Two months had passed since Nazzares first started training with Master Vitjendra. Nazzares received news that his master would be returning to Gousan Village to take care of some matters.
Nazzares had been waiting while training diligently, determined to face his master and prove that he was now worthy of being recognized as a true Fatalis.
While he was sharpening his swordsmanship, Nazzares sensed his master's presence from afar. "So, he has returned," he said, feeling excited about his master's arrival.
A few moments later, as his master arrived at the training ground, Vitjendra called out from a distance, "Hey! Zares!"
With a smile, Nazzares responded, "Master! I've missed you so much!" He hadn't seen him in months.
Hearing that, his master simply smiled. Then he asked, "How has your training been these past two months? On my way here, I noticed several places that looked like the aftermath of some brutal battles."
"Yes! Those were my fights against the Raksha who tried to approach the village. No matter how hard I train, I still need real combat experience," Zares replied.
"Hah! You monster! Looks like you're ready to fight me now, aren't you?" At that moment, Vitjendra was reminded of Zares' grandfather's face.
"Yes, I'm ready!" Zares said eagerly. He was excited to finally spar with Vitjendra, as he had grown bored fighting the weak Raksha.
The battle begins.
Both of them are ready, taking their stances in the middle of a grassy field, surrounded by trees and rocks, with a gentle breeze adding to the tense atmosphere between the two fighters.
WUSSH..!!
Zares charged toward Vitjendra at high speed. When Vitjendra blinked, his vision suddenly became blurry. Unbeknownst to him, Zares had come from the side and pushed his head aside.
PRAKK
"What kind of move was that?" Vitjendra said in surprise, observing Nazzares' speed. However, Vitjendra quickly matched his movements and clashed swords with him.
SRING! TANG! TANG! TING!
They clashed swords with incredible speed. Seeing how fast Nazzares had improved, Vitjendra thought of using a bit of his own power.
With a smile, Master Vitjendra asked, "Hey, how did you manage to improve so much in less than 3 months?" he asked in the middle of their fight.
The disciple responded, "I’ve been hunting Raksha. Training continuously and increasing the intensity every time, Master," Zares answered while parrying his master's strikes.
"Very well," replied the master. Then he moved swiftly with a lighthearted smile. His movements were like the wind, and in an instant, his sword shot forward with incredible speed, heading straight for Nazzares' shoulder.
CLANG!
Nazzares managed to block the attack with his sword. The ringing sound of metal filled the air. Without stopping, Vitjendra spun his body and unleashed a series of relentless strikes.
Nazzares stepped back a step, parrying each blow with agility that seemed beyond that of an ordinary human. His movements grew faster, until in a matter of seconds, both of them became faint shadows moving with flashes of sword light in the air.
"Your speed has improved, but it’s still too stiff!" Vitjendra called out, swinging his sword diagonally, creating a bright blue light trail.
Nazzares smiled faintly, then leaped backward, narrowly dodging the slash. "Stiff? Let’s see how stiff my attack is!"
With explosive movement, Nazzares counterattacked. He lunged forward, his sword flashing as it swept through the air in a spiral, forcing Vitjendra to take several steps back. But the old elf quickly changed his strategy. He blocked the attack with a powerful counterstrike, sending sparks flying in the air.
Their speed continued to increase. The clashing sword blades created a sharp, thunderous sound like lightning in a clear sky. The ground around them began to crack, with dust and dry leaves being lifted into the air by the mystical energy pressure from each strike.
At one moment, they slashed at each other in the air, only to be knocked apart, sending them both flying in opposite directions.
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After the sword clash, both of them stood atop trees, with Vitjendra perched on a higher branch.
Master Vitjendra crossed his arms casually over his chest. Then, many swords appeared and flew around him. This was one of his techniques, called the "Knight of a Thousand Swords."
"So, this is one of your techniques, Master. Amazing, I’m getting more excited," Zares said, amazed at his master’s abilities.
"Get ready, my disciple!" Master Vitjendra called from the top of the tree.
"Yaaa..." Zares answered with a grin.
Then, dozens of swords began flying toward Zares at incredible speed. Sring! Zares began dodging and parrying the incoming swords.
CLANG! SHING! The sound of Abhiseka’s sword ringing out as it blocked the barrage of swords from Master Vitjendra.
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Meanwhile, Kandhita was heading toward the training ground.
"Meow meow, meow... meow meow meow meow meow..." Kandhita hummed along as she made her way to the training ground with a lot of food. She knew from Zares that Master Vitjendra would be returning to the village today.
------
Back to the fight, the battle was becoming more intense. Zares kept running, weaving through rivers and trees while parrying the swords that relentlessly pursued him.
In a cornered position, Zares began using his mystical technique. As the battle continued, Zares was able to fly using his mystic technique.
