บท 53: Success
The next twenty or so months passed in the blink of an eye since Zaos's life was so busy and intense. While he didn't feel that confident, that morning, he woke up feeling full of life. So, he quickly headed to the training grounds and where he would spar with his father.
They reached a point where no one had to give the sign of the start of the spar. When Zaos assumed his stance, it started. As usual, Laiex disappeared from Zaos's sight for a moment, but then when he appeared on Zaos's right side, and his fist moved toward Zaos's right shoulder, a wooden sword stopped him. Laiex thought his strength alone would make the weapon fly, but in fact, the sword stayed in place, and his fist began to hurt.
Laiex frowned while Zaos smirked. Before he could understand what had happened, Zaos felt a shiver. Then, suddenly, he jumped backward, but that didn't stop a weird projectile following him. For the first time, Laiex unsheathed his sword and swung it to strike the projectile. While he succeeded in stopping the threat, his face still was hit by some water.
"A water-based spell…" Laiex said and then recovered his focus when he saw another projectile flying toward him.
The speed was far beyond his expectations, so he didn't have the chance to dodge. Once again, he repelled the attack with a swing of his sword, but by doing so, his wet sword hit the Fire Sword. While the remaining water helped Laiex to decrease the temperature that suddenly raised on his surroundings, it also made a cloud of steam appear.
With another swing of his sword, Laiex dispersed the cloud, but then he felt a sharp pain in his left leg and saw that Zaos had hit him with his wooden sword. While he didn't feel much weight behind the attack, Laiex still started to bleed. When Laiex looked with more attention, he saw that Zaos's sword was enveloped by wind magic.
"… You won the bet," Laiex said after a long sigh.
For the first time, Zaos saw a big smile in front of his father. It wasn't a mocking smile, but it was one filled with pride… the last years of hard work finally paid off, after all.
"I didn't expect you would make me draw my sword, much less that you would wound me one year before the time limit," Laiex said. "It looks like you used some enchantment spells, but I didn't hear that you reached that level. Can you explain what happened?"
"Sure, why not?" Zaos said. "Around twenty months ago I bought a magic book that would teach the set of spells called elemental swords. Those are the projectiles I hit you with. However, a few months ago, I discovered that I could shorten the spell and make my mana obtain the elemental properties. After that, I worked to find a way to do that and add the same elemental properties to certain types of objects."
Laiex was impressed, but he didn't show that on his face. He also got carried away with his skills in the past, and thanks to it, he wasted a lot of time and never managed to beat a certain someone. His best friend… Drian. That was why Laiex decided to remain strict and make Zaos strive to reach the apex of his strength. While he didn't think much of magic, his son managed to reach a level where he could do something only a handful of mages could do: customize spells in two levels.
"... I still don't approve of you following two paths at the same time," Laiex said. "You are not as talented as Drannor, but you have a good head for strategy. Regardless, a promise is a promise. You can continue training both of them."
Zaos had a hard time controlling his emotions. He wanted to jump and shout while celebrating that huge achievement. Perhaps he should try to defeat his father without using magic next, but that seemed a bit too much since he didn't win a single time against Drannor. That kid was a monstrous genius.
"Follow me," Laiex said.
A new day had just started, but it looked like Laiex still had some business with Zaos, and his training will have to continue later. In the end, Laiex guided Zaos to a room behind the newest storage room, and there Zaos found several chests. It looked like another storage room, but that one didn't have a single trace of dust, nor did it look like many people had access to it.
"In each of those chests, lies the equipment our ancestors used," Laiex said. "When you become old enough, you will have access to the chests, but for the time being, you can use one of those. That one near the entrance."
"... Why do I have a chest here? I am not dead, and all my old gear is in my room." Zaos frowned after asking.
"I am not either, and I have a chest here," Laiex said. "Regardless, I gave the order to make one for you when you began to train with the sword and on the day of the bet, I put some things inside. Open up."
That seemed weird. Regardless, Zaos decided to obey since things will probably change after today. After Zaos opened the chest, he couldn't help but frown while looking at the things inside. He found ordinary chainmail, a buckler, a sword, a helmet, and pairs of boots and gloves. They were brand new, but Zaos was one hundred percent sure they were just very mediocre pieces of gear.
Health: 246/260
Mana: 426/430
Stamina: 416/420
Strength: 130
Magic: 215
Endurance: 210
Resistance: 215
Focus: 03 + 01
Sorcery Lv 21, Meditation Lv 15, Magic Swordsmanship Lv 05, Swordsmanship Lv 17, Axemanship Lv 06, Spearmanship Lv 06, Archery Lv 05, Shield Mastery Lv 11, Pain Resistance Lv 06, Blacksmithing Lv 05
Lesser Heal, Heal, Holy Light, Detoxification, Cold Whisper, Mend Bones, Dispel, Protection, Magic Barrier, Stone Skin, Fire Sword, Water Sword, Earth Sword, Wind Sword.
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