Mirae Walkers

Chapter XVI

Caste stood taller, clasping his arms together behind his back. Keoni watched and copied him, a bit sore.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Caste asked her.

Keoni had woken up early, feeling much better. There were still aches in her body, and her head hadn't been completely cleared, however, she could stand on her own and felt that the anger that had consumed her yesterday had left.

Today, she finally asked Caste to start teaching her some self-defense and several attacks. They'd moved to an open field in the Mirae, where Keoni could see a lot of other people practicing magic on the horizon. Ryley had stayed behind, very groggy from staying up too late.

"I am." Keoni eventually answered. "And if I'm not, we can always stop."

"Alright." Caste looked a lot more intimidating than he usually did. "Hold your hands together, and make sure your spine is straight. Good form is good conforming."

Keoni did so, raising her head and ensuring she didn't slouch. Despite the almost stiff feeling, it almost seemed as if she was stronger.

Caste walked closer to her. "Most everything comes naturally. Harnessing your potential and using it in your will, well, will favor you."

Almost like how I was able to so easily attack Caste. She pushed the thought out of her head.

"Think fast."

Caste immediately created something in his hands, and threw it. It flew towards Keoni.

She gasped, holding her hands out and flinching. A jolt of energy came from her arms and surged through her body, and when she opened her eyes, the orb that Caste had thrown was in her hands.

She brought it down in front of her, gazing at the simple little orb that had seemed so harmful. Keoni looked up, seeing Caste give her a smile of approval.

"What do I do with this?" She asked, still staring at its puzzling light.

Caste shrugged. "Go with whatever comes."

Keoni tossed it back, watching as Caste stopped it mid-air. "Two options here." He paced over a bit, then using his hands in the air, split the orb in two, and returned to where he was. "Defense." He released one of the orbs, and it shot towards him. A field of magic formed around his hands as it hit, shattering on the forcefield. "Or offense." He released the second orb, but as it hurtled to him, he conformed a blade in his hand and sliced the orb.

The impact launched it towards Keoni. She clenched her teeth and tried the shield thing, but it didn't form.

Keoni ducked and covered her head as a last resort, but the magic had stopped, and she could see Caste controlling it.

It returned to his palm and disappeared. "Don't let your fear overcome you." He said reassuringly. "You're not going to get hurt. I promise. Now, when I say Noahkup, I need you to return to the same position I had you start in."

"One second." Keoni rubbed her back, stretching.

"Noahkup." Caste said a moment too soon. Keoni quickly fumbled up to the right position, earning herself a concerned glance from Caste.

"Relax." He let go of his hands, motioning for Keoni to do the same.

"Noahkup." Keoni quickly sat up, though Caste didn't.

"Do anything you like." Caste said. As Keoni looked at her hands, still standing tall, her own orb formed in her hands...

"Relax."

Keoni released her position, and immediately, the small orb vanished. Hmmph. Not exactly worthy of enlightenment.

"Noahkup." One more time, Keoni recorrected her posture and the light came back.