First Day of Training

"I have been waiting for you little one. Come inside we have a lot to discuss." The Colonel's voice was heard from inside the large wooden house.

'How in the world did he know it was me?'

Alexander stepped into the house with his jet-black hair and brown eyes standing at an impressive 125cm (4'1 feet) tall. Carrying his small bow on his shoulder Alexander peered in the smaller than expected room seeing an older man sitting behind his desk.

"Good morning Colonel, I am reporting for our scheduled archery lessons. As my 6th birthday is today sir."

"Well, young man I will first be teaching you hand to hand combat then when you are proficient in fighting in close combat we will move on to archery. Understood!"

'Are you kidding me? I just need the bow for any situation in a fight. This is dumb maybe there will be a way for me to get out of this stupid training, so we can move on to the shooting portion.'

"Yes sir," Alexander stated with a disappointed look across his face.

"I can see you aren't too fond of this training method tell me why?"

"Well sir, I do not see a situation where a bow isn't the best weapon of choice for fighting any opponent."

"That is where you got it, wrong little boy. I am not teaching you to fight. I am teaching you to kill." The Colonel paused after saying these words with a hint of his aura being poured into them before finishing his thoughts. "Archery is not everything as many warriors and fighters go into battles with abilities. A lot of the best abilities are kept secret and are usually only shown to the dead. Keep this in mind as you have probably already seen your father's ability plenty of times. He can use his Horned Fire-Snake to manipulate his fire into a ball allowing for it to condense then explode. Tell me how you would fight such an ability if it was directed at you and your bow?"

Alexander pondered over the scenario he was just given many times before realizing there is no way with his previous knowledge would he be able to put up any fight against that attack. 'This old man is right what can I do in this new world? I do not have any ability yet and know nothing in terms of being in a real fighting situation.'

"Well, little boy have you thought long enough about it."

"Yes, and you are right I would be killed against an opponent that was trying to kill me if I only use just the bow."

"Very good you have a smart head on your shoulders thinking out the possibilities and seizing this opportunity. It means you have the potential to grow. I like that." The Colonel chuckled staring at the boy before him.

"When do we began sir?"

"Now."

'What does he mean by now?'

As Alexander had those thoughts floating through his mind the older man sitting in front of him suddenly disappeared. While a large hand was placed on his shoulder from behind him. Alexander froze as sweat began to run down his back from the hand grasping at his neck now.

"First lesson boy never lose sight of your opponent. Today we will be training your senses, so follow me to the back."

The Colonel led Alexander to the back of his wooden house where a small courtyard was. There were many training dummies and workout equipment scattered around the yard. For the most part, it looked like a regular courtyard.

"Okay boy close your eyes." The Colonel instructed Alexander as they entered into the center of the yard.

Alexander closed his eyes listening to the Colonel's words. The courtyard became deadly silent the moment Alexander closed his eyes feeling only wind churning around him. A fist punching into the back of his knee collapsing his entire body to the ground.

'What the hell was that is this old man insane.' Lying on the floor Alexander thought to himself opening his eyes to find himself staring at the old man levitating behind him.

'What the hell is going on can this old man fly? No wonder I couldn't hear anything going on only wind.'

"This should probably be your first time seeing a flying ability as they are very rare in all of the united kingdoms. I am one of the very few. My soul partner is the King Air Falcon which allows me some abilities to fly and so on."

'What a lucky old man. What does he mean by King?'

"What do you mean by King? I have been learning all about different creatures from Ms. Evelyn all of this time, but this is the first time I hear about a King creature?"

"The Kings are creatures that ruler over that specific race of creature allowing them to suppress the lower creatures of the same race. While there is another equal of my King soul partner and that is the Queen. The Queen is special as they can get the lower creatures of the race to follow their mental orders as long, they won't hurt someone of the same species. These things are only the tip of the mountain as there are soul partners even higher than King and Queen classifications, but that is for another time."

'Creatures even higher than Kings and Queens? If Kings and Queens have these types of abilities over their species what do the higher creatures hold?'

"Quit daydreaming in front of your enemy." The Colonel said disappearing once again, but reappearing in front of Alexander punching him in the gut.

'How did he expect me to process all that information he just threw at me right now. It is almost like he told me just so he could catch me off guard to punch me again. What a cruel old man.' Alexander thought to himself holding his hands against his gut.

"Close your eyes so we can continue."

.

. 10 hours later

.

"I have to give it to you little boy you sure can take a beating." The Colonel chuckled to himself floating in the air above the courtyard.

'Fuck this old man he has done nothing besides tell me to close my eyes then punch me. I can't even hear him since he can fucking fly. How am I supposed to learn anything from this? I am already bruised all over my body and it is getting harder to hold myself up.'

