As Fae predicted there were undead in the area which would prove mightily problematic so the boys decided they would do a 10 mile radius cleanse, which in all honesty would solve a lot of issues with the boys burning off excess energy. Keisei was staying in the church grounds with Fae and Ameera for training in magic and close combat. Keisei had the arena set up so that Fae had roughly three quarters of the space to summon in and the remaining quarter was for Ameera while she experimented with the list of magical cantrips she has been given. After several failed attempts Ameera got frustrated, "I think your magic sheet thing is wrong and I am not capable of producing magic."
Keisei chuckled sardonically as she shook her head with a small smile, "You little dove are nervous about learning something new that could quite frankly blow your face off and are having a hard time concentrating because of that to get the task at hand done." She walked over to a table that was set up near by grabbed a list that was sitting on it and handed it over to Ameera, "Go to the library, when you enter the door call out to Korobus and the shadow guardian should appear and help you with finding the books. Keep in mind it can't talk so if you have questions write them down in that notebook I gave you and if you write in any of the books I will beat your ass from here to the end of time understood?"
Ameera paled slightly as she had big doe eyes that gave away the information overload and well... fear. Keisei was ironically proud that while the girl was petrified she did not soil herself. After a few moments when her heart beat stopped drowning out all noise Ameera meekly commented, "Yes ma'am.... which way to the library again?"
Keisei made a small 'Oh' sound as she remembered that Ameera needed a seal that will let Korobus know that the girl was permitted to enter and touch the books. With a snap of her fingers and a few muttered words Keisei made a new seal and tied it around her right wrist, "This is a seal that will tell all of my enchantments here that you are permitted to be here and welcome, always keep this on your person do not lose it." Ameera merely nodded there was no point in arguing and besides it was a very beautiful piece of art. When Ameera's attention was back on Keisei she smiled, "When you leave the arena make a left the library is through the double doors at the end of the hall. Remember close combat training will be after lunch."
Ameera pauses as she started to turn to go and asked curiously, "What does a mage need close combat training for?"
Keisei sighed and signaled for Fae to come over and sat them down, "Alright since you asked I will just explain it to both of you now and save me from having to repeat myself." Keisei plopped herself down along with the girls, "Close combat has always been a huge weak spot for any type of mage. What do you do when you run out of mana or you have exhausted your spells for the day or don't have anymore spells memorized that could help you or a team mate out of a tight spot. Now do we have a wide selection of what we realistically can learn.... not so much unless you choose to increase your strength, muscle mass, flexibility, stamina, and vitality and might I add you have to achieve these while keeping up with your scholarly studies to improve and expand you spell work." Clasping her hands together looked at the two girls and raised a brow, "Any questions so far?"
Of course Ameera's hand shot up like the good student she is, "If there are so many limitations as far as magic goes why bother with it?"
Keisei had asked the same question herself when she was a young mage so she got a taste of her teachers bitterness, "Well that is a complicated question but I will answer it the best I can... Magic honestly has unlimited potential depending on it's user, having a creative and flexible mind is a mage's greatest asset, and it would honestly be a shame to waste all of that potential also keep in mind that such limitations are not always an issue as you grow in your mage craft the more access you have a mana pool as well as spells."
Once Keisei finished the girls seemed to be in deep thought almost digesting the long winded lecture in and of itself. Just when Keisei was about to start crying at her ineffectiveness Ameera nodded, "I think I understand, so basically close combat training is a back up measure for when our inexperience puts us in a pinch that could be the deciding factor that could either save us and or buy time for the rest of our party, right?"
Keisei wanted to clap excitedly but kept the notion to herself as she nodded her head in a somewhat sagely manner, "Exactly.... for the time being we will be with the staff." Saying this Keisei tossed a light weight rod to each girl and started instructing them from the beginning working from the foundation up since neither girl had really fought in their life, Fae maybe but she was only a few years on the princess and was more of a scrapper than anything else. They picked up the motions and concepts quickly and while their movements were rudimentary at best it was still better than where they started and gave the suggestion that the girls consider weight training and maybe begging Berric for a few pointers on stealth. With all that was said and learned the girls retired for dinner took a long soak in their bath whining about their various aches and pains Keisei was amused and took her dinner to the garden.
After relaxing into an alcove Keisei was mindlessly munching on her food for a while before she let out a long sigh and after taking a decisive bite out of her apple she grumbled, "I know you are there Berric you might as well come out it is after all just us."
Berric chuckled as he stepped out of the shadows of the garden green house thing and walked towards the lady of the house and asked curiously, "Are you enjoying their training?"
Keisei tapped her index fingertip against her chin before shrugging her shoulders, "Enjoy would be a strong word, but they both have potential."
"Are they to be new recruits?"
"Fae most definitely, but unless Ameera's kingdom collapses from the spore infection she will have to go home eventually."
"A shame that..."
"Indeed, this is most likely the first time I am rooting for a kingdom to lose so that their princesses potential is not wasted by being a trophy wife marriage pawn."
Berric' should chuckle took on a darker tone as his tone turned to dark mischief, "I dare say lady Keisei that even though your skin may be as pale as the moon that mind of yours is no different then mine."
Keisei huffed, "That should be no surprise I was raised in the under dark in less than favorable environment."
Berric just smiled as he gave a casual shrug, "We should get to bed, most likely is no longer safe to stay here the number of undead is increasing by the day."
Another long sigh, "Just as Fae predicted, very well we'll set off bright and early.... Good night, Berric"
Berric simply nodded his head before they both parted ways.