The next day, J and his friends gathered in the training ground as they waited for their trainers.
Three unique individuals followed Lina closely behind. They stood before them, a man in a purple robe—Darko—with sharp eyes. A woman stood beside him covered in white, a kind expression on her face and lastly a brooding man clad in an iron armor a deep scar on his right eye.
"It's finally time huh!" Haruto said excitedly.
Lina nodded. "Yes, they'll be training you in magic and swordsmanship starting today."
J rolled his eyes. "Wow, can't wait for my training… Hey Lina so, who is going to train me with my dark magic and stuff."
The brooding man got close to J and Haruto placing his hand on their shoulder, laughing.
"Don't you worry young man, with me and Darko here you have nothing to fear."
"Lina, who is this commander looking guy?" J asked, narrowing his eyes.
"He is the knight commander Sir Aldric. He will be your sword trainer." Lina said.
"Princess Lina, you should sit back and let us introduce ourselves and our roles." Darko said, his voice firm.
"As you wish Sir Darko, after all I don't want to be a disturbance to any of you." Lina said before sitting on a bench.
"So, they are the chosen heroes. They are so young do they really need to fight the demon?" the woman in white said.
Darko crossed his arms, his voice serious. "Yes, they have to and quickly as the elite commanders are keeping a watchful eye over all of the kingdoms. So, I'd love you to not ask any pointless questions and introduce yourself."
"Will you ever change?" The woman said annoyed.
"Nonetheless, I'm Ariel a healer and a supportive mage, I'll be teaching Star and Nita healing and support spell. Speaking of them who are they?" Ariel spoke, her voice soft.
Star raised her hand. "Here, I'm Star and this bubble head is Nita." She said as she pointed at Nita.
"So, you two are my new students. It's very nice to meet you, and your names are quite lovely." Ariel's voice soft and kind.
"Same to you miss Ariel, but shouldn't we also learn offensive magic too?" Nita said.
"Yes, of course that would be me. I'll train not only you, Mrs. Star and Sir J in offensive magic." Darko said with a confidant smile.
"So, you will train us then why did Aldic said he would train me?" J asked.
"You're sharp, aren't ya, kid?" Aldric said with a rough laugh. "I was told to train you, Haruto and Nita."
"Sir Aldic, what are we waiting for? Let's start our training already!" Haruto said excitedly.
Aldic slaps Haruto on the back, his voice rough and booming. "That's the spirit! Come with me, young man. We'll be training your stance first."
He turned towards J and Nita, jabbing a thumb towards them. "As for you two you'll start with Darko, before moving on with me— the greatest warrior alive."
From that point on, J, Haruto, Nita, and Star were set to train with the three instructors for the next three weeks before their first mission.
Darko 's, voice sharp as his eyes, making gesture with his hands. "Listen carefully! If you don't understand something, ask without hesitation. Also while I'm training you no, idle chitchat will be tolerated. Understood?"
"Geez, he is strict. I'm not going to enjoy this, will I?" J murmured.
"Sir J, did you say something?" Darko said, raising his eyebrow.
J straightened up, shaking his head in denial. "Nope!"
Darko turned towards Nita and Star, "Glad to hear. and you two?"
They shook their head denying.
Nita raised her hand, "Darko, sir, do you know how to use light or dark magic like J and me?"
Darko, shook his head calmly, spreading his finger's as forming an amber glow shimmered. "I may not have the abilities or seen them in action, but at the end of the day all magic are standing on the same foundation. So, if your foundation is strong nothing can shake you or the fire within."
Star tilted her hand, raising an eyebrow, "So, you're saying all magic's are the same? But if that's so, why haven't you found a way to counter the demons magic?"
Darko smiles. "You've raised a good question—and that's impressive. The truth is, while all magic may share the same foundation, but it varies from people to people for many reasons. Like mana reserves, talent, training and mastery. And the demon seems to exhale in all those areas. Outmatching all of us."
"If he's so strong why hasn't he attacked Linares yet?" Star asked with suspicion.
Darko shook his head, taking few steps back.
"That's the biggest mystery— we don't know why. The only thing we can do is prepare. If you ask me we should be grateful for tge time we've been given."
Darko glanced at the group, his tone soft. "Shall we start our training? Or do you've anymore questions?"
"No, that's all." Star said calmly.
Darko started to explain how magic works. "To cast any spell, you need a set amount of mana— which could be increased through training. First, visualize the mana shifting and flowing through out body. Then set a goal; know what kind of spell you want to cast. Finally you using your imagination you combine all the previous steps into one motion— and cast the spell."
Star raised her hand.
"Yes, Mrs. Star?" Darko said.
Star placed her fingers on her chin. "Mr. Darko, can anyone cast any spell if they follow those instructions? And also it'd be helpful if you demonstrated it."
Darko nodded, impressed by Star. "No, not everyone can cast any spell they want. That's why we masseur ones affinity to cast a spell. Of course there are some spells that anyone can use like supporting, barrier, search and many more magic's that fall other those categories."
