I worked even harder to make both dad and the king proud. I would do as he said and find out what it truly meant by protection something precious, perhaps I even already knew what that meant as I loved every second I trained with dad, helping mum in the bakery and the games I would play with Tigra..
I saw the training as bonding time with dad, spending time with him every morning from 5am to 10am. It was even better when dad introduced a break time halfway where he would bring out a breakfast made by mum.
Watching dad’s expression fill with pride made me forget how hard it got sometimes, it made me happy to see that look on his face. I would do anything to always make him proud.
I learned so much from him as he continued to teach me the names of different Animalia and some history about talismans, which even for him was not a whole lot.
After the second month of my training was coming to an end I began to feel myself improving a lot, running fifteen laps around the castle with hardly any effort, but still struggled to reach dads twenty goal. It helped with my speed, making the dodging of the sphere much easier.
My newfound speed made climbing the trees in the orchards with Tigra and playing cat and mouse with her Guardians so much easier, even Tigra seemed to be getting faster; was she training hard too?
But I couldn’t help but wonder if this would be all dad would be teaching me, speed, and evasion, sure it was fun to begin with, but I was beginning to get bored.
Whenever I passed the knight’s training grounds, near the back end of the castle, I could see that they were all training with swords, spears, bows and even hand to hand combat. Their practise on combat was so much more than what I was doing.
I knew I was only just starting to learn all about this stuff, but other Feles my age were already learning swordsmanship and how to fight.
Since thinking about it at the start of the day, I had lost focus on what I was doing and kept going even though I had been hit by the twelfth sphere of the day.
Dad raised his hand stopping the spheres from moving, he was confused at my lack of concentration, considering I had been doing so well lately.
“Alex.” I looked up at him panting. “What is wrong with you today?” I looked away. “Something on your mind, you can tell me.”
“I was wondering why.” I began, trying to catch my breath.
“Why?” He looked at me puzzled.
“Everyone else has been learning to fight, including Tigra, so why am I still on these basics?!” I raised my voice in frustration. “I’ve gotten better haven’t I?”
“Is that all.” Dad smirked. “Alex, this is how our clan has trained for generations, it is how I was taught.” I looked at him. “Trust me, fighting is not all about strength.”
“It isn’t?”
“No.” Dad shook his head. “Larana the wind fairy needs someone who is fast and agile to use her power. I am building you up to be able to use it.” Dad had everything planned out from the very start of my training.
“Sorry dad.” I apologised, realising that my frustration had been mis-aimed.
“Don’t worry, I was just as impatient as you are,” smiled dad. “I even used Larana’s power before I was ready and ended up hurting my closest friend with it.”
“Really, who?” I was shocked to hear something like that had happened to dad, who was a legend of his own, when he was teamed up with Larana.
Dad looked up at the castle. “King Alton.” I just stared at him. “I was trying to show off, after I had received her as my talisman and hurt him as a result.” Dad let out a little sigh. “Sure, he forgave me a long time ago, but I have never forgotten what I did to him.”
“Dad.”
“At least you have yet to make the same mistake I did by using Larana’s powers prematurely.” He looked at me.
“You told me to be patient,” I responded honestly. “Plus, I don’t even know how to summon her power, and she won’t tell me either.”
“Good,” nodded dad. “It seems she still remembers what happened too.” Dad moved the subject back onto what we were doing, thinking that was enough of his past to tell for today. I still couldn’t help but wonder in what way he had injured the king. “Once you have reached level 20 with the sphere and can last thirty minutes, I will show you how to use Larana’s power.”
“Really.” I grinned excitedly.
“Yes, then you will be ready,” nodded dad. “Now are we ready to get back to work.”
“Yeah.” I stood strongly ready to continue with my training. Hearing dad’s story made me realise that perhaps I was not yet ready to even consider using Larana’s power.
Even though I was happy with his words, I could not guarantee I wouldn’t get frustrated or impatient with my training, but with dad, King Alton and even Tigra giving me support I would keep going until I was successful and finally got to enter the knight’s academy.
-
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I spent the next five weeks working hard with dad, finding it difficult to not even try to use Larana’s power, but I had no idea how to use it, so my thoughts of asking about it faded away as Larana never answered my questions on how to access her power.
“You’re not ready Alex, be patient.” She was just like dad.
Over time I slowly made my way up to level 20, that also included my twenty laps around the castle. I was determined to use her power, I wanted to more than anything else.
I noticed the only spheres that seemed to hit me were the electro and pyro, it was getting annoying, but I pushed through it, thinking of nothing else apart from my target of finally being taught how to use Larana’s power.
“Not bad.” Dad nodded proudly.
“And Larana.” I beamed so excited; my hard work would finally show. The spheres were all buzzing around me, almost like they were excited too.
“I said only once you have lasted thirty minutes against level 20, you have yet to do that.” Dad grinned as I slumped forward, frustrated. “You can do this Alex; I know you can.” I looked up at him, he had such faith in me. I nodded filled with pride and determination. “Your time starts now.”
