The Cycle

of Growth

The beginning days of training were some of the most physically and mentally draining things of my life. I felt like I was constantly watched, and I was. Ena had no remorse ambushing at night, and Orella and I took turns keeping watch. Every time we fought, we did so without Jyns to improve strength and stamina. However, Ena did not inform us on when he would begin to attack with his weapon. Orella and I had to be alert at all times, ready to strike back and defend. At the end of the attack, Ena would give us a score and tell us what we needed to improve on. Eventually, we became more adept and keen with our senses, enough to feel a disturbance while asleep and wake up, ready for battle.

It was another night, about five days after the first training session. Orella and I adapted quickly to the wilderness environment and its advantages as well its dangers. Ena was obviously more familiar, which proved to be threatening for us.

"Should we keep watch tonight?" I asked Orella.

"I think we can take a light doze, we're getting better at knowing when he's coming," Orella responded, dismissing my suggestion.

I put up a light barrier and an invisible sphere surrounded us. Orella drew a rune in the air for warmth as the area began to increase in temperature. We both yawned and before we knew it, fell asleep. We breathed heavily as the night fell more and more, with Ena still nowhere to be seen.

Not even ten minutes later I feel the air change. The wind seems to blow in the wrong direction, and I open my eyes in the pitch black darkness. I sit up and see movement in the bushes across from my barrier. Orella rubs her eyes, sensing something awry as well. We both stand and I increase the range of the barrier slowly, expanding its volume to possibly touch any intruders.

Ena leaped from a bush behind us, spinning in the air and forcing his heel straight into my barrier. The sphere shattered, and Orella and I were ready to fight hand-to-hand. However, Ena was not. He bounced back from the sphere and charged full force, a dagger gleaming in the moonlight. Orella and I realized the situation and retreated to get more time. I set up another barrier, this time more visible yet much more protective. Orella traced runes in the air, ready to send them towards Ena should he advance. I closed my eyes, focusing on enhancing my strength via Hathor's magic as light green wisps twined around my arms and legs. Not even seconds pass and Orella had already drawn three runes, each glowing a different color.

Our opponent leaped forward once more, going directly towards the barrier. Orella send out a blast of wind to propel him, but Ena swiped his dagger and dispelled the gust. He landed on the half-spherical barrier and punched it once, cracking it. It's almost like my shields were useless against Jyn users, but I had to practice.

"Orella, do it!" I shouted, jumping towards Ena.

She pushed her palm forward at a white rune, and a beam of light targeted Ena's eyes as it shone behind me. Ena was startled for a moment, and I landed a solid, enhanced kick to his stomach. Hathor's power helped to match Ena's agility by improving my leg strength, and I was sure that the wisps on my arm weren't just for show. I wasted no time to wind up a punch to Ena's jaw, but my fist went directly through him, as if he were a mist. He smiled back at me, as his body simply dissipated into thin air. Orella cried out as I realized that Ena was behind the barrier. I used all of my strength to leap meters in Orella's direction.

She forced her last rune outward, a neon blue, as it directly touched Ena. He screamed out as electric currents ran through his body, forcing him to his knees. Ena did not stay paralyzed for long, however, as he whipped out his dagger, throwing it at my neck. I parried it with my hand as it fell to the floor, only to come back flying into Ena's hand. He backflipped to gain distance, and threw his dagger once more midair. The weapon split into two, then three, then five as Ena conjured spirits of his dagger. I rushed to Orella's side and put up an opaque barrier as the daggers bounced harmlessly off of the wall I created.