Box full of hardwork

"so, what was in those boxes?" mom asked during dinner. "they were really heavy to get there."

"many things. books, special items, practice routine, and other things. I didn't see everything yet, only one box."

"Why didn't you open all the boxes? you had all day for it." Rita asked.

"They are numbered. The second one is to be opened after I finish and master all the tasks from the first box."

"eh? that's boring." she had finished her food, "I would have opened it all at once and got over it."

"I would have done the same." Dad said, "but Ray thinks differently than both of us. you two are not the same, and you should know it."

"Of course, I know it. I was saying what I think is the fastest way to do it." She got up.

"she is right about the fast part at least." I got up to wash my plate before I went to properly check the contents of the first box.

opening the book was accompanied by the smell of fresh pages. While reading the instructions and routine for my training, I unpacked the contents of the box and arranged them. {this will be tiring.}

***

The upcoming month went by flash as I mastered all of the things that all the boxes instructed. I was finished with my morning exercise when I heard someone running to the open ground.

"Are You done already?" Rita asked just as she returned from her morning run.

"Yeah," I put the pole down. "What about you? finished with cardio?"

"Yup." She picked up her towel. "When are you leaving for school?"

"After I take a shower. make sure to close everything up." I left the ground to Rita while she did basic stretching.

After all the training I did during the month, I was not allowed to visit the school or any of the teammates. talking on the phone was not allowed either. I was moving at speed two times my previous speed at a bare minimum. this speed felt normal to me, it made me think back to the time I was barely able to fly. It seemed so long ago that I was not even able to touch dad when we had any kind of duel. Although I still can't defeat him when armed, I can move faster than him under normal circumstances. just last night…

"don't you want to use that stick of yours?" Dad mocked me before we started our duel.

"don't underestimate him norman." Mom warned him. She was acting as the referee for the duel. "rules are simple, the first one to touch the back of the other's neck wins. anything you'd like to add?"

"please go all out dad." I smiled, "you'll need to."

"Alright, I will." We both waited for the signal. we moved the instant mom gave the signal.

Dad tried getting behind me and reached for my neck. {mom just told you…} I avoided his hand and went on the offensive. His movements were clearly visible to me. I avoided and blocked his punches and kicks, and his face slowly lost confidence. then I started preventing him from attacking and put in my punches. Now that he was forced to defend, he began drifting away from me.

He took several steps back and started moving randomly. his speed increased and he disappeared with his presence before he appeared right behind me.

I swung my arm while bending down. Dad caught my wrist and pinned me down using my momentum. I turned around and kicked him away. as I began closing in on him, he started using only one hand to defend. Then suddenly, I felt someone touching my neck.

"stop. Norman wins this duel." mom announced. I turned around to see that dad was holding my neck with his broken arm.

"Dammit, ray." Dad let go of my neck and focussed on healing. "You gave me a run for my money. how did you grow so fast?"

"He is our son after all." Mom gave both of us towels. "and he got training from one of the prince candidates."

"But still, I can't defeat you." I commented, "I lost, and you weren't even using guns."

"You'd be dead if I used one." Dad laughed. "Even if you reach a speed of fifteen meters per second, you cannot outrun a bullet."

"But I still couldn't outrun you."

"But you hit me. my hand is broken, see." he showed his now swollen hand, "I can't heal as fast as you, kiddo."

"Come on." Mom called us, "dinner is getting cold."

***

I reached the collection ground. it was still empty. {early again?} I forgot to take the speed into account when I left home. I sat down, waiting for others. one month has passed since I last talked to rose. {It has been even longer since I last came face to face with Scribe.} The last time I talked to him was when he told me his name.

{what a mysterious guy. I wonder who would win if we fought.} I think he would be chuckling if he heard my thoughts. {he is only human, after all.}

someone covered my eyes while I was in thought. I knew who it was, she seemed happy to see me. "You arrived early," Rose said.

"I missed your rose, that's why." I removed her hands. "and I forgot that I got a bit faster in training."

She sat down beside me and started talking. "When did you complete all the tasks given by Lucian?"

"yesterday. you?"

