Chapter 23: Training with Cora

Flames burst from my palm as I took a couple of heavy breaths. My legs shook uncontrollably, weakened as soft pants escaped my lips. That was how Cora and I started our day.

“Y-You… good?”

“Pyre, it’s only been just a few minutes. How are you exhausting yourself that fast?”

I grinned a bit, lifting my arm in a fighting stance.

“Told you, I’m not used to this…”

The sound of fluttering bat wings echoed through the field followed by a loud boom. The noise sounded similar to what some may call a sonic boom. I grit my throwing a hook in front of me, only to soon feel a sharp stabbing pain as I lost my footing.

“Guah!”

Saliva sputtered out of my mouth, followed by a crack as a fist dug deeper into my stomach. Cora was now in front of me, wearing a frown. She twisted her fist, pushing her hand even deeper, and with one strong nudge, I fell to the floor, gasping for the air that got knocked out of my lungs. Even my vision soon began to blur, but I still reached out for the opponent in front of me.

“All power, no experience… Are you sure you will be ready for this?”

I let out a wheeze, attempting argue against the woman, but the words simply jammed in my throat, blocking my thoughts. I felt… desperate, weak even.

However…

A huge blaze erupted around me in an instant, and like magic, all the pain disappeared. Even my legs steadied themselves. I pushed my weight off the ground, standing up as I took yet another stance.

“I… I can try!”

Cora just sighed and turned around.

“So, the principal gave us a glorified punching bag to buy some time… I see what XIon is thinking, he really does plan three steps ahead.”

“I-Isn’t that the reason he asked you to tutor me?”

That struck her nerve, I think? She hurriedly looked behind me, glowering as she bared her white fangs.

“Ah yes, take it from a person with zero experience with the elements to tutor you! Seriously, what was the man thinking!”

Cora then stomped her feet on the ground before turning away with a huff. As for myself, I just sighed and scratched my head.

“Well, there goes my trainer, I got to give it to her though, she is patient… especially since she did her best the entire time instead of telling me to just swing harder.”

A dry chuckle escaped my lips with my sights falling on my retreating instructor who now sat on rock that rested close to the room’s entrance. The two of us were currently at Xion’s office thanks to a late-night call from the man himself. He asked me to join the main group since the Brightstone thing was already at a roadblock so I ended up just obeying. After all, what was I supposed to do against the very same principal who put me here?

We stayed silent for a few moments, not saying a word. The two of us just passed the time until Cora just let out a loud yell, clawing at her hair.

“Ahh, screw it! If Xion wants me to teach you, so be it! But don’t expect too much out of it, okay?”

She then walked over to me, looking away as she gave me slight hit to the chest using her clenched hands.

“Sure, I mean, I can already see that you’re doing your best. No need to force you to do more than you should.”

I gave her a gentle smile before brushing her hair, but instead of the usual swat from her hand or tease, she just stayed silent and allowed me to what I intended to.

“Another word of this moment… and I’ll walk out of this room. Understood?”

Ah, here it was. The insults levelled up into threats.

“Y-Yes… I will stay silent if that’s what you want…”

The moment carried on in silence as the two of us indulged in the action’s warmth.

“Pace faster Pyre, use your feet and weave!”

“Y-Yes Ma’am!”

I immediately stepped to the left then to my right, alternating so that I could work on my footwork. This happened with my hands ablaze, still smoldering as I took in gulps of air to calm myself down, not that I wasn’t growing tired of the action anyway.

“You’re doing well, just a minute left. Hold on to that control over your flames!”

Hot breath seethed from my clenched teeth as I forced my tired legs to carry on, weaving faster and faster so that my body could remember the sensation of fighting After all, with this devilish regeneration, I had to make sure that my body is in its best shape, to assure that I am not just a punching bag!

“Left… Right…!”

My tired voice echoed in my ears, followed by a soft ringing sound, almost as if a grenade had exploded in my face. But… I refuse to give up! I took in another deep breath, before weaving, but as soon as the air entered my lungs, I felt a sharp puncturing sensation. Did my lungs secretly have a hole in them…? Ah, no matter! I refuse to give up! I… I…

“Last five seconds Pyre! Keep it in there…”

Yet, all I heard was a distant whisper. My head felt light, my body was limp, and even my legs wouldn’t respond. In a few moments, just as the faint sound of the timer rang out from Cora’s phone, my legs buckled in and my vision faded to black. The last thing I heard was a horrified scream and the last thing I felt was the painful thud as my head crashed into the loamy soil below.

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A dense fog obscured my vision. It was odd to be honest. Just a second ago, I was at Xion’s office, but now? I was in an unknown place, filled ot the brim with fog that rose up to the clouds above. All I could see were the faint silhouettes of trees, some mushrooms, and what appeared to be animals in the distant horizon.

Was I dead?