"We will only do it a couple more times than you can go home it is starting to get dark out. You know the routine close your eyes, but this time try to feel the air move around you. There is always a pattern to everything you just have to find it."

Alexander closed his eyes once again this time and instead of just focusing on the punch started to concentrate on the way the wind around him moved.

'A pattern. A pattern. Find the pattern in his attacks using the wind to follow his movements.' Alexander concentrated on his surroundings feeling the wind move around his body.

*Swoosh*

'Behind.'

*Swoosh*

'Left side.'

Then Alexander felt a punch on his left arm right on his elbow. Alexander smiled internally as he thought about his current findings.

*Swoosh*

'Over me.'

*Swoosh*

'Behind.'

*Swoosh*

'Infro....'

Alexander narrowly avoided a punch aimed for his right shoulder. Throwing a punch of his own into the air in front of him feeling the air slightly change grabbing his hand out of the air.

"Not bad little one. You picked up my words pretty fast. Even tried to strike me back." The old man laughed out loud.

Alexander now opening his eyes seeing the smiling old man in front of himself holding onto his fist.

"Well, that is enough for today get home and treat your bruises. Don't forget to think about what you learned today. Next time I won't be going as easy on you be prepared for tougher training."

Alexander bowed to the Colonel before leaving out of the house heading to his own home. As another familiar figure immerged from the house.

"What do you think of him, Colonel? Do you think he has any potential?" A bald head was seen glistening in the sunset the Major walked over into the courtyard.

"He is a fast learner and does not give up easily. I planned on forcing him to quit today by beating him up so bad he would not want to come back. I used only twenty percent of my power for 10 hours but that last strike he threw forced me to use fifty percent to stop it. As an A-rank warrior that in itself is impressive for him to throw that punch at the perfect time with little to no warning signs."

"You think very highly of him. Should we groom the kid to become one of the military representatives of the North?"

"I think that would be for the best he has potential especially if he keeps growing at his current rate. Depending on what soul partner he awakens he may even surpass me eventually and step into S-rank."

"Really?" The dumbfounded bald man asked with a surprised look on his face.

"Yes. I would never say these words if I did not see them be true. Have Captain Chris Collins report here immediately we have some things to talk over."

"Right away sir." The bald man left the residence into the camp.

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Back at the Collins's Residence

"I am home," Alexander announced after walking into the small wooden home.

"What happened to you? This was supposed to just be your first day with the Colonel. You look like you just got beat up for a couple of hours." Captain Collins walked over from the kitchen to inspect the battered Alexander.

"Oh yeah well you should see the other guy," Alexander remarked laughing.

"I doubt you even touched the Colonel he is an A-ranked warrior. That paired with his flight ability he is practically impossible to touch. Anyways what did he touch you today."

"He just had me close my eyes and feel my surroundings."

"Wow, to think he would start with sensing ability as expected of a great warrior."

"Why is that so important?"

"You haven't felt it yet but when you get your soul partner your senses will greatly enhance, but enhancing it now will only benefit you in the future as it will allow you to see more even with your eyes closed."

'My eyes closed you say? Isn't that what the old man had me do now? That old man was trying to beat me up then. I will show that old man.'

"Well go get cleaned up then start preparing dinner." Captain Collins told Alexander walking towards the front door.

Alexander disappeared into the bedroom to go bathe and change.

*Knock* *Knock*

"It is Major Stark may I enter?" A familiar bald man said outside the door.

"Yes come in."

"I am here to tell you to report to the Colonel's residence."

"Shall we get going then I also have some questions for the Colonel."

Major Stark and Captain Collins walk directly to the Colonel's home being saluted by the many soldiers walking through camp finally entering directly into the large wooden home.

"Good afternoon Captain we need to talk about Alexander." The Colonel stated when the pair of officers entered the home.

'What does he have to say about Alexander?' Captain Collins thought to himself pondering over the Colonel's words.

"The Major and I have talked it over and we want to groom Alexander into one of the Northern Army representatives of the younger generation."

"What does this mean for Alexander?" Captain Collins asked worried that he may be groomed into an army monster that cares about nothing but killing.

"He will be groomed by us the leading warriors of the Northern Encampment then at 8 years of age he will join a special unit with other representatives of the younger generation where they will do missions and given lots of resources to grow." The Colonel said with a smile on his face staring at the confused Captain.

"Don't worry Collins your son will be fine as they will have a General overlooking them on their missions. This is a great opportunity for your son as he will train with both of us before he leaves in 2 years. This will be one of his best opportunities to get into one of the great academies when he turns 12." The bald man standing next to the Captain interjected.

"I was thinking the same thing for my son. I don't want him to just be trapped here I want him to be able to explore the world and grow."

"It is settled then the boy will train with us every day until he leaves for his awakening."

After the end of the talk, Captain Collins returned to his residence to have dinner with Alexander.