Sparring Time

My science and study periods are uneventful. I want to save my mana for later so I don't use it. I leave school and find Myla and Hino waiting by the gate.

"Hey Eric, are you ready." Hino asks, and I nod. "Good, lets go!" She says excitedly, walking out of the school. We walk for a minute or two before we get to a secluded alleyway. "Eric, could you take us to your Domain?"

"Yeah, but why? Aren't we going to use one of those sparing ground crystals?" I ask her.

"We could, but each guild only gets a limited number so we'd have to wait for a few days to reserve it. Even then though we'd have a time limit. It'd just be easier to do it in your Domain." Myla answers, and I nod before pulling out my Domain Crystal and taking us in. I look around and don't see Luna or Asami anywhere.

"Oh yeah, I don't think I told your parents yet but I've gotten two new Essences. Earth and Nature, so now there's a grassland outside with hills and a mountain." I tell them, setting down my bag. Hearing this the two go over to the window and look outside.

"It's beautiful." Hino says amazed. Myla does the same and they step outside. I follow them and see each draw there weapons. Myla grabs her sword and shield from a small brown pouch and Hino gets her gauntlets from a similar one. I look to where they are and see Asamis Fishman Chieftain. Luna is fighting it and Asami is standing behind her.

"What is that!?" Myla asks when I run up to them to stop them. Hearing us, Asami and Luna stop fighting. They run up to us as I try to explain.

"That's Asami. I got her a ring that can summon the souls it contains. She has been using it to spar with Luna." Asami come up with the Chieftain behind her.

"Yep. It's been pretty fun, truth be told." She says before Luna growls and takes over.

"Yeah, well today I beat you!" She says both bitterly and triumphantly. As I look at Luna my Mana Sense tells me she used magic to strengthen herself.

"Luna? Are you using magic?" I ask shocked that she did.

"Yeah, what are you surprised for? You were the one who asked me to." She say turning away and crossing her arms. I smile and start petting her.

"Thank you. I mean it." She beams and starts wagging her tails.

"So, what are you three doing here?" Asami asks, looking at Hino and Myla.

"We came here to spar with Eric. But if I'm being honest, I'd like to look around before leaving." Hino says.

"Yeah, me to. I'm curious of what else this place has." Myla adds causing Luna and Asami to giggle.

"We felt the same way when we saw this." Asami says before walking up to me. "Well I'll go get some drinks for you guys, why don't you start your sparring." I thank her and she disappears. I turn back to Hino and Myla.

"So, which one of you is going first?" I ask them.

"Hino can. She's the one who asked after all." Myla says and Hino smiles, thanking her and quickly puts her leather armor on behind a tree. The two of us then walk a bit away from the others and get into position.

"I can act as referee, this will be a duel with your weapons, the winner will be decided when the other either forfeits or is deemed unable to continue the fight. Any questions!" Myla shouts before continuing after a moment of silence. "Okay. Are you ready! Go!" She says raising then lowering her hand. Hino runs at me and I quickly cast Ancient Beastial Strength and bring out my Dark Claws and Dark Boots. Hino jumps and raises her left hand. She grips it into a fist and I see some water starting to appear in the air around her gauntlet. I raise my katana and use it to block her attack. I feel my arms vibrate from the impact and see her entire hand and part of her arm get engulfed by water. Suddenly I feel something hit me on my stomach.

-112 Dmg

I step back and see she kicked me. On each of her feet is a boot matching her gauntlets design and color. I use Observe on her and quickly read it.

Hino Lotus Lvl 19, Class: Marital Artist, Title: Successor To The Blue Lotus Guild, RP: 184, Hearts: 3

HP: 275/275 MP: 135/145

I decide to ignore the high RP and Hearts for now, choosing to focus on the fight. I take a deep breath and cast Dark Chain on my blade, connecting it to my claws. I charge Hino and toss my blade at her. She hits it, knocking it away and I Blink right in front of her. I hit her with my claws and she barely managed to block.

-261 Dmg

Hino gets knocked down on her back with her leather armor torn at the point of impact.