No… No! Not when I was starting to have a life dammit! And as if the world were toying with me, a loud caw echoed from behind me followed by the sound of fluttering wings. I immediately turned around to see what was behind me, only to find a man. He was old, gruff, and had a frown on his face. There was a single lit cigarette wedged between his lips, the faint orange glow of the embers signifying that it was lit.

He soon took the smoking stick of nicotine out of his mouth and spoke in a deep voice.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He covered his mouth with his hand, chuckling softly before breaking out into a coughing fit, his barks growing louder and louder for every breath he took. My face turned pale, fearing that he was about to die so I hurriedly approached him.

“No need to rush kid… I am not dying just yet… But boy am I curious as to how you ended up here.”

H-Huh?

“How did you-“

“I can hear your thoughts, convenient, isn’t it?”

My jaw dropped to the floor. No way! What if he were an enemy! Then! I took a stance, but instead of fighting back, the man just held a hand in the air, almost as if telling me to stop it.

“Got no use for a squabble kid, really. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done so before the crows flew off.”

“H-How can I be sure of that!”

Hearing my reaction, the man just shrugged and closed his eyes.

“Beats me, have you ever heard the thing called trust?”

“You…”

I let out a groan before lowering my hands. The man smiled when he saw my response

“See? Even you can do it if you tried.”

“Just… what are you? What do you want from me? Do you need help? Do you want a fight? Am I dead?”

However, the man’s eyes narrowed. He raised his hands in the air once more, acting like he was a wanted criminal.

“Sheesh, easy kid. One question at a time please.”

“Ok… well then first up, am I dead?’

But instead of answering, the man rolled his eyes.

“Do I look divine to you, kid? No, you’re not dead, just exhausted. You’ll be up in a few hours or so and all this is just a dream.”

“T-Then who are you! What do you mean a dream?!”

The man’s lips curved into a smile.

“I mean, you could always call me Santa, and you could always be my little helper.”

I grit my teeth, raising my arm into the as I tried my best to not swing my fist against his face.

“Goddammit, I am not joking here sir.”

“Do I look like I’m messing around?”

He shot me a smirk that caused me to wince a bit, out of shock at least.

“Alright… well then Santa… what do you want from me?”

“Eh…nothing really. I just wanted to see that cute face of yours. It seems that my old pal and my kid did a good job of not introducing who I was though.”

“H-Huh?”

A cold chill ran down my spine, causing me to stagger back. Just who was this guy. Who were his pals, and kid? Just who was he?!

“Don’t tear yourself up kid, things are best kept secret, at least for now. Just know that I’m looking after you.”

“I still have the odd feeling that I know you though, and that I’m just forgetting who you were…”

The man snickered, sitting on the ground in a heap, he seemed tired, labored even… His breaths turned into wheezes causing me to panic.

“S-Sir?!”

My legs cleared the distance in a few bounds, cold sweat dripping from my every pore. The air from my lung felt compressed… but I can’t explain why!

Then, I felt it… a pair of tough calloused hands gripped my shoulders.

“Ah… to hell with it…. Listen, Pyre!”

H-Huh?!

“You want to save everyone? Then stop pressuring yourself… always remember to do what you can do in the moment, and don’t overdo it…”

“What was tha-”

Then all of a sudden, his body emanated a blinding flash of light which was soon followed by a sharp descent, similar to the sensation of falling. I soon woke up, jolting in a panic as I took in deep breaths. The scenery changed, I was now staring at white walls, accompanied by the faint beeps of an ECG and soft smores that came from my side. I looked down to find Cora fast asleep, hugging my right hand. She snored softly, unaware that I was up…

Just… what was that? What happened to me and what the hell was that dream… Well, those answers won’t come to me now, but I’d best keep track of how I will remember this…

I gently poked the sleeping Cora’s face, and in mere moments, here eyes fluttered open, dilating when she met my eyes. The lady then threw herself on me, hugging my right arm…

“Thank goodness… I thought you were going to die…”

I felt my arm dampen a bit as soft sobs escaped the young lady’s lips.

“Me, die? Man Cora, it sure feels unnatural for you to joke.”

“B-But… you collapsed and… you… you were breathing heavily… then…”

My arms soon moved on their own, wrapping themselves around her small body.

“It’s fine… it is not your fault, kay?”

There was no reply… only sobs and cries.

I just sighed and combed her hair with my fingers, humming to myself as I felt the joy of knowing that someone was actually worried about me… Thank goodness.

Well, it seems that more mysteries and romance just make my life more colorful, I suppose…

But I swear, one day… I’ll remember who that man was… and when that day comes, I will ask him to spill everything.

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Author here, sorry for the iffy upload schedule, but my computer wasn't working at all last week and this was the only device I could upload on. I'll try to get more out if this thing works properly, or I will try to get it fixed.

Thanks for your understanding