Chapter 17

Yesterday's events tired me out so I immediately slept for the rest of the day after we ate at the dorm.

Sapphire and I are now occupying one of the training rooms here in the campus. Sapphire is in the middle, training her water ability trying to manipulate it to have enough pressure that will ruin the metal chair 5 meters away from her with one hit. While I'm just sitting in the corner of the room watching her and

playing with my toy.

Today, the whole school doesn't have any classes since the school wants the students to train or get ready for the grand trial tomorrow.

Speaking of the grand trial.

"Hey, I think you forgot that I still know nothing about this grand trial and it'll happen tomorrow already" Sapphire stopped in her tracks hearing what I said and sheepishly turned to me.

"Uh… yeah I forgot." I just gave her a bored look. "It's simple really, the grand trials is where the students fight with a dragon. Though these dragons are pets of the university. They are dragons that the academy saved from past wars of fights or whatever and now they're here in the university to help protect it if ever the academy is in danger and for the student's grand trials. Your fight with the dragon will determine what your rank will be after the grand trial. But we are not allowed to kill the dragon just injure them same goes with the dragon to us. They are trained so that the student's are safe."

So this grand trial will be to know our ranks and how the students improve from last year.

Sapphire kept on training but there's nothing much happening with what she's doing. I know what the problem is, that's why her progress is slow.

I took a deep breath, looked at her and told her to stop.

"Huh? What is it?"

I stood up from my place and walked over to her.

"You're doing it wrong Sapphire. You should be thinking of your toy as a part of your body that you could easily play with."

She blinked at me then looked at the chair and me.

"But that's what I'm doing"

"No, if so then why are you having a hard time increasing the pressure of the water? You're thinking of it like some kind of thing that you summon. It'll make it hard for you to progress that way. If you kept on being alert and made your toy just within your reach you could easily use it and play with it however you like." she looked at me, frowning a bit confused with what I'm saying.

I sighed at her.

"Look, here's the thing, you shouldn't hide your ability deep inside you then just summon it when needed. The summoning process will take your energy. It should always be ready, on alert. Just like how your arm could easily swing and punch if needed."

"But I'll be more tired that way. My energy will run out immediately. Containing my ability just within reach and trying to control it consumes energy."

I grinned at her. "That my dear friend is the reason why you should train your body to be used to it. It'll be easy afterwards and you'll progress faster in your training. You could produce water more easily. Your energy will also be saved when you're already used to it and you'll have your energy longer while in a fight." She nodded at my words seemingly thinking how to do it.

"I'll try"

"Okay then. Close your eyes and feel like it's a part of your body. It'll make the summoning process easier, then attack. After your attack, just stay like that then continue on your training. Focus and concentration is the key."

She closed her eyes and followed my instructions. Focusing on her body and surroundings. Then attacked the chair with a high-pressure water which resulted in the chair flying away in pieces.

"Focus!" I yelled at Sapphire when she gasped and momentarily lost focus. She quickly regained her composure. Looking at me waiting for what to do.

"Good, now let's try it in combat" I said and attempted to punch her with my fire covered fists. Luckily she immediately moved and blocked herself.

Covering her arm with water to block me. Smoke could be seen as we clash to each other, a bit of the water evaporating.

"Woah wait! You're too strong for me! I can't fight you! Are you out of your mind!" she exclaimed panicking as I'm already aiming for another punch.

"Focus Sapphire"

I kept on giving her a series of punches and she blocked some of it but some also hit her. I'm controlling myself to somehow match her so that she won't be beat too much. She hit me a few punches but it didn't really do anything to me.

A few minutes later and I noticed that she's getting used to it bit by bit so I smirked at her then stopped and stood away from her. She's panting as she can't quite keep up with my speed and the new approach to her toy tires her.

"You're doing great now let's try long range battle" I said and threw several fireballs at her place. Her eyes widened and she gasped seeing the attack coming at her. So she quickly made a thick wall of water in front of her. Blocking my attack. I smiled victoriously, she easily improved. "See it's better this way"

"Y-yeah" she stutters, still panting and tired. She sat on the floor and took a rest.

"Good now, continue your practice, I'll go back to our dorm. I wanna sleep. You already improved, keep it up." I said and left the training room.

I strolled to our dorm seeing there were little to no students in the hallway. They really are serious with this Grand Trials and rankings huh.

I walked into our dorm but stopped seeing as someone is sitting in our living room feeling at home in it. Watching T.V. like he lives here.

"Why are you here?"