"I did the last one about two days ago. What was on your list of things? mine had spatial circles first."

"I had that too. How big was the casting target?"

"about wide enough for me to fit in."

"mine was about the same size as the average window."

"What about weapons and combat style?"

"mine started from about a meter long rod to about a pole a little above my height." It was hard using something that long. There was a lot of bending in the staff with increasing length, but I got the hang of it. "What did you have on the schedule?"

"Starting from simple kicks, it began getting more complicated. I can shatter skulls with little to no effort when not holding back."

"That's good. I still can't beat my dad in close combat. Mom said it was because I lack experience."

"It is no different for me. Mom is too fast to overpower even without a weapon. but I still can't believe she lied to me about being a nurse."

"My father said that it wasn't a lie. Both of our mothers work in the medical field, but their job is less about healing and more about injuring."

"What do you mean?"

"they work in the torture division of the central military. and sometimes, they need to do work outside the nation. I thought she was just a normal nurse, now I get to know she is more badass than my dad."

"It was surprising," Tom spoke from behind.

"When did you get here?" I didn't sense him coming. This was surprising, considering the training I did.

"About a minute ago." he sat down. "So I decided to test some of the things I have learned." {so that's how he was able to sneak up to me?}

"What was on your training schedule?" Rose asked him.

"stealth skills along with using blades, mainly daggers and short-swords. What's your training like?"

"Nothing special, just combat," Rose answered. {at least mention the skull-breaking part.}

"I had to master using everything that may work as a staff. and spatial circles were there of course. I can cast invisible circles wide enough for me to summon my staff." I created a small rod to show them. "but you really surprised me. don't ever sneak up on me again."

"glad to know that you two were not able to sense me coming." Tom smiled sheepishly.

Just then, something fast entered my peripheral vision. I caught it before it hit my face. It was a small roll of paper. {a note?} I opened the note and read it. [Ask him about Sarah] was written on it. The sender was Eve, currently hiding in the trees about fifty meters away. {this girl…}

"Hey tom, I've been thinking-"

"I have decided Ray." he interrupted me, "i am gonnaSaraher sarah today."

"what?" that caught me off guard, "you're what?"

"I said, I am going to answer Sarah's confession. I have taken enough time," he announced, voice trembling slightly.

"But what will you answer?" Rose asked him.

"Well, I-"

"Leave it rose." I chipped in. "Tom and Sarah can handle it, they are mature enough."

"but I need to confirm that-"

"What are you guys talking about?" Robin arrived, making the group go silent.

"nothing much. How did your training go?" I continued the conversation. {good timing robin.}

"Well," he sneaked a quick glance where Eve was hiding. "Most of it was just learning how to handle swords without dislocating my joints. putting that aside, how far can you cast circles now? it was on your training too, right?"

"about a meter in immediate radius, why?"

"So we all are at the same level?" Robin sat down beside me, then spoke to me in a low voice. "Thanks ray. eve was going out of line. I don't want her to interfere with whatever Tom has decided."

"so you knew." I whispered, "why did she get involved?"

"I'll explain later. Can you wait till recess?"

"Yeah, no problem." I leaned my head on Rose's shoulder. There was still a lot of time left before we started moving, so I decided to take a nap. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on her lap, as she was busy chatting with sarah. {looks like we are moving.}

The past month was spent at home. Everyone in Lucian's team was training at home, and the remaining students were taking supplementary tests. Most of our courses for this term are completed, so this month is going to be used for preparation. We have the end of term exam at the end of the month.

"That was easier than expected." Tom said when we got out of the language class. "Why were others having a hard time?"

"maybe because they didn't get time to study. they had those classes going on." I looked at my watch, "let's head to the cafeteria, i am starving."

"Let me put my stuff back." Tom was heading to the homeroom.

"Wait, take my stuff too. I'll save you a seat." I handed him the notebooks and left for the cafeteria.

I sat down on a table, waiting for Tom before I ordered anything. then… "hey ray." Robin called me. He was sitting on a chair behind me.

"What did you want to talk about?" {I almost forgot about him.}

"It's about eve." He spoke in a low voice, "I need your help."