Wrong Way of Fighting

He was in a foreign place which was far less comfortable than his room, yet the moment Aeneas closed his eyes, his mind drifted in his sea of thoughts and he fell into a deep sleep. His conversation with Silas made him more assured that the decision he made was the right one.

Silas was already gone when Aeneas opened his eyes the next morning. Since it was still early and he didn't know what else to do, the boy decided to tidy up the place the best he could.

Aeneas took a clean piece of cloth and wiped the books one by one. He also tried to sort it by genre and topic. After wiping a couple of piles of books clean, the boy had come upon the pile Silas specifically told him not to read. He took the topmost book of the pile and read its cover. 

"Erotica?" Aeneas muttered.

Although Aeneas has read a ton of books, he has never encountered one with the label. Lyra made sure that he wouldn't be exposed to such materials at a young age.

What could've been these books about for his master to order him not to read them? It was the greatest question on the boy's mind. His curiosity continued to rise the longer he stared at the covers.

Nonetheless, Aeneas did what he thought the right thing was. And that was to obey his master's orders. He thought that it must've also been for his sake. 

After a while, Aeneas only managed to clean less than a fourth of the entire collection of books when he heard someone approaching the door of the hut.

"So you're awake," Silas said before even opening the door.

"Master? Where have you been?"

Silas said that he went to the academy to do something and took a walk in the city streets. He brought a wooden box filled with meat and fruits and told the boy to have breakfast.

Aeneas took the food and asked Silas if they were to share it.

"No. I've already eaten."

The boy's stomach growled when he smelled the aroma of the meat. He took a bite, chewed and gulped it within seconds.

"So you went to the city… You should've woke me up, master. I also wanted to explore the city."

"Ah." Silas realized that he hadn't told Aeneas about one of his conditions for taking him as his student.

"You are not allowed to leave this place until I say so."

Aeneas stopped eating, "But why?"

"Let me put it in other words," Silas cleared his throat, "You are free to do whatever you want, you're no one's slave. But if you ever leave this place, and I'll know, I won't take you back again as my student."

The old man's words didn't provide an answer to the boy's question which made him more confused.

Silas stared at Aeneas, "Why did you come here?" he asked.

After a brief silence, "To learn how to use my Zeal," Aeneas answered.

"That's right. You shouldn't dilly dally on the streets and focus on being able to control your Zeal."

Although Aeneas tried to hide it, Silas could still tell how saddened the boy was. The old man smiled and said, "I'll allow you to explore the city once you are capable of using your Zeal at will."

Silas's last words were enough to lighten up his student's mood. He planned it from the start and thought that it would help Aeneas become more focused and eager to control his Zeal now that he has a clear goal in mind and a reward awaiting him.

"Now, go finish your meal. We will start our training after a while."

Aeneas answered with a nod. 

Silas sat and read a book while waiting for Aeneas to finish his food.

"You cleaned?"

"Yes, master."

The old man lay on his side and flipped the page of his book.

"You touched this pile didn't you?"

His master's words made Aeneas gulp the food in his mouth without chewing it properly.

"I–I didn't read it and only cleaned the covers."

Silas stared at him and the boy could feel that intense piercing pressure he felt the first time they met.

"I see."

Not a single word was uttered after that. Aeneas enjoyed his food in silence and he would take a glance at his master once in a while, curious as to why the old man was making such weird expressions while reading a book from the pile he banned him from.

Much later, Aeneas began his training under Silas. They both stood in the open area outside the hut. Aeneas wields a wooden sword while Silas stands still with his hands on his back.

"We will first begin with similar combat as yesterday. Attack me–"

Aeneas dashed without second thoughts and swung his wooden sword towards the old man.

"So, you're still doing that?" Silas said while dodging every attack.

When the boy felt exhausted after tens of swings, he would leap back and reassess his situation.

Silas became serious all of a sudden, "The way you fight is wrong," he said.

His words made Aeneas quite furious. It could also mean that the ones who taught him were wrong. Even though he respects Silas, Aeneas couldn't let such disrespect towards his older brother and uncle go unnoticed.

"Are you saying that my brother and uncle's way of fighting is incorrect?" The boy said, hardening his grip on the wooden sword.

"When did I say that?"

Confused, the boy tilted his head, "Didn't you just say so, master?"

"I said you were the one who was wrong."

"But they taught me."

Silas caressed his beard, "I saw your brother fight in the last summit games. Didn't you see him not make a move till he fully assessed the battlefield? When did you last learn from him?"

"Ah…" Aeneas couldn't remember the last time he learned directly from his brother. He only observed him from a distance when he decided to become strong on his own.

"The way you fight resembles that of a Panteran who bears the Proud Lion's Zeal. You shouldn't swing your sword without care as if you have the endurance of Leo's Zeal-bearers. Even your brother does not fight like that from when I saw him."

Aeneas gulped. He couldn't dispute the old man's words since he also believed that all he spoke was but the truth.

"But, Uncle Donos fights like that and he is known as a great fighter."

"Donos…" Silas muttered, "The lad they call the 'Dancing Gale'?"

Aeneas smiled, "You know him, master?"

Silas responded with a nod.

"I saw him fight a long time ago. Although it might appear as if he charges without thinking, that brat seemed to do both at the same time. Also, unlike you, he doesn't get tired easily. Why do you think that's the case?"

Aeneas blinked his eyes in quick succession. Then, he looked up at the blue sky. After a couple of seconds, the boy looked back at his master with a disappointed expression.

"Because of his air magic."

"Correct."

Silas explained that Donos utilizes his air magic to fight the way he does. He doesn't get tired as much since he conserves energy by allowing his air magic to push him in whichever direction he wants.

"Then how should I fight, master?"

"You must've seen how people of different Zeals fight," Silas paused and brushed his beard with his fingers, "As discussed, Leo's Zeal-bearers attack nonstop relying on their great endurance. Bearers of the Fair Maiden's or the Keen Archer's Zeals always try to be a distance away from their opponents. Meanwhile, bearers of Taurus or Cancer's Zeals charge head-on like Leo's Zeal-bearers but are less worried about being hit with most attacks since they have durable bodies. People fight by utilizing everything in their arsenals. And the greatest weapon most people have is the power of their Zeals."

Aeneas felt defeated, "But I still can't use my Zeal," he replied.

"Have I been using my Zeal all this time?"

"Haven't you?"

"The last time I used my Zeal against you was yesterday."

"Even still, you said that people fight in a way where they can utilize their Zeal. But I still cannot use mine."

"That's right. But what I said was for people who have known that they possess a Zeal since they were toddlers. Your case is as rare as that creature hiding in your shadow," Silas paused. He looked at Aeneas with a smile, "I've told you enough. You should come up with an answer to your question."

Aeneas looked at his master with a blank stare. Then, he instinctively lifted his chin to stare at the sky while he tapped the end of his wooden sword to the ground. His mouth was also moving without halt as he repeated his master's words.

The boy looked back at his master after a few minutes. His expression was that of someone who had just made a realization.

"Are you telling me to fight as if I am using my Zeal in hopes that it would lead me to use it at will?"

Silas stared at Aeneas with a bigger smile. He didn't say anything, but his expression was enough for the boy to know that what he said was right.