Chapter 6 –

After I demonstrated my various magic, Chey gave me free reign to study as I please while the other kids are in class. There were some days when I’d stick around and help the other students out, but other days, I’d just grab a book and read.

I’d learn a variety of new magic over the next few years, but I could only understand up to intermediate level in healing magic, except for my Phoenix Down> spell. That’s a spell unique to my lineage, apparently.

We started doing mock fights as well. I’d do fine until they got close, but I had no idea how to fight these guys up close. It’s not like I can’t do anything, but all of the spells that could help are large area of effect skills that could seriously injure the other person, so they weren’t even an option in all reality.

My Lightning Clad> skill works to ward off anyone who wants to try and get close, but constantly using that skill to win doesn’t help me learn anything new. I need to learn how to fight. It’s as simple as that.

In light of this, on my 7th birthday, Chey sent a message to one of her old adventuring buddies, and employed her as our new combat instructor. Remmy Leilos is a C rank adventurer who has mastered the Biruth sword style to the advanced level, as well as a few magics to the intermediate level.

“Alright! Finish up your warm up routines and meet me out back,” Remmy said with sweat dripping down onto her leather breastplate.

She can’t be comfortable in that! She’s wearing a full leather set complete with leather vambraces, pants, shin guards, and greaves, along with heavy cloth under armor. It has got to be hot as hell wearing all that.

“Today, we will be having mock battles. Projectile magic is not allowed. Cal, Ulrich, get in the pit.”

‘The pit’ is that hole I made back when I first used Lightning Drop>. We decided to start using it for practice since we would be destroying the landscape anyways.

“Fighters to the center. Begin when you’re ready.”

As soon as my feet touched the dirt, Ulrich rushed at me with his sword. I noticed the glimmer of his double edged short sword from the top of my vision and only just barely put my sword in between us.

The blades were dulled, so even though it split my cheek, it didn’t cleave my head in two.

“The battle doesn’t start only because I give the word. If you see an opportunity, then take it. There is no such thing as dirty tactics in battle.”

I dropped my stance and angled my blade to let his slide over my head. I dove into his center, thrusting my hilt into his gut in a motion similar to a horizontal hammer fist.

Ulrich saw it coming and pivoted on his foot to sidestep my strike. He brought his sword around into an upward strike like a tennis backhand, but because he was off balance from his footwork, the strike was slow.

I planted my right foot down and pushed my torso back and around. I swung the flat of my sword upward to parry his strike, but it wasn’t to block; it was to break his stance. I put enough force into my swing that Ulrich’s arm was thrown up, exposing his chest.

I spun around and threw my foot into his chest with a spinning back kick. It connected with his sternum and threw him into the wall of the pit.

“Stop! Winner: Callum!”

“Tch!”

“Sloppy. Your parry and kick were decent, but you’re too naive. Ulrich has much better battle sense than you.”

“I understand, thank you for your guidance, Master.” I said, bowing respectfully.

“I won’t let you off easy next time, Cal.”

“How about you win a match against him, then try saying that again.” Ciel chimed in, teasingly.

“Ciel, don’t provoke him.”

“I don’t need you defending me, Demi-human.”

“How about you duel me next then?”

Ciel had changed a lot in the last 3 years. Not so much in appearance, but his attitude has gotten coarser. His voice hadn’t changed at all though, which is strange for a child who is supposed to be going through puberty.

Ciel was 13, Elena was 11, and I had turned 7. Having been worked thoroughly by Remmy, my body has grown well. I could run long distances without tiring, but I still needed to build up some strength.

The next match was between Elena and Ciel.

“Fighters to the pit!”

They both settled into their stances in the pit. Elena held her sword, and body, low to the ground, while Ciel assumed a single handed mid stance.

Elena took the initiative and dashed forward maintaining a dangerously small distance between the ground and her face. It was a good choice, since there’s not much you can do to counter it unless you also adopt a lower stance.

In a flash, Elena covered the distance, and brought her sword upwards and across Ciel’s body, but Ciel ducked low and used her sword to guide the threat away. Sparks flew from the crossing blades, and Ciel took the opportunity to sidestep Elena’s body and plant a left hook with her free hand into her side.

Elena took the blow in stride and brought the hilt of her sword crashing into Ciel’s knee.

“Stop! Winner: Elena!”

It was over in a few seconds and Elena had her sword pressed against Ciel’s throat.

Ciel let out a sigh, “I can never win against you.”

“That’s because you don’t think ahead. You only think about what’s in front of you, rather than what will be in front of you.”

“Well said Elena. Ciel, take note of Elena’s words. It’s sound advice.”

After everyone had a chance to duel, we did our warm down routines and went down to the lake to wash up. I stripped off the leather breastplate I was wearing and dunked my head into the water to cool off.

I raised my head and caught the top of Ciel’s head on the other side of a bush along the lake. I was walking over to him, but I got a bad feeling, so I started to turn around, but then I saw Ulrich with his body inside the bush. Was he planning a surprise attack on Ciel?

I walked up to him and grabbed his collar. I yanked him hard, but my foot slipped on a fallen branch and I fell through the bush.

Ciel screamed and covered his body, but… we're both guys so…?

“Cal… you… he…”

Ciel turned to run, but he tripped on an upturned root. I rushed over to help, but I wound up with a face full of foot.

That was not the parts a boy should have.