Improvements

I ducked, narrowly avoiding the blade that was coming for my face. Not knowing what else to do, I scrambled backwards, trying to create room between myself and the sharp piece of metal. I panted and looked down at my clothes, they were torn and tattered, having been on the receiving end of sword strikes. Some of the cuts were beginning to bleed red where the blade sliced open my flesh, none of the wounds felt deep. I could still move unencumbered though they did sting, both with pain and embarrassment, I knew that if he wished he could have made anyone of them into a killing blow.

I wiped the sweat from my eyes and tightened my grip on the handle of my sword, narrowing my eyes as I focused on the figure before me. My feet moved steadily as we began to circle one another, at last he lunged and brought his sword towards me once more. I met it with my own blade, meeting his gaze I saw his mouth twist into a smile. He freed his sword from my counter and brought it at me again, I met it with my own sword again, blocking his strike. We kept it up for another few strikes, I wasn’t quite sure how I was managing to block them quite so successfully. The drills that I had been practicing yesterday seemed to come almost naturally to me.

I saw an opening and decided to take a chance, swinging my sword in an arc through the air towards his hip. I actually thought it was going to hit him until he dodged out of the way and brought his sword down on my own, hard enough to knock it out of my grip and leave it thudding across the floor. I was left unarmed, but I had one more thing that may be able to work for me. I raised my hand towards him, feeling my mana within myself and preparing a lightning bolt.

Before I could channel the mana, I felt a pin prick against my throat and saw the tip of his weapon at my throat. I let go of my mana and lowered my hand in surrender. I prepared myself to be hit with the flat of the blade, but it did not come. Instead he sheathed his sword and gave me a hard slap on my back.

“Very well done Aucus, I see you’ve been practicing your drills. I’ll have to find some more to give you, it looks like you have almost mastered that blocking technique I showed you” Orion declared as I dabbed at the cuts on my body. “I didn’t expect you to improve so much so quickly, I think I’m going to like you” he added with a smile before turning his attention to the rest of the group. “Your turn, dwarf” he said, pointing to Korin.

I nodded my head in thanks to his praise, too exhausted to manage words as I returned to the rest of the group where Sara and Cleo worked together to heal my cuts. It seemed to be a simple thing for them to do as none of them had gone too deep, though the amount of wounds did seem to tire them out a little.

“Thanks” I said at last with a smile, still breathing heavily as I looked up at them from my position slumped on the floor.

Sara nodded her head, her hand still on one of my cuts as she worked her magic. “How did you improve so much? You weren’t that good yesterday.” Cleo said curiously, I felt the penetrating gaze of Sybil on me as the others waited for my answer

I looked up and grinned at them, “Magic” I said, giving my hands an elaborate flourish.

The day continued much the same as yesterday, Orion duelled each of us and commented on how much we had improved and where we should focus our training. Next came Astrid, teaching us more on how to use our mana so that we can unleash our abilities faster, with enough training we would be able to do so instantaneously instead of facing a delay as we concentrated. After that came more practice with our abilities.

The others seemed to have improved a little from where they had began yesterday, Rayall’s ice wall lasted longer, I had experienced the improvements in Sara and Cleo’s healing first-hand, and when I looked around for Sybil, I couldn’t see her until at last she stepped out from Astrid’s shadow. Astrid herself observed our improvements, noting how well my lightning bolt had improved. She was shocked by the development until I told her of the ability I had discovered last night. Apparently, she had heard of it, though it was quite uncommon.

Following more sword drills and lunch, we were escorted to the citadel library once more for our lesson with Anoir. We were taken to the same table on the third floor and presented with the green books that we read through yesterday.

“Okay, today we will be reading chapter 11 on uncommon monsters that you may encounter. These are typically variations on more commonly found types, they have different strengths and weaknesses though for the most part their inherent natures remain the same. These can appear in dungeons; though because of their uniqueness, they are more commonly found in the dark corners of the world, away from other monsters. We believe this to be a result of the society that monsters have, they tend to either exile or elevate those that are different, with very few exceptions” she gives the introduction to the chapter in her usual serious tone. Rayall and Cleo have their pads out and are making notes already, I find mine in an effort not to fall behind.

