Mentored Training 3

With the first run through after lunch done, we come back to once again see Skylar in a fatigued state. It seems that all the energy she built back up over lunch time is gone again, and she’s pushing through yet more tiredness. Ivy checks over Skylar once more to make sure that she’s as healed as possible, and once the healer is satisfied, she heads with me back into another run.

This time, we manage to level up, as well as get mana shield to level 93. We’ll only need one more dungeon to get it fully maxed out. The effectiveness of the skill is now absurd, after all the power levelling. The mana cost for damage absorbed is very close to 1 for 1 at this point, and it’s very useful.

As we get back to the Kingdom barrier, we find that Paige is the one sparring her this time. Olivia mentions that they did this because Skylar is reaching the point of exhaustion where even Paige, despite having less raw power than the umbramancer, is able to challenge Skylar substantially. “How’s her progress?” I ask.

Olivia smiles proudly as she watches Skylar fight. “She is doing admirably well. I am very proud of how much she is pushing herself. If you were wondering, I would say that you have time for one more session of your training with dungeons, before Skylar reaches her limit. Make sure you are here when she does, she will need to be taken care of afterward.” Olivia instructs.

We nod in understanding, glancing at each other. We’re simultaneously worried about our girlfriend, but also extremely proud of her. If what Olivia says is true, then Skylar should hopefully be having a breakthrough in power soon enough. Neither of us want to miss that, so we better hurry with our last power levelling dungeon.

We go through the dungeon as quick as we can, and while we can’t make the rats hit me faster, there’s a certain sense of urgency in both of us. It’s a relief when the rat queen finally hits me one more time to level up the skill to its maximum, level 100, and in doing so, now having 1 for 1 mana cost for damage absorbed.

We allow ourselves a quick celebration before we exit the dungeon, not even bothering to pick up the loot. It’s Mia who’s sparring with Skylar this time around, as we jog to where Paige and Olivia are watching from. Our teacher turns at our arrival. “Oh good, you are here. I do believe that Skylar is about to reach her limit.” She says.

Looking at Skylar, we can all see the truth of her words. Skylar is breathing raggedly, completely drenched with sweat and her movements are slow and sluggish. Mia is very clearly and deliberately taking it easy on her. It would be trivial at this point for most mundanes to come along and win against Skylar.

Her eyes look half closed as she strains herself, gasping, to continue fighting. My worry for her deepens. “Skylar, please don’t hurt yourself!” I call, and Skylar turns to me, with a weak smile. “I…I”m okay…I need…to keep g…going…” She says, between strained breaths. I grimace, and Olivia puts a hand on my shoulder. “She will be alright, I promise.” “I hope so.” I reply.

It’s painful, watching Mia batter away at the poor woman’s defences. A single hit from the aeromancer, with restrained power behind it, is enough to shatter through Skylar’s conjured shield. Every time this happens, she needs to spend more energy to conjure a shield once more. She staggers off balance from every impact, seeming barely able to keep her footing.

Surprising me, Paige breaks from her usual shyness to yell encouragement for our girlfriend. “Come on Skylar, you can do it! Push through it, you got this!” She yells, all embarrassment completely forgotten in the face of worry and support for the person who needs it right now. Ivy and I shrug at each other and join in, shouting encouragement from the sidelines. “You’re doing so well baby, we’re so proud of you! Just a little more!” I yell.

One particularly impactful hit from Mia connects with Skylar’s shield and she falls to the ground. Straining herself, gasping for air, she plants her hands in the snow and pushes herself back up again. I can hear her whispering to herself. “I…will not…hold them back!” She asserts to herself with all the conviction in the world, her silver eyes showing themselves as she looks towards Mia.

Visibly gathering all of her strength and will as the aeromancer rushes towards her with another attack, Skylar lets out an animalistic scream and meets the rushing attack head on with one of her own, unleashing a massive burst of solid, raw power. Mia is taken head on by it and is sent flying backwards from the sheer **** of the attack.

A strange flash of darkness leaves us blinded for a few seconds until the coalescing magic clears, allowing us to see what’s happened. Mia is laying in the snow, winded. Skylar is standing triumphant, victorious. Her hands whisper with the darkness within, hinting at the power she now wields. Her hair is a brilliant silver colour, transformed from her natural blonde.

She turns towards us, and her eyes glow with power, the same beautiful silver colour as her hair. She flexes her hands, the shadows swirling around her, tendrils of darkness forming and dissipating as she probes her instinctual understanding of her new abilities. Skylar takes a step towards us, then another, then falls to her knees.

In a flash, I’m there, as she slumps to the ground, passed out. Ivy checks her over, and with a sigh of relief, informs us that she’ll be okay after some rest, food and hydration. I look over at Olivia, who is grinning from ear to ear, her expression akin to that of a proud mother. “She did it. She pushed past her limit, and she had a breakthrough.” Our teacher affirms.

Ivy uses her healing magic to patch up any wounds that she sustained during battle, which thankfully are just surface level scrapes. Together, Ivy and I pick up the **** body of our girlfriend and carry her inside. Mia, Paige and Olivia follow us, the former two with expressions reflecting the worry Ivy and I feel, while our teacher has an extremely satisfied expression on her face.

Ivy and I carry her up to our bedroom and lay her gently down on the bed, pulling the covers over her and making sure she’s comfortable. We each give her a kiss on the forehead, whispering sweet nothings to her, telling her how proud of her we are. We know that she probably can’t hear us, but that doesn’t really matter to us right now.

With Skylar taken care of, we go back downstairs to find Mia introducing Olivia to Dave, and making sure that he’s fed while Skylar is out for the count. The lady of the beasts is amused at the fact that our girlfriend decided to domesticate one of the wolves that roams the barrier, as well as name him Dave, and pets him gently. Dave for his part, is looking around for Skylar. We comfort him the best we can.

Ivy offers to make tea, and Olivia accepts, along with Paige. Mia and I aren’t much for tea ourselves, we’re both happy with water. Ivy disappears to the kitchen to make the three of them some tea, and Luna pads her tiny feet over to the couch where I’m sitting. She tries and fails to jump up, mewing sadly.

I smile at the adorable kitten, picking her up and setting her down on my lap. She looks up at me, meowing her thanks, before curling up and closing her eyes, her soft purrs a beautiful sound to my ears, the small vibrations her body makes, a gentle massage to my combat weary body. I stroke her fur as I look over to Olivia.

“Tomorrow, we are going to be doing the same for you, in order for you to have a breakthrough.” She says, addressing Paige. The terramancer looks both shy from our teacher speaking directly to her, and slightly terrified at the implications of her words. “T-that doesn’t sound fun…” She says. Olivia chuckles at that.

“It probably will not be all that much fun. However, it is necessary for you to reach your current full potential.” She states. Ivy comes back into the room, holding three cups of tea. She sets them down, one in front of Olivia, one in front of Paige, and keeps the other for herself.