Wizardly

Chapter Twenty-Nine: More Training

Once everyone calmed down a bit I relaxed a little. Everything seemed to have worked out for now. I'll worry about their duel later, for now I have to stay focused on my training. I glanced at my watch and swore, all of that took up quite a bit of my time. So much for relaxing before meeting Captain for training.

"Guys I have to head out for training now. I'll see you at Dinner, probably," I said and added that last part as a second thought. I don't know how this training will go so who knows if I will make it to Dinner. I could get hurt, it could exhaust me to the point where I don't want to eat, or it'll kill me. Lets hope for none of those outcomes.

Lilliana followed me out and decided to walk with me. I could tell she was worried again so I asked her what was on her mind.

"I just, You're so reckless sometimes. Jumping into that fight like that and agreeing to these crazy training sessions. It's driving me crazy with worry. I just hate seeing you get hurt so much. I know you're a part of the guild too, but you have no magic powers and I just can't help worrying about you," She admitted and I stopped walking.

"You don't have to worry, Lilliana. I - I have proven it over and over that I can take care of myself. I'm not so dumb as to let it go to my head, I do know my limitations. If I can't handle it I wouldn't be doing it. I just want to protect you and all my friends as best I can. If it helps you all survive then my training will be worth it," I said and hugged her to me. I love that she cares and that she's worried. "I love you and I have for a long time now. So I just ask that you trust in me okay?" I added. Her face turned red and she looked up at me surprised.

"What?" She asked and met my gaze as if worried I didn't mean it. I just smiled at her and rest my forehead against hers.

"I have to get going now. We should talk about this later," I mumbled and gently pulled away. She stopped me and pulled me into a quick, but gentle kiss. Obviously that took me off guard and I just watched her run off after telling me to be careful. I ran my hand through my hair and smiled.

Captain cleared his throat and I spun around surprised. How much of that did he see and hear? He just smiled at me and motioned me to follow him. Right, back to work.

"I hope those words you said to her were true and honest. You break her heart and I will kill you myself, Kid," he said as we walked down the hall towards the training grounds.

"Understood, Sir, but what I said was the truth. The truth is I was planning to leave the Guild once I turned 18 so I tried to keep everyone away and tried not to get close to anyone. There was one person I always wanted to get to know, but still kept her away because I didn't want her to be hurt when I finally left.

That same girl told me something a little while back. She said that I shouldn't choose for others whether or not they should become my friends. She was right of course and I started letting my walls down and gained more friends because of it. And I finally got to tell that girl how I really felt about her in the process. Lilliana is a great person with a kind heart and I do love her," I said. I may have been rambling, but I wanted him to know how much I really care for her.

"Kid, you didn't have to say all of that for me to know you meant it, but I'm glad you did. Just one thing before I let it go, I'm glad it was you she decided to date and not someone like Naxos," he said.

"Yeah, I'da kicked that jerks ass if he ever tried to ask her out," I mumbled and he agreed with a laugh.We made it to the training grounds and I was surprised to see that no one else was here, no one except Master and Zane. Did captain tell everyone else to go train somewhere else? More to the point, why were these two here?

"Up to this point you have been training to dodge straight forward attacks with weapons from all angles. Now I want to train you to dodge magical attacks that won't be so straight forward. Against a real opponent a lot of factors come into play. Their abilities, the fact that they can move around and attack from anywhere, as well as the area in which their attacks can cover.

I have asked these two to help me out with this training, since we all have very different abilities. It will give you a chance to train against different magical styles. So, I think we will tag out every 20 minutes or so. We drew lots to see who will go first and Clayton got the first bout.

That all said, you will not be using a weapon here either. This training is to help you in the same way the Trap Room did. If I feel you can't go on I will stop a match and we'll take a break. Since we have no time to waste here, breaks will only be 10 minutes, with the exception of lunch and dinner. We will call it a day at 9pm.

Do you have any objections to these conditions before we start?" he asked looking me in the eyes. Was he trying to figure out if I had doubts? If so he won't find any.

"No, Sir. I have no objections," I said and took a few calming breaths before stepping out onto the field. Master also stepped forward. As soon as he called his powers I put my guard up. It was a reflex whenever I feel any magical pressure. He came at me fast and I managed to dodge him easily. Have I gotten faster? He countered and I ducked to avoid a punch to the face.

"Looks like your training is paying off, but I was told not to go easy on you, so you'd better be prepared," Master said and came at me again. I dodged his kick by jumping over his leg and jumped backwards as soon as I landed to avoid his next punch.