The next day, unexpectedly, a small practice fight took place. Grae had ordered that the four should prove themselves again in a redemption match. But this time it was different, Grae used a normal wooden training sword, which didn't have any magic. Furthermore, he explained that they were allowed to use their magic freely. The most important change was that the whole area was allowed to be used freely. Adrian was again the first, just before the start of the fight Grae winked at Leo. Against the commander's advice, Adrian continued to use his longsword.
Right at the start of the fight, gusts of wind could be seen surrounding Adrian. It quickly became apparent that he had reinforced his armor with wind magic. This made it harder to hit Adrian and attack straight on. As Adrian attacked, Grae took a sideways position similar to a fencer. Grae saw that Adrian was getting faster and faster similar to Marah. Soon he was so fast that he could no longer be followed with his eyes. By now Grae was now surrounded by 5 large vortices, in one of them was Adrian, just waiting for the right moment. As he shot towards Grae like an arrow, Grae took a handful of sand that was used for the training dummies and threw it into the air. The vortex literally sucked up the sand and ensured that Adrian no longer had a clear view. When he opened his eyes again he saw Grae rushing towards him. Like a rapier, his sword pierced through the wind, with the tip barely resisting the wind like a paper airplane. The sword drilled into Adrian's armor and he was thrown backwards. For a brief moment his breath stopped as if he had been hit by a hard punch from a boxer and he fell to the ground.
-1 day earlier-
"I want you to find out your friends' weaknesses and strengths and use them to help me win. I assume you have already gathered some information but how exactly do they work in other fighting conditions? I will fight with each of them again tomorrow but this time with a normal wooden sword and you have the task to lead me to victory. Anything in the environment may be used if that makes it easier for you. My ravens have collected a lot of information about them but I think you are the one who's suited for this. Tomorrow before the battle I want to hear your methods, show me your true value."
With these words, Grae left his room, leaving him alone with this huge task. Until late at night, he tried to find a way to beat each of them. Because of Grae's immense disadvantage, it was very difficult for him to figure out a reliable method. But he was determined to show not only Grae what he was capable of, but also himself. At least for tomorrow he wanted to prove his worth.
As announced, he met with Grae and explained his plan.
"First I'm going to fight Adrian, so how do I go against him? Remember, I only have one sword and the training ground at my disposal."
"Adrian is not a man of many words therefore it is more difficult to understand him. One thing I know for sure, yesterday was his first real clear defeat in 2 weeks, he's going to be pretty damn ambitious about this. He won't take your advice to try a bow. From the beginning you stand sideways and keep your sword ready in your strong hand. He will probably try to create several vortices to confuse you and not give you a clear view. A wooden sword has problems with the strong winds so you have to limit yourself to one decisive attack. You will only focus on a counterattack. As soon as he finds the right moment to attack you take a handful of sand and throw it into the air. The acceleration will make it work like small projectiles and distract him. At that moment you attack with the sword point first, through your power it should be possible to destroy this wind barrier around him and beat him."
Grae executed Leo's plan perfectly and was victorious. Leo smirked and waited for the next opponent. Luke was ready this time and started the fight. His special ability was a wave of water which rushed towards Grae. It towered over the entire training area. But this area attack was not over yet, Luke had extended his moveset. Behind the wave, he prepared water vortices that shot like arrows through the wave at Grae's opponents. Grae threw away his sword and ran away from the wave, with time the wave became smaller and smaller. The projectiles lost speed because they had to pass through the wave. That's why it was easier for Grae to dodge them as he ran further away from the wave. When he reached the wall the wave was only 2 meters high, the projectiles did not make it through the wave anymore, their way became too far to their destination. Grae jumped to the wall and did a backflip, his head grazing the wave. Luke's mana was almost gone, the projectiles were getting smaller and less accurate, Grae dodged them without any problems. In the next moment he was standing in front of Luke, who gave up.
EARLIER
"Against Luke, you have to go completely different. I saw him summon a huge wave once, but he couldn't sustain it. That was some time ago, I think now he can do it. Luke doesn't really use hand weapons, against you he won't risk close combat and stay at a distance. Your sword will only slow you down, so throw it away as soon as the wave appears and run as fast as you can towards the wall. As long as you wait out the wave and avoid possible ranged attacks, you should win against him.
Luke surrendered, Grae picked up his sword and challenged Blade. Without a warning, Blade attacked and conjured a circle of fire around the two, forming a wall. Grae had little space available, so he could not use his full speed. Unexpectedly, Blade did not attack with his fire waves but limited himself to a close combat without any magic. Grae knew this situation perfectly, all his life he had practiced such fights. He constantly stopped at the edge of the wall and dodged the attacks first with the wooden sword behind his back. A short time later he attacked himself, as he swung the sword Blade realized his plan but it was too late. Grae's wooden sword had begun to burn, so instead of attacking him, he swung it past the side of his face. The shaped embers splashed directly into Blade's face, who cried out in pain. From then on, it was an easy game for Grae. Without any problems he disarmed Blade, who barely had a clear view, and threw him backwards. The walls disappeared and the winner was decided.
