Training

One week had passed since the three started training under the S-class mages. Each of them had accomplished more than a normal mage at their age would. However each passing day their training becomes harder, resulting in their exhausted states in their evening chores.

" I guess that's all for today Rene, another fabulous work," Selviah said before walking away. Left behind is Shaine who was laying on the grassy ground, her breath was heavy and her sweat was dripping down her face.

" Gotta get to work," she said to herself, she pulled herself up from the ground and made her way back to the inn. Slowly that is.

On another side of the forest was Elly together with Juruh, Elly collapsed on the ground breathing heavily. " Manly work my boy! " Juruh yelled with his thumb raised. " We shall end our lecture for today, the sun is setting. Make sure to get back home safely." the muscular man yelled as he disappeared from Elly's sight.

The training for both Elly and Shaine had got them shaking on their knees, unlike Abby who is peacefully making huge progress.

" Ugh, I feel numb. " Elly groaned as he pick himself up the grassy ground. " Time to work," he said to himself. By the second day of their training, their trainer would leave them alone on the training grounds to find their way back to the inn.

Elly would come back at the inn on his shaking legs, one wrong move and he would collapse on the streets. He would have a few bruises and scratches throughout his whole body and sometimes cuts too.

" Why am I even learning how to wield a sword, aren't I supposed to learn magic?" with a long sigh he stared at his feet, feeling glad that he was able to walk without wobbling on his way.

For the past whole week Elly was training with the S class wizard Juruh Uslur, instead of magic he was and is being taught about wielding a sword. On his first day, Juruh showed him how to control the swing of a sword resulting in a dusty explosion which was what caught Shaine's attention.

Loss in thoughts, Elly remembered the girls, " I do hope the girls are having an easier way of training than I am."

The training become harder after the week had passed, although Elly wasn't the only one getting a real beating. For the past 3 days Shaine had started going home looking like a total mess, she would have multiple small cuts and a few bruises along with some scratches.

Walking down the streets of Eden, Elly spotted a girl by the stone bridge, her petite size was enough to fit her into a box. As he got closer the girl seems to be a bit familiar.

" Abby?"

A smile formed on the girl's lips, " Hey how did your training go?" she asked before turning her head away from Elly.

Elly stood next to Abby, placing both his elbows on the parapet of the bridge, " Okay if I must say but more importantly what are you doing here, by now you should be cleaning the lobby."

A small chuckle came from her mouth, " I finished training earlier than usual so I waited for you guys so we can walk back to the inn together." a sweet smile formed on her lips enough to make Elly smile along.

'She's too pure.' he thought which made him chuckle.

A sigh of relief flew out of Abby's mouth, " The sun looks amazing in this world. " both of them stared at the sun setting between tall mountains.

Clicking steps emerged from afar, a girl carrying a paper bag in hand was walking down the cobblestone, sunlit street, her uniform all dusty at the edge of her skirt and her hair flowing with the small puffs of wind. As she step on the stone bridge her eyes caught two people watching the sun fade away.

" Abby, Elly?"

The two turned their heads and meet eyes with no other than Shaine herself, " What are you guys doing here?" Shaine asked.

Abby skipped to her sister and stood beside her, " Waiting for you, what do you get there?"

A sigh creep out of Shaine's mouth, " Groceries, Myr asked me to buy some ingredients earlier."

Elly walked up to the girls and gently grab the paper bag in Shaine's arms, " I'll handle this, you look exhausted. " Shaine chuckled and agreed with her cousin.

They made their way back to the inn chatting about their day, after an exhausting training their tiredness was washed away by the presence of one another and the small chat.

" What did you guys learn today?" Elly asked slightly frowning.

Abby enthusiastically spoke first, " I learned a lot of medium-grade Pyro magic." her eyes shimmered as she told them the magic she had learned one by one.

