Sir, there has been sightings of demons in the smaller villages around the city and also near the school of magic". Dreyfus stood at attention as he reported.
It was the Chairman of the council at Magic Affairs, Phil Brytek. He sat in a large office, almost the size of two classrooms.
He was backing his shiny oak table which was designed in a semi circular fashion. Turning away from the window, he pulled down his glasses and stared at Dreyfus.
"What of the ranked mages"
"They are handling the issue as we speak, we've also deployed a few more mages to the surrounding villages"
"Hmm". Phil ran his fingers over his chin while swiveling on his chair.
"We think something is going on. It might be a new force trying to wreck havoc"
"It could be the Emperor" Phil stated. Dreyfus shuddered at the mere mention of the name, the hairs on his body stood on end.
From the stories he heard during his childhood which had sometimes caused him sleepless nights die to fear. He didn't want to weigh the chances.
"Sir, it can't be. The Dark Emperor was defeated decades ago and sealed away. There's no way" Dreyfus wondered if he was trying to convince Phil or himself.
"What of Gold"
"We've sent for her, she should be on her way"
"Let the Headmaster handle the sightings near the school. We'll take care of the other issues"
"Yes sir?" Dreyfus bowed before leaving the room.
Two weeks had passed since their last training with Freya. It was a cold Sunday afternoon, they were gathered in the room talking, when Jake excised himself.
Levi turned to look at him, he had began to notice Jake's disappearance, for quite sometime he noticed that Jake usually vanished from sight around this time only to come back in the late evening or in the night.
Levi waited until Jake had left the room before deciding to follow him.
Jake cut through the buildings around till he got to a cluster of trees, there was a slim path that led through the trees, Levi made sure he kept enough distance between himself and Jake.
Jake sensed someone was following him, he wanted to hide in the bushes and wait for whoever it was.
But since he was in the school premises he surmised that whoever was following him mist not be much of a threat so he kept going, when he got to the beyond the trees, he set his sword down and sat on a cold rock.
He had discovered this clearing for more than a month now, almost a week after he got to school.
He usually strolled in the evenings in search of where he could train until he stumbled upon the clearing. It was just the right spot, distant from the school buildings, quiet enough to concentrate and void of people.
He had kept his promise to himself to train every day, by going there every evening except on Sundays.
He sat on the rock and kept his sword on his laps, he then closed his eyes. He still tried to meditate for at least one hour before training.
After fifteen minutes of trying to meditate, he just couldn't concentrate, he opened his eyes gripped the hilt of his sword with one hand and his scabbard with the other.
"Come out." He breathed calmly "I know your there" Levi peeked from behind the trees, putting one leg in front of the other, he slowly came out of hiding.
"Hey Jake"
"Levi. What are you doing"
"I followed you" "Why?"
"You always disappeared every evening, so I decided to come see where you usually went off to"
"I train here everyday" Jake had turned, backing Levi and returning to take his seat on the rock.
"Hmm. Such commitment" Levi muttered
"Now, you've satisfied your curiosity. Shoo"
"Nah, I think I'll hang around a little longer" Levi went off, scouting the trees while Jake returned to his meditation.
He came skipping back after an hour, wielding a wooden sword. By then, Jake was able to complete his meditation.
"Look what I found" he waved it in Jake's face.
"A wooden sword?" Jake asked, wondering what the point was.
"Let's train together" Jake already felt like giving Levi a good beating with the wooden sword he just brought, he wasn't relenting in his disturbance.
"That's only one sword" Jake frowned at him.
"You'll use yours"
"No way" Jake almost shouted "That's a real sword"
"Come on, give it a try. I'm not defenseless" Levi returned, waving the wooden sword in the air.
After what seemed like a life time of an argument and Jake constantly face palming himself, he reluctantly free his sword.
He moved back, with intentions to dodge all of Levi's attacks, to avoid hurting him. Levi stabbed at Jake with an alarming speed, Jake was almost caught off guard but all his rigorous training were for moments like this, he dodged the attack just in time.
Levi started swinging, Jake was adept in dodging his attacks, suddenly Levi went for the head, Jake immediately bent and using the flat edge of the sword, he swung at Levi.
Levi parried his attack and quickly caught him with the hilt of his sword against his stomach, before Jake could regain his balance the sword was on his neck.
"This is not training, you have to be a whole lot more serious. Or are you scared you'll cut me, I bet you couldn't even land a hit"
Levi's words seemed to jar Jake's senses back to life. He remembered those exact words Claire had said to him, he picked his sword and calmly took a stance. Levi on the other hand was ready for him, waiting for him to attack.
They charged at each other, steel hitting wood. Jake swung at Levi, there was no room to evade. Levi expertly bent his sword to the side and jammed it upwards, blocking Jake's attack and minimizing damage to his wooden sword.
He pushed at Jake, creating a little space between them both, then he lunged forward lashing out series of attacks, he brought down his sword on Jake's head but Jake's sword was already there, bouncing off the attack.
Levi recoiled, slashing through the air at Jake's midsection, but Jake was quite fast.
He had been trained for this, he quickly countered with a swing.
Levi bent down dodging the attack and clearing Jake's legs from beneath him. Once again with the top of his sword at his throat and Jake on the floor.
Levi stretched out his hand to Jake and helped him up
"Ill take you down this time".
"Right back at you"
Jake was deadly serious now, he had been taken down twice with a wooden sword, words could not express his frustration.
This time Jake flew in head first, he swung his sword manically. Levi could only dodge and retreat, Jake was not leaving any openings for him to attack.
Jake saw a slight opening at Jake's side and quickly swing his sword. Levi brought his sword down as quick as lightning.
As the swords met, Jake sword halved the wooden sword. Levi tried to use the half sword to parry Jake's attacks.
Jake brought down his sword on Levi, he immediately brought up his half sword in defense, Jake quickly flipped his sword to it's side, allowing it's flat edge bounce against the wooden sword giving him the momentum he needed.
He sounds the sword and struck Levi with the hilt of the sword sending him to the ground and sending the tip of his sword to his throat before he had time to react.
"Wow, that was…" Levi who was breathing heavily paused thinking of the right word to describe their short battle.
"Intense" Jake pitched, offering Levi his hand.
"Yeah, right. Nice move, I didn't see that coming" Jake smiled
"I don't think so, I've seen what you can do with a wooden sword, what then of it was a real sword."
Jake decided they call it a day.
"How long have you been practicing?" Levi asked
"About five weeks"
"What" Levi was shocked "you mean you've come here everyday for the past five weeks?"
"Everyday, except Saturdays"
Levi was genuinely surprised, he had only started noticing Jake's absence a few weeks ago. He wondered how anyone could show such commitment to a particular thing. He had seen the look of determination in Jake's eyes in their last fight.
"Even without magic, he's one hell of a person to contend with" Levi muttered to himself.
Levi indulged Jake as they walked back to the hostel, Jake usually preferred going to his training ground alone, but he was really happy to have Levi train with him.