Night Training

Ryder and Zervis were standing on the front of Teacher Valkan's desk as they were hearing his continuous lecture about their misconduct during the class.

After some minutes of ear bleeding sermon from Teacher Valkan, they were dismissed as he ordered them to get a check-up in the school clinic for their wounds and bruises.

The two left the room after bowing down and apologizing for the last time. Without talking to each other, they went to the school clinic at got themselves be treated.

The school nurse asked about what happened which they just narrated in order. She just tapped her forehead in dismay as she heard about their nonsense fight.

After that, she warned the two to stop going to the clinic just to get treated as she will tied them up on the hospital bed and lectured them to be more careful about their body. Ryder and Zervis just felt shivered down to their spine as they heard that voice of warning that came from the depths of hell.

They walked side by side on the hallway, still in silence like no one had the courage to talk or just felt that they would show a sign of surrendering to the other if they talked.

Until they reached the fork and Sienna and Johannes met with Ryder, and Zervis with his fledglings. They looked at each other's eyes before going at different direction.

"What happened, Ryder? Did Teacher Valkan lecture you hard?"

"No. Knowing Teacher Valkan, they should have their punishment."

"Nothing. We just got an earful that almost made my eardrums shattered."

"That's what I said to you to don't take his provocation. Fortunately, Teacher Valkan didn't give you punishment."

Sienna sounded like her mother who was lecturing him after some lectures of the other. Ryder just sighed and shrugged his shoulder.

"Where are you going, Ryder?"

"I'll just rest home."

"Wait! I have something to tell you!"

Ryder didn't look back and just waved his hand before saying to tell it next time they will see each other.

"That stubborn idiot."

"Don't worry, Sienna. I will ask for his time when I go back to dorm."

"How about you? Where are you going, Johannes?"

"Library. I have something to search for the upcoming exam."

He waved his hand as he trailed his path to the library. Sienna where left with full of frustration about their actions.

"These damn busybodies!!!"

She was stomping her feet as she went the other direction to just meet her friends.

When the night came, a silhouette of a person suddenly jumped out of the window from one room in the boy's dormitory of the academy. That person hid behind the bushes, trying to avoid those patrolling guards in the area.

After confirming that it was safe to come out, he swiftly ran to the school building. Though, Johannes, who was still awake, was able to witness him.

"That idiot."

He just sighed before closing the window of his room and going to his bed to rest for the day.

That certain person ran to the hallway like a ninja, just to evade and don't get caught by the teachers and guards. Until he reached the door to the training ground, he opened it and removed the cover in his face.

Ryder grasped for air from running as he did some stretches. He was sneaking every night to train himself in the school's training ground for the second years. He was trying to solve his problem by training, even though it didn't show any improvement.

As he walked to the center of the ground, he heard some footsteps and noise coming inside the hall. He figured out that someone was also training in the middle of the night like him.

He slowly peeked at that person and saw some floating fireballs in the air. He stepped out of the hiding and coincidentally created noise that caught the attention of that person.

She immediately fired those small fireballs at Ryder's direction so he gave his best to evade. It didn't cause much noise but it was clear with burned ground that it will hurt if got hit by it.

"Who's there?!"

"Wait! Is it better to ask first before firing those deadly flames!"

"Ryder?"

Ryder went out of the shadows and the moonlight passing through the glass roof shone on his face, confirming his identity. He was raising his arms as a sign of surrendering to put out the her hostility.

"Sienna, you're too hotheaded."

"I didn't know you are here. I'm sorry."

Sienna immediately put out those remaining fireballs before approaching him, asking for his condition.

Ryder just assured her that he was fine before asking for her reason on sneaking out in the middle of the night and training alone.

"Well... I'm just... wait! I'm the one who should ask that?!"

"Wait!" Ryder immediately covered her mouth before shushing her to prevent them being discovered by the teachers.

Sienna felt embarrassed as Ryder continued to cover her mouth as he looked around the training ground to check if the teachers found them. Her face felt hot at it turned red before she forcefully removed his hand off her.

"What are you doing? I'm okay being discovered here. I asked for the permission of our class adviser earlier. How about you?" she asked but Ryder just smiled at her. "I see. You still sneaking out of your dorm. What will happen of there is a surprise inspection?"

"Don't worry. My roommate got my back." He reassued her while giving a thumbs up.

"You're in trouble if they found out."

"Well, what will happen, will happen."

Ryder went to the center of the training ground before starting to manifest his aura. Sienna just watched him from the back as he started casting a small fireball.

Ryder successfully control it but when he was about to throw it on the target, it got bigger and exploded on his hands.

"Are you okay?!" Sienna approached him worriedly.

Ryder told her that it was nothing but his hand who received the impact got burned. Sienna clicked her tongue before casting a low level healing magic to aid that wounds.

"Are you still practicing magic even with that condition? Are you stupid?!"

"It's okay. I can handle this simple wound."

"Simple? Just a little late, your hands will be blown away by that magic. The teachers also said to you that you need a proper instructor to oversee your magic training!"

"I said it's okay! Don't be too persistent with your ideas! Damn it!"

"Damn?" Sienna's eyes got darker and her aura felt intense.

"Ahhh... I mean..."

Ryder felt the chills, aside from the cold wind of the night, coming from Sienna's enraging aura. His knees felt weak and he fell on the ground, overpowered by Sienna's intimidating and scary face.

"O-Okay... I'm sorry."

Sienna just stopped what she was doing and sat down too. She faced Ryder worriedly as the latter felt guilty and apologized again.

"I'm just worried." Sienna looked extremely disappointed. "Also, you said that you have someone to help you. I talked to Senior Alexis earlier and she said that she will help us to meet that researcher."

"Really?!"

"Yes. It's just that she won't be available during our finals week but she gave me a map for that person's location. I was going to give it to you earlier but you seemed not in the mood."

Sienna was like a child throwing a tantrum before she gave him a piece of paper showing the map of Khunlun Forest and a mark where Professor Shiro Blanca's laboratory located.

"It's great! Thank you very much!" Ryder gave her a hug which surprised her.

Then, Ryder heard a noise coming from the second floor so he instantly let go of Siena and stood up. He grabbed her before hiding as he heard footsteps from the outside.

"There's a teacher. Let's get out of here first." He dragged Sienna who was still out of her mind from his hug.

*****