Chapter 51 : Find out who she is
Thank you jack_blackshadow for the golden tickets.
....
The following afternoon, the four of them made their way toward one of Ilebi’s public training grounds.
It was located several streets away from the busier markets, in a broad stone compound surrounded by tall walls. The entrance was wide enough for several people to enter at once, and a large wooden sign hung above the gate.
PUBLIC TRAINING GROUND — NOVICE AND ADEPT AREA
Even from outside, they could hear the sounds coming from within.
Wooden weapons striking.
Feet scraping against stone.
Occasional shouts.
The dull crack of elemental spells hitting reinforced targets.
Tolu stopped outside the gate and looked in.
There were several separate areas inside.
One section had rows of wooden training dummies.
Another had circular platforms where people could spar.
There were also open spaces where cultivators practiced their spells.
A few instructors walked around the grounds, correcting people’s stances and occasionally stopping fights before they became too dangerous.
Tolu walked toward the counter.
The attendant looked up.
"Four?"
"Yes."
"Novice area?"
Tolu nodded.
The attendant told them the price.
Tolu paid.
Four small metal tokens were placed on the counter.
The attendant handed them over.
"Keep those. You’ll need them when you leave."
Akin looked at his. "All oir money just for these metal tokens."
Tolu smiled. "Welcome to Ilebi."
They entered.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Inside, the sounds were much louder.
A young man swung a wooden sword against a training dummy.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Another cultivator stood several meters away from a row of targets, repeatedly casting his elemental spell.
A burst of flame struck the first target.
Another cultivator launched a small projectile of compressed water.
Someone else raised a thin wall of earth before immediately shattering it and forming another.
There was no audience.
Nobody was applauding.
Nobody was cheering.
Everyone was simply working.
Tolu looked at Ore. "Same as usual?"
She nodded. "We warm up first."
Akin cracked his knuckles. "Then spar?"
"Then spar."
Temi smiled. "Try not to complain when you lose."
Akin looked at her. "I don’t complain."
Ore laughed. "You complain constantly."
"That’s called communication."
They separated.
Tolu stood alone in front of one of the training dummies.
He took a slow breath.
The ground beneath his feet was hard-packed earth.
He raised one hand.
Mana flowed through him.
The sensation had once felt strange.
Now it was familiar.
Almost natural.
His fingers moved slightly.
The ground in front of him trembled.
Earth rose.
A small spike shot upward.
Crack!
It struck the reinforced wooden dummy.
Tolu didn’t stop.
Another.
Then another.
He wasn’t simply throwing spells anymore.
He was learning how to use them.
His first earth spike had required concentration.
Now he could form one while moving.
He stepped sideways.
Another spike rose where his foot had been moments earlier.
He stepped again.
Another.
He was deliberately changing the angle.
Not because the spell had become stronger.
Because his understanding of combat had changed.
The dungeon war had taught him that a spell didn’t have to kill someone to be useful.
It could force movement.
Block an escape route.
Create distance.
Interrupt an attack.
Change the battlefield.
Tolu suddenly stomped his foot.
The earth in front of him lifted into a low ridge.
He immediately stepped behind it.
A wooden projectile fired from a nearby training mechanism struck the ridge and bounced away.
Tolu smiled. "Better."
A voice came from nearby. "Much better."
Tolu turned.
An instructor had been watching him. "You’ve practiced."
"A little."
"A little?"
The instructor smiled. "You move while casting."
Tolu shrugged. "It’s safer."
"Most Novices forget that."
The instructor walked away.
Tolu looked back at the dummy.
He didn’t feel proud.
Not particularly.
He simply understood that there was still a lot to learn.
Several meters away, Ore stood with her bow.
She drew the string.
Released.
Thwack!
The arrow struck the center of the target.
She immediately drew another.
Thwack!
Another.
She changed her stance.
The third arrow struck slightly lower.
Ore frowned.
She adjusted her grip.
Again.
Thwack!
Center.
She smiled.
Two months of constant adventuring had changed her.
She had always been a good shot.
But now she understood how to shoot when tired.
When moving.
When frightened.
When something was charging toward her.
When there wasn’t time to take a perfect stance.
She drew while stepping sideways.
Released.
The arrow struck.
Again.
Step.
Draw.
Release.
Step.
Draw.
Release.
Her movements were becoming smoother.
Less deliberate.
More instinctive.
Then she began incorporating her element.
Mana gathered around her.
She fired.
The arrow flew normally for several meters before the elemental energy surrounding it suddenly intensified.
