Once again, Nathaniel Rivertide has shown his face in front of Allen. Allen was having trouble holding back his anger, his fire mana beginning to swell up. If Nathaniel started something here, he wasn't sure he would be able to hold him off as he was still tired and exhausted from his practice with Rose. He had to hold it back, cause the last thing he needed was to flare up where people could see him.
"What do you want?," Allen angrily asked, trying his best to remain calm.
"Relax, I'm not here to start anything," Nathaniel said as he put his hands up.
"If you don't want to start something, then don't show up out of nowhere from the dark," Allen said, still pointing his sword at him.
"Fine, fine. You can see now, can't you? If it makes you feel any better you can keep your sword unsheathed, but I can guarantee you I don't plan to start anything here," Nathaniel said, sounding very sincere. For once, his voice actually sounded genuine.
"Then I'll ask you again. What do you want?," Allen asked him, still watching him just in case. He didn't want to let his guard down around Nathaniel.
"Didn't you forget? You accepted my challenge to a duel," Nathaniel said, smirking.
"So you're here in regards to our future duel?," Allen asked, studying him.
"Well of course I would be," he said. "Why else would I suddenly approach you?"
"Then what about the duel?"
"Ah yes, about the duel. How's two weeks from today sound?," he asked, tilting his head.
Allen remembered what Rose had said earlier. She suspected that he would want the duel in a few weeks. And she was right, he did say two weeks should give him enough time to train, but Allen wasn't sure that would be enough time.
"How about three weeks?," Allen asked, making a counteroffer.
For a moment Nathaniel just stared at him, but then suddenly he menacingly smirked. "Very well, three weeks weeks it is. We will have our duel in three weeks from today, as requested"
"Then there's nothing else you need from me then?," Allen asked, still on guard.
"No, no. That will be all for today. I will be heading out now," he said while turning around and began walking away.
Allen sighed and sheathed his sword. He was about to turn around and begin walking back once more when Nathaniel suddenly turned around.
"Oh, and by the way," Nathaniel added. "Do be sure to tell Rose I said hello"
Nathaniel must have known that Allen was training with Rose if he suddenly said something like that. Allen just clenched his fists for a moment, before calming down again Nathaniel just proceeded to laugh a little while he walked away. At least he was finally leaving.
After the event that just took place, Allen was finally able to head back to his dorm room without further interruptions. He got into his bed, ready to fall asleep.
I will do everything I can to train harder so I can defeat Nathaniel, Allen thought.
At the moment the only thing he was concerned about was defeating him in the duel. He cared much for his newfound friends he's made at the academy, and he will not stand for anyone being absolutely rude to them. He also made a mental note to himself to inform Rose of the situation that unfolded in the next training session.
After class the next day, Allen headed over to the training grounds he was just at yesterday with Rose. Before class had ended, Thomas and Cecily had asked him about his first day training, and he filled them in on what had happened yesterday with Rose. He left out the part with Nathaniel for now, but he promised himself he would tell them about what happened with Nathaniel and the upcoming duel soon. He first wanted to tell Rose about the events, and then tell them.
As he arrived at the training grounds from yesterday, he spotted Rose just outside the door. It seems she had yet to go inside, as she was probably waiting on him. The area around them was rather quiet, as if students never go down the poorly lit hallway. It was almost as quiet as the hallway leading down to the F ranked class, although Thomas had managed to make it louder as the days had gone by.
"Managed to get here on time, huh?," Rose shot him a smirk.
"Yep, I made sure this time to head straight over the moment class had ended," Allen replied.
"Well today begins your first real day of training, are you ready?," Rose asked him as she began to unlock the door.
"Of course I am!," Allen enthusiastically replied as Rose opened the door.
"Good, because today's first day of training won't be easy!," she said as they walked inside.
Once again, the training hall was super quiet, aside from them walking inside and talking. Other than their voices, the only other sounds were their footsteps.
"So Rose," Allen started to say. "I wanted to tell you about-"
"That can wait until after training," she interrupted him, as she prepared herself.
"But, it's about-"
"It can wait," she said, as she gave him a small glare.
Allen finally decided to just wait and tell her after their training, assuming he would have the energy afterwards to (who knows what Rose will make him do).
