Awakening Of Magic

🌄🔆 Chapter 25 🔆🌄

That morning, the orc & drahke found the humans in the dining hall.

"The witch is back," Maxim muttered, seeing Siobhan wave from across the hall on the way to the gust rooms.

Q'inde ignored him and bowed to the humans. "Good morrow. Maxim and I were talking, and we would like to invite the pair of you to learn to fight with us. You must be able to defend yourselves."

"Oh," Aurelia turned in her chair. "You're right."

Alexan put down their glass with a nod. "Thanks. We'll be happy to take you up on that."

Q'inde smiled. "Excellent. We will meet you at the entrance to the guards' training arena once we've secured permission."

A guard posted by the door coughed, a bad attempt to hide his scoff.

Glancing back, they caught his eye. "Is something wrong?"

The man shrugged. "No, no. Just, you are shockingly well mannered for an orc," he said. "I was impressed by your command of the language."

Their jaw tensed as they maintained their polite smile. "Indeed. I was trained in the Queen's Royal Academy in Kalatar from my youngest days until half-orcs were added to the list of monsters banned from public institutions. Astonishing what a sentient being can command of a language they've spoken since infancy." With a curt nod, they looked back to the table. "Miss Aurelia, Mx Alexan, we shall meet you anon. Excuse me."

Maxim snagged a fruit from the table before turning to follow Q'inde, snarling deep in their throat at the guard on his way out.

The humans exchanged a glance.

"I guess that explains why they became an information broker and bounty hunter," Alexan mused quietly.

Aurelia bit her lip and nodded, trying to hold back her emotions. "Yeah."

Soon after, they changed and found the guards' training grounds.

Q'inde handed Aurelia a sword. "Allow me to teach you. Grasp the hilt. Stronger, like this."

She couldn't help but blush at their closeness. "Like this?"

"Better. Now, follow my footwork into a lunge." Their large frame gently pushed her forward from behind, controlling every movement to perfect her form. "Good. Again."

Meanwhile, Alexan pulled a practice sword from the rack and levelled it at Maxim. "Show me what you've got, dragon boy."

He scoffed, spitting a seed from the fruit onto the dirt. "You're just gonna hurt yourself."

"Oh? I placed every year in state for fencing. Come at me~"

His dark red eyes dilated despite his deep sigh as he drew his shorter sword. Immediately they started a parry. Sparks flew as the two sparred. Alexan was fast, but he was stronger. Minutes passed, until neither could hold back their grins from the adrenaline of a physical chess match between them.

Finally Maxim got the upper hand, the tip of his sword at their throat. He gave them a fang filled smirk. "Just like when you fell at my feet the first time."

"Like hell-!" Alexan spun away, and they started again. But there was no hiding that their face became even more flushed than before.