Kristopher swings his blade in an upward arc at the practice post. Fenol awarded the boys and Jeba free boarding at his castle because they had saved the village. The boys had to be apprenticed under him though. David was with Fenol for hours upon end, while Kristopher was learning basic magic and weaponry with Jeba.
"Boy. Try to hit this post left handed. If you can be ambidextrous, then you can protect yourself if you lose an arm." Jeba demonstrates by duel wielding swords and striking at the throat and the chest.
"You can't be serious! I am not good at anything with my left hand!" Kristopher shouts.
"How do you know you are bad at this if you haven't tried it?"
"Dangit Jeb! You old reasonable fart!" Jeba smiles and then thinks of his kids. He misses his kids so much and hates the war for taking them away. His eyes start to tear up at the thought. Kristopher puts the sword into his left hand, and it feels wrong. He rushes at the post and tries to slash at it, but lands the hit where the arms would be. Non-fatal. He'd be easily killed. "It will come in time. Come here, son." Jeba said. Kristopher walks over. "Ok. Now put your right arm straight at your side. Take this pole and then practice with it." Jeba quickly wraps some nearby rope around him and tied Kristopher's right arm to his side.
"What are you doing?" Kristopher asks, attempting to free himself.
"My job." Jeba says as he swings his sword at Kristopher, who blocks with the pole awkwardly. Kristopher swings at Jeba's side, forcing him to block and make his sword side unbalanced. Time slows again for Kristopher, and he has the chance to knock the teacher over but he pulls his weapon back to not hurt the old man. Time speeds back up and Jeba knocks Kristopher onto his back and mock swings at Kristopher's throat. "You could have just taken me out. Why didn't you follow through?"
"Didn't want to hurt you. Is that wrong?" Kristopher replies, getting up.
"I'm much more capable than you know. Now let's practice some more, shall we?"
* * *
In the castle's high tower, Fenol looks at his new apprentice. David looks back, hands aflame. "Very good David! You're a natural at sorcery. I think it's about time I taught you a new ability," replies Fenol, "how to move things through the air. How did you do the fire to your hands?"
David in a simple fashion says, "I imagine the flames coursing through my veins, and then once they reach the hand I let them out from under my skin."
"That's a new one. Ok, try to imagine your hands have an extension like a magnet in your hand. Except one that holds things at a distance."
"Ok... what do I lift?"
Fenol looks around for something to pick up. He grabs a candle that has almost fully melted and throws it in the air. He flings his hand up and catches it in the air with his magic. "I think that this would be exceptional. This way at least I it falls it won't break. Not too bad at least."
"I will try..." David imagines a light blue sort of haze going through his forearm from his shoulder. It crawls down his hands and he attempts to lift the candle. He feels tired and worn out suddenly and can't lift it. "Can I go to my dorm? I'm feeling really worn out."
"Kid, you have nearly mastered the flaming hand magic technique in a day. I am very proud. Go."
"Thanks sir." David leaves the room, and Fenol goes to his orb. He had an animal to check on.
* * *
Later that night after dinner, David and Kristopher look out their 6th floor room window talking. "Have you even missed home?" Kristopher asks.
"I haven't even really thought about home. Or Mom or Dad. Or school. I feel so much safer here." David replies.
"Among training, fighting a dragon, and learning that we can somehow do magic, I haven't even thought about home."
"How can we even do magic if we are from Earth? Or are we on some other Earth?"
"I just think we should sleep honestly. Been a long training day for us. Tomorrow is our two-month anniversary of being here."
"Has it seriously been that long? I mean," David walks to his bed and lays down on it, "It only feels like maybe two weeks. Either way, night."
"Night." Kristopher whispers as he walks to his bed.
