Finding a Reliable Training Partner 2

I awoke at down the next day. I couldn't help it! My body was trembling with excitement. Today was the day I'd reach level 5!

Since I was up a good three hours before I was supposed to meet Prince Blaize, I decided to check my Stats and Skills.

Kylara Adamare

NOVICE: Level 4

STATS:

Agility: 18

Charisma: 16

Intelligence: 19

Magic: 25

Strength: 15

Wisdom: 16

Stat points to spend: 0.

Seeing that several of my Stats had gone up, I was overjoyed. I danced around my room a bit. After I had exhausted my excitement, I checked my Skills.

Kylara Adamare

Novice: Level 4

SKILLS:

Slash lvl 4

Lightning Strike lvl 8

Crush lvl 5

Light Shield lvl 3

Freeze lvl 7

Chill lvl 4

Air Scythe lvl 5

Shadowbolt lvl 5

Water Barrier lvl 1

Tangling Vines lvl 1

Additional Skill lines unlock-able with study.

…

I unconsciously lowered my chin when I saw the triple dots, so that I could get a better look at them.

Much to my surprise, the display changed.

It now showed,

…

Kylara Adamare

Available: Unaided Lightning Strike Practice.

Estimated Completion time: 250 hrs.

Begin Learning? Y or N

I frowned, curious as to waht whould happen if I said yes.

As soon as I thought the word, an electric jolt ran through my body. I froze as my mind was innunadated with images of sparks, sparks from doorknobs, sparks from carpets, sparks from fur. As more and more images filled my mind, I began to see a pattern. A spark only existed between two points.

As I thought this, I felt/heard a ding in my mind. The images paused and 1/250 appeared before my eyes. This was followed swiftly by Continue? Y or N.

I said yes again.

This time the images moved slower. I saw the sparks spring from metal surfaces to people reaching to touch them. This one was easy. The sparks always moved from a metal source to the person.

Another ding. 2/250. Continue? Y or N.

I said yes again. I repeated this over and over again until the number displayed was 50/250. When I said continue this time, the system showed me images of my hands. As I watched, light began flashing over them. Then blue-white little sparks began crawling on my hands in my vision. Then the vision ceased.

I blinked at my room. Was I supposed to do that? But I wasn't metal. I frowned as I remembered the exercise before this. For that exercise, I had to mediate to feel my well of lightning in my mind.

I may not be metal but I had lightning in me. But how did I call it forth? Other than touching metal connected to the Earth, I remembered that it happened sometimes when people pet animal fur. I didn't have fur but I had hair, and that was like fur.

On a whim, I let down my hair and rubbed my right hand in it. I was expecting nothing to happen but as I pulled my hand out I began to feel tingling on my palm. It was like slow pins and needles. I pushed my hand back into my thick, brown hair and really shook it. The pins and needles feeling increased.

When I pulled my hand out, I saw a bunch of little lightnings climbing all over it.

I squealed with delight and the lightnings went out. Concentration was necessary.

Hurriedly, I shoved my hand back into my hair and got another handful of sparks. Then I continued concentrating on it while I waited for the 51/250 message to appear.

"Where's my 51?" I asked aloud.

My eyes were once again taken up with the images of sparks growing out of my hand. I sighed as I realized it. The sparks were originating from my hand.

I looked at the clock on the wall. It read 8:45 am. I blinked. I hadn't realized it had gotten so late. If I didn't get to the breakfast parlor now, I wouldn't have time to eat. Swiftly, I left my rooms.

***

When Prince Blaize dragged himself into the breakfast parlor at 9:15, I had long finished eating. I immediately walked up to him.

"Well are you ready?" I asked. I had to fight hard to hide my excitement. Level 5!

"Need to eat." Prince Blaize replied groggily.

I sighed and returned to my tea.

My eyes were fixed on him as he got a plate and slowly ate. They were still glued to him when he got a second plate and ate that. My leg bounced under my table the entire time.

Finally, he sighed and stood. He had taken a half-hour.

I jumped to my feet and raced to him again.

