Training Again
"Where's Raven?" Hideyoshi asked, all of them including Theo were already at the training area, only Eureka and Raven aren't.
"He is already training," Eureka replied as she approach them.
"Where?"
"For now, I will make all of you train your abilities. Theo and Azusa, I will watch over your weapon training for now train on your own, I will search for you once I am done with the others. As for you four, follow me," Eureka replied as she walked out.
The others looked at each other before following her instructions.
"Seriously Eureka, are you blind folded to train at the same time for Theo not to find out about your blindness?" Karen asked once they are out.
"Indeed."
"So where are we going?" Mamoru asked as they follow her towards the forests.
"Both you and Karen shall be staying within a cave, it will be covered for a long while. What I want you to accomplish is to understand and feel the ground as if it was a part of you."
"Hideyoshi shall be staying at the highest place in here. There you have to feel the wind as if it is carrying you."
"Feena shall be staying at a falls, just like how others meditate on it, you shall do it too. But what I want you to accomplish is to make the falls follow you."
All of them were confused, it is Karen who voiced out their question.
"Why will we be doing it?"
"You all can conjure your own elements. But can you control the natural ones?"
"Honestly we can't."
"That's right you can't, most of you can't. But the best ability users are those who can't only conjure but who can control those around them as well. This way you won't be using up all of your energy in conjuring attacks."
"I never heard of that," Feena commented.
"Indeed you haven't. Because no one have tried. But I know it is possible."
"Then is Raven training somewhere with fire?" Hideyoshi asked.
"No, he is training somewhere hot."
"Once we accomplish all this, what will be our improvements?" Mamoru wondered this time.
"Just as I have said, both you and Karen would be able to control even this place we are standing at. Hideyoshi will be able to fly and call upon the wind at your own free will, which is far stronger than just using your own. And Feena, would be able to breath under the water at the same time use every water out there."
"Is that possible?!?" Karen was completely astonished, not only her though. All of them.
"Whether you believe me or not, it's up to you. But I'm only here to train you since you asked me to. At the same time because you need to be stronger for the enemy we are about to face."
"How about sir Yukimura or king Akihiro? Why aren't you teaching this method to them?" Feena couldn't help but ask.
"They are past the age where their capabilities are at it's peak. They can learn but it will be a lot slower. At the same time, I can't teach this to others because you also needed to consider their capabilities. And right now, you are the best among your group. You have the highest chance to finish this training."
"We understand, we shall believe you and train properly," Mamoru replied, all of them have conviction visible in their eyes.
"I look forward to seeing your improvements," Eureka replied.
"But how long should we be staying?" Feena asked.
"You still have your duties, so as long as you can. Once you have the time, do train how you can be more attached to the elements of your abilities."
"We understand."
*****
"Geez, can't you really do anything while blindfolded?" Azusa berated.
When Eureka left Theo and her, they have decided to train using the sword with blindfolds on. But since she had improved she could clearly tel hiw unaccustomed Theo actually is. Indeed he is strong but ever since they became acquainted with Eureka their improvements are different than other people. And that became obvious once she started using dual swords and had been training using a blindfold.
"I already told you, they didn't train me seriously at home. They just made me a little stronger than the others who's of the same age as me," Theo replied as he once again struggled defending from Azusa's attack.
"Just do your best for now then. You wanted to learn from us and train the same way as we do, but you also need to understand that it was mainly Eureka who had been training us so it would be a bit different," Azusa commented as she once again attacked.
"Is this really training or suicide? You can't see anything, you can only listen and feel your surroundings."
"Will you stop complaining?" Azusa could only exhaustedly stop and berate him.
Theo removed his blindfold, "I'm sorry, I guess I just couldn't really remove what I was used to."
Azusa removed hers as well, "If you really want to improve then you can only endure. Eureka is what you'd call the best evidence of hardwork, endurance and patience. You've seen her strength despite her being a zero."
"An amazing one I must say," Theo replied.
"What's wrong?" he asked upon noticing that Azusa fell silent and she seemed to be in deep thought.
"I just thought that auras are different even with thise who have no abilities. Those who we'd call non ability users have different auras as well. I've experienced it while I was training at Archic."
"And what of it?"
"Eureka is a zero, but there are times that she has no aura as well. I can't completely feel her. I thought it's just because I was still at the beginning of my training. But then I can feel all those other zeros. Adding to that was how she was able to sneak attack the king of Confederate kingdom?"
"I've heard my father said that she herself are not completely answering the questions. The contract even had a part where she can answer questions if she wanted to or she don't have to if she didn't want to."
"She really have so many secrets."
Azusa then thought.
"And I must say you two have so much time in your hands right now."
"Eureka!" the two of them were startled.
"Go on and wear your blindfolds and continue what you were doing. From time to time I shall be attacking as well."
Both of them followed and put on their blindfolds.
"Ouch," she was suddenly hit in the stomach.
"Focus, don't let your mind wonder. You can think but don't lose your focus as well," Eureka said after she had attacked Azusa.
"Ugh," Theo was the next to be suddenly attacked.
"You one other hand should focus even more. If you rely on your eyes alone then you will die on the battle field, once you encounter so many enemies."
"I'm at disadvantage. I'm only new here."
"No enemy will wait for you to improve, so even if you are just training, consider everything as real. That your life is on the line. One wrong move and you will die."
"Stand up both of you and continue battling each other," she then commanded them.
*****
"She really is strict when it comes to training others isn't she?" Haruka commented.
Mutsumi is touring her around when they chance upon Eureka training Theo and Azusa.
"I think she became more strict though. When they were training for their graduation competitions, she was much mild?"
"The enemies must have become stronger, I think."
"Oh you kniw about the true enemy?" Mutsumi asked.
"That is the reason of our alliance after all."
"An enemy whom we wouldn't expect. I wonder when will this peaceful days we have will last?" Mutsumi couldn't help but sigh.
Haruka pat her back, "Be steadfast. You can't lose heart now. Not until we face them. Not until we defeat them. We have to be stronger in heart, that is the only way for us to support those who are on the front lines."
"How nostalgic," Mutsumi suddenly commented.
"What?"
"I don't know. I suddenly felt nostalgic after hearing your advice."
"Come on, you promised that you will tour me to the whole place right?" Haruka diverted the conversation.
"Alright let's go."
*****
"What happened to the two of you?" Feena asked as they all meet that night.
The four of them stayed in their respective places from lunch time until the sundown. They first finish their duties in the morning before going to where Eureka guided them to.
"Weapon training," Azusa sighed. Battling Theo was easy for her since she's more acquainted with blindfold than him, but when Eureka joined she just couldn't compare.
"Here," Mamoru handed her an ice pack before sitting beside her. After seeing her bruises he had asked the master of the diner, they're currently in, some.
"Th-Thank you," Azusa accepted.
She haven't seen him for so long, last night it was more girls and boys so she didn't have the chance to speak to him. So sitting with him right now, makes her truly happy.