Chapter 28-Team Noah’s Fourth Member, Part Three

"So how long do we have until we reach Brokolyn Village?" Khione asks once we've resumed our quest the very next day.

"Believe it or not, only two more days to go," Old-Man F answers, "We'll camp out at sundown, and then, we should be at Brokolyn Village by early afternoon tomorrow."

"It feels like it's been a dozen days since you said we'll reach Brokolyn Village in four days," I sigh.

"Well now that we've defeated Twilight Wolf, I doubt anyone will be picking a fight with us for a while," Old-Man F replies, "It should be smooth sailing from here."

"Speaking of which, it's almost sundown now," I say as I look to the sky, "Should we set up camp?"

"Good idea," Old-Man F replies, "We should get started early on Mary's first training session with us."

"Training session?" Mary asks.

"Yeah, that's why I call Flint 'Master'!" Khione explains, "Master F is TOTALLY a master in both E-Charging and martial arts! He taught Noah and I EVERYTHING we know about how to fight!"

"Oh, great!" Mary exclaims, "I could use some lessons myself!"

"Alright then, let's begin," Old-Man F smirks.

And so, the four of us set up our camp for the night, and afterwards, once the sun has set and the camp is set up, it's time to begin our training.

"Put this on!" Old-Man F orders as he tosses a bundle of clothes towards Mary.

"What's…this?" Mary asks as she unravels the bundle of clothes and holds it up to her face to see, revealing a white gi.

"It's the uniform."

"Right…" Mary awkwardly replies as she turns away and begins changing.

"Um…can you guys look away…?" Mary sheepishly asks.

"R-right," I stammer, and Old-Man F and I turn away from Mary.

I then hear some rustling come from behind me, as Mary sighs.

"Um…Khione? Can you help me?"

"Of course!" Khione answers sweetly, "IF YOU LOOK THIS WAY, I'LL KILL YOU, NOAH!"

Mary shrieks.

"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS SAY THAT?!"

Once Mary is done, Old-Man F and I turn around, seeing that Mary is now wearing a white gi and black under armor that matches mine and Khione's, although her belt is maroon-red.

"The uniform looks good on you, Mary!" I exclaim as I flash the girl a thumbs up.

"Thanks!"

"So first, Mary, I would like to teach you about E-Charger combat," Old-Man F explains, "Unlike my previous pupil, you DO have a lot of knowledge about E-Charging, but we should still go over the basics."

"Hey!"

Khione snickers.

"I'm assuming you already know about Charge Stances, Chanting, Spells, and Levels?" Old-Man F asks.

"Um, yes, I mostly know everything," Mary answers, "I was given a pretty good education on E-Charging from Tungsten."

"Now, do you know about the principal rule of E-Charger combat?"

"Combat?! No…I'm a healer! I don't do combat!"

"Unfortunately, Mary, with the quest we're on, we're BOUND to run into combat. There will be times when no one is around to protect you, and you will have to fight for yourself."

Mary gulps.

"Of course…Khione, Noah, and myself will try our best to prevent such an instance from occurring, but it's bound to happen. Now…one of the first rules of E-Charger combat is to use our lower level spells first. You don't want to start off a fight with your higher level spells. Instead, you want to use lower level spells in order to hide just how many spells you have, as well as your strength. And then…you unveil your high-level spells as trump cards."

"I-I see…"

"A lot of information at once, huh? Now then…you, Mary, are impressive, having three different spells at only twelve years old. One of them may be a support spell, and the other may be INCREDIBLY situational, but you still have a reliable weapon in the form of your level three spell."

"R-right!"

"Now then…" Old-Man F says as he turns around and points to a large rock behind him, "Let me see your level three technique."

"Yes, Master Grandpa!" Mary exclaims as she enters her Charge Stance, MY Charge Stance, and maroon-red sparks of energy begin to burst and swirl around Mary's body.

"Blood Charge, Level Three…" Mary begins to say as she swipes a hand towards the rock, "-RAPIDS TALON!"

But…nothing happens.

"Let's…try that again," Mary flinches.

"RAPIDS TALON!" Mary shouts again as she swipes her hand towards the rock, but just as before, nothing happens.

"Was…something supposed to happen…?" Old-Man F asks.

Mary sniffles.

"Oh no…" I whisper.

And then…Mary buries her face in her hands and begins sobbing.