Surprisingly, he smiled, "You seem quite eager." There was a mocking glint in his eyes.

I smiled too and nodded.

"That's good." He said, "I'll show you what a real male can do."

He turned and walked out the door. I rolled my eyes and followed him.

***

We rode to the Training Grounds, so once more I had to borrow a palace mount. I was going to have to do something about my horse situation soon. The looks I was getting form the hostlers were getting on my nerves.

Luckily, Prince Blaize had seen me riding astride yesterday, so he didn't say anything. However, he did send me gloating looks whenever he thought I wasn't paying attention.

An hour after we left the city, we arrived at the Training Grounds. These were a 100-acre fenced in area, kind of like a preserve. The Guild would regular pay adventurers to capture monster so they could keep it stocked.

I felt my excitement returning when I saw all the signs warning of monsters and danger posted on the fence.

Outside the gate, a gold glowing magical barrier, stood three burly males. The largest of the three leaned on a massive hammer while the other two wore swords on their hips.

Prince Blaize and I dismounted and led our horses to the pasture alongside the fence. There were six other horses in the pasture already. I frowned worrying about whether there'd be any monsters left for me to kill.

Then I marched up to the guard with the hammer. I heard Prince Blaize following behind me.

"Lady Sky, I was told to check in before I went inside." The guard shared a mocking gaze with his compatriots.

"Go on in." He laughed as Blaize snorted, "Lady?"

I ignored Prince Blaize and marched through the now open gate.

I heard Prince Blaize shout for me to wait but I didn't. A few feet inside, I realized he wasn't following me.

I turned and walked back to the gate. The shimmery, golden barrier was back in place. On the outside stood Prince Blaize. He was grinning viciously.

I smiled back and waved. So this was why'd he'd been in such a good mood.

His expression darkened.

"Does this mean I'm excused from the mating event?" I jeered.

Prince Blaize's face became a mask of fury, "Yeah, your death excuses you from participating." He snarled.

I frowned, "But what if I don't die? Can I still miss the rest of them?"

Prince Blaize made a rude gesture with his fist before turning away.

Time to Level! I thought excitedly as I walked deeper into the training grounds.

After fifteen minutes, I found a trail of hoof prints. Smiling in excitement, I began following it.

After a few minutes, I began to get the feeling I was being watched. I concentrated on my senses and began hearing multiple light steps through the undergrowth behind me.

I continued walking forward.

Air rushed past me. I spun. Activate Tangling Vines lvl 1?

Yes.

Eight thick, green vines burst from the ground in front of me. The wildly waving vines wrapped around two of the three creatures that had just exploded from the trees.

They were a purple and gray furred mix between a dog and a mouse, with razor sharp front teeth and three inch long claws. As the third charged at me its claws elongated.

Activate Light Shield, I thought.

The familiar gold-glowing shield popped up in between me and the charging monster. It struck the shield head on and bounced back, appearing dazed.

Activate Shadowbolt, I thought as I angled my hand at the dazed monster. It was beginning to get back to its feet. The pure black ball of shadow burst from my hand. It hit the monster and punched through it.

Pain scored across my back.

I rolled forward and jumped over the now dead monster. One of the two trapped monster had cut itself free. As my movement took me passed the still trapped monster, I grabbed my left dagger and activated Slash.

The trapped monster split in two and its blood sprayed across the left side of my body.

I spun to face the third one. It lifted its head and let out a yowl, that sounded like a woman screaming. Faintly, I heard many feet begin to run towards us.

The third monster began to inch backwards.

"Not so fast." I said. Activate Freeze, I thought.

With a puff of chilly, white frost the third monster froze solid and dropped to the ground.

As it died a message appeared before my eyes.

Congratulations, Kylara! Level up! Level 5. STAT points awarded: 6.

A familiar feeling of warmth diffused throughout my body. I felt the stinging in my back fade then disappear entirely as did my tiredness. Feeling refreshed as if I had just woken up from a long night's rest, I smiled.

The sounds of the many feet were closer now.

Bring it on! I thought.