Shaine chuckled at her sister, " At least you're enjoying yourself, unlike me." she let out a long sigh and spoke again, " Selviah taught me a few Aero magic but mostly I was having a one-on-one sword fight with her, and today she taught me hand to hand combat. I think I'm dying slowly of exhaustion. "

" Looks like I wasn't the only one having trouble with my mentor." Elly chuckled, " Like you Juruh had been training me to wield a sword since day 1, the problem is instead of wooden swords we're using real ones." his face then frowned remembering the training his going through, " I feel like I'm going to die every time he swings his enormous sword at me, I feel more of a training dummy instead of a student. "

They all laughed at each other, the exhaustion has finally washed away from their body, it's been a long week for them, training had taken their time together the only time that they can spend together is on their breakfast, lunch, and supper as they work separately and only see each other on the hallways.

" Rene?" a voice said from behind them. They all turned around and saw Narkitt together with two other boys.

Shaine smiled and waved at the group, " Hi Narkitt it's good to see you again."

Narkitt walked up to them, " We haven't seen you three back at the guild for a while, what have you been doing and what are you wearing?"

Rene chuckled, " We've.... been busy, anyways what are you guys doing here?"

Narkitt chuckled and scratches the back of his neck, " Uhm we were hoping to see you guys around town. " one of the boys behind him laughed and elbowed him, " By 'we' you mean 'you'."

Narkitt elbowed the boy's stomach which made him cough loudly, " Ahem where are you three heading?" Narkitt said changing the subject.

" Back at the place we're staying. " Abby happily answered.

A short silence took over until Narkitt proudly announced, " Then shall we escort you back, we can stroll around the streets for a while too. "

Shaine was about to answer when Elly stood next to her, " Thank you for the offer Narkitt but we best be going, we got a lot of work to attend to."

Narkitt stood straight and looked at Elly's calm stare, the air suddenly felt tense and their stares turned into glares.

Rene awkwardly chuckled and lightly pulled Elly's shirt, " But you can escort us back to the inn at least. "

A smile formed on Narkitt's face and the tension was released. Although Elly was against the group of boys escorting them he got no other choice.

Their walk was all silence, not a single word was said. Their footsteps collided with each other's different rhythms, that was the only sound present in their presence.

Not long the inn was in sight, two crystal lamps were hanging by the gate of the inn, and a big sign with writings was hanging from above.

" Wait you live in Master's Inn?!" Narkitt's sudden shout made the three turn to the group.

Rene scratches the back of her neck, " Um yes, you guys didn't know?" Narkitt and his friends answered with a shake of the head.

" Ah Rene, Elly, Abby!!"

A girl came running towards the group, she stopped in front of them panting, " The master is here to see you." she grabbed the paper bag from Elly and pushed the three towards the inn.

" See you guys later!" Rene yelled to Narkitt's group as they were being forcefully pushed into the inn's door.

The three walked down the inn's hallway towards the master's office, they all stood in front of the door, the girl knocked lightly at the door, " Master they're here. I'll see you guys later." the girl said whispering the last sentence before walking away with the paper bag on her arms.

As soon as the three opened the door they saw Master Verg sitting on his chair at the end of the room, on the left was a long black couch with Halxian sitting, " It's good to see you three once again." the master greeted.

The three walked up to the master's table and sat down on the three chairs placed in front of it.

" How was your training?" the master asked with a calm smile.

Abby chuckled at the sudden change of expression of both Shaine and Elly, " I'm enjoying myself, master, sister Zecla is a great mentor and she's incredibly kind." the master smiled at Abby's enthusiasm, however, he awkwardly smiled towards the other two.

" How about you Rene, Enor?"

Rene raised her head and unexpectedly showed a gloomy reaction, " Perhaps my mentor is trying to kill me slowly, the master was she always that rouge!?" she suddenly yelled slamming her hands onto the table.

" Now that's just rude. " a voice said from behind making Shaine shriek and freeze on her toes. " That's not how you should portray your mentor. "

Shaine turned her head with a scared look, " What are you doing here sister Selviah?!" she yelled pointing her finger to Selviah who is calmly leaning on the door.

" Forgive her Rene, Selviah never had any students before so this is all new for her. " the master explained calming the panicked girl in front of her.

Shaine calmed down a bit and settled back on her chair, the master chuckled a little then smiled genuinely to the three, " I can see that your short training session has improved your magic." the master said to himself. In his vision, he's seeing a foggy shadow in three different colors surrounding the three youngsters.