Heather had an innocent smile on her face, she couldn't resist praise. She admired Ignitius greatly. He'd been able to successfully clear all 10 floors of Script tower a few times already. The guard that Ignitius was conversing with, had moved back to his original position guarding the tower. The guard didn't want to disrupt their happy conversation.
"Are you gonna go in to the Script Tower again?" Heather asked as she tugged on the hem of his shirt.
"Don't worry I'm not going yet, I'll be sure to help you clear the tower".
Fulrain walked into Caerum's room to see Caerum with a panicked expression, "Hahaha, looked as if you've seen a ghost!".
Caerum slowly rose his head, picking up his book.
"Did ya forget boutcha training?"
Not giving Caerum a chance to reply she grabbed his hand forcing him up.
"Come on, we don't have all day!"
With that she dashed through the door while still holding a strong grip on Caerum's arm. He felt as if it was about to get ripped. It was like yesterday, except that instead of having to constantly keep up with Fulrian, he was being effortlessly dragged by her. The scenery around him was a blur, his eyes could hardly focus properly on anything. Caerum tried to pace himself as he was nearly about to fall. Passing a magic shop, he saw a quick glimpse of Korvis happily conversing with Cohen. Noticing Caerum and Fulrian, Korvis waved at them with a big grin on his face.
"S-slow down, I can't take this anymore! Please!" Caerum pushed against the pull of Fulrian, unable to endure the pain of being dragged already across half of the city.
Fulrian paid no heed to Caerums' protests and just continued walking at a brisk pace. What kind of person would let themselves be dragged around like this? What was worse for Caerum was that this wasn't even part of the training that he was suppose to partake in. He couldn't do anything but wallow in his pain and misery, as he was dragged on and on, further and further by Fulrian. The world was been moving way too fast for Caerum since graduation. His pace has been seriously thrown off course.
Underfoot the cobblestone path has now turned into soft, lush grass. They passed through the city circle and were now on the grasslands in the outskirts. This section of the city was without walls and were blocked from intruders by the large, natural mountain ranges.
Caerum was finally allowed to rest. He fell to the ground instantly. He was exhausted to the point where he couldn't move a muscle. This was the second time he had felt like he was about to die since graduation. Throughout the entire journey, Fulrian remained as energetic as ever. She grabbed for the two swords strapped to her back and threw one onto the ground in front of Caerum. Fulrian intended on getting started right away and not giving Caerum any time to rest.
"Let's see your sword skills Caerum!" Fulrain pointed her sword at the exhausted Caerum.
Caerum was utterly fatigued, with a groan he reached out to grab the sword out in front of him. He lifted crawled up into a kneel, using the sword to support his weight but his entire body was still shaking from exhaustion. Finding steady ground on the soil below, he held a stance, barely balancing. Although he felt terrible, Caerum still remembered the basics from his time at Alistar Academy.
Caerum gripped the sword with both of his hands, holding the sword to his shoulder. Fulrian saw many shortcomings in his stance. She didn't have a raised guard, instead she simply left herself exposed. She knew that Caerum wouldn't stand a chance if she did.
"Come at me Caerum!".
Caerum just wanted a break to recover his stamina, but that it wasn't an option. He broke into a sluggish run, raising his sword high in the air; clearly indicating his attack. As he neared Fulrian, he brought down his sword in a massive arc. Fulrian casually blocked the blow by raising her sword to parry Caerum's lousy swing.
For someone as bad in swordsmanship as Caerum, Fulrian could quickly and easily perform a counterattack by slamming her sword into his. Having such a great force strike his sword right after his failed attack, Caerum was immediately disarmed. Caerum stared at his empty hands before looking at Fulrian. It hadn't even been 2 minutes since training had started and he had already been defeated.
"I, ugh" Caerum said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I can't go on anymore." Caerum pleaded to Fulrian.
"Okay, fine but ya only get 10 minutes".
Dropping his sword, Caerum collapsed onto the glimmering glass below. He was finally able to catch his breath. To his right Fulrian sat atop a large rock, she stared at the distant mountains, as if deep in thought. Caerum laid on the ground admiring the vast farmlands of which spanned across the plains before him. Skeleton workers could be seen hard at work, tending to the crops. A mage wielding the epic necromancy magic, owned those crop fields. Magic makes everything easier Caerum thought. He just had to born in Arcadium. He would have been better of being born in the Rothderial empire where mages were an uncommon sight.
"Why'd ya want to explore the Ultramarine Ocean?" Fulrian asked out of nowhere as she gazed at his exhausted state.
Caerum didn't respond. He didn't have an answer nor did he want to answer.