"So what will I start training on first?," Allen asked, curious what he will be doing. Rose showed no indication of what they would be doing, so what would he start with? Stretches like what Thomas does?
"Start with fifty laps," Rose said very plainly, as if this was completely normal.
"Fifty? Fifty laps?," Allen asked, dumbfounded.
"You heard me right. fifty laps," Rose repeated herself.
"What for?"
"I want you to improve on your endurance. You didn't last that long in our first fight, remember?," Rose asked.
"Ah yeah, that's right," Allen recalled the events from yesterday. He had pulled off a last ditch effort attempt to best her, as he was quickly running out of mana.
"So then, fifty laps. And NO magic allowed!," Rose crossed her arms as she spoke.
"Wait, I can't use my magic to help me move?," Allen asked. He usually used his magic during his training to get a better grasp on how to use it, and how to use it more efficiently. Especially when he was doing endurance training similar to this but on his own.
"Nope, NO magic!," she repeated herself. "You rely too much on your magic, even if very little. You need to learn how to fight without it as well"
Allen found that ironic due to the fact they are literally training in the middle of an academy focused on magic. They were probably one of the only few students who cared about other ways to fight aside from magic, honestly.
"Yeah, I can see why you'd point that out. I do think I rely too much on my magic to fight," Allen agreed.
"If you remember in our duel yesterday, I managed to beat you without using my magic until the very end," Rose explained. "One advantage that I have that you can have as well, is fighting for a time without using our magic and saving it for when we actually need it. That isn't to say you have to go a whole fight without magic, or rarely use any in a duel. However, the more you rely on your magic, the more you are dependent on it. Learn to be more independent from it, and use it to your advantage"
Allen took a moment to process what she just said. Most mages here at the academy are very dependent on their magic, and once it runs out in a fight, they are usually done for. And since Allen has a low mana reserve, he won't last long in a magic duel. He's managed to win several magic duels so far due to them not lasting as long, like with Charles in the entrance exam, and his practice duels with Thomas and Cecily.
"I understand now. This whole time, I've been relying too much on my magic. I have been dependent on it, because once I run out I am done for," Allen explained.
"Right," Rose agreed, nodding. "In the upcoming tournament, which is at the end of the year, you'll need to get a better grasp on how to control your magic and how to conserve it. You also need to learn how you can fight without the use of magic. Doing this can guarantee you a victory almost any time, as many of the students here are very dependent on their magic. Once they run out, you can practically win"
Allen thought for a moment again. He has been training hard this entire time, not just for the duel against Nathaniel, but also to prepare himself for the tournament that will be attending eventually. He never really gave it thought or realized that he would be at a massive disadvantage once his magic ran out. He knew he didn't have a lot, but he focused mostly on how he has his sword and physical fighting capabilities to win. He's been so focused on winning in a short amount of time and surprising his opponent, or making a last ditch effort at the end to win once he knew he was running out of magic.
"Wow Rose, I can see now why you've managed to stay at the top this whole time," Allen started to say, impressed. "You have talent in both magic and sword, and your intellect is pretty high as well. I can see again why you are the Student Council President…"
"Well, thank you," Rose said as her face started to blush. She crossed her arms again, as her face returned back with a prideful, but confident look.
"You are a lot smarter than you look," Allen added.
"Wha- what is that supposed to mean?!," Rose started to glare at him.
"I mean, I wouldn't take you as someone so smart unless I talked to you," Allen explained.
For a moment, Rose just sat there and glared at him. Then, it looked like she started to fume up. "Alright that's it! Ten extra laps for you!," she shouted.
"Wait, what did I say?" Allen asked, dumbfounded.
"No asking, no excuses, just get started on running! Right now!," Rose shouted.
"I-"
"Now"
"Yes Rose"
Allen, still unsure as to why he made Rose slightly angry, just began to run his laps. He began to pick up a rather good pace as he ran around the room.
"A bit faster, you're going too slow!," Rose shouted as Allen just finished his first lap.
"If I go any faster, I'm going to run out of energy and collapse!," Allen explained as he was running.
"That's the point of this training!," Rose responded, pointing a finger at him.
"To collapse?"
"No you dummy, to improve your endurance!," Rose responded as she crossed her arms once more. "Hmph, that idiot…"
"What was that?," Allen asked, as he barely heard what Rose had said as he passed by her for his 3rd lap.
