Aiki took us to top of Retnus Mountain. Kastiff was massive range of mountains beginning from Land of Elves up to lake Kasp. Retnus was one of the smallest ones on the list. Nevertheless, it peak was covered in snow all year around. Aiki descended close to the peak and went inside a cave. The felt as if not used for a long time, but had few places where fire tracks were left. I thought Hitomi has used this place for her own trainings but was not interested in asking her for more details.

[Hitomi]: Aslan you should get used to this place, it will be your home for the first part of the training.

[Me]: It does not seem big enough to practice any spells. Do you have anything in mind?

[Hitomi]: You are quick to catch. You will mediate over here. Nobody or nothing will interrupt you.

[Me]: What about you guys?

[Hitomi]: You shouldn’t worry about us, neither for yourself. I will leave 2 apples with you. That should be more than enough for 2 days. Get into lotus position and meditate to reach the state of mind, which you had 3 days ago.

[Me]: Should I chant a special prayer?

[Hitomi]: No, just meditate and bring out your mana. You have to lose your ego to control it though. In this cave, you can’t hurt anyone and nobody will be able to hurt you. This is the best place for meditation. Good luck!

She sat on top of Aiki and gryphon began to fly. Just before leaving she told me not to freeze to death and they left.

In the last 3 months of training, my body has become strong. My height went up to 5’6. For a 13-year-old kid my body had a good vibe. Height was average but my body build was better than most.  I could survive 2 days, by eating an apple a day. I did not have any matches on me to start a fire nor there was wood around. Thinking about it, the only way around was to meditate.

I sat on ground, got into lotus position and closed my eyes. I began to breathe in from my nose and breathe out from my mouth. As time passed, I felt the darkness surrounding me again. I was not in trance because of a drink this time, so I knew that I had control over my conscious and unconscious part of my brain and soul. I was in control but I felt as if something was missing. I opened my eyes but darkness had already taken over. Wherever I looked it was dark. Complete darkness. I shivered for a moment, and then felt the cold. My body was freezing. Nobody was around to help. I was going to die. Fear of death made me panic. I was going to freeze to death. A conversation that I had read between two lovers who got out of near death situation popped up on my mind at that moment.

[woman]: aren’t you afraid of death, my love?

[man]: why should I be afraid of death, when I am determined to live for you, my love?

I closed my eyes again. If I was supposed to die even if the whole world came to help me nobody could. If I was supposed to live even if the whole world came to kill me nobody could. So why should I be afraid of death? But letting go of the life was not a wise idea too. I just didn’t have to be attached to any of those two.

Darkness faded away. I opened my eyes. I was in the cave in lotus position. Light that looked like star popped up all around me. Freezing went away. One by one they entered my body. No words can describe the feeling that I experienced. The mana had taken a physical form and engulfed my body from head to toe. I stood up and turned to entrance of the cave. Aiki flew inside. Hitomi looked at me.

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[Hitomi]: Blue flames.

[Me]: I am in ecstasy.

[Hitomi]: You should be. It’s been 7 days/

[Me]: You told me you would come after me in 2 days, what happened?

[Hitomi]: I came and checked on you. You were in trance so I did not want to disturb you. But by today if you did not come out of it, I was planning to force you out of meditation.

I had a different feel about myself.

[Hitomi]: One more trick before we end up the training. Imagine and visualize backside of my hut.

[Me]: Okay.

[Hitomi]: Now chant “Inem apra”

[Me]: Inem apra!

I lost my balance and fell of on my butt. It hurted. I was behind her hut. Unbelievable. I look at my arms and hands the mana was gone. I wanted it to be back and it engulfed me again. I wanted it to disappear and it went away. I felt a bit tired and went into hut. There was a feast inside and I did not wait for Hitomi and began to eat. My stomach was full. Hitomi entered the hut after few hours.

[Hitomi]: Flying takes a lot of time and energy.

[Me]: What happened to me back in cave? How come I was here in matter of a moment when it took you guys hours?

[Hitomi]: You teleported. It takes an enormous amount of mana but you managed.

Later on she went into details to explain about teleportation and how an important spell that was.

Hut’s door was cracked down and Mariette barged in.

[Mariette]: You are a liar and a coward! Come with me now to tournament stadium or I will kill you here.

I stood up.

[Mariette]: Follow me.

I went after her and we reached arena after 25 minutes of fast walk. She entered it first and positioned herself to exact opposite of our initial entrance. Most of the village had seen us walking towards the arena and came with us to watch. I did hear people betting on us.

She unsheathed her sword and pointed it in my direction. Mana was engulfing my body.

[Mariette]: Tora no kiba! (fangs of tiger)

A massive tiger was formed out of wind, as if opening its mouth and showing it’s fangs it came up on me. I did not move. Did not felt like it. I faced it head on. There was a massive shockwave. I was standing as if nothing happened. Mariette was in shock. I imagined and visualized that I am near Mariette left side and …

[Me]: Inem apra!

I appeared right behind her. She did not know where I was. She was in shock. Who wouldn’t be? I used my left hand and grabbed from her waist and brought her body to touching distance to mine(a bit to intimate). My right arm going over her shoulder I grabbed her right arm.  I bended my head a bit, and whispered to her left ear…

[Me]:  The sword does not suit a beautiful girl like you!

She dropped the sword and …

Next: Chapter 07 - The Usual Politics!