The first batch of spheres came at me, staying focused I allowed my instincts and abilities to guide my body, just like I had done to get this far, avoiding everything that came at me. Left, right, duck, roll, jump. I could do this.
Those thirty minutes felt like forever, I had more close calls than I cared to admit, my body slowing down as time progressed. I had no idea how much longer I had until the time was up, but I wasn’t going to give up, I would master Larana’s power and the gift passed down to me by mum.
Many times, as the spheres came into strike I could see their movements crystal clear, almost like I was watching it before it was happening. I still wasn’t sure how this ability was activated, but it only ever lasted for a few seconds at a time.
As time continued on through my final test I felt a gentle wind circling around my body. I instantly knew who this wind belonged to; it was Larana. She seemed to be helping me, but I didn’t understand why she’d never used her wind before, perhaps I was now ready.
I noticed Larana was redirecting any sphere which came too close away from me, I didn’t understand what was happening, but dad was smiling, almost like he was pleased about this new development.
I jumped forward, sliding across the ground on my belly to avoid five coming down from above. I rolled over onto my back to see three more coming from above. Crap I couldn’t evade them in time, they were three of the quickest spheres. I closed my eyes ready to have a beating, to fail this test but they never came.
I slowly opened my eyes, expecting the spheres to hit me when I heard clapping. “Nicely done.” It was the king. I looked over to him standing next to dad, when did he get here.
“Thirty minutes are up Alex,” informed dad, the spheres hovering inches above my chest. “You know how to cut things close,” laughed King Alton. “Like you,” he nudged dad. Dad just gave him a dirty look.
“Now for what I promised.” The spheres became one again and returned to dad’s hand.
“Finally, I can learn Larana’s power.” I cheered, my eyes wide with excitement, this was it.
“I thought you would have taught him that the day he received Larana.” King Alton glanced at dad.
“I needed to make sure he was ready,” replied dad.
“More like you were worried he’d end up hurting someone like you did,” responded King Alton shrugging.
“Shut up,” growled dad.
“You still feel bad for that, after all these years?” King Alton looked at his friend shocked. “It wasn’t your fault; her power can be so unpredictable.”
“It was my fault.” Dad looked away from King Alton.
“I forgave you, no need for you to keep holding this.” He touched dad’s shoulder. Dad didn’t give him a reply, so King Alton continued. “Remember Alex is not you and he is not alone in learning her power.”
“I know.” Dad came closer, pulling away from King Alton.
“But I thought you were taught by your dad.” I gazed up at him in wonder.
“Yes,” nodded dad. “He was there at the beginning of my training, but he needed to protect others in our clan and is no longer in this world,” Before I could respond dad continued. “Before we begin your training I must tell you Larana is very powerful, you will only be able to control a small portion of it to begin with but the more you use her power the more you’ll be able to master it, gathering more energy for more powerful skills.” I nodded, listening intently, realising this was important to him.
“Sometimes the legendary wind fairy Larana’s powers can be overwhelming even for an experienced warrior like your dad,” informed King Alton.
“You’ve already used some of it” mentioned dad.
“When? How?” I looked at him confused.
“The wind you felt, redirecting some of the spheres.” I stared at him surprised. “That was her power, she finally senses that you are ready to learn her power. Now you must access more.”
“Okay,” I nodded again.
“First you need to transfer your own power into the bracelet, so Larana can get a feel for your own power, to feed off it when she summons hers, getting a feel for this now, will help you when you wish to use it. Close your eyes and focus solely on the bracelet.”
I nodded, closing my eyes. I pictured Larana’s perfect, beautiful bracelet in my head. I could almost see an aura start to appear around it, then this little spark of my own power beside hers, compared to hers, mine was so small.
I watched as a small portion of her power reached out to touch mine, it was almost like she was holding out her hand. I smiled as I took hold of it.
“Wow.” I heard the king’s voice, so I opened my eyes, to see the wind was blowing wildly around me.
“Alex.” Dad was just as surprised as I was.
“Larana.” I held my hands out, the wind circled around them as if waiting for me to do something with it.
“Amazing,” smiled King Alton. “He has more control over it than you did.”
Dad shook his head. “This is usually what happens during the first connection.” He glanced at King Alton. “You might be right, but we’ll see.”
“Test it,” encouraged King Alton.
“Alex, control it more, bend it, direct the wind in whatever direction you want it too,” instructed dad, he held both excitement and concern. “The wind is an extension of yourself, move it with your hands, or even better your mind.”
“My hands.” I began moving my hands from side to the side, the wind copied me. “Cool.”
Larana appeared on my shoulder. “Aren’t we a perfect match master.” She looked over at dad. “He is the one, you know.” I looked at her, not sure what she was talking about. “My master.” She hugged my neck.
“I think that is enough for today,” said dad.
“Aww.” Larana was sad.
“Larana,” snarled dad.
“Fine.” She smiled. “He is ready, you know.” The wind dispersed; everything was calm again. I felt suddenly drained and collapsed. Dad caught hold of me. I was confused why this was happening. I hadn’t the chance to ask as I lost consciousness.