"Nothing! Just keep running before I start to cast magic at you!," she shouted at him, her face flushed again.
"Yes Rose," Allen responded as he kept running, trying not to run out of breath.
For the next thirty or so minutes, Allen ran all of his fifty laps plus his extra ten that Rose gave him. As he finished, he took a moment to catch his breath.
"Rose… I finished… all sixty… laps, Allen managed to heave out.
"Great job, you're getting the hang of how each training session will start," Rose smirked.
"Hold up… what? Every… training… session?," Allen asked, still catching his breath.
"Yep, that's correct. Every day, I'll have you start with fifty laps. That is, until you can do all fifty and still have the energy to do fifty more!," she explained while smirking.
"Oh, oh no," Allen said as he realized how hard this training will actually be.
"And to celebrate your first Fifty laps, plus the ten extra you did, I am going to have you do forty more to get you all the way up to a solid one hundred for today!," she said while grinning.
"Forty… more… laps?," Allen said slowly as despair hit him once more.
"Yes. Forty… more… laps," She mimicked how Allen said it before as she put a finger up, as if to prove a point.
"WHY???," Allen shouted as he sat down on his knees.
"And you can start… now!," she smirked again.
For the next thirty minutes, Allen ran his forty laps. By the end of it, he was so exhausted that he had no energy to even sit up. He just laid on his back on top of the floor, as he was catching his breath once again.
"Congratulations!," Rose said as she stood over him, looking at Allen's face. "You just did an unnecessary forty laps!"
"I- what?," Allen asked, so tired and dumbfounded.
"I was joking when I said you had to run those forty laps! And then you did it anyways!," she said as she was trying hard not to laugh.
"You were… joking?," Allen asked.
"Yep. But when you did it anyways, I didn't stop you because I might as well let you get some extra training in!," she said as she started to giggle.
"WHAT?," Allen immediately sat straight up and was about to unsheathe his sword.
"Well, if you have that much energy again already, guess it's time for our daily duel training!," she said as she noticed him going for his sword.
"Nevermind," Allen said as he laid back down again. He realized it wasn't worth it.
Rose and him just laughed for a moment as Allen just laid there on the floor, tired. After about a few minutes, Allen finally had the energy to get up.
"Well I have some energy still left to duel, but I don't know how long I can last," Allen said as Rose helped him up.
"Well, since you did all that running, you don't have to practice dueling today if you don't want to. Just remember that tomorrow you'll have to try extra hard to make up for not doing it today," Rose said as Allen brushed himself off and readjusted himself.
"Sounds like a plan. I'll make sure to make up for today," Allen agreed.
"Well, if you're tired and want to go rest, we can head out for today," Rose said as she began walking towards the exit as if she expected Allen was done.
"Actually I wanted to ask you something," Allen said.
"What is it?," Rose looked back at him.
"Your sword," Allen pointed to her sheathed sword. "What kind of sword is it? I've never seen anything like it".
"Oh my rapier?," she said as she unsheathed the blade. "It's a type of sword you could say. My rapier was built to be lightweight and for quick, repetitive attacks"
"I figured it was lighter," Allen said while looking at it. "It seemed like it was much lighter than my sword when we were dueling yesterday"
"Yes, that's why I was able to keep up with your speed. I would say out of both of us, you have the most potential to be the fastest, especially due to your magic. However, my sword is much lighter, which allows me to strike faster and strike much more in a second than you can," Rose explained.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you get your sword?," Allen asked, curious.
"I-," Rose started to say, but was hesitant.
"If you don't want to tell me, that's okay," Allen said after he noticed her hesitation.
"I got the rapier from my family," she began to explain. "It's basically a Marion family heirloom, in a way. It gets passed down in the Marion family generation after generation, and I am its current wielder"
"Oh nice. It does look like a really nice sword. Definitely much more unique and polished than mine," Allen joked, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"Yeah, but it technically doesn't belong to me…," Rose mumbled a little under her breath.
"What did you say?," Allen asked as he had heard Rose speak, but didn't know what she said.
"So what about you?," Rose tried to change the subject. "How did you get your sword?"
"Oh my sword?," Allen looked at his sword, currently in its sheath, on Allen's waist. "I actually got it from William after the end of my training"
"William… gave it to you?," she asked, a bit shocked.
