章 12: chapter 12:can't stop the pain
The air hung heavy as Valeri stood at the edge of the makeshift arena, his body tense and his mind racing. Across from him, Lucien, his mentor and tormentor for the day, stretched his arms lazily, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The rules were simple: Valeri had to land ten hits before the timer ran out. Once it did, Lucien's full strength—both as a mage and martial artist—would be unleashed. Valeri knew what that meant. Survival, let alone victory, would become nearly impossible.
Lucien's flames, infamous for their intensity, were said to burn even the most inflammable of woods. His mastery over fire wasn't just a weapon but an extension of his being. The stakes were clear, and Valeri couldn't afford to falter.
"Ready?" Lucien asked, his voice calm but laced with anticipation. "Remember, you only need ten hits. I'll even give you a head start." He gestured mockingly, urging Valeri to make the first move.
Valeri's fists clenched. His body screamed at him to act, but his mind hesitated, calculating the odds. Then, he surged forward, opening the battle with a low dash aimed at closing the distance.
Lucien's response was immediate. A wall of flame erupted between them, forcing Valeri to veer to the side. The heat was suffocating, the air around him crackling with energy. Valeri threw himself into a roll, trying to dodge the next wave of fire that came sweeping toward him.
"Come on," Lucien called, his tone almost teasing. "You can't just run. Where's that Aikido finesse you're so proud of?"
Gritting his teeth, Valeri darted in, feinting to the left before spinning to the right. He aimed a quick strike at Lucien's midsection, but a jet of fire erupted from Lucien's palm, forcing him to pull back.
"You've got to do better than that," Lucien said, his voice quieter now but still corny. "Or are you waiting for me to burn some sense into you?"
Valeri's frustration mounted. His usual tactics—redirecting energy, countering, and neutralizing attacks—felt useless against Lucien's flames. Aikido thrived on physical contact and momentum, but Lucien's attacks never gave him the opportunity to engage directly.
A sudden memory flashed through Valeri's mind—his first lessons on mana. His instructor had described it as the fluid energy of the world, capable of shaping the impossible. Manipulating phenomena that have not yet occurred... The words echoed in his mind as he dodged another fiery assault.
If he couldn't fight Lucien directly, perhaps he could manipulate the environment. Focusing his thoughts, Valeri channeled his mana, attempting to control the air around him. A faint breeze stirred, barely noticeable amidst the heat. But it was a start.
Lucien noticed the shift. "Finally," he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten how to breathe."
The first breakthrough came as Valeri managed to create a sudden gust of wind that extinguished one of Lucien's smaller fireballs. It wasn't much, but it gave him an opening. He closed the distance and landed a light punch on Lucien's side before retreating.
"One," Lucien counted, rubbing the spot theatrically. "Nine more to go. At this rate, I might even break a sweat."
The fight pressed on, each exchange pushing Valeri to his limits. Lucien's attacks were relentless, but there was a method to his madness. He wasn't just testing Valeri's strength—he was forcing him to think faster, to act with precision. Every attack carried a purpose, designed to exploit Valeri's weaknesses.
Valeri, for his part, was learning. His attempts to control the wind grew more deliberate. He used small gusts to extinguish flames, redirecting them just enough to close the gap. By the time he landed his third hit, a sharp elbow to Lucien's ribs, his confidence was growing.
"Not bad," Lucien said, his voice quieter now. "But don't get cocky. The timer's still ticking."
The countdown loomed over Valeri like a shadow. He knew that once it ended, Lucien would no longer hold back. He needed to land his hits now, while he still had a chance.
By the time Valeri landed his eighth hit—a desperate jab to Lucien's shoulder—he was drenched in sweat, his body aching from the strain. His wind control, though still shaky, had become his lifeline, giving him just enough of an edge to keep going.
But then, the timer buzzed.
Lucien's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, focused expression. "Playtime's over," he said simply. The shift was immediate. His movements, once measured and almost lazy, became razor-sharp. His flames burned hotter, their intensity forcing Valeri to retreat.
The next exchange was a blur. Lucien's counters were brutal, each one calculated to test Valeri's limits. A flaming kick sent Valeri sprawling, and a searing punch nearly knocked the wind out of him. Yet, through sheer determination, Valeri kept pushing forward.
Valeri's body screamed in protest, every movement a struggle against exhaustion and pain. Lucien's attacks came faster now, his flames dancing with deadly precision. But Valeri refused to give up.
He tried everything—his Aikido, his wind control, even desperate feints—but Lucien countered each move with ease. The distance between them seemed insurmountable, the gap in their abilities a chasm Valeri couldn't cross.
Then, in a moment of clarity, Valeri remembered the flicker of wind he'd created earlier. It was a small thing, almost insignificant, but it had distracted Lucien just enough to give him an opening.
Focusing his remaining mana, Valeri manipulated the air behind Lucien, restricting its flow until the space felt still and empty. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he released it, creating a gust that swept past Lucien's back.
The distraction worked. For a split second, Lucien's focus wavered, his attention drawn to the unexpected sensation. Valeri seized the moment, closing the gap with everything he had left.
His fist connected with Lucien's jaw in a clean, decisive strike.
Lucien staggered back, blinking in surprise. A slow smile spread across his face as he straightened, rubbing his jaw. "Well," he said, his tone as dry as ever, "that's one way to make a point."
Valeri collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Every muscle in his body ached, but a faint sense of triumph warmed him.
Lucien offered him a hand, pulling him to his feet. "Not bad," he said, his voice quieter now, almost approving. "You've still got a long way to go, but you're starting to get it."
Valeri managed a weak smile. "You mean how to get punched in the face repeatedly?"
Lucien chuckled. "That too." He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "You've got potential, Valeri. Don't waste it."
Valeri felt hopeful. He had survived, learned, and grown. And for the first time, he felt like he was on the path to becoming independent, not just in strength but in himself.
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