The projectile struck the target harder than an ordinary arrow.
Ore lowered her bow.
She breathed out. "Again."
Akin was already sweating.
He stood opposite Temi on one of the circular sparring platforms.
Neither held a real weapon.
They were practicing with wooden training weapons.
Akin rolled his shoulders. "Ready?"
Temi raised her weapon. "Whenever you are."
Akin grinned.
He rushed forward.
His first strike came diagonally.
Temi blocked.
Wood slammed against wood.
Crack!
She stepped backward.
Akin followed.
Another strike.
Temi parried.
Another.
She ducked.
Akin’s wooden weapon passed above her head.
Temi immediately stepped inside his reach.
Her weapon struck his shoulder.
Thud!
Akin stumbled backward. "Point."
Temi smiled. "Already?"
Akin rubbed his shoulder. "That was luck."
"Again."
They reset.
This time Akin didn’t rush.
He watched her.
Temi watched him.
Akin stepped forward.
Temi shifted.
He attacked.
She blocked.
He changed direction halfway through the strike.
Temi barely caught it.
Their weapons collided again and again.
Thud.
Crack.
Thud.
Their feet moved constantly across the platform.
Neither stood still.
Akin attempted to force her toward the edge.
Temi recognized it.
She deliberately gave ground.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Then Akin attacked.
Temi suddenly pivoted.
His momentum carried him past her.
She struck his back.
Thud!
Akin stumbled.
Temi smiled. "Point."
Akin turned. "You planned that."
"Yes."
"Since when?"
"Since you started pushing me toward the edge."
Akin stared at her.
Then laughed. "You’re getting annoying."
Temi’s smile widened. "You’re getting predictable."
They reset.
This time, Akin’s expression became serious.
Mana gathered around his body.
Temi’s expression changed too.
Their training had changed.
Two months ago, they would have treated sparring as simply hitting one another with weapons.
Now they understood that their elemental abilities were part of the fight.
Akin moved first.
Temi responded.
Their elements flashed around them.
Neither was powerful enough to produce anything spectacular.
They were Novices.
Their spells were basic.
But they had become proficient.
Akin used his element to reinforce his movement.
Temi used hers to disrupt his approach.
He attacked.
She countered.
He retreated.
She pursued.
He changed direction.
She anticipated it.
The fight became faster.
The sound of their wooden weapons echoed across the training ground.
Crack!
Temi blocked.
Akin spun.
She ducked.
His weapon passed over her shoulder.
She stepped forward.
Their shoulders nearly collided.
Temi tried to strike.
Akin blocked.
He pushed.
She stumbled.
He attacked again.
Temi twisted away.
His weapon barely missed her ribs.
She swept his leg.
Akin jumped.
He landed.
Temi was already attacking.
Thud!
He blocked.
Thud!
Again.
Thud!
Again.
Their breathing became heavier.
Neither wanted to yield.
Around them, other trainees continued practicing.
Then something changed.
A carriage had stopped outside the training ground.
It was elegant without being absurd.
Dark polished wood.
Metal fittings.
Two well-trained horses.
A small group of armed men accompanied it.
A young man stepped down.
He looked to be around their age.
Perhaps nineteen.
His clothing immediately separated him from everyone inside.
Fine fabric.
Well-made boots.
A carefully maintained weapon at his side.
He didn’t need flashy ornaments.
The quality of everything he wore spoke for itself.
Several people outside the training ground moved aside when they saw him.
A middle-aged man stepped out after him.
His clothes were simpler.
But his posture was straight.
His expression was calm.
His hair was beginning to gray.
He carried himself like someone who had spent many years serving an important household.
He approached the young man. " Sir."
The young man looked toward the training ground. "Yes?"
The butler adjusted his sleeves. "Your father was very clear about today’s assignment."
The young man sighed. "I know."
"He wants you to personally inspect the public training grounds."
"I know."
"And identify anyone with potential."
The young man glanced at him. "Why does Father care about Novices?"
The butler smiled slightly.
"Because talent has a habit of appearing where nobody expects it."
The young man remained silent.
The butler continued. "Your father believes this task is important."
"I understand."
"He has entrusted it to you because he believes you are capable of judging people properly."
The young man’s expression changed slightly. "He said that?"
"Not in those exact words."
The young man smiled. "Of course."
The butler looked at him seriously. "But the meaning was clear."
The young man glanced back toward the training ground. "Then I’ll do it properly."
"That is all he asks."