"Observe closely."
Darko turned towards a practice dummy, raising his hand aiming like a one handed bow.
His heart illuminated an orange hue like a flames caged in steel— coursing through his veins like water, gathering at his fingertips.
A small circle of flames erupted from his hands, then surged towards the dummy like an arrow pierching it as it slowly burned into ashes.
J, Star, Nita even Haruto stood wide-eyed by the spell Darko cast. While Lina and the other smiled knowing full the full extant of Darko's abilities.
Nita raised her hand, jumping excitedly, "Darko, Darko! I wanna try too. But… I didn't really understand how that worked. Can you show me again?"
Darko, turned towards them saying. "Sure, I can, actually I want all of you too try it for yourself. As your affinity are different I'll show each of you separately."
"Mrs. Nita if you'd come here, I can teach you how you can use your magic to cast a similar spell." Darko said calmly.
Darko gestured to a spot few step from his.
After she stood on the spot Darko said, "Now listen carefully the same goes for you two. To make your spell casting easy and quick you can use one of two technique one incantation or slight gestures."
Nita tilted her head, "Can we make any gesture we want?"
"Yes, you can as long as it helps you visualize your mana. Let's try a basic attack spell, make any gesture you want and point it towards the dummy then I'll tell you what to do next."
Nita stood tall, clasping her hand together. Mimicking a gun as she aimed them at the dummy.
Nita glanced at Darko, maintaining her stance. "What's next?"
Darko rested his finger's on his chin, his eye narrowing in interest. "Your stance is… unique."
He placed his hand over his chest, which began to glow in an orange hue. "Now, imagine your heart as the core of your mana. If you're successful your chest should start glowing like mine. It'd be easier if you closed your eyes."
Nita nodded, closing her eyes as she took steady breaths.
For a moment all was dark then— she saw it a heart slowly pulsing in the darkness.
"Found it!" Nita whispered.
Then the heart illuminated in a golden light. Her chest glowed from inside out in a warm golden light.
Darko's eyes widened, he clapped his hands. "Incredible! Although that was to be expected from you heroes."
He continues "Now try to visualize your mana flowing through your veins like water, slowly gathering at your fingertips."
Nita focused, the light tried to scatter through out her body but it… failed. A sweat drop forms on her face and she squinted her eyes.
And tried again and again. After much effort, finally it happened… her mana started flowing through her body like a stream.
It slowly gathered at her fingertips, shimmering in a focused golden glow.
Darko smiled. "Excellent, you're almost there. Now, imagine shooting that with full force like a cannon."
Nita nodded, as she steadied her breath. slowly opening her eyes, her gaze sharp and attentive.
The mana that had gathered at her fingertips surged backwards, reaching her shoulder's— lunging forward shooting out of her fingertips in a focused beam.
The force pushed her back as the beam of light pierced through the dummy like butter, creating cracks on the wall behind it.
"Fantastic! You did better than I expected." Darko said, with a satisfied smile.
Star slapped Nita on the back. "Way to go girl. That was amazing!"
J scratched his neck, a half smile forming "Nita, you were amazing out there… congratulation."
Nita steadied herself, then suddenly she jumped excitedly. "That… was amazing. That spell fired like—"
She threw out her arms, making a cannon sound."Boom! And it felt as if a weight was lifted from me."
Star asked, eagerness glimmering in her eyes "So, Darko— who'll go next?"
Darko nodded and asked Star to target the same dummy and find a stance that suits her.
Star brought her hand near her neck, her palm flat. She stood firm and grounded, confident in her ability.
Darko narrowed his eyes, puzzled. "That's an… unusual stance. I'm unsure if it'll help you with targeting."
With a confident smile Star said. "Mr. Darko, just believe in me. Tell me what to do next."
Darko glanced at her and nodded. "Be it then, I trust you. If something goes wrong, I'll step in."
He raises his hands, "First find your mana. And normally you'd imagine it flowing through your veins like water but in your case it's different. Provided that you don't proses a specific affinity, you'd have to decide which ones to use from fire, water, earth, and lightning. But you can't use dark or light element's as they fall under supreme category. After you decided on an element follow all the basic steps, is that clear?"
Star tilts her head, "Let me get it straight I follow all the steps Nita did, but before the second step I've to decide on element except dark and light?"
Darko rested his finger's on his chin before nodding, "Precisely, though it's a oversimplification… but you're correct."
Star narrowed her eyes, "Really couldn't use simple words instead of long confusing explanation?"
A smile forms on her face as she closes her eyes. But unlike Nita she saw it— the heart engulfed in purple flames.
"Nita wasn't lying, was she? This feeling is amazing." Star said, in her mind. "So, now I've decide which element to use. Anyway what's happens if I use two different elements at once?"
Star grind. "Let's try using fire and water."
Star squinted her eyes focusing on the heart. First try failed the fire won't change, second try failed, third try… failed. She's about to give up, but on the forth try—