"I know that..." I mumbled.
"Although, I am surprised that you landed a blow on me. A strong one at that." Noah praised and he shrugged, "But unfortunately, you lost your chance. You should've continued to attack and didn't let me regenerate!"
My eyes turned to where he was and he was gone! I darted my pupils, left and right to look for him but his speed was nothing to scoff at. Mastering lighting required him to also master speed.
I gave up trying to find him with my eyes, letting my other senses maneuver my body and I felt where he was coming from.
'Above!' I shot my head up, saw him about to punch me and I instantly dodged. He didn't give me time to regain my stance since he twisted his body and jumped towards me again. He hit my shoulder just before I could move away.
I grunted in pain but he didn't stop. He took my arm and pulled it, throwing my body to the ground.
Instinctively, I turned around after he let me go and made my back take the impact of the fall. It still hurt but it would've been worse if my face fell flat.
I still couldn't control my strength properly with aura. I stood up and suddenly, he was in front of me already.
"Oh, give me a break!" I shouted and punched in front out of frustration.
Thud!
I felt an impact on my fist. I hit his face! My eyes widened and was taken aback.
He fumbled while trying to stand up. Now's my chance!
I kicked his left leg and took him out of his standing position, then elbowed his torso.
"Ah! I give!" Noah hit the ground and shouted in pain.
"Hahaha! I finally won!" I raised my hands up and shouted in joy.
"Woah, good job, Nera." Noel walked up to us and handed a healing patch to Noah.
"I can't believe this!" Noah violently took the healing patch from Noel's hand and put it on his face. "Rematch!"
I put my tongue out to mock him, "Told you!"
"But I'm curious," Noel put his hand between me and Noah. "Why didn't you use your abilities to attack each other? Even brawlers use their aura abilities properly." He tilted his head.
Both Noah's and my eyes widened at the fact.
He's right! How could we forget that?
Noah chuckled. "We must've been so used to fighting without it."
I nodded. All these months, we only sparred without aura. Despite us opening our aura from the start, we completely forgot that we could use our abilities.
"Rematch it is then." Noah threw the used patch and sneered at me.
I breathed out. Maybe that's why I won so easily...
And I was right. My complete and utter defeat.
Noah's lightning strikes were too fast to dodge so I often took hits. I couldn't control my shadows so I didn't use them very well.
Before, I would often block his sight with shadows and then sneak up from behind to launch an attack but I couldn't even do just that!
Good thing I decided to let my aura out a month before December. I have to get used to it again.
"Haha! My victory yet again." Noah smiled mockingly.
"Oh, shut up. I'm still getting used to it." I cleaned my clothes of dust and from the burns from his lightning.
If I didn't open my aura, it would hurt like hell being attacked with that.
"But I have to admit, you've really improved," Noah commented.
Noel, who walked to where we were and gave both of us healing patches, nodded to Noah's words.
"How so?"
"Faster and stronger. You couldn't even hit me back then but now, you landed three strong blows without being able to use your abilities properly."
I grinned. My plan worked! Now, I just have to get used to my aura again accompanied by my newfound strength.
"You did it, Nera." Noel patted my head and I smiled at him.
"Well, thanks to you two being my targets."
Noah scoffed, "We're the targets?"
I shrugged after putting on the healing patches on my arms and shoulders.
"After you heal up, be ready for me." Noel smiled and I stiffened.
I sighed out of exhaustion. These two are the best practices I can get but they're always so tiring to deal with.
If I can't even defeat Noah, what more with Noel?
***
The morning ended with me having one win and four bitter losses.
I can't let this stop me though. I've always been defeated by these two for all my life but now, I'm nearing their level. I have this chance to finally be able to kick their asses!
Hahaha!
Despite it being the weekend, our father couldn't see me spar using my aura again since it was a busy time for him.
He's part of the First Division, the strongest in the Empire. They're the ones who are overseeing the Knight's Exam held next month so they have a lot of things to get ready for.
I'll just have to surprise my father with my results.
***
Afternoon came, I read my romance novel for the week and then came out to the training grounds once again.
I let out my aura but now, without the convenience of my brothers' guidance, I'll do a self-practice as I usually did back then.
I had to slowly let my aura out since my body still wasn't used as how it did before. I'm sure I'll be able to pick it up again before the Knight's Exam.
Before I had my injury, I would usually swing my wooden sword all day with aura covering my whole body and the sword. That's what I'm going to do for the rest of the month, alongside with practicing on how to use my abilities properly.
I didn't want to do this much since I wouldn't want to refine my aura, so I told myself I would stop after I got the gist.