Chapter 19: Training

Sarah walked over to the training area where she practiced her sword skills. Phileas made her do this for the past one year as both a self-defence training and to train her body to accept her magic when her core awakens. For this reason, she was in her training clothes today.

As she neared the training grounds, sounds of a sword cutting through the air came to her ears. Phileas always warmed up ahead of her using the sword he produced with his magic. With her, he used wooden swords at first, but Sarah proved to be a quick learner so they switched to using blades. Quick learning was not the only thing in her favour. She just trained longer, because she felt that her training clothes were more comfortable than her gowns, and wanted to stay in them longer even if it meant tiring herself out.

They began a practice duel after a warm up. As usual, it was difficult for her to dominate Phileas' attacks, but her defences had improved. She could manage some attacks too. When she swung her sword at Phileas, he immediately took a step back to avoid it before bringing his sword down heavily on her. She blocked it in time. Swinging his blade off, she charged at him with the sword to stab him only to run past him, then swiftly twisting her body she aimed to slash at his back. Phileas noticed this quick movement and dodged it.

"I see, you have started to have a feel of it".

"I have been training way too long not to draw a single drop of blood from you," Sarah scowled.

"Then aim to kill," Phileas said in a cold tone before charging at her.

She raised her blade to block him, but he slid his blade over hers, moved behind her, and kicked behind her knee. Sarah lost her balance and fell on her palms, losing her blade. Phileas brought down his blade and stabbed the ground next to her head as a sign of victory.

"You can't draw my blood, yet".

Sarah turned over and scowled, "Sometimes I wonder if you even want me to be alive or if you just want to prove yourself over an inexperienced person. I wouldn't hurt you anyways".

"You can't defeat me with a sword".

"Oh?, then how am I supposed to save myself from the dark magic users?"

"You can't save yourself with a sword. You need strong magic to handle dark magic. This training is just to help you buy time when in danger and to train your body".

"Ugh," she sighed, still lying on the ground, "my magic! Come back to me, you! I always wanted superpowers anyways. I don't want to die a virgin".

"Absurd".

Sarah kicked him from her position.

"How come you all are training without me?"

Sarah tilted her head to see Jake standing there. She quickly sat up and brushed the dirt off her.

Ever since the new prophecy, Phileas allowed Jake to enter the palace to visit her. He did so to avoid casualties stemmed from Sarah straying far from him, especially into the woods. He assumed that the previous prophecy indicated an accident involving Brave and did not necessarily mean his direct involvement with the ill fate of the princess. However, he still did not trust him.

"Phil, what's in training with a non-magic user. You should spur with me. Let's see if I can win this time".

"Do you want to hurt yourself that bad?"

"Oh, come on, I can prove myself. I have practiced a lot, you know".

Sarah's sixth sense told her this was the cue for her to move to a side and leave them space for their duel. Before she could do so, Jake was already charging at Phileas with his knives produced from magic in both hands. Phileas dropped his blade and created a magic shield to block the attack. Blue circles of light appeared in front of his palms forming a strong field.

Jake bounced back and began his next set of swings. Phileas countered these attacks using shields in each hand, then finding his opening he kicked at Jake's solar plexus. Jake fell back in impact and coughed out saliva. Phileas was going easy on him, but his kicks were still strong.

During this interval, Phileas produced his white blade. He swung it at Jake who rolled over to dodge it and attacked at his knees. Phileas jumped to avoid it then hit the side of Jake's head sharply with the hilt of his sword. Jake staggered a little and when his vision cleared, dodged the blade ever so slightly leaving himself only with a cut on his cheek.

"Do you want to behead me?"

"Just giving you hint for retreat".

Jake knit his eyebrows and threw his daggers at Phileas before producing new ones for attack. Phileas used his sword to intercept the flying daggers. Then letting his sword disappear, he grabbed Jake's hands and kicked him in the chest with his knee, loosening his grip on him when he fell. Jake used his height as an advantage to slide a leg through Phileas' to throw him over his shoulder. Phileas landed on his back and quickly rolled over to grab his ankle and pull. When Jake fell, he was already holding onto his blade and claimed his victory just like how he did with Sarah.

Jake stayed on the ground panting. At this point, Sarah hurried over to his side and lifted his head to inspect the cut on his cheek, "Geez, Phil, do you really have to hurt each other in a friendly spur? Can't you be a little careful?"

Phileas stared at her for a while before saying, "We used blades".

"I know. But now we need first aid," she ignored him.

Phileas kept watching her. She was too engrossed in nursing Jake, who obviously was not in too much pain. Taking this much hit during practice was normal. It bothered him. He clenched his fist causing more blood to flow from his palm. Yes, Jake had managed to stab him right before throwing him over, making it easier for him to do so. Sarah did not notice this, because she was too busy noticing Jake.

Frustrated, Phileas announced the end of the training for the day and walked away.

Sarah had just finished cleaning Jake's cut when she noticed a trail of blood on the ground. She looked at the cut on his cheek to inspect if it bled that much. When she followed the trail, it was leading away from the ground. She sighed.

Phileas sat in his room trying out some healing magic on his palm. The cut was deep. Normally it would need stitches, but healing magic could do the work faster. However it was not his strongest point. It was difficult to use healing magic since it required life magic. Healers, trained in the use of life magic for medical purposes, did the job better. So it took him a couple of hours before the cut lessened to a slit. At this point, Sarah walked in through the door.

Phileas hid his hand and pretended to read a book from the side table. Sarah watched him act for a while before moving over to him. She kneeled down on the floor and pulled his hand to look at the cut.

"You did something about it already didn't you?" She waited for an answer, "you tried to heal it, right? The big cut," she looked at him questioningly, but he avoided her gaze.

"You know, I read up about healing magic. I don't know how long you have been at it, but you should leave it at this. Once I patch it up, take rest. Jake left already, so I have time".

Phileas watched her clean the cut and wrap it up in fresh gauze. He felt the warmth through her touch as she wrapped the white fabric around his palm. This is what he wanted. He wanted her to take care of him the way she did for Brave. He wanted her to acknowledge him and cheer for him. He did not know why he felt this way or why it mattered to him so much. All he knew was how happy this made him feel.

Happy? I guess this is what they call being happy, Phileas thought.