Chereads / The Art of Love and War / Chapter 8 - Magic Training

Chapter 8 - Magic Training

"Can you tell me again why?" Michael asks.

"Why what?" Ahros remarks.

"Why the heck are you making the three of them fight me!?" He shouts as a barrage of green light whizzes off against his ears, sword hissing along in response.

Ahros shrugs, "They fought you once. I thought it would be good practice for you. After all, it is going to be the first time you'll be using magic."

Michael ducks from a fist, aiming for his face. "Magic? You still haven't given me any!"

Ahros pinches the cheek of the giggling Felicity. "Really? I haven't? I was sure I did so, though I'm sure you can forgive me, after all. So much happened in just two days, I forgot."

"You forgot!?" Michael shouts before a sword buries itself deep within his shoulder. He grunts in pain before he spins, dodging the barrage of green light.

Annie shouts in celebration, "Fuck yeah, I got him!"

"Great job, madam." says Ethan as he appears behind the dodging Michael. His brown eyes staring at him as his fist light up like thunder, magic circles etched upon it. "Payback's a bitch."

"Oh, shit." Michael winces before a fistful of lightning impacts his stomach, punching Michael into the wall with a force powerful enough to leave a Michael size dent.

"Do you guys hate me? Is that it?" Michael asks, doubled over in pain as he brushes away the smoke, before bolting away in shock away from the sword aiming for his throat.

Annie follows up beside him, slashing. "I'm going to kill you, you fucker!"

Michael tilts his head to the side as it buries deep within the concrete wall. He gives a placating smile. "I'm going to take that as a yes."

He grabs its hilt, the magic in its handle dissipating as he parries away Annie's attack. He then bullets away as Ethan's fist explodes where his face used to be, his eyes turning from the retreating figures.

With enough distance, he sighs, "Can we get a time out?"

A voice replies behind him, John smirking as he clicks his finger in response. "No, I don't think we should. Maybe after this, though."

"After what?" Michael asks. He looks around him to see there was no one close enough to use as barrier against the man, the man whose hand illuminated in green light.

"Peace?" Michael smile.

"I don't think so." John answers, magic circles appearing around him as he shouts, "I wonder how long you'll last with this."

With such words, magic circles erupt around him, years of experience coming to bare from the sheer amount of circles he wrote in such a short time.

Not enough time for Michael to run as he turns aside, his arm raised as his eyes sharpen, the sword in his prepared to deflect the hundreds of magic arrayed against him.

"Hey, isn't this enough!? Can't you stop them!?" Michael shouts.

Ahros shrugs, "I don't know. I wanna see if you survive this." He then rubs Felicity's cheek, "Do you wanna see if he could take it?"

Felicity nods, "I wanna see big sister's boyfriend!"

With such, the barrage unleashes itself before them, drowning the room in green light as it tens of magic pierce against him.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"Ow. Everything hurts." Michael groans. His body was littered with bruises and open wounds. The sword was on his side, battered and in disrepair.

John smirks down at the teenager groaning at the ground, his eyes smiling as he spoke. "You know, I held back a bit. Didn't want to kill you."

Michael glares at him. "Oh wow, I'm so thankful." He winces from the pain. "I can really feel all the consideration you gave me." He coughs out a bit of blood. "Mostly from my chest."

Ahros claps, "How delightful!"

All of them look to the god. Felicity running beside him with a great, endearing smile. "Mr. Michael! Mr. Michael!" She gives him a thumbs up, "You did awesome! You went like pow, pew, vroom."

Michael chuckles. "Why was there a car sound?"

She chirps, "I dunno."

Michael cackles in delight as he grabs her cheek, rubbing it in his hands. The excited giggling of the little girl filling his chest with relief.

Annie stood by watching it all with a smile.

"Sir Michael seems to have grown on the little lady." Ethan remarks as he stood beside her, a small smile on his face as he watches them play.

"I can see that. Doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."

Ethan looks at her. "You still don't trust them?"

She scoffs, "Fuck no." The giggling of her sister stops her in her tracks before she continues, "But I can at least give them the chance."

Ethan nods, "That's all I ask." He then chuckles, "Maybe you'll even get yourself a boyfriend."

She glares at him. "You're the one that's been teaching her that shit! Huh!?"

"I do not know what you mean, madam."

"You bastard!" She reaches for his throat as the bigger man dodges away from her threatening advances, her face red as her hair.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"OK!" Ahros claps, the sound of which cuts through the laughter. His smile was wide as he continued, "The last battle has been most entertaining, yet all of you failed."

He takes Felicity off Michael's arms as he continued, "First of all, Ethan! You're powerful but slow. The only reason your fist even connected was Michael took account three other projectiles."

Ethan nods in response, his fist clenched at the thought.

He then glances at John, "While you have been lacking! You lack time and precision! Time and precision you could have used to strike during their altercation."

John nods at his critique. His lack of magical understanding made him weak and slow. Each shot he took was clear, no chances of ever hitting them both, a fact Michael made use of greatly.

"Annie!" Ahros then turns to Annie, "May I remind you of your bloodline of controlling swords? Or have you forgotten that? Cause I've seen better dual swordsmanship. Most of them don't even need magic."

Annie recoils at the insult before anger surfaces in her features, her eyes glancing at Felicity who watches her in Ahros' arms. The anger draining at her sight.

She sighs, "Fine. I get it."

"No, I don't think you do." Ahros remarks, his eyes locked with her before he giggles, "Ah, it's been so long since I taught those that were normal." He glances at Michael. "I missed it."

Michael huffs, "Well, we could always go again. Though where's my magic!?"

Ahros nods, "Of course." He rummages through the pocket of his coat. He digs through, getting nothing. "I can't seem to find it." He shows it to Felicity and asks, "You wanna check?"

She giggles at him before reaching in, a soft light, a mixture of pink and crimson dancing at her fingertips. "How do I give it to him?"

"You point and fire."

Felicity nods and aimed at Michael. "Bang!"

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

There was an insurmountable amount of pain that followed. The pain blinded him into silence. His mouth frozen open, only for it to disappear in speed so fast, he never got to scream.

"What was that?" Michael asks, hand over his chest. A small unfamiliar heat pulsing through him, his eyes wide in shock and excitement at the realization.

"I have magic!" Michael shouts.

"Great!" Ahros exclaims. He then turns to the three watching, walking back to his chair. "I believe now would be a good start for a training!"

Using his words as a go ahead, the three of them dashes to his side, armed in magic and weapons. Each one aimed dangerously at Michael's retreating form.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Michael shouts as he jumps back. Three swords burying itself in the spot where he stood, with magic whizzing by him.

Ahros shouts, "Do some magic!"

Michael shouts back, "How!"

"Just pull out something inside you, then write the magic that you want!"

Michael ducks from a strike. "It isn't as easy as it sounds!"

Green light whizzes by as he jumps to the side, swords aiming down on his destinations as fist rain towards his side. His mind, with nothing left to lose, whirls into action.

Yellow light forming at the edges of his fingers, writing and mending the theoretical formulas he's studied before, all to make a barrier.

Three swords slam against it. The force leaving sparks.

"I did it!" Michael smiles as he bends back, fists whizzing in front of him, as he punches with enough force to push Ethan back.

Tens of green light then arrives, Michael's hand filled with magic as barriers come alight. His mind is a whirlwind of strength as he holds off the barrage.

With the force of magic burning within him, he grins. "Time for the counter!"

Only for the barrier to fail and all his magic drain within him. The barrage piercing through as swords hiss back at him, a fist directly impacting his face.

"Oh my, did I forget to tell his magic was at Level point five?"