"You can't," her father abruptly cut her off with dead seriousness.
"It's dangerous," he spoke only a few words, but she felt his intentions.
"Well, obviously I'm not strong enough right now. You just said I'm a genius, so shouldn't I maximize my potential," the girl pleaded with her father.
Adventurers were popular within the Empire, even some having a similar status to nobles. She actually never considered learning magic, swords, or anything, but now she felt a weird sense of excitement.
The father didn't miss her sparkling eyes. He did say she should find something she would have fun with. He didn't know that his efforts would bite him in the back.
"Ok fine, but my one condition is you have to beat me in a battle first," he smirked.
The girl simply raised her sword in a stance.
'He didn't say I only have one chance, right?'
The father couldn't help but look baffled. Where did her arrogance come from?
"Isn't experience the best way to learn?" She laughed brightly.
WHOOSH
She dashed toward her puzzled father, her body covered in a light yellow hue.
***
BOOM
The girl flew back rolling on the grass-covered ground.
"Did you think I would go easy on you?" The father laughed with his arms crossed.
"Who said I'm finished?"
BOOM
Even though they both used wood swords, a strong clash resounded.
'What a monster indeed. She's already using more technique,' the father smirked.
The girl grew furious at her father's leisurely smile.
'Damn I'm putting in 110% effort, and he still is so relaxed'
BOOM
He kicked her hard.
"I'll give you a special lesson for today. Est is the essential energy we use, it is found everywhere on our planet." He walked over to a tree next to him and brushed his hand across it.
"Our bodies exchange and hold the Est we receive from our environment. However, we are born with a fixed amount of what we can contain," he turned his head toward while grinning.
"Well, at least that is what everyone thinks. Actually, we can expand our capabilities! It's quite simple. It's not like a secret formula or potion."
He walked toward the girl and stopped a few feet from her.
"You know why I said you should keep your emotions. Well, it's the driving force behind our communication with Est. Those more in tune can manipulate it more freely."
He raised his blade toward the girl.
"To put it simply. Get angry."
***
He threw the girl onto the floor. Her clothes were stained and messy.
"I thought you said you wanted to be strong. You look pathetic though. How can you dare to imagine to survive out there." The father's playful demeanor was completely gone and replaced by harsh words and blows.
The girl tried to ignore her father's words and focus. She swung and swung, blisters formed on her small hands. The pain consumed her thoughts. Her once calculated swings were gone, replaced by animalistic rage.
As her mind blanked, she suddenly remembered the factory girl Leah Bulford. However, more memories of injustices from her childhood began to creep into her heart.
'Until when should I deal with this?'
A heat coursed through her body like fuel.
'Why can't I be happy? Why is the world so unfair?'
The father finally stopped his swings. The girl stood against her sword, her body froze in place.
WHOOSH
Suddenly, hot steam released from her skin. Within a moment, her body turned a light pink. The father instinctually placed his arms up on guard.
SLICE
Within a fraction of a second, the girl appeared before him, thrusting her sword forward. A faint cut on his cheek drew some blood. Fortunately, the strong, sharp wind just slightly missed him.
CRACK
BOOM
However, behind him, the wind slashed through a tree, cleanly breaking it apart.
The girl seemingly passed out mid-attack. He reflexively caught her. The man looked between her and the tree once more before he suddenly laughed loudly. He carried the girl back to the house still laughing.
***
It was almost near dinner time when the girl awoke with body aches all over. She turned and saw her father sat next to her. He had a pair of reading glasses on and a stack of books next to him.
"Already awake?" It had only been a couple of hours since their spar.
The girl wanted to jump up and punch her father at least once. Wasn't he the one who pushed her to this?
"You overworked your est carriers, so I would suggest taking a little break." He shut the book in his hand and took off his glasses.
"Great work today, but as your instructor, we are going to backtrack and learn the basics." He tapped the stack of books on the desk. "Read all of these, we will have a little test by the end of the week." He abruptly got up and headed toward the door.
He turned around before closing the door. "Sorry about beating you up. I got a little carried away," he scratched his head and quickly left.
The girl clenched her teeth. "A little?"
She looked over at the stack of different-sized books.
"At least I know how I'm going to spend my time now. I might as well try my best then,' she grinned as she fell asleep.