Leinne shocked everyone as he surpassed not only Wein in magic but also Rondu in physical training although Leinne still can't use aura, while his mana far surpassed Wein's. But Wein had his quick cast which gave him more flexibility in combat. Both of them were being taught by the best mage In the kingdom.
He was wearing a white shirt sleeves rolled up, and black pants. He didn't look his age of 74, his anti-ageing magic was one of his proud possession and his main source of income. He was teaching about the advanced magic links, “Look at my hand” he summon a blob of water and a small fire on his palm. Both the elements spiralled around one another forming a cloud of steam, he brought a piece of paper near the steam, and in an instant, the paper burned into nothing, there were no ashes.
“Did you two get it?”
“Yes, Master Mais” Wein and Leinne said in unison.
“Then try it. Remember imagination is the key to mastering link magic”
Both of them started to chant first, they first chanted for the water blob and then the fire and then both of their elements spiralled round forming a cloud of steam. Mais clapped as he had never seen geniuses such as Wein and Leinne but this also made him sad as their talents were discovered in such tragic times. Wein and Leinne smiled at each other, happy they were able to perform such complex magic.
“That should be enough for today…”Mais stopped talking the instant he saw King Krangier behind the boys near the door. He immediately stood up and greeted the king, “Good evening my lord” Immediately the boys turned to greet the king as well.
“Evening to you Mais, but not a good one”
“Don’t tell me, my lord,”
“The Barrier is one year from breaking”
“How? That is impossible possible, it's going way too fast”
“Even I am shocked” Krangier looked at the two boys “Work hard your two. Humanity will need your powers soon” He then turned to Mais, “You know what to do”
“Yes my lord”
“I have already told Esan to increase the intensity of training of the other children” Krangier then left the room, as the door closed.
“Any soldier outside” Mais shouted
The door was opened by a soldier as he entered, “Do you need something, sir?”
“Yes, go to the pantry and ask the chef to cook the kids some protein foods and fruit drinks”
“As you wish, sir” The soldier left the room.
“You children go with the soldier and eat well and then meet me in the ground after eating”
“Yes master” Both of, them left the room.
Mais turned his chair around and looked at the other children on the ground, training with swords, the only difference between yesterday and today was that they were using sharp steel swords instead of their blunt swords. But he was more worried that the 'heroes' are so easily breaking away the barrier, they only got 10 years of protection rather than their promised 100 years.
Wein and Leinne were eating two chicken legs each with rice and potato, along with a mango shake. “Eat well, from today onwards expect training to get even more hard” Wein said.
Leinne looked at Wein and asked, “Will you be able to kill them when the time comes?”
“What do you mean?”
“I am talking about those heroes, will you be able to kill them?”
“Hmm, to be honest, I think I can, I have already killed 5 children during my days when I came last in running. They were much more important than some heroes.”
“I see”
After eating both of them went to the training ground, where Mais was waiting holding two magic staff while a huge golem provided him with shade. "You two ate well”
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"Yes master," both of them said.
"Take these" Mais gave both the boys a staff, “from today we will do both study theory and then have combat training. I have already told Esan to exclude you two from morning physical training"
"Thank you master" They both said.,
"You are going to regret that thank you"
Both of them stayed silent.
"Today I will show you how to fight in close combat"
"Ok"
"Rule 1... You both say"
"Don't fight in close combat" The boys said. As they had had already been going through periodic combat training under Mais.
"I will give you two seconds, make a 200-metre distance you and me"
'Fire Step'
Both of them the instant they uttered the activation word, they turned into a flame and flew back. But as soon they came back into their human bodies, Mais held two swords one on each's neck. “You both died”
“How did you..?” Wein said.
“What do you think only you can move fast? Remember in real combat even the smallest mistake is deadly .”
“So what should we do?” Leinne asked.
“It's simple really, always remember whether it be physical combat or magic the stronger one always wins. In this case the faster one will always win”
“What did you do master? You were way too fast.” Wein asked.
“Mana magic”
“What's that?”
“It's the purest form of magic. Even after 50 years I am at the basics”
“What?”
“Yes, among the heroes there's a girl who was born with natural talent for Mana magic, it's safe to say in the past hundreds of years she is the strongest mage on this planet”
“Did you know her?”
“Yes, quite well. I taught her class”
“What!” Wein was shocked. But he didn't make a scene.
“Yes, and now I regret that. I never knew I made such inhumane monsters.”
“Why did you tell us this?” Leinne asked.
“You catch on quickly. Actually, I believe you two harbour even more talent the class of heroes I taught.”
“Are you sure?” Wein said.
“Yes, your cast speed alone wouldn't put you on top of that class, but you also have firepower to complement that speed. While you Leinne, although you don't have speed, you already make up for it with your vast amount of mana. Also, I suggest both of stay together, and never get separated.”
“Yes, master” Both of them smiled.
“Getting back, to make a distance between you and your enemy, just using 'fire step' will only make you even more vulnerable, but instead create a distraction. For example first attack with a spells.”
Suddenly a bright light blinded the boys, as they opened their eyes, Mais was standing 400 metres away. Wein and Leinne used 'fire step' to reach him. But it took them 2 seconds to reach Mais”
“That was slow. Practice fire step until you reach one second”
“Yes, master.”
After finishing their training it was already night, the physical training students had already left or some were coming back to train after eating.
Before the boys were about to leave, Wein asked “What was the name of the female student whome you taught”
Mais sighed and looked at the starry sky, “Seph, that's her name”
The night was peaceful, as the children were fast asleep, but behind the pitch-black barrier, the gold feather aggressively started to rotate as the mages have finished chanting. The feather flew up in the sky and crack! It hit the barrier making the noise of glass breaking. Bright gold cracks started to appear in the barrier as it was shattering. In front of it Neth shouted, “It's time my friends, the time to achieve our true freedom.” The whole army of heroes shouted in unison with courage, strength and determination. Seph looked at the future that was about to unfold with anxiety.