EARLIER
"Against Blade you have a decisive advantage, he is the most stubborn person I have ever seen. And thanks to yesterday's fight, he's already provoked, arrogant and cocky enough that he'll probably use little or no magic at all to show you how good he is after all. His strategy is probably to give you as little space as possible. The plan is to let your sword catch fire and take him out with it. That's why I have to rely on your dodging skills at least until the sword burns. His sword is big but no matter how strong you are, after each strike there will be 1-2 seconds when he's wide open, then you can attack him. If you manage to blind him with the embers then just disarm him, I know how good you are. If that doesn't work let him come near the fire and step into it. I don't have any more ideas, he's stubborn and arrogant but has talent, which if he uses it right makes him a very strong and difficult opponent."
First Grae got the info from the mages that Marah will not fight today, but shortly after she appeared on the grounds and got into position. She was relatively refreshed and had a cooler head than yesterday. She looked as if she had realized something in the time she was resting. Without saying a word, she took her two daggers and started to speed up. But unlike yesterday, Grae gave her no space and no time, anticipating almost every move she made. The only problem was that her cover got stronger than yesterday. However, there was one crucial difference that Leo hadn't exploited yet today and that was most important against Marah: Grae's pure strengh. With his strong hand, he swung his weapon like a sledgehammer in the direction of his target. Due to the constant blocking, Marah became slower and slower and thus lost a dagger. As she dodged backwards she saw Grae pick up her weapon and use it for himself. It was allowed to use the whole training area, so everything that was there including the weapons of his opponents. His wooden sword was completely worn out and almost broke apart, from the beginning that was the plan. Grae fought with one of her daggers but what he saw amazed him. Marah formed a shadow dagger out of her other dagger that she could use. Grae couldn't believe it and smirked in disbelieve.
At that moment he was at a huge disadvantage, it looked like he had little chance left. But Jures Grae wouldn't be Jures Grae if he didn't have a plan of his own. He leaned forward and took a deeper fighting stance. Then he closed his eyes and waited for her attack. Grae completely blanked everyone out, he was now in his own little world. He felt every rush of air and the complete ground beneath him. In front of him he heard a loud noise and sprinted straight towards it. Just before the impact he felt a strong rush of air along with a tremor of the ground and leapt upward with a somersault. In the air, he heard Marah's breathing and dashed headlong toward the ground. The next moment he heard the clang of metal and the vibration of the ground. When he opened up his eyes he made a satisfied face. Behind him was Marah's other dagger. She stood there disarmed and completely immobilized. What just happened was the third time in his life Grae performed his special attack. He called it "Last Resort." Everyone was speechless including Leo, with this move he would have defeated any of the four without any problems or Leos advice. Everyone had questions for Grae, but he didn't talk to anyone about this move, this was one of his few secrets. It only works in a 1v1 battle. After the fights were over, normal training was on the agenda. Leo was ordered to Grae, who was waiting for him in the armory. Relaxed, he greeted Leo while cleaning his armor.
"My guess was right, your value is much higher than you think after all. You have far exceeded my expectations, you are not a hero in the eyes of others but an important factor for me. I hope we can call each other friends after today.
"Actually, it was more your skills as a fighter that helped you win, with that move you could've easily done it without me. And against Marah, you completely fought on your own because I couldn't give you any advice so I'm not as good as you thi-
" Dont belittle yourself! Marah doesn't count, she's at a higher level, higher than I ever thought she would be. Summoning a shadow weapon in not even 3 weeks...she's a monster in terms of her development...In terms of speed, she'll replace me as a prodigy in two months. And initally i didn't want to show this skill if it wasn't for her. So against the others i wouldn't have won without you, even I wouldn't have come up with the idea of the wall and the embers. The next few days I will train with her individually, maybe I need your help. From now on I'll take you under my wing, I'm sure you don't mind, do you?"
Leo met with Marah, and the two talked about Marah's abilities and Jures Grae. When Leo heard about her abilities, he was speechless. Grae was right, she really was a prodigy. Leo noticed that she was opening up more and more, gradually finding her way back to her former self. As announced, Grae trained with Marah most of the day. He wanted to test her limits and help her refine her techniques. Leo watched the two but shortly after he was summoned to the royal hall. This time the throne princess was also present. The king announced that Leo would be staying in the soldiers' barracks from now on. His room in the castle would be occupied for a friend of the princess who was visiting. Since most people thought Leo would be treated too well anyway, he complied with this request without arguing. Slightly annoyed, he was shown his room, or rather chamber. On the floor lay an old mattress and next to him a lot of equipment. That evening he got a visit from the group, Grae had forced them to come along, also with the hope that they might get along a little better. In front of the barracks they started a campfire.
