Loopbreaker

“Francis.”

“Trina.”

His smile did not elicit a reaction from her as she sat at the table that had officially become his spot. The pair of boys who had been asking questions about getting stronger faster departed upon the arrival of her and the two other mages.

He watched her fingers work again. “Sound bubble?”

The slightest look of confusion flashed upon her face for a second before it vanished like every other emotion. “Is it true that General Stenson vouched for you?”

“Well, I’m here, sitting across the table, where a ninth son would never be allowed unless it was washing dishes. Now tell me, sister, why are you really here?”

“Aiden told Father that you are here. Yet from what I understand, he isn’t coming. Something doesn’t add up and the only logical thing I can think of is that it has to do with General Stenson. I’ve heard the reports of your ability to fight and it appears you have managed not to cause problems. The brother I knew wasn’t like that. You don’t act like you did when you were young.”

Not many people could read his sister as she gave very few clues via body language, but Francis had picked up on a couple.

“I love you, too,” Francis said.

“No… that’s not what I meant.”

“It is,” Francis replied. “You’re concerned and yet curious. You don’t know why I’m here, yet everything you expected upon my mere presence hasn’t happened. So, you’re wondering why. Even now, you came to warn me about Father. You didn’t have to worry, though. Neither Derrek nor Aiden would have told me, yet, as always, you come to my aid. That is a sign of love.”

“One might care for a stray cat, but that doesn’t mean they love it,” Trina replied. “Perhaps all they desire is something to keep the mice or insects away, so they feed it and give it a place to sleep.”

Francis chuckled and then purred. “Well, either way, thank you. Now I can’t tell you what you want to know, but how are you doing, Trina? How goes your training?”

“Do you care, or are you trying to change the subject?”

“I do care. You know that,” Francis said. “Out of everyone in our family, you know I care for you.”

She stared at him for a moment before shrugging once.

“I’m top of my class and advancing faster than expected. Soon, I shall be free to choose whatever branch of magic I wish to attempt next. For now, I am forced to endure the presence of the two behind me.”

“Guards?”

“Of a kind,” Trina said. “I was told talent like mine should not be put at risk, so these two from lesser houses follow me everywhere. Each is gifted in a way, but they are nothing compared to me. I have deduced they were promised something for this service. I am glad they finally stopped trying to get me to engage with them.”

“Well, at least you are safe. Now, can I ask a question or perhaps a favor?”

“You just asked a question but what favor do you want?”

He sighed, nostalgia washing over him as she always answered that question the same way.

“Later, I might want to do some training that involves being attacked with magic. Would you be up for burning or freezing my flesh off? You could also use water or lightning if you wished. Perhaps you could gain a point or two in whatever magic you use.”

Trina sat there expressionless for a moment as her eyes moved slightly. “You wish for me to cause you pain? Is this an attempt to gain a skill?”

“It is,” Francis replied.

“That is highly unlikely on your side, but I would be willing to attempt it for the chance to see if I could gain improvement in my own. When would you wish to do this?”

“I’ll have to get permission from Instructor Flistrave first,” Francis replied. “But I will tell him you are willing to help.”

“Hmmm… yes, that one has a reputation for trying things that seem… painful to spur on the acquiring of skills. Still, some of the methods have proved effective, so I could see him being willing to attempt this. Tell me, did you develop this all on your own?”

“Does it matter?” Francis asked.

“I guess not,” Trina replied. “Still, I look forward to showing you what I can do with my magic. Be safe, Francis. It was good talking.”

Before he could say goodbye, she was on her feet and moving. The pair of mages with her studied him briefly and turned, following like ducklings do their mother.

She never changes… which is good.

***

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Francis endured the next few days, doing his best to repeat each thing as he had before, minus almost killing Derrek and seven other boys or pissing off instructors by asking questions.

Instead, he focused on what he could.

“Faster! Attack faster!” his instructor shouted.

He did what Captain Lucan commanded, thrusting his sword as quickly as possible at the two boys he was facing. Each of them on their own would be an easy fight, but facing two of them head-on was a lot harder.

Even under pressure, Francis focused his mind on a single thought.

Faster… I must be faster!

Hundreds of thrusts turned into thousands as pairs of students were swapped in. Anytime he was struck by their swords, Francis shrugged it off, not caring about the blows his armor stopped. None of their weapon was sharp enough to seriously cut him and Francis’ body easily handled the power behind the attacks that came.

He had hurt more than five of his opponents, the power of his thrust exceeding their bodies' ability to handle even the blunted tip of his wooden sword.

“Take a break! Everyone get water!” his instructor called out.

Sweat poured off Francis as he backed away and bowed to the two teens, who gave him the smallest of acknowledgements before moving to join the others to get a drink.

“Lancaster, you’re almost there, I can sense it!” Lucan exclaimed. “Your body is fighting from a better position and your sword work is much quicker than the other day. It’s amazing to watch. I can only guess what your Endurance must be at, seeing how long you can last compared to these boys.”

Francis nodded, taking the offered water skin and drinking it all.

