New Masters

The following morning, Greg woke up with a pounding heart of excitement. Today would mark the beginning of his first training session with Abby, without the supervision of Lord Winston.

But to Greg's surprise, Abby had a gift for him. She had managed to get Prince Robert to provide him with a magic mentor…

The training field was ready. A vast space ideal for combat, with vibrant green grass and the fresh scent of nature filling the air. It was undoubtedly a perfect day for training. The sun was high in the sky when Greg arrived, eager. And then, she arrived...

"Hey, Abby, how are you?" — Greg asked, with a spark of enthusiasm.

Abby approached slowly, raising a hand in greeting. In her hands, she carried something special. Greg's eyes fixed on the object. When she came closer, he recognized it…

"Abby, this is…?"

"It's tailored armor for you. I had Robert arrange it," Abby replied with a smile on her face.

It was lightweight armor, forged with resilient yet lightweight materials, adorned with metallic details and red gems that shimmered like tiny rubies. The black and silver mix made the armor look majestic, almost like a work of art.

"It's INCREDIBLE! Thank you so much, Abby."

Greg couldn't help but embrace her tightly, overwhelmed with gratitude. He was completely astounded. Later, with excitement, he mentioned that the fight would begin soon. His test of power was about to begin, and with it, the ultimate training.

"You're welcome, Greg. Now get ready."

Both stood facing each other, gazing at the vast field ahead. The wind gently blew, carrying the distant echo of birds and the murmur of the castle. It was the prelude to a battle full of tension.

Greg held his sword firmly, his thoughts focused on his training, yet recalling Lord Winston's words and those of his parents, who always believed in his potential. Through this storm of thoughts, his lips murmured: "I'll do well, Lord Winston. Soon, Mom and Dad, I'll return home."

Abby watched Greg with a fixed gaze and an expectant expression. She knew this young man harbored formidable power, and she was eager to see it in action. However, it wouldn't be an easy fight.

"Now, Greg, don't hold back."

With the drive to prove his worth, Greg charged toward Abby, wielding his sword with determination. With a land conjuration, he summoned a stone tower that lifted him into the air. From above, he struck down towards Abby with a fierce swing.

Shfff.

Abby, with supernatural agility, barely moved and dodged Greg's attack. Her dexterity was impressive. In the blink of an eye, she reacted swiftly, landing a precise kick to Greg's stomach.

Pum!

Greg was thrown backward, but as he fell, he felt a strange calm. It wasn't so much the pain that affected him, but a feeling of protection. The armor Abby had given him had saved him. He rose with a smile, realizing the importance of that piece. He knew this fight would be harder than expected, but it was also the moment to showcase his true power.

With renewed confidence, he stood and said determinedly: "I'll do better, Abby!"

"Good, Greg. Now prepare yourself."

Abby's eyes shone with anticipation as she watched Greg, unaware of what was about to happen. He closed his eyes, his thoughts flowing like a torrent, and in his mind, the image of his greatest power emerged: magic. With a deep breath, he raised his sword to the sky and began invoking his most feared spell.

"Great Flame of fire, come to me and aid me!"

A brilliant red glow enveloped his sword, and the air charged with energy. The sword was now an extension of the flames themselves. Without hesitation, Greg pointed toward Abby and unleashed all the contained power of the spell.

"Fhhhhh."

A torrent of fire shot out towards Abby, driven by the wind. Abby, maintaining her composure, calmly observed the attack. She smiled slightly because she knew this was a crucial moment.

"Mhm, impressive," she murmured as she prepared her next move.

Without hesitation, Abby leapt toward one of the towers Greg had raised, using her legs with incredible speed. Greg, determined not to lose, followed the trail of fire, but it was futile. Abby was too fast. With a swift and agile turn, she dodged the attack and appeared directly before him.

Greg, feeling impending defeat, closed his eyes, but at the last second, he felt something warm on his forehead. It was Abby's gentle kiss, a gesture that utterly disoriented him.

"Good job, Greg. You fought with all your heart. To be honest, I was looking forward to seeing your power in action."

With a smile, Abby activated her special ability to examine Greg's condition. She noticed his heart beating frantically.

"Hey, Greg, relax. I don't want you to have a heart attack."

"S-sure, Abby… I really enjoyed fighting with you." — Greg's voice trembled with emotion.

"Rest, Greg. Tomorrow, we'll begin a new training. This time, it won't be me who trains you, but Robert. He will teach you advanced magic."