"If you don't have a good enough reason, you should just give up."
She grabbed her sword as she leaped off the rock. "Come at me." she said.
With a groan Caerum pushed himself upright again, getting a better grip of his sword this time, as to not repeat the same incident again. With most of his exhaustion gone now he could think more rationally and be more steady in his movements. Fulrian held the same relaxed stance as before, she was basically asking to be attacked. Caerum raised his sword to an attack position. The move that he had perform before was foolish and was done without much thought being put into it. He examined Fulrian carefully, thinking of ways to attack her.
Fulrian had a large grin on her face, he was taking too long to think. She dashed towards Caerum taking him by surprise. He didn't expect Fulrian to attack suddenly while he was thinking. In a panic, Caerum raised his arms to protect his face, closing his eyes. When he opened his eyes the tip of the blade was pointed towards his neck. Sweat beads dripped down his forehead. If this had been real, he would have already been decapitated.
"Your opponent won't be nice enough to let you plan your attack, Caerum." she responded to his move.
Fulrian lowered her sword, giving Caerum a disapproving look. She distanced herself once again, provoking him to attack. Caerum was still a bit shaken from the previous spar. He raised his sword once again. He was under the pressure of Fulrian's gaze, it felt as if his heart was getting pricked by a thousand needles.
"Ya gonna take your time again?" she asked.
Caerum raised his sword to shoulder length, eyes focused on Fulrian. He charged directly at Fulrian, he felt as if time slowed. He now entered attack range; which meant that Fulrian was in attacking range too. Caerum raised his sword over his head imitating the strike he did earlier, but instead of cutting straight down, he curved his sword to the right attempting to strike her waist. Fulrian was able to see right through his feint, as he curved the sword she parried the blade with equal force. Being given an opening she smashed the hilt of the sword into Caerum's gut.
"Nice try, but cha gotta be a little more creative than that." Fulrian said as Caerum collapsed on the floor clutching his stomach, he felt like he was gonna vomit up his breakfast.
He laid on the ground convulsing and gasping for air, he had gotten the wind knocked right out of him. It was as he had thought, the training was truly a hell. Fulrian wasn't using her magic at all, yet he was still getting effortlessly beaten. Caerum was covered in dirt and bruises, he wondered why he even became best friend with such a savage and barbaric person.
Fulrian didn't move a muscle since he fell onto the ground, she just watched the pitiful scene of him suffering. Caerum reached for his sword, ready to go at her again. He was determined this time, his gaze was dead set on Fulrian, filled with adrenaline.
He was trying to learn from his past mistakes. Everytime now that he shifted into his stance it started to become more natural and fluid. With great vigour he leapt at Fulrian. Sensing his change, Fulrain got into a defensive stance. Just before entering her attack range he pushed the tip of his sword forward into a lunge. Having a sword aimed at her shoulder, she made a diagonal swing, deflecting his strike. She then came in for an uppercut.
He was scared, he felt like his childhood friend was going to kill him, she wasn't holding back at all with her attacks. Caerum with now heightened reflexes, quickly retracted his lunge trying to distance himself. He stumbled away with the sword just managing to nick his chin. Caerum wasn't safe yet, as Fulrian now continued to press her assault. She raised her sword, slashing down upon Caerum. He had to escape her attack range. As long as he was in it, he wouldn't be able to do anything against Fulrian. As long as he was within her attack range, she would be able control the battle. Caerum batted the sword away, but it soon arched back in the form of a horizontal slash. Caerum was now forced into a defensive position. It was already a miracle that he had lasted this long, but he didn't think he was able to keep this up for much longer. His arms trembled with every strike, he wasn't able to endure her repeated slashes for much longer. She had perfect control over her strength. Each slash was performed with great efficiency, being sure not to waste too much strength into each slash, but at the same time also not use too little energy that it would do no damage.
At this point Caerum was running on pure adrenaline, but even that was beginning to run out. He snuck a gaze at her, in her eyes had a glint of insanity, a sadistic smile had formed on her face. Letting out a little laugh, Fulrian launched the finishing blow, knocking the sword out of his hands, the impact left Caerum crashing onto the dirt.
She loomed over him, only then did her smile fade. Not once during the battle did she not have a smile on her face.
"You did well Caerum." she said simply.
He felt faint, his vision began blurred, darkness slowly encroached his vision; his exhaustion was finally catching up to him.
Caerum eventually fainted. Fulrian gently lifted Caerum, wrapping him up in her arms. The sun sunk under horizon, the sky was a coloured in a brilliant orange. This was only the beginning of the hellish training planned out for him, but no matter how dangerous it gets, Fulrian will be there to protect him.