"What..! He can fly..!!" Master Vitjendra exclaimed upon seeing his disciple handling his own technique. "Impressive," he said with a smile.
Then, Zares suddenly stopped midair, hovering and waiting for the swords chasing him to hit him.
"Haaa, why did he stop in midair?" Master Vitjendra said, seeing Zares, "What are you thinking?"
Suddenly, Zares spread his palms and directed them toward the swords that were flying toward him.
Then, suddenly...
SING..!! LEBH..!! An invisible shield stopped all the incoming swords.
"What is that? Hahahahaha!" Master Vitjendra laughed, watching in awe and surprise, wondering what mystical technique he was witnessing.
Zares destroyed all the swords, then began focusing his mystic energy into his Abhiseka sword. Zares took his stance, preparing to strike at Master Vitjendra.
"He’s going to strike? From that far away?" Master Vitjendra thought, becoming cautious as he sensed the overwhelming mystical energy from Nazzares.
SLASH..!!
The strike headed straight for Master Vitjendra. Without hesitation, he drew his own sword and blocked the blow, deflecting it away.
SRAKK!
The strike from Zares created a crack along its path. However, the strike was easily deflected by Master Vitjendra.
"That’s too powerful, kid!" Master Vitjendra said with a smile, impressed by how much his disciple had developed in such a short time.
Master Vitjendra launched his sword at Zares, but Zares quickly parried it. TANG! The sword spun near Zares, but to his surprise...
SWAPH
Master Vitjendra swapped places with his sword (teleporting), and now, face-to-face with Zares, he smiled.
And then, finally...
"What!" Zares exclaimed, shocked to see his master's face right in front of him. And then...
BAM.. BLAKK!! TANG BAM
"AAAGGHH!" Zares screamed.
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Kandhita had arrived at the training area...
"La la la la..." Her humming stopped when she arrived. "Haa, what’s going on with this place? Why is it so damaged?" Kandhita, upon seeing the training area half-destroyed, was surprised.
Then, when she saw Nazzares' face, she immediately asked, "Hey, what happened to you? Why does your face look so battered?" Kandhita, shocked to see Nazzares' face swollen and his nose dripping, asked.
"Hahahaha," Nazzares laughed while enduring the pain.
"Come here, I'll heal you," Kandhita said, hurriedly pulling out a bottle of medicinal potion that she always brought when accompanying Nazzares during training.
"Kandhita..." Vitjendra, the teacher, greeted her.
"Oh, teacher, long time no see," Kandhita replied, and then continued, "Your ears are still the same, teacher," she said, looking at Vitjendra's ears, which always moved.
"Haa... oh, my ears never change," Vitjendra thought to himself, then asked, "Is that food for me?" he asked Kandhita.
"Of course, teacher, eat as much as you like," Kandhita answered with a beautiful smile.
"Alright... enjoy your meal," Vitjendra exclaimed enthusiastically.
While Zares and Vitjendra ate, Kandhita began gently applying the medicine to the bruises on Zares' face. She formed a mudra seal and placed the paper with incantations on her palms to gather mystical energy. Then, Kandhita directed both her palms toward Zares' bruised face.
A green light appeared from her palms. She had mastered the use of mystical energy for healing. Slowly, the bruises on Zares' face faded away.
"CESS," followed by smoke rising from the bruises on Zares' face.
"Ouch, ouch, slow down... it hurts, you know!" Zares groaned, trying to endure the pain.
"Shut up, just stay still," Kandhita replied.
Vitjendra observed Kandhita's healing abilities with interest. He then said, "You seem to have mastered it."
"Thank you, teacher. I learned from Zares' father, but there's still so much I need to learn. My ability is still far from his," Kandhita replied.
"You two are just about to turn 12, right? The academy will accept students through special admission when you're 15. So, have you decided on your future?" Vitjendra said while chewing his food.
"I've decided, teacher! After Zares and I get married, we'll go straight to the capital to study at the Majapahit academy," Kandhita answered confidently.
Vitjendra, hearing the answer from his pupil's future wife, immediately responded, "Getting into the Majapahit Academy’s medical division is quite difficult because of the entrance exam. If you'd like, I can recommend you to the kingdom to make it easier for you to enter."
"Thank you, teacher, for your offer. I want to try harder to measure how far my abilities go. If I fail, I’ll try again until I succeed," Kandhita replied.
"Alright..." Vitjendra answered with a smile.
"By the way, teacher, how long will you be staying here?" Kandhita asked.
"One full year. There’s something I need to do in the Blora Forest," Vitjendra replied.
"Heee... that’s quite a long time," Kandhita responded happily.
Hearing his teacher's answer, Nazzares then said, "Yes, in that year, I’ll become stronger and defeat you, teacher," Zares said energetically.
"Hahahaha. Alright, this will be fun," Vitjendra answered with a laugh.
To be continued...