"I was thinking the same. I appreciate your help. I will be in your care, Draven." Kael nodded lightly to Draven in respect.
"But don't sweat it, if you decide not to go to the academy, that is. The best step forward is to see how far we can take you, with your unconventional energy core, then you can choose your own path going forward. That is what the master wishes for you."
"The master?"
"Ahh, don't worry about it for now... You will meet her soon; she wishes to see you, that's why I just mentioned her. She is the highest-ranking authority in Raventhorne, and one of the seven directly under the sovereign; they are all called masters." Kael simply nodded.
Draven continued, "We'll begin training after sunset. I will guide you through the ascended training rooms. Remember, our goal is to foster your power, for the greater good of humanity." His gaze held steady, earnest.
Kael nodded slowly. "I will do my best."
Draven offered a curt nod in return. "Meet me here when the sun dips. We'll enter together." He paused, then added after a moment, "Elara will be joining us."
"Really? She has no reason to, though."
"She just wanted to join. I wouldn't turn down help from another ascended, so I accepted. Her input will be valuable."
"Yes...Of course." Kael responded.
"Now, get some rest, eat, and prepare. You are in for a wringer. I won't go easy on you."
"I wouldn't hope for it."
...
Kael was back in his room, lying on the bed. The sun was about to set, so he got up and got dressed in a sleek, black full-body suit Draven had given to him earlier.
Ever since he had seen Elara and some other ascenders wearing this sleek suit, he had hoped to try it on, if only for a second.
'After all, who would not want to wear a uniform this cool?'
A beaming smile was on his face, like a kid who had found a new toy.
He walked out of his room and waited for Draven to find him, which he did soon after, with Elara trailing behind him.
"Hey, kiddo, how are you feeling?" Elara asked him, more out of concern.
"Normal..."
"Really? I thought maybe you were feeling overwhelmed with all that power flowing through you. just kidding." She chuckled and ruffled his hair.
"I was..."
"You were?" Elara asked, surprised.
"Yeah, not anymore."
"Is there more to it? Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really. Let's get going." Kael peeked out to signal Draven.
...
They arrived at the training rooms, and after getting through security, the trio stood by the entrance, which had closed behind them.
Draven and Elara gave Kael a moment to look around at the setup. The training room was a lot plainer than he imagined.
'I don't even know what I was imagining... It's a lot simpler than I thought.'
"It's pretty simple, right?" Draven asked him.
"Yeah, I was thinking the same."
"Don't let that fool you, this room is sturdier than the mountain walls around you."
Kael raised his brows in surprise at Draven's comment, "Really? Is that so? I wouldn't have guessed."
There was barely anything in the room, except for a rack on the right side that was stacked with various metal weapons, swords, spears, bows, glaives, and so on.
That, and a terminal at the door. Everywhere else was empty.
"Get a weapon of your choice... then we can start, show me what you can do first, then we build on that.
Elara will teach you the basics of energy control. She is better at it than I am, and I will teach you how to use a weapon.
I may not be the best at most of them, but I know the basics, especially the longsword. I use it with my shield all the time."
'You would think we have gone back to the Middle Ages. How did we go from guns back to swords?
Surely these can't be any better. I mean, they are still using communication devices that look like cell phones and screens as well. Why not use guns as well?'
Kael walked towards the rack and shifted his gaze from one weapon to another.
'Let's go with the sword.' He chose a thin, but long sword, kind of like a katana, but a bit on the thicker side.
Kael, gripping a practice sword for the first time, tilted his head to the side. 'It feels rather uncomfortable, holding a sword in my hand.'
Elara stood clear by the door, she was silent and poised on the sidelines, a light smile playing across her features.
Draven stood relaxed, across from Kael, his own long blade resting lightly in his hand.
Kael, on the other hand, held his sword like a club, his two hands too tightly gripped around the hilt, feet too close together, his stance too stiff.
He swallowed, then raised the sword high overhead with awkward tension.
It was obvious he had never held a sword in his life, and he had never seen how anyone else did.
But he did take note of how Draven held his. The only problem was, their swords were different I shape and size.
So as he tried to hold it the same way, it felt clumsy and uncomfortable for him. So he settled for whatever felt comfortable for him.
"Ready yourself," Draven said, his tone light but firm. "I will strike first. Get ready to defend yourself as you see fit."
'Here goes nothing,' Kael thought. He was feeling nervous. But Draven didn't wait around for him to get comfortable.
woosh!
He moved...
Draven moved with the grace of flowing water; his movements were effortless, deliberate. Kael flinched and swung wildly, his sword slicing the air far off-target.
Draven's movements were not nearly as quick as Elara's, from when Kael saw her fight. Kael could clearly see him move, and considering his senses were now sharper than before, he was able to react to Draven's movements.
But the damn sword was difficult for him to use, and he was supposed to defend, not run from Draven.
Draven's wooden blade tapped his shoulder with a light thwack.
"Too wide. Center your weight. Loosen your grip, your weapon is a one-handed sword, use it like it should be." He stepped back. "Again."
The next few exchanges were painful to watch. Kael stumbled with each parry; his movements were reactive and desperate, but not coordinated.
His feet skidded, his strikes came with no timing, no sense of distance.
He nearly tripped over himself twice. Yet, behind the clumsiness, Draven's sharp gaze caught something.
'He's completely focused.' He could feel it from Kael's steely, determined gaze.
The way he was reading Draven's movements, and trying to copy them, 'must be why he looks so clumsy right now. He's trying to copy me, that is difficult.'
"You can read and analyse my form, but I would advise against trying to copy it. It's a lot more difficult, and everyone ends up developing a form unique to them, even if you study the same style."
"Ungh," Kael nodded, but not like he was going to completely listen to that.
Draven felt it.
Intent.
Focus.
Potential.
'Good.'
Raw, unfiltered, focus.