Kingdom of Runes

Chapter 10

The salty breeze was a bit stronger than it was on land. Aside from a few clouds, the blue sky was clear, the sun causing the water beneath them to sparkle. Margot smiled as she watched the view from the window of the little cabin room that she chose. A seagull flew by her window right before she began writing. Right on the corner of the new page was a picture she took of the room she would be staying in for the next three days.

"With some creativity and a bit of luck, I managed to fix the damage the ship suffered and now we're one step closer to arriving at Miniel Castle. This journey of mine only has three days left now that we've set sail. My new friends have all praised me for thinking of a way to repair the ship using my knowledge of runes. Ever since then, my previous fear of not having the necessary tools to properly defend myself have been questioned. If all the runes I know so far can be used for utility purposes, then could they also be used for self-defense? I may be able to find an answer to that if I just think outside the natural boundaries."

Suddenly a large thud came from the floor above Margot, causing her to drop her pen in shock. Was something going on outside?

More smaller thuds from above sounded. Margot soon got up from her bed, stepped out of the room, and made her way to the upper floors of the ship.

The moment she stepped outside, she saw Wolf and Blue having a sparring match, with Green and the rest of his brothers watching from a distance. Though at first glance, they match seemed a bit one-sided. Wolf struggling to catch her breath while Blue didn't seem to be phased.

Wolf charged forward and swung her sword but Blue blocked the attack. One kick to her stomach and Wolf was down. The bit of breath she was able to catch quickly knocked out of her.

It was then that Green stepped forward. "So, what did you learn from your match?" he asked.

"Blue puts a lot more strength into his swings." Wolf panted in between breaths. "It's hard to properly block his attacks when I get knocked back anyway."

"Well despite that you lasted a while." Blue pointed out as he grabbed her hand and pulled her back up to her feet. "Guess Green's doing something right when it comes to teaching you."

Red nodded in agreement. "She's getting stronger."

Vio briefly looked up from his book to offer his own advice. "You'll also need to learn the pros and cons of every fighting style you come across. Blue may hit harder but he's also a bit slower. What would you do if someone relied on speed to win a fight?"

"Well that's the reason why she should start sparring with you guys." Green said. "The more she's used to different attack styles the better."

Ghost, who had heard everything as she stepped outside of her own room, spoke up. "She'll get there." She stopped right before she was about to pass Margot. "Hey. All settled in?"

"Yes." Margot answered before looking back over at the scene that she just walked into. "Are you always finding time to spar with each other?"

"Well it's a good way to keep your skill sharp." Green explained. "And safer than actively seeking out enemies."

"I see. Do you think... I could join you in training?"

"I don't see why not."

"Would this be your first time sparring with someone?" Vio asked.

Relieved that they were so quick to agree, Margot nodded.

Green thought for a moment before speaking up. "Do you think Shadow would be an okay choice for her? This is likely her first time using her runes as a method of attack and he'd be the best one to withstand any spells she has."