Old-Man F flinches. "D-don't' cry! Y-you'll get it! Eventually…"

"YOU GUYS ASKED ME TO JOIN THE TEAM, BUT I'M SO WEAK THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY KICK ME OUT!" Mary wails as she lowers her hands, "AND THEN I'LL GET KIDNAPPED AGAIN, AND OLD INTO SLAVERY, AND BEE FORCED TO HAVE BLOOD CHARGER KIDS, AND-"

"Mary, Mary," I say as I hold my hands up to the girl, "NONE OF THAT will ever happen!"

But my words don't reach Mary's ears, and she continues rambling.

"Mary!" I say again, louder this time, but just as before, Mary ignores me as her day-dreams continue running rampant.

"MARY!" I bark, and this time, Mary shuts up.

Mary sniffles. "Y-yes…?"

"That's not gonna happen. Everything that you said there–it'll NEVER happen. You're a permanent member of this team."

"R-really…?"

"REALLY."

"So you couldn't use your level three spell on command, huh?" Old-Man F asks as he places a hand to his chin, "Maybe…it's because you're not in any danger…?"

Mary's eyes widen.

Khione and I face palm.

"Alright, Mary, I am going to attack you now," Old-Man F says.

"HUH?!" Mary squeaks.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I just need you to defend with your Rapids Talon."

"R-right…"

"Now…are you ready?"

Mary nervously nods.

Old-Man F trots over to Mary, and then, once he's standing before the girl, she brings a fist up.

Mary flinches.

"No, Mary, you have to attack me, not defend!"

"R-right. Sorry...."

"Okay, I'm going to attack you now…" Old-Man F says as he slowly moves his fist towards Mary, "Here it comes…"

In response, Mary enters her Charge Stance.

"Blood Charge, Level Three: Rapids Talon!" Mary shouts as she swipes a hand towards Old-Man F, but…nothing happens.

Old-Man F's knuckles lightly tap Mary's chest, sending the girl crashing to the ground.

"I'm alright!" Mary yelps.

"MASTER F!" Khione snaps.

"I barely touched her?!" Old-Man F cries as he spins to face Khione.

"Alright, well you being in danger clearly didn't work," Old-Man F sighs as he turns back around to face Mary and pinches the bridge of his nose, "So let's try this-'' Old-Man F then continues as he grabs onto my g collar and forces me to his side. I attempt to worm my way out of Old-Man F's grasp, but he holds on tight.

"I'll try to kill Noah, and you'll have to-" Old-Man F begins to say, but Khione cuts him off.

"NO!" Khione snaps as she leaps in between Old-Man F and Mary.

"Master F, this is crazy!" Khione cries as she kneels down next to Mary and helps the girl to her feet, "Mary is just a child, she doesn't need to be able to fight the way we can."

"You're right," Old-Man F sighs, "I'm sorry, Mary."

"It's alright, Master Grandpa."

"Now, since E-Charger training isn't working, let's try some combat training!"

"Right!"

…

"Alright, I'm going to slowly try to punch you," Old-Man F says to Mary, "All you need to do is block."

"Right."

Slowly…Old-Man F moves his fist towards Mary, and Mary brings her arms up in across to block. But then after Old-Man F's knuckles tap Mary's arms, the girl is sent flying backwards.

"MASTER!" Khione snaps.

"I barely hit her!"

…

"Alright, I'm going to slowly try to kick you," Old-Man F says to Mary again, "All you need to do is block."

"Right."

Slowly…Old-Man F moves his leg towards Mary, and Mary brings her hands to the side to block to block. But then after Old-Man F's slow round-hosue kick makes contact with Mary's hands, the girl is sent flying to the side.

"MASTER!" Khione snaps again.

"I barely hit her!"

…

"Alright, I'm going to slowly try to chop you. All you need to do is block."

"Right."

Slowly…Old-Man F brings his hand down upon Mary's head, and Mary raises her arms above her head to block. But then after Old-Man F's fingers graze head Mary's arms, the girl is sent crashing to the ground.

"MASTER!"

"THIS IS HOPELESS!" Old-Man F cries as he drops to her hands and knees, "I can't train her!"

"I'm sorry I'm so weak…" Mary sniffles.

"Don't worry, Mary, it's not you, it's him," Khione swoons as she gently pats Mary's back, as Mary wipes snot from her nose.

"Don't worry, Mary, you'll get there…eventually," Old-Man F says as he stands up to face his new pupil.

"Yeah!"