章 7: A Heroes Reward

A scene akin to the story of David and Goliath was transpiring in the guardians quarters, clashes of iron echoes through the training area. Sage had been helplessly blocking Warder's attacks for quite some time, slowly chipping away at his knife bit by bit. Sage knew he can't attack if this continued, so he switched to just evading the attacks. Sage was still confused why this man was trying to kill him? Why isn't his father helping him?

'I can't keep blocking like this'

Sage thought up a plan to let Warder expend as much energy attacking, as it could leading the giant to slow down creating more openings to attack, but for his tiny body dodging isn't exactly energy efficient. Sage was feeling his body was slowly cannot keep up with him while Warder never showed any signs of slowing down. Warder struck down his sword right between Sage's eyes, Sage instinctively dodged with his agile body to the side. To his surprise, the blade followed with precise motion according to his movement. He had to create some kind of distance this fight was straining him he might reach his limits.

"What now kid? Are just gonna keep dodging me? Your inner energy truly is weak"

Sage has been finely tuning his hearing while the giant flaps his mouth, his opponent's body sounded odd. The noises it makes were not a normal human can make the heartbeats the muscle contractions everything is different.

"To think you survived a beast pawn with this kind of skill display"

Sage was only average when it comes to fighting he can't match a brute like Warder. He thought of the only thing he was good at, killing. So he took a handful of mud from the ground and tossed it. Warder dodged it without ease arrogantly cocking his head to the side, but at that moment Sage has already followed up with a dropkick on the face. The momentum of Sage's kick and Warders head movement knocked the giant down. The giant's body whipped on the ground, Sage wasted no time and quickly sliced the neck of the fallen giant. To his surprise, no blood came out from Warder's neck.

"Stop, Sage had enough"

A figure was walking behind the fallen giant. Aries stood for a while, then reached his hand out. Sage quick refuse the helping hand and created a distance to both the giant and his father. He was never trusting of anybody his whole life, with his father betraying him leaves him with mixed thoughts.

"What games are you playing dad?"

"Don't be afraid son we were only testing you, you didn't exactly pass but you've beaten him regardless it's somewhat impressive"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about what happened the other day. The fact that you didn't let the guardians handle the beast of that caliber and ran off with it knowing it was very dangerous. You are underestimating everything, no, no, you were overestimating yourself. You could've died back then just like what happened just now Warder could've killed you"

"But I sliced his neck he should be bleeding right now"

"You can never kill him, cause he knew how to utilize his kaha, and at the same time he is naturally gifted with a hard body."

"Kaha?"

"Kaha is the what people call inner energy. Every living thing has this energy residing in their body, plants, humans even beasts. But most of the people in midel thinks that kaha is primal, that it's the weakest form of power but us here thinks it has endless potential"

Every elements have some ways of strengthening. Water's strength lies with subtle manipulation of blood flow, thus enhancing your strength, increase your speed, and can act as a barrier for your body. The climate of the village was perfect for water users they have the freedom of using these strengths for themselves. As for earth, their powers lies with object enhancement since the common iron weapons and armors are made from earth materials they can strengthen them or even boost their attacks. With fire users their power lies with fire itself they don't have much influence in objects or the body but they make up for it in terms of firepower. As for the infamous air element, it still remains a mystery, they still do not have full knowledge of its strengths as most of the air users are a minority in this world. Most air wielders rather have ordinary lives than walk the harsh path of a warrior.

"..."

"We are going to teach you how to use it with our senior apprentice he'll be here in a minute"

"But how am I supposed to learn my powers most people from the village are water users"

"Don't worry Sage we have someone for the job"

Aries gestured at the door. The doors to the guardians quarters opened up a thin pale man with hands on his pockets stood at the door smiling wickedly. The scene looks like a senior getting back at his junior for disrespecting him. Detman walked up at Sage looking down on him.

"I won't be training you, you'll be training by yourself with Warder as your partner. I don't believe in teaching you have to learn how to use your own power by yourself."

Cold hearted words rolled out of Detman's mouth, he was a victim of discrimination like all air users in midel, he wants Sage to learn by himself just like how he did with his. He rose through their ranks with sheer determination, he doesn't believe in babying his fellow air wielder.

"I'll only give hints, you'll have to figure it out on your own."

'Why do I feel like all of them are out to get me what did I do wrong'

"..."

He said what he had to say, Detman walked back to the bench to observe him from a distance.

"Sage, sorry for scaring you back there but this will serve as a lesson to you, for getting yourself in danger, you understand? Warder could have killed you back then. What more if it was a wild beast?"

This was not the tough love Sage had in mind but he understood his father's point. He had been reckless back at the forest his body was in a bad shape coming back to the village. What Sage was wondering when he got back was the fact that he didn't die from the parasitic butterflies, is it a boon from the oriental god?