"Very well, now we are all gathered. I will take this opportunity to explain a few things about the expedition."
Leo knew he was only doing this to keep him company. Grae couldn't really help him, a commander could not go against decisions of the king, in the worst case he would lose his position.
Grae told everyone about Leo's test and that initally he beat most of them with his strategies. Adrian, who had been so quiet before, had more interest in Leo than he thought after all.
"How did you know...how did you know I was going to use multiple vortices?"
"Well, because you hate to lose. But instead of changing your entire technique, you would simply improve and refine the one you have so far. After all, you've been working on it for weeks and since you hardly had any time to test things out, that was my only explanation. Of course, I know that that wasn't your complete moveset, you're still practicing new techniques.
"You are not as useless as I thought...well analyzed. Now understand what role you want to take!"
Everyone was amazed that Adrian talked to someone more than 3 words.
"Hey beanpole, you're smart after all, I was wondering. Gotta tell you something too, since you ended up here might be because of me. Didn't say good words about you, sorry for that."
Blade wasn't ashamed of the apology, he was proud and stubborn but also insightful and fair.
"Who's the beanpole here, mudbug...wasn't your fault, a friend of the princess wanted the room so all good. Are you still training with the broadsword?
"With what else, I just have this weapon. I didn't like any other one."
" I have an idea to play out your full mana. Instead of using the mana extra you can put it all into your sword. Grae knows how to fuse mana with weapons and a broadsword has a great tank for magic. When you practice new attacks, you learn how to use them with magic at the same time. 'can use your mana more effectively and don't waste anything.
"Hehe, that Blade would ever take advice from you..."
Luke was relieved that the tension in the group was easing and they were getting along better. But Leo had some advice for him aswell.
"Your wave wasn't bad but it cost too much mana. It's best to make it lower, even if it's not very big it still has the power behind it. Instead of building the wave right away form it as a wall first, that would be better. That way more people have protection behind it from ranged attacks. Your projectiles were also too big, in battle they don't need to fly 100 meters. By then you can dodge them with aese and your mana will deplete even faster. You are a healing mage your attack area should not go over 20 meters. First protect yourself to protect others afterwards. May sound stupid but you are more important than simple soldiers. Healing magic is immensely valuable, so always remember that saving lives comes before killing enemies. But that's just my opinion."
Luke was slightly surprised, but gratefully accepted his advice.
"Sorry Leo, I tried to bring you back to the castle but they didn't listen at all. All the mages were behind the kings decision, my words had no meaning for them. Even though you helped me and even defeated us through Grae, everyone still thinks you're worthless and have no business here. This thought alone let's my blood boil.
Leo was grateful that Marah stood up for him like that. But he was even more grateful that she was back to her confident and joyful self. Even back on the roof he wanted to know how what she's normally like, now finally he was really getting to know her.
"That's not a problem Marah, it's just a place to sleep anyway. I was even allowed to take a few books with me so I wouldn't get bored. It's better if you concentrate fully on your training, my advice is only worth as much as you are fit and trained. Everything else comes after."
The day after tomorrow they would leave and be exposed to the dangers of the outside world. The next day, an elite training awaited them, which was far more strenuous and serious. Grae had to go through this training many times before, but even for him, each time was a challenge. For Leo it was the first real serious training session, which quickly brought him to his limits. Completely exhausted and worn out, he stopped halfway through and rested in his chamber. On this day Leo wanted to be alone, for the rest day was lost in countless thoughts. For him it would be even more dangerous, so he forced himself to train secretly until late at night.
Everyone gathered including a troop of soldiers commanded by Grae. As the king made a final speech, he talked about the reward if they were victorious. If they return safely, they'll be allowed to stay in the city and leave the palace as they wish. It was truly a reward since all they've seen in the last month was the palace and the training grounds. Their goal was to protect a village on the edge of the kingdom, as important resources were produced from there. Scouts explored on the border and found rotting and dismantled corpses of farmers near the village. Their orders were to protect the inhabitants and detect possible portals. While Marah, Luke, Blade and Adrian formed an extra unit, Leo was placed among the soldiers. This was not how Leo planned his journey, but he had to keep a cool head. So he put on his armor while the others looked at him with worry in their eyes. Only a month ago they were only 5 normal students in a world that knew no monsters or magic. Now they have to protect a whole kingdom, kill ferocious creatures and fight endless battles. Leo was sure about one thing: Even if they manage to survive this journey, a part inside of them still dies.