Saul awakens the next day as now he’s training out in the courtyard of the manor practicing now on high kicks. However, at best all he could kick up to hip while Xin is expecting him to kick even high than that. She even did a mild air splits to show off and telling Saul it should be “easy” even for him but all it did made lose of his enthusiasm and depressed.
“Explain to me why are making me train him here at the manor?” Xin asks as she fanning herself with her combat fan.
“Because we don’t want you to go stealing him from us again. Best to do it close to home.” Andrea said as she fans herself and has a nice cup of ice tea with a tiny umbrella in the drink.
“There reason why I chose the mountain for his training groups was so he wouldn’t have so many distractions from you guys while I teach him. And this just makes it worse.” Xin said.
“Well, we didn’t want you to sneak him out from under our noses. If you really wanted to train him properly you should have let us know ahead of time. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be doing this, little sister.” Frey commented as he’s making lunch by chopping meat, vegetables, and some fish and crabs.
“Oh, lovely. Yet another reason why I prefer to mentor the child in a remote location.” Xin grunts with annoyance.
“Um, guys?” Saul speaks out.
“What?” Everyone responded.
“As much I like you guys talking about how you guys should train me and all but can I ask you something?” Saul asks.
“What is it?” Everyone asks.
“IS THIS … REALLY….. NECESSARY TO ….TRAIN ME!?” Saul yells as he’s attempting to do push up while Sara is on him while a pile of burning hot coal is under his belly while Miyoko is fanning them to keep them heated up.
“Less talking, more pushing upward.” Sara responded as she sips her cup of tea.
Saul struggles to lift his body upwards as Sara was not making it easy for him as she places a plate of snacks on parts of his body and everyone is pretty much using as both a coffee table and a chair. Few minutes go by and they decide they should give him a break. After Sara gets off of him, she removed the plates and the burning hot coal below Saul as he collapses once the ground was cleared.
“How… long …. How long will it be until I can learn some…. New stuff?” Saul asked as he pants from exhaustion.
“What do you mean kiddo?” Andrea asks.
“I mean it’s pretty weird to learning so many things at once. But how about we slow things down a bit. Cause I want to go back and learn some more magic.” Saul said with some excitement in his voice.
“Wait, you learning magic the other day?” Xin asked.
“Well yeah but … in the process I ended up losing my hand when it backfired on me.” He said as he twisted his right.
Xin frowned and rubbed both her hand against her temples as she was suppressing the anger that was being built up within her.
“Okay, what magic spell were you trying to cast?” Xin asked.
“I was casting fire magic but I guess I overworked it when both my hand and gloves.” He said.
Then as he said that, Xin chopped him on the head and his head slammed down to the ground with a cave on the top of his head where Xin chopped him. She shifted her hand from an open palm to a fist as she’s holding in every last of anger building up inside of her but she’s let it out.
“の愛のために WITH A MAGIC GLOVE?!” Xin yells. She then pulls him out from the ground and begins to yell at him. “YOU WERE TRYING TO CAST ELEMENTAL MAGIC WITH A MAGIC GLOVE!? HOW MUCH OF AN IMBECILE ARE YOU?!”
“It was my first time trying out! I don’t know the magic system in this world! I didn’t know!” Saul yells back in fear. Xin then let’s go of Saul and pinches her brow and was proceeding to leave but Andrea stopped her.
“Please calm yourself, Xin. It was my fault for not showing how magic works in our world. You see kiddo, magic in our world is rather something a lot more complicated than you would think. And what you tried the other day was elemental magic which hails from the Western City.” Andrea said as she stands up.
“Elemental magic?” Saul asked.
“Magic based on the basic elements. Water, Earth, Lightning, Fire, and Air. In the west, we managed to perform them with our own bodies. We don’t use magical tools to summon forth the elements we believe in our philosophy that our bodies are what can cast them. For example.” Xin said.
She then strikes a pose as she strikes her fist upwards as a blast of fire burst from her hand and she strikes again with her other hand then unleashes an overhead flips kick as the ground surrounding her was engulfed in fire. This astonishes Saul for how much power she’s wielding it like it’s nothing. However, it also gave him some flashbacks to when he first met Xin and uses the techniques against him.
“Of course, elemental magic of that caliber will require you to be advance in martial arts. Because in the west, we have fused our magic of the elements with our martial arts. However, the elements of this magic cannot be simply be summoned at will. The elements must come to you.” Xin said as she quells the fire surround her.
“Is that why you have started training me in martial arts?” Saul asked.
“Yes. Not only to build up your skills but also to see which element has grown to you. But seeing how you said you forced one of them with magic gloves, your first element is fire. But also seeing how Tengumaru seems to like you. Air seems to resonate within you.” Xin said.
