What it means to be a dragon tamer. (1)

Alex looked up at the sky and blinked.

Melli sighed and shook her head at her student laying on his back not moving, she knew he wasn't badly hurt mainly because she was the one that knocked him down during their training session, annoyingly he had a bad habit of spacing out when he thought up one of ways to combine magic and martial together. Luckily he never did this when taken out into the wilderness to train against beasts but it still annoyed her.

"Alex!" she snapped

He blinked and his eyes seemed to focus.

"You really need to get out of your habit of going into a daze during a spar, it may be fine when it's with me but that's only because I have the skill to avoid seriously injuring you, if you were faced off against a less competent opponent, you could end up badly injured" she grumbled at him with her usual deadpan face.

Alex nodded a sheepish look on his face.

It had been two years since he had started learning combat under Melli and he definitely saw the benefits of it, most mages were in not so great physical condition as they tended to rely on magic for most things, which mean if even a semi competent fighter got close that mage was most likely dead. Alex was glad for the training as it meant that even should someone get close he would be able to fend them off.

Much to Melli's amusement and Huberts glee Alex had also been putting his imagination to use coming up with constant ways to combine magical and martial powers. he had already come up with several unique spells that enhanced his combat abilities the two he was most proud of was lightning steps, and wind steps. Lightning steps imbued lightning magic into his legs allowing him very fast bursts of speed, much to everyone's amusement and Alex's embarrassment the first time he tried using it he completely misjudged how fast he would become and slammed into the training courtyard wall knocking himself out. Wind steps on the other hand has a two fold purpose, the first was it created a solid foot hold of air which would allow its caster to essentially walk in the sky but it could also be detonated to give the caster a boost. Lightning steps fell under what Alex was calling internal magics and barely used any mana at all where wind steps was external magic and while it didn't consume a lot the longer a step remained active the greater the drain, it took him about 6 months to really get the hang of using both of step techniques.

Melli glanced over to where Anna and Kayla had just finished their spar both out of breath, Anna had come a long way in the two years where she could be considered Kayla's equal in a spar at least. Kayla still held the edge when it came to experience having grown up around a mercenary camp.

"Alright you three go get washed up and ready for dinner" Melli called out so Anna and Kayla could hear her.

The three of them trotted off.

Now that Alex Lily and Anna had turned ten Alex was shifted to his own room and bathing area much to the disgruntlement of the girls who lost their favorite cuddle pillow but Mira and Ms Rightworth had both put their foot down about the matter so they could only grudgingly accept it.

The girls met up with Lily who had just finished her alchemy training with Reeves.

"How was it" asked Anna.

"Much better now I'm actually learning how to craft potions, all that learning about ingredients over the first year was kind of mind numbing", Lily replied "Well let's get ready for dinner I need my dose of Alexinium".

Anna and Kayla both giggled at the last comment and the three started getting ready for dinner.

Meanwhile in Zakaths study

Zakath, Mira and the 4 teachers are all gathered.

"How are the children progressing" Zakath asks the group of people.

Without the slightest sign of hesitation Melli raises her thumb up and proudly proclaims that Kayla has definitely secured a spot in Alex harem. Mira and Mrs Rightworth both giggle at that while Hubert and Reeves just roll their eyes.

Zakath turns to Mira and cocks an eyebrow questioningly.

Mira clears her throat and proceeds to go over everyone's progress.

"Kayla and Anna are both strong fighters and at this stage will give a low-range mercenary or adventurer a run for their money once Anna goes through her ceremony she will probably be on par with most mid ranking mercs and adventurers" Mira states, Melli nods in approval.

Mira continued "Lily seems to be a natural at alchemy and has picked up the theory quite well, sadly until her ceremony she lacks the flame needed to become a true alchemist, Reeves has asked if he can stay here until after the ceremony and continue to teach her during her adjustment period"

Zakath nods to Reeves "That would be appreciated"

Melli spoke up "If that's the case then I will do the same for Anna, I've never had the chance to train a dragon"

A chuckle escaped Zakaths lips "No problems Melli but you are going to be bored for a few years".

Mira continued on, "Finally we have Alex, in terms of pure combat technique he isn't much better than Kayla and Anna that is until you throw in what he is calling martial magic, with just those ludicrous step techniques of his he would probably overwhelm most mid tier fighters with speed alone, let alone the other abilities he has conjured up. As for the magical aspect he can be considered on par with a class 2 mage". Both Hubert and Melli nod at the appraisal of their student.

"Regarding Alex martial magic" Hubert spoke up "Do any of you truly realize what martial magic actually means?"

He looked around the room to a bunch of blank faces, he sighed as he shook his head. "Martial magic is far from a unique train of thought but sadly the Mages of Arcvien have never really looked into it keeping to tradition and current practices, given most mages either come from Arcvien or trained at the magic academy it isn't to shocking as to why" Hubert explained "Alex is probably the first mage to be trained to such a degree outside the influence of the Mage Academy and I have endeavored to make sure he didn't get influenced by their philosophy.

"This is all fascinating but get to the point Hubert" Zakath smirked at his friend knowing he tended to go off on tangents.

*Ahem* "Yes well the point is Alex martial magic barely uses any mana to empower it nor is it as complex to learn as normal magic or external magic as Alex calls it, so consider what that could mean if you could easily empower your troops by awakening their mana and teaching them copied version of Alex martial magics" Hubert finished his explanation.

Everyone in the room blinked then their eyes opened wide, an adventurer group or mercenary company enhanced by Alex martial magic would be nigh on unstoppable, to say nothing about the lengths a kingdom would go to get their hands on such a thing.

A sigh could be heard from Zakath and he advised the group that he would have the discussion with Alex after dinner and while it may place a heavy burden on the shoulders of a ten year old it was better now than when he wasn't going to be around.

Dinner was uneventful with the girls being separated from Alex for now they tended to be more affectionate with him during the time they had together, and at dinner this had evolved into feeding him much to his chagrin.

As dinner wrapped up Zakath called out to Alex asking him to come to his study, much to the annoyance of the girls this was their time damnit! Zakath placated them saying them Alex wouldn't be long and he would meet up with them later.