“General Stenson gave me some tips and I think I’m beginning to understand how to merge your teaching and his,” Francis said. “It’s about becoming the blade rather than just swinging it.”

“Exactly!” Lucan exclaimed. “So many don’t realize that no matter what weapon you fight with, it is an extension of you. A mace, a staff, a glaive, or even a fist all require you to move similarly. It’s not the motion, but how your body moves.”

Francis nodded, half listening while thinking about what Stenson had told him.

There are dozens of other skills that all build off these two… Riposte requires the Quick Attack skill most of the time to acquire. The speed of deflecting and attacking--

A hand came at him and Francis dodge, lifting his arm to block the strike.

“Where were you just now?” Lucan asked.

“Sorry, I got focused on what you said and lost myself in that moment,” Francis lied. “But I’m ready whenever to go again.”

His instructor laughed and nodded. “Rest, they need it more than you. Next week, you’ll be in the intermediate class. Perhaps you can acquire the skill then.”

***

“You’re certain you want to go ahead with this?” Oidrun asked. “She’s your sister, and it seems weird that you’d want her to hurt you like this.”

“Actually, she’s the perfect mage for the job. Tell her exactly how much power to use or how much to hurt me and she’ll obey completely. Even better, she won’t complain and I doubt she’ll need to take a break before you run out of healers.”

“There are ten healers here,” Oidrun said. ”Ten. I mean, you paid for the extra four, but I’m already fielding questions about why I need so many healers. You do realize people already think I’m crazy and sadistic.”

Francis nodded and smiled at the man. “I do, but that’s okay. I’m a bit crazy as well. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to strip and do my best not to make too much noise.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Standing there, in his underclothes, his back to Trina, Francis readied himself.

Resist… find the magic. Sense it. Try to block it out.

Stenson had given him some advice on the things he was attempting. The general hadn’t heard of anyone acquiring the magic resist ability in over a hundred years. He had cited multiple reasons, one of which was that someone able to withstand the pain and barrage of spells it seemed to require the skill.

“Go!” Francis shouted.

No sooner than he had said those words, the very skin on his back began to burn away. Searing agony of a different kind, a purer kind, flooded every nerve on that side of his body as the six seconds of magical flames washed over him.

“Heals!” Oidrun called out.

The cold sensation flooded him and the pain of what he had just endured faded away. Francis could feel the difference in power between his sister and Claudius.

“She’s too strong! I’ll have her decrease the time!” his trainer called out.

Francis shook his head and turned to look at the pair standing fifteen yards away. “No! I can take it.”

Oidrun’s frown vanished in a heartbeat and the mountain of a man smiled, bobbing his head. “That’s what I love! Someone who enjoys pain!”

“He doesn’t enjoy it,” Trina said. “Francis has just endured enough and told me he has the Pain Resistance skill.”

Allowing himself to chuckle, Francis gritted his teeth and nodded. “Again.”

This time, the sensation of absolute cold came as his skin froze, cracking and chunks falling off as the wintery blast washed over his upper torso and legs.

[ Deaths Dance Activated ]

“Heal!”

Francis wanted to laugh, fighting against the part that wanted to cry. The pain was bearable. He didn’t come here to give up. No matter what was thrown at him, he would endure it or die, coming back again to try another time.

***

“I underestimated you, brother,” Trina said as he joined her and Oidrun after washing off and getting dressed. “Even these two guards have admitted that neither had expected you to survive the first spell.”

Her two tag-alongs winced, but neither lowered their heads as he smiled at them. It didn’t matter if they were pretty, had their hair in a braid, or looked interested. He could feel the chasm that separated him from them.

I’m a ninth son… they’d never dig that deep into crap to find me.

“Your sister is amazing,” his instructor said. “She isn’t even tired and all of the healers are spent. A few also mentioned they gained a point in their skill. You’ve lasted far longer than I imagined, Mr. Lancaster.”

“His name is Francis,” Trina stated.

“Ahh, yes, forgive me, but the whole teacher and student relationship has some very strict rules.”

“Does it?” Trina asked. “Last I heard, you were very open about sleeping with any mage who was willing, even if they were students.”

Oidrun didn’t miss a beat, giving her a smile and a shrug. “They’re not my students. That’s the only rule.”

“I guess that makes sense,” she replied. “Still, I did gain a point, which is exceptional at my level.”

“A point? You gained a point?!” one of the girls behind her exclaimed.

“Yes, Rose,” Trina replied, her lips turning slightly downward as she spoke. “I told you that was the main reason for attempting such a thing. Still, it looks bad when you act like a child who just got a toy and is filled with excitement that they cannot contain. You need to learn to be more like me. Even now, I am overjoyed at the growth I achieved today; I can barely contain it.”

Francis glanced at the red-headed girl, whose cheeks now matched her hair, before looking at the blond-headed one and, finally, Oidrun.

Both men started laughing, pointing at each other until Trina snapped her fingers, sending a shockwave through the area.

“Please, you two are insulting Rose. It isn’t right to laugh at her mistake.”

Francis was glad his Endurance was so high, as his jaw hurt from laughing so hard after that comment.