Greg couldn't hide his excitement. The future of his training was unfolding before him, and every word from Abby pushed him further to excel. But as she spoke, a figure watched from the shadows of the castle: Prince Robert, who had already begun planning how to prepare Greg for what was to come…

The next day, Greg woke up more motivated than ever. The memory of Abby's kiss fueled his determination. Today would be the day of his training with Robert. Although it seemed like a simpler training session compared to yesterday's, Greg knew not to underestimate it.

As he had breakfast, Abby approached him with a serious expression, asking:

"Hey, Robert, do you think I should be hard on Greg?"

Abby pondered. The answer to that question was crucial.

"I think so, yes. After all, he is the bearer of the divine key. What do you think?"

"I agree, but Greg is still a child. The magic I will teach him is complicated. Do you think he'll handle it?"

Abby had no doubts. She knew that Greg, though seemingly an innocent child, was incredibly powerful. She recalled Greg's words, as he had inadvertently destroyed his own village with immense power.

"I'm sure he will. Greg has hidden strength. He even destroyed his own village by accident."

Robert was convinced that he had to teach him advanced magic. It wouldn't be an easy process, but Greg was destined for great things.

"Understood. I'll speak with him. The training will begin in an hour, in case you want to observe."

As Robert made his way through the castle corridors, he reflected on young Greg. How could a child of 11 possess such immense power? Robert knew there was much more to uncover in that boy.

"Hey Greg, I see your new clothes fit well. Remember, training starts in 50 minutes. I'll be waiting for you in the field, so get ready."

Greg nodded with excitement. The day of training with Robert had arrived, and his heart raced with anticipation. Robert had chosen him, and he wouldn't let him down.

When he reached the field, something left him speechless. There, at the center, was a blue dragon, imposing and majestic.

"Wow! Are we going to use dragons for training, Sir Robert?"

"This dragon will only provide support. Don't get too excited. Now, tell me, which elements do you control?"

"I use earth and fire, but I also know some water and air magic."

Robert pondered for a moment. Then, with a smile, he began to prepare the spell.

"Then, watch closely."

Robert's staff began to glow with intensity, releasing a formidable magical energy. An enormous stone ball formed in the air, casting a shadow over the entire field.

"This is impressive…" murmured Greg, completely astonished.

But what came next was even more awe-inspiring. The stone ball enveloped itself in a mantle of red flames, resembling a meteor crashing from the sky. Greg watched, fascinated by Robert's power.

"This is intermediate magic, Sir Robert?"

Robert answered with a serious gaze:

"No, Greg. That is master-level magic. What I just showed you is just a glimpse of what you could achieve, though it won't be easy."

Greg, motivated by the challenge, began to concentrate. His hand trembled as he attempted to combine his elements. He closed his eyes and, with a deep breath, managed to summon his spell. A mist formed around him, the result of combining air and water.

"Good job, Greg. You've managed to create mist. It's not impressive, but it's a step forward."

Greg smiled, content with his progress, though he knew there was much more to learn.

"And what about blocking magical attacks?"

Greg remembered he had never had to block a spell. He had only seen magicians like Robert in action. His heart quickened.

"I don't know how to block magical attacks."

With a gesture, Robert made the blue dragon approach Greg. It was enormous, with bright blue scales and piercing green eyes. The dragon stood upright on its hind legs, its colossal body covering the sky, and with a roar, it prepared to attack.

"Greg, step back!"

The dragon unleashed a torrent of flames towards Robert. Without losing composure, Robert raised his staff and, with impressive skill, split the flames in two.

Greg, amazed by the scene, fell to the ground. It was a display of power he had never imagined. But the dragon ceased its attack, and the training continued.

"Wow, that's incredible…" murmured Greg, still in awe.

"Now it's your turn," said Robert. "Use your sword to block the attack. Focus all your mana on the right point, and you'll be able to deflect it."

With a renewed sense of courage, Greg raised his sword and prepared for what was to come. The dragon began to release more intense flames, faster and more powerful.

Greg concentrated, and finally, with monumental effort, managed to block the attack. However, Robert wasn't satisfied. With another gesture, he increased the intensity of the dragon's attack.

The flames became even more powerful, like searing lava, and they traveled at an unstoppable speed. Greg, struggling to maintain control, saw his magical mark begin to glow.

"Ahhh! I can't hold it…" he exclaimed, fighting to resist.

Just then, Robert stopped the dragon. He looked at Greg, who was exhausted but still standing, showing a resilience only he could admire.

"Well done, Greg. As Abby said, you are formidable."

"G-greg…" — Robert noticed the boy had collapsed from exhaustion.

Robert quickly approached and helped him to his feet, ensuring he was only exhausted. With a smile, he added:

"You are someone to fear, Gregory."