“We will begin with the Cyclops. Like Trolls, Fomorians, Titans, and the Oni, they are a sub species of giants. Being a type of giant, they are incredibly tall and strong, though are not the smartest creatures. Fortunately, the Cyclops is a solitary creature. It does not live in packs and are hostile to nearly all other monsters, meaning that they are often found alone. That, however, also means that they are a formidable enemy, being able to kill most other monsters. Their biggest weakness is their eye, it is a large target, and they only have one so blinding them is a relatively simple task”, she paused so that those of us taking notes could catch up with her. When she saw that we had finished writing she continued, “After their sight, their best sense is smell. They aren’t any good at hearing, most reports describe them to be almost deaf. Unless you have something that can either disguise your scent or overpower their senses, then they will be able to find you by smell. To kill it you have two obvious choices, you can attack the ankles and legs until it is on the ground where you will have an easier job at finishing it off; or you can continue to target the eye, if you are able to penetrate it far enough then you will reach the brain and kill it.”

After she finished teaching us about the cyclops, she continued with more uncommon monsters. She went through the rest of the giant sub-species, then onto others such as the dragon sub-species including wyverns, drakes, dragonets, and the basilisk. We also learned of other monsters such as the Minotaur, Chimaera, and Gricks. Many of them I hadn’t even heard of and the illustrations in the book horrified me no small measure.

At last it seemed that Anoir had spoken enough, her voice was becoming hoarse, and her glass of water had became empty as she sipped on it whilst lecturing. “Okay, I think I’ve spoken enough. I’m not going to give you a test today, but I want you to finish reading the chapter before tomorrow. You can keep the books and if you want to do more reading then I suggest you look at chapter 19, we’re going to be doing the undead tomorrow” she said to the relief of my wrist that had grown tired from writing, it seemed more draining than swinging a sword.

We dispersed throughout the library, moving from the hard wooden chairs at the table to the comfier armchairs that were placed throughout the library as we continued to read the books and learn about the monsters that we would be facing as adventurers. It was somewhat troubling to read about the strengths of beasts that could rip me in half. Still, they were rarer monsters so it shouldn’t be a daily occurrence.

As I read the book, Anoir approaches me, taking a seat beside me. “Did you find that book I gave you useful?” she asked as I closed the one I was holding, leaving a finger in the page that I was on.

I nod my head, “Yes actually, I tried one of the abilities and it turned out I have it. It let’s me practice my abilities in my sleep, it’s really useful. Thank you” I say. With that book I should be able to discover all of my abilities by the time my training in the citadel finishes.

“Yes, I thought you would find it useful. I got the idea when I saw you learn the lightning bolt spell from Astrid” she says in a quiet voice

I look at her puzzled, “why then?” I ask, unsure why that would have given her the idea of the book

“You picked up the first spell that was shown to you, and then the first one that you tried in the book. Don’t you find that a little strange?”

I shrug my shoulders, “I got lucky I guess, there had to be a chance I’d have some abilities that I see people use” I say

She shakes her head, “No, I don’t think so. I think that you may be able to use all of the magical abilities that you are taught how to use. Or at least most of them” she says in a serious tone.

I look at her in surprise, “What?! All of them? How is that even possible, even the three chosen spirits only have seven abilities” I say. I would have been convinced that she was playing a joke on me if it wasn’t for the tone of her voice.

“There are stories of powerful mages who could use more abilities than even the seven given to the strongest of the goddesses spirits. Unfortunately not much stock is placed in these stories as they are fairy tales and until now there hasn’t been any evidence proving their veracity” she tells me. “However, I found that these stories go back to before the thousand wars where our history and knowledge of the world ends. It is possible that before then there were those who could use any spell they knew. It is possible that you are like them”

I didn’t know what to say to that, days ago I didn’t know what my abilities were and now I was being told that I may have all of them. It was a lot to take in. “No, like you said they’re just fairy tales. Even I was told some like that growing up, they’re just fanciful stories for children. It’s not possible” I say, objecting the possibility of that kind of power existing.

She shrugs her shoulders, “Perhaps, I don’t have any solid evidence yet. I would suggest that you try some more of the abilities in that book I gave you. What are the chances that you are able to use the third ability you try. Very slim I think, unless…” she trailed off and gave me a knowing look.

I swallowed nervously, I just wanted to be a normal adventurer. Why did everything in my life have to become so complicated. “Sure” I say at last, “I’ll try that” I pause for a moment. “Maybe then all I’ll have to do is learn how to not get my ass kicked by Orion” I force a chuckle.

She smiles at me, “You’ll be learning for a very long time then. I’ll leave you to your reading for now” she says as she stands up and goes elsewhere in the library.

I remain for some more time, trying to focus on the words in the book but distracted by what Anoir had just told me. At last, I look up and see the sky above the glass dome has lost it’s shine, now a shimmering veil of obsidian. I realise I have grown tired as well and stand up to find the others so we can go back to the rooms.