"Well, he told me that it was apparently once my mother's, and it's one of the only clues towards who she was," Allen explained.
"Who she was?," Rose asked. "Do you mean-"
"I don't know who my real mother is. My parents at the moment are my adopted parents," Allen explained.
"I- I see…", Rose got lost in thought for a second. "Well I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you get along with your adopted family well"
"I do in fact. I love them a lot, but I still want to know who my real parents are. I obviously didn't get my magic from my adopted parents, as they can't use magic anyways. I want to know who my real parents are, and if they are still alive somewhere, out there," Allen explained.
"You mean William hasn't told you who your real parents are?," Rose asked, a little shocked.
"No, he hasn't," Allen responded, shaking his head. "He's been a bit secretive about it, to be honest. I do know for sure he at least knew my mother in some way, whether they were friends or acquaintances. If he ever speaks of her, it always sounds like in that regard"
"Do you have any other clues as to who they were?," Rose asked, curious.
"I do, but not that much more. I do know for certain that my mother had to have attended this academy at one point. I've drawn the conclusion that she is an air mage, and wielded the sword I now have during her time here. I've yet to look around enough to possibly find out when she attended this academy and who she was," Allen added.
"So that would mean your father-"
"Yes that's correct," Allen responded, already guessing what she was going to say. "He was the one who gave me my other magic"
Allen was careful to not say fire magic, as he doesn't know how well someone could hear from the outside of the room. Rose probably suspected this as well, as she never said a word about fire magic either. But they both understood. Allen looked once again to his right hand, where he wore his singular glove that covered it, so he may never accidentally release fire magic and get caught.
"I see… it makes sense now," Rose said as she was lost in thought for a moment.
"Yeah it's a little complicated, but that's one of the reasons for me attending this academy," Allen explained. "Of course I want to become a magical knight, and that goal is primary, but I do want to find out more about my mother and who she was when I get the chance"
"Well, good luck to you Allen," Rose gave him a warm smile.
"Thank you," Allen said in response.
For a moment, when Rose smiled at him, Allen seemed to recall a distant memory. He didn't remember what it was from, but it definitely confused him. He decided to just let it go.
"Oh, wasn't there something you wanted to tell me earlier before you started those laps?," Rose asked. "Or was my rapier what you were talking about?"
"Actually I almost forgot," Allen said, realizing what he wanted to say earlier. "I have some news"
"And?"
"Nathaniel made an appearance when I was walking back to my dorm room after our training session yesterday," Allen said.
"Figures," Rose sighed. "What did he say?"
"We agreed upon an official date for our duel. It will be three weeks from yesterday," Allen explained, but his voice sounded a bit annoyed, as he wasn't fully keen on the fact that he was dueling Nathaniel in the first place.
"Well, that should give us enough time," Rose nodded.. "I will train you hard for the next three weeks up until your duel, as promised. I will teach you how to better use your magic and how to reserve it, as well as how to fight better with your sword"
"Nathaniel will most likely underestimate your capabilities. He most likely knows a bit of what you can do, but he won't know anything of what you will learn in these next three weeks. Use what you already know, as well as what I will teach you in these next three weeks to your advantage, and defeat him!"
"Will do! That is the plan!," Allen exclaimed.
They began to walk out of the training room, with Rose locking the door behind them. Once again, the halls were super quiet, as barely anyone was walking the halls this late at the academy.
"Well, I will see you tomorrow Allen!," Rose waved as she began to walk towards her dorm.
"See you tomorrow as well! Look forward to it!," Allen waved back at her, grinning.
"Idiot," Rose slightly mumbled under her breath again as her face was red.
"What was that?," Allen raised his voice so Rose could hear him.
"Nothing!," Rose said as she was trying to hide her face.
"Oh, and one other thing. I don't think you'll like this!," Allen raised his voice so she could still hear him.
"What is it?," Rose asked, not sure what to suspect.
"Nathaniel apparently wanted me to tell you he says hi?," Allen answered.
Rose stopped dead in her tracks for a moment and looked straight back at Allen. For a moment, her face was just full of shock at what she just heard. She must have suspected something like that, but she slightly shuddered at the thought. There was only one word that came out of her mouth, and it was definitely one that any reformed student council president of any academy should not say out loud to their peers - especially to their underclassmen.
"Dammit!"