After their training, both went back to the city, the training facilities were in the middle of the city and can be hired, it delays exhaustion by using light magic to slowly recover stamina.
even the lowest of facilities give a better environment to practice the body.
Lucy hired one of the low cost ones for 2 hours, since it is the first day she did not think too much of it.
"First of all, have you used weapons before and what do you master or are planning to master?" Lucy wanted to know his weapon of choice so that she can make it useful practice for him.
"I have had some sword practice with my dad a few times while my mom would practice archery with me but I don't know what I should master."
"Alright, then let's start with all different weapons for a bout each and we'll decide which is best for you."
"Alright!" Smiling from ear to ear as Ray went to pick up a 2 wooden daggers.
"Alright, rules are simple, just try to hit me, once you do you win."
Ray nodded his head and ran at her at full speed, Lucy was surprised, she did not expect him to be so decisive, children of his age would normally be very clumsy but and hesitant but Ray, while still clumsy was not hesitant at all.
When Ray got close he held the 2 daggers tightly and started to strike Lucy's abdomen only to get then both deflected and have a wooden dagger at his neck.
"Again." What was supposed to be one bout went for s total of 30 bouts and Lucy was utterly speechless 'This boy is a genius, after each bout he learns and improves, if he were an Archmage as well, I don't dare to say I would have won, he keeps improve on his mistakes, such learning capabilities are what one needs to be a master' this growth and this speed is what made Lucy speachless.
"Next is the short sword, get one and ready up." After which Lucy changed it to 2 booths to see his growth, only to be disappointed but also relieved, Ray was a genius at handling the dagger and if his talent for other weapons were to be at the same level, It would certainly be....
She found it too terrifying to imagine an opponent that is a master of all weapons.
"You should master the dagger as your close ranged weapon, if you practice it for a few years with it you will probably have no one worthy as an opponent with the dagger in this place. Now let's go with the long ranged weapons, there are not that many options, Archery and Firearms, do you know the difference between them?"
"Firearms use ones mana to shoot projectiles and archers use bows that were made, depending on the metal the bow and arrow are made from, an apprentice mage could kill a sage if he hits the shot." Ray was aware of archery skills because Lune would teach him and practice with him, she herself majored in Archery while minoring in short swords.
"Indeed, but a firearm is more than that, just like the bow and arrow, the metals the firearm is made from can strengthen the shots fired, the shots also are affinity reliant, which mean that they would have different attributes depending on who shoots them, even if they use the same firearm. But the firepower of a firearm will never be equal to bows arrows mostly because arrows can be inscribed with runes to strengthen them even further. So archers are mostly needed against though opponents while firearm users with exception of a few are used against beast hordes. Aside from that, there are also allot of firearms that don't use firearms. it is more like a skill to use mana and shoot them like bullets, there are many such skills and it is normally a back up used by firearm users for different ranges that is can nullify a fund weakness. For example the Hound Skill can be learned, it is a skill that uses magic to create mana bullets without the need of a firearm and can be controlled, it is a very powerful skill but also very hard to learn. All clear?"
"En, big sis, will we practice archery and firearms now?"
"No, You already have practiced archery with your mother while firearms can only be practiced with mana so we will call it a day here." After which Ray left while running, as if he had not been practicing for a few hours.
"To still have energy to run, truly impressive" Lucy had a slight smile on her face.
"Lucy, I was looking for you the whole day, just to find you here training with Mr. Rivers kid, so, anything interesting happening?"
Lucy looked back to see her childhood friend walking if the spectator seat, her name is Mary, they both went to the Magic Academy together and graduated this year. Mary had red hair with brown eyes and a curvy body which would always steal a few glances from others.
"Oh Mary, when did you get here? Well, doesn't matter." Lucy was looked back at the door and proceeded starting to leave.
"You are going, what about our practice?" Mary looked at her in confusion, Lucy would never skip practice, she was the one that would always drag her with her and now she was leaving just like that.
"Don't worry about it, we'll double it tomorrow, I never knew that you liked practice this much." Lucy chuckled as she looked to see Mary's face that looked like she had just eat some crap.
"THAT'S NOT FAIR! I can't do 6 hours of practice in a day, no way, na ah, not happening, like no. Just no, why don't we practice now and practice normally tomorrow? I promise I'll be a good girl and try extra hard then."
"It is just 6 hours, magicians of our league can fight for days without rest, why can't you practice for a mere 6 hours?
"Then I won't practice with you tomorrow, find someone else, why don't you practice 6 hours with the kid, he seemed to have enough energy for it."
Lucy just smiled at her comeback, Mary's back started sweating cold sweat when seeing that smile, she knows Lucy and knows what that smile means that she would get shot by ice the whole time.
"Fine, fine, we'll do 6 hours tomorrow. Why do I even have you as a friend, how will you find a boyfriend if all you do is practice and practice, train and train, I already feel sorry for your future husband."
'Swooosh' 'pusht'
An ice needle brushed past Mary's face and penetrated the wall.
"You were saying?"
"ARE TOU TRYING TO KILL ME!? This is why no one else wants to be friends with you, use your mouth girl, not your magic! let's go, I am hungry, your treat, since you almost killed me there."
"I wouldn't hit you, even if I accidentally did, you wouldn't die from just that." Muttered Lucy under her breath
"I heard that!" Mary looked at her with her eyes squinted before walking towards her and they both left together.