The training fields were essentially two large plots of grass surrounded by a strange magic dome. The grass had the same crimson color as the white trees I first saw when arriving here. Zora and I followed closely behind Cal, leading us directly to the training fields he walked at a firm pace. Placing his hand on the dome surrounding the field a small opening appeared next to him.
"Go on inside, the field is meant to protect the castle from any destruction from the inside. So in short... I can let loose in here! HAHAHA!" Cal's haughty laugh was already beginning to annoy me slightly but I kept quiet.
"I'm sure you will." I said rolling my eyes.
After entering the training field Cal separated me from Zora placing me at the far corner with her standing in the middle.
"Although Shin has awakened splendidly you have yet to Lady Zora. I mentioned before that there are multiple ways to awaken. The easiest way was what we did before, but now we will take a different approach." Cal paused looking at Zora before he continued
"It is a bit aggressive but there is a way to trigger awakening through a fight or flight response. If you are faced with immeasurable danger, sometimes threatening your own life. Your Origin can forcefully awaken."
Zora looked even more nervous after Cal's explanation. He took a few steps forward toward Zora before stopping.
"Are you ready?" His voice was stern and unwavering.
"Y-yes!" She said practically choking on her words.
'That was unconvincing'
"Prepare yourself" Cal closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"Crack! Crack!"
Just then the ground beneath him shook sending a weeb of cracks in the ground. The aura around him intensified sending me to my knees. His body glowed purple and his eyes shined. The dense pressure made even blinking a chore.
'I'm across the field and I feel like I'm going to pass out. I can't imagine how Zor-..'
I looked up mid-thought to see Zora trembling in fear. Tears swelled in her eyes, she couldn't bring her eyes past Cal's stomach. Her knees buckled collapsing to the ground helplessly. The pressure was trauma inducing, making me want to run and hide, to be anywhere but where I was.
'There are people like this in this world?!?' A million thoughts raced through my mind in the presence of Cal's overwhelming aura.
'How could someone be this strong? After awakening, I can feel the energy coming from him. I'm no better than a bug compared to him!' Fear and realization set in. This wasn't some fairy tale story from the books I read. This world wasn't meant to be some grand adventure where the hero always wins.
This is life and death.
Cal brought his hand down to Zora's neck with lightning speed.
"D-don't!" She screamed closing her eyes. Her body began to glow clapsing herself in a white aura enveloping her body. Cal's hand clashed with Zora's aura repelling it. A look of satisfaction crossed Cal's face as he was pushed back several feet.
He took back in his aura, air rushed back into my lungs. I didn't even realize I wasn't breathing. I wanted to collapse right there, but I knew Zora had it much worse than me. Forcing myself back to my feet I walked over to where Zora was standing. She was past out in the grass, she was breathing normally and seemed fine.
'Must have been shock.' I thought as I turned to face Cal. Even though I knew she was fine, I still felt anger.
"Don't you think that was a bit excessive!?" I shouted at Cal, giving him the most hateful glare I could muster.
"I said it would be a bit aggres-"
"A bit?! She's passed out on the ground from shock! This could haunt her for the rest of her life! Couldn't you have just waited a little longer for her to awaken normally!" I felt I was going to explode from the emotions beginning to swell inside me. Tears swelled in my eyes obstructing my view.
"I-" Cal began to speak to interject but remained silent. I knew that he only wanted to help, but his execution was terrible. I didn't feel bad at all for scolding him.
We stood there in silence for a few minutes, both of us not wanting to look at each other in the eye.
"We should take Zora to the infirmary until she wakes up took make sure there's nothing wrong." I spoke finally breaking the silence.
"Agreed. I- I apologize, I thought she would be able to ha-"
"It's fine. As long as your aware."
I walked back with Cal to the infirmary were the same ninja type demon inspected her. She rubbed the same green hued light she used on me over Zora's body. After a quick inspection, she turned and faced us.
"Lady Zora is fine. However, she will be unconscious for two days. Her body took in large amounts of Xoul forcefully resulting in her collapse. " She said almost seeming bored. "Cal, don't pull a stunt like this again, you know there are much safer ways to awaken children, lord Aiken would have your head if he heard of this."
"Thank you for the warning. It won't happen again." Cal's usually haughty personality was gone and replaced by an aura of guilt.
I stayed behind in the infirmary after everyone left, I don't know why but the thought of leaving her alone felt wrong at the moment. I was there until nightfall, darkness clouded the room. We had both awakened, and our Origins were now present, but Zora got hurt in the process. I couldn't imagine how she felt in that moment with Cal towering over her.
I ended up staying the night in the infirmary falling asleep in a chair near Zora's bed. She wouldn't be awake until tomorrow so I went on to lessons without her. I couldn't get her out of my head for the better part of the day, making it hard to focus on the lessons. And so the next day came, feeling much slower than usual.