“Tengumaru?” Saul asked.
Xin then pulls out the katana he used to get up the mountain from her sleeves. He hears a soft ring coming from the sword itself as it wiggles around trying to get out from Xin’s grip. Xin lets it go as the swords fly over towards Saul. Saul open his hand and grips the scabbard of the sword as the wind
“That’s Tengumaru.” She said.
“But of course, element magic isn’t the only thing you could also learn as well. There’s also Sorcery and faith magic.” Andrea said.
“Faith magic?” Saul asked.
Andrea then tosses her chair and table aside as the maids on the side caught them. Another pair of maids bring in a spare chair for Saul to sit down and bring in a projection screen along with a crystal orb. Andrea waves her hand as the orb begins to glow and project onto the screen while she also pulls out a metal pointer and a pair of scarlet glasses. The class is now in session.
“As I previously mentioned, there are three variants of magic in our world. Sorcery, Faith, and Elemental Magic. Sorcery, which is the magic I mostly use relies on your own bits of intelligence both from you and your knowledge of spells themselves. The more spells you study on your own personal time the more intelligent you will become, eventually, you’ll become a scholar in this route. This was used very rarely in your world as very few can ever live up to be a true sorcerer or sorceress. I believe only two have ever been recorded in your world. Merlin and Morgan Le Fe, I believe they were called. Faith magic is drawn from your own faith and beliefs. Ironic isn’t that demons like us have to believe in faith itself to summon magic. I have a feeling you would be more adaptable with this as this was commonly used in the human world as they would use it in their religious belief of god as their source of power. While we have to rely on belief on ourselves and what we’re fighting for. God cannot aid those that damned from hell itself. Though this series of magic mostly relies on buffing or casting hexes on your opponents. During the age of the war, they were commonly used during battlefield tactics when one buffs themselves before heading into battle, launching a spell that will repel others when surrounded, or healing your comrades in tight situations such as healing their wounds a brief time until proper treatment can be done. Lastly, elemental magic which is what Xin uses relies on your level of martial arts and they have a belief philosophy that the elements are not just a weapon you use in combat, they’re an extension of yourself. Failing to work as one with your proper element will often cost injuries or possibly death. Depend on your element that is awakened within you. Fire is fueled by the burning will and passion that lives within your souls. Earth is the raw power of the earth itself takes forms and you can change the shape of the world or destroy it. Water flows within your body and you must learn to flow with the current itself. Fight the current and you’ll drown. Air, is releasing the spirit and fly with the breeze. Even taking blowing your breath can often times change the direction of the wind. Lightning is the advanced yet complicated form of the elements as it relies on your resistance but also your energy stored within your body. If your body can’t handle it, you’ll most like to explode from the shock it. And like any form of learning, mastering any of these will take years and years of dedication. Any question so far?” Andrea asks.
“Question: will any of this be on the test?” Saul asked as he raises his hand.
“Oh yes definitely. I such you write this down while you can kiddo.” Andrea said as she pushes in her glasses.
“Already have been doing it!” Saul said as he writes furiously into his notepad about Andrea said.
“Andrea, is he really going to learn all of these at once?” Xin asks.
“No, he will only what is more flexible to him and how much his body can take it.” Andrea answered.
“Excuse me what?” Saul paused.
“Don’t worry about the long run for now kiddo. Focus more on the now.” Sara said sarcastically.
“That has me concern when you said, “if my body can handle it.” What does that mean?!” Saul demanded.
“Oops, look at the time. Back to training!” Sara yelled.
“What?”
Saul was then forced back into a push-up position as Kam lights a new pile of burning hot coal under his belly and Sara sat on top of him like he’s a chair.
“I HATE ALL OF YOU!!” He yells.
Later that night, Sara was in the dining hall sipping tea with her parents. Her mother was having dinner while her father was dealing with paperwork which was mostly about reports thievery and complaints that people had their homes raided.
“(sigh) Is there no end to this?” Hashiro complained.
“More thievery reports dear?” Nicole asked.
“Indeed. Seems like these former mercenary bands are trying to get by stealing from the town folks themselves. It was bad enough that they were stealing from home but now I’m also getting reports that they have also been kidnapping some of the civilians as well.” Hashiro comments on.
“No doubt that these are slave traders at work with the kidnappings. Even when we have outlawed slavery from the south, they’re still this desperate to sell off people as slaves?” Sara asked.
“These criminals would do anything to make some good coin nowadays. Especially with the recession going on here and the other cities as well. They’re practically begging to make douse of money.” Hashiro said in frustration.
“Let me handle it, father. I’ll help put an end to this slave trade of the south. Once and for all.” Sara said with determination in her voice.
“Very well. Assemble your team when you’re at the ready. This slave trading must be stopped.”
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