The Siren of the Titanic

Chapter 9: Training

Training had begun twenty minutes ago. Adhira or Master as she asked to be called, started me on warm-ups, and small challenges to test my strength and flexibility. Now she was 'testing' my speed, making me swim laps around a circular pathway, resembling the tracks I used to run on. But this track was different, instead of having normal hurdles, it had rings attached to the ground via chain. I was to swim around the track four times, weaving myself through the rings, which were at different heights, as fast as I could.

I was halfway through my final lap, all that stood between me and the finish line was two sets of three rings. The first set was easy the first and third rings were the same and the middle was only slightly higher. I raced through them easily slipping through like a snake. It was these last three that slowed me down, the first and third were like the previous set, but the third was way higher and was turned to the side. I raced through the first easily, then I swam straight up turned my body so I swam through on my side and then the hard part, swimming back down. It wasn't all that bad but I had done it enough that I was sore. But I had done it, I swam to the finish line, my body and lungs sore.

"Well done, but I have to ask. You didn't run long distances, did you? You were exceptionally fast your first two laps but you slowed down considerably midway through your third. But other than that you are quite fast, Frost."

I smiled very much liking the compliment. "Thank you, Master, and you're right I was a sprinter, fast but with low stamina." She smiled back quickly, before waltzing over to a weapons table, and picking up two staves. They were made of wood and were beautifully made. She threw one at me and took a stance about three feet in front of me.

"We'll start with testing your skill with a polearm since you said you used them to kill off whalers. Come at me with all you've got. I need to see your form and skill." I gave the staff a few swings, which must have been magicked since it cut through the water without any resistance. I took a similar stance to Master Adhira, after getting used to the weapon.

With a curt nod from her, I charged setting my hands below the midway point of the weapon. I lunged, jabbing the top of the staff at her center, but she easily blocked it. So I switched my turn, using the bottom of the staff to hit her in the tail and pulling the top of the staff towards my shoulder. She easily blocked each one of my attacks, each block making me more and more angry. Adrenaline coursed through my body, causing me to use moves I had never used before with little effort. The sparring match ended with Adhira knocking the staff out of my hands and the end of her own staff at my throat.

She removed the staff from my neck with a smile. "For a beginner, you are pretty good, hell you're a natural." She patted me on the back. "However you are still a rough quartz geode, you need to be broken and polished."

The two of us spent the rest of the day practicing with the staff. Master Adhira showed me several different techniques, but the main thing that she taught me was the fact that the weapon could be just as effective in defense as it was offense. Only when darkness set in and street lights turned on did we stop.

"Alright, tomorrow we will continue your basic physical tests, so come prepared. Dismissed!" I gave her a bow before turning and returning to my room.