章節 13: Arcana Training

"Dumb Dumb, when will Aurelia learn how to absorb Acana?" Asked Aurelia, sheathing her longsword upon her waist.

With a twitch to his left eye, Lord Zireael held his budding anger down, "You can bearly hold a blade, yet you think you are ready to ride the dragon?"

"You are still in the intermediate stages of the basics." Said Innis patting the young girl's sweaty brow. " Although, most commoners your age only start absorbing Arcana when they are five. You will need a noble to give you permission to start early. "

Puffing her cheeks, Aurelia shook her head, "No, Aurelia wants to learn now!"

"Oh, then do go ahead and learn, but Innis will not be teaching you." Zireael coldly said, arching his lips. "I will be the one, and I can guarantee you will not like it. I am not kind like Innis."

"Aurelia is ready!"

"She is ready!"

"I have been training her for four months. While her basics need work, training with Arcana would speed up her foundation. Aurelia is ready to start! Many members of the Aristocracy start around her age!" urged Innis with confidence.

" thwee against one," Aurelia giggled, yet Zireael did not seem amused.

No Lord Blackwater was not amused in the slightest. Four months of training with a blade was remotely enough, but he could not deny the advantage of starting now. Time was not on his side, but he knew skipping steps was not to his advantage.

"Fine, but Aurelia, I hope you understand that your training will increase. Your body can take it, but your mind will be a different story."

Filled with determination, Aurelia slapped her chest, "I, Aurelia Morningstar am ready!"

With flames burning within her eyes, Zireael merely frowned, raising his arm as a silver ball of light began to glow from within his palm. "This is Arcana, formed by the Qi of Heaven and Earth. It is what gives people like Talia and Innis their power. When Qi of heaven and Earth enters your body, it turns into what we call Arcana. However, most people refer to Heaven and Earth's Qi as Arcana anyway but remember the difference. Right now, you cannot absorb Arcana on your own due to the lack of connection towards heaven and earth."

"So, how does Aurelia absorb Arcana?"

"We higher an Alchemist to create ointment, but I am sure Innis has plenty upon her person." Said Lord Zireael.

Digging into her robe, Innis nodded, "I do, my lord. I figured a day like this would arrive, so I prepared. This ointment is from a Shadow Wolf, a rare beast that is known for its speed and flexibility perfect for a woman."

Holding a small black Vial within her youthful palms, Zireael took it within his hand, pursing his lips, "I truly should have learn about being an Alchemist when I had the chance."

Tossing the ointment towards Aurelia, Lord Zireael did not even have to speak as Aurelia impatiently placed it upon her skin, covering every crevis of her body in a matter of seconds without waiting for instructions.

"Oh, dear!" Said Talia covering her mouth. "That's... that's a bit too much, my lady."

Covered in black slime, she grinned, "Aurelia feels... fi... fine... Aurelia feels funny!"

Turning crimson in color benight the black ointment, Aurelia's entire body began to tremble. Suddenly a ruthless kick shot into her chest, basting her over the grassing plain. Skidding over the gas like a rag doll. Zireael smiled, "Oh, this is going to be fun."

Gritting her teeth, Aurelia's crimson skin began to fade a little before returning in full. Drawing her sheath blade from her side, Lord Blackwater drew his from his back.

"DUMB DUMB!!!" Roared Aurelia with madness charging towards the Young Lord.

Flicking his wrist in the air with graceful elegance Zireael, darted towards the young girl. His steps were light like the grace of a dancer and profound like the heavens. Pressing towards Aurelia, his blade curled towards her neck.

Raising her sword, Aurelia watched the fireflies sparkled within the air. Her gaze was so focused she didn't even notice her speed was almost the same as a full-grown adult without Arcana. Parrying his sword, Aurelia lowered her knees, ducking as a silver light tore the air in half where her head would have been.

Gulping at the close touch of death upon her soul, silver flashes of sword light consumed her vision. Ignoring the sword strokes that were not heading for her vital's, pure crimson liquid trickled down her clothing. Staining her attire with its ruby pigment.

Clashing with all she had against Lord Zireael Master Swodmanship, Aurelia felt a large difference when compared to Innis. Her master's dagger was skilled, cunning, and profound, but Lord Zireael's blade was different.

When looking at Zireael, all she could feel was despair. His skills could not be measured, at least not by the little girl. Before Zireael, all she saw was darkness, pure untamed darkness from his silver eyes.

Lowering her longsword, Aurelia fell to her knees, her breathing shallow and haggard like those upon their death bed. Large lacerations oozing ruby red blood were clear as day. However, there was no despair within the young girl's heart.

Feeling her body overflowing with Arcana, she arose, ignoring the agony reaching her very bones; she roared, "Aurelia can keep going!"

Wiping the blood upon his blade away, Zireael sheath his sword without any expression, "Mend your injuries, Aurelia. We are going to the forest for a few years. Talia, go with Innis to collect more Ointment. We need three years' worth. We are going on a journey."

"My lord!" Talia shouted in surprise, "You're a duke, my lord; you cannot just leave."

"Sure I can! It's not like Cyrus gave me land to rule. That title is merely in name only. You, however, should tell him. I don't want to have an army heading for my neck, searching for the Princess of Ferrum. " Said Zireael walking away without a care in the world.

Falling back on the bloody grass, Talia smiled, lifting the Young Mistress into her arms. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Entering the ether Hotspring, Talia could not help but marvel as she carried the bloody girl into the spring. Watching all her injuries vanish at the touch of spring water against her milky skin. She could not help but marvel at where Lord Blackwater got such a magical spring.

"Aurelia lost," She whimpered in a downcasted tone, "Aurelia lost to Dumb Dumb."

Dropping her entire into the hot spring, Talia laughed, watching her struggle to catch her breath, "Lord Zireael is a master swordsman, and you started only four months ago. Instead of beating yourself up, look at the bright side. You are on your first step in reaching the first stage in Arcane Refinement.

Blowing small bubbles within the hot spring, Aurelia didn't look up to meet Talia's gaze. While what Talia said was correct, Aurelia understood that a loss was a loss. CLenching her small fist, the fire within her eyes shone.

"Aurelia will not lose next time."