding anything but sorry. She seemed to shift awkwardly then thrust her chin out. “We should talk, brother. When you’re done.”

“Have you finally decided to stop ignoring me?”

“I mean, I can always continue to ignore you,” Aris shot back.

Ral rolled his eyes. He forgot how stubborn she could be. Verne stepped between them to stop the bickering that was about to happen. “We are done for today,” he said firmly to Ral. “You should go talk. I insist.”

The stillness was back. The feeling like Verne knew the answer to every question, the response to every strike. Ral nodded and bumped his fist gently against Verne’s shoulder in parting. Maybe next time he’ll figure out the man’s secrets.