Magic, Dark Lords, and Other Lies From The Empire

Chapter 4

I sat up suddenly, only to then fall onto my back.

The commander chuckled at my exhausted antics. He was still wearing his paladin uniform, but now his hood was down, fully revealing his wavy silver hair and handsome face.

"Wait, this is the paladin you met last shift?" Kiuyk asked, taken aback.

"Yeah. Wh-what are you doing here sir?"

"I told you I was here for the trials right?" The commander dropped into the arena, not bracing for the impact and seemingly unconcerned with the heavy thud that came from it. "I came to speak with the headmaster about it and heard the sounds of fighting. You two aren't bad even for a pair of soon-to-be graduates."

"Thank you, sir! I-oof!" I tried standing, only to over yet again.

"Xara. Aura Exhaustion," Kiuyk reminded me.

"R-right."

The commander chuckled and nudged my shoulder with his foot. A sudden wave of pain shot from the point of contact throughout my whole body, but was quickly replaced by relief. Eyes wide, I tried to sit up again, and this time my muscles actually listened.

"Z'kyd'qa's teeth," I said, and even Kiuyk stared wide-eyed at my sudden recovery.

"Wh-what just happened?" She asked.

"Th-that was the shared aura technique right?"

"Oh? You know about it?" The commander asked, impressed.

"Our instructor once mentioned that there were techniques practiced by paladins that went beyond what they could teach at the academy a few months ago. I found some old records in the library and they described an advanced form of the healing technique."

"Riiiight," Kiuyk perked up as if realizing something. "You were trying to test that on me a while back."

"Are you alright?" the commander asked. "Forcing one's aura into another can cause significant damage if not done properly."

"Eh," Kiuyk shrugged. "It was a little rough at first, but the doctors said that I was alright."

"It's not like we jumped straight to pushing aura into each other," I said defensively. "We started slow, and honestly we never really got that far."

"Is that so..." The commander rubbed his chin, staring contemplatively at us. "Would you mind showing me how you practiced this?"

"Right now?" Kiuyk asked. "Why?"

The commander shrugged. "No particular reason. If you two are tired it's alright."

"No, I can do it," I said, quickly crossing my legs. "Kiuyk, are you good?"

"...Alright," she said, sitting across from me.

"Oh!" I quickly turned back to Commander Osgoqu. "Um, is it supposed to hurt?"

"Wait what?" Kiuyk asked, confused.

"I mean, we always thought that pain meant we were doing it wrong, but it hurt really bad for a second when you did it to me just now so..."

The commander waved his hand dismissively. "That was just my aura overwhelming yours for a moment. If I were going slower and seeking to revitalize you completely then it would be more comfortable. Do whatever feels best."

"Don't listen to him, just don't hurt me," Kiuyk said hastily.

"Okay okay," I chuckled.

I laid out my hands, palms up and Kiuyk put her hands in mine. Closing my eyes I focused on letting the tension leave my body, and I knew that she was doing the same.