It is the next morning and we head to the first class it is a magic lesson. The young miss is very excited.
As we enter the lecture hall, the teacher is standing on the podium, preparing to start the class.
Kira finds Tia and Kelsie and they sit together. I wait at the back of the lecture hall, and from the corner of my eye is see Nell waiting at the back as well. She is walking over to me.
The class begins, and the teacher is explaining about the elements and the theory of magic. The students are listening attentively. Nell is standing next to me twiddling her thumbs.
"I was thinking, maybe we could start over." She whispers
"Nell, no. Please, we shouldn't." I whisper back
"Please Renzooor, ok I am sorry, please. Please," she begs, she is looking at me with puppy dog eyes.
"OK, fine. Just friends, understand. No funny business. Ok," I look at her.
"Yay, thank you. Thank you."
"Shh"
"Oh, sorry" she smiles in a brightened mood.
The class ends, and the students get up and are heading to the next class. "Young miss, your next class is close combat training. It is at the training hall."
"Ok." she turns to her friends. "Let's go."
We arrive and there are a few students and they are sparring. Some of the students are practicing with their weapons and some are conversing with each other.
I see Ragnar walk in, and he has the 2 short swords that are sheathed on his waist and staff with him. "Alright, listen up. Today, you are going to practice your attacks and defense. I will be observing."
The students start sparring, and the young miss is practicing with her wooden dagger.
30 minutes later a girl called Gina, walks up to the young miss and requests a spar.
The spar begins, Gina swinging her sword with precision, but Kira's agility allows her to evade the strikes effortlessly. With a swift lunge, Kira attempts to close the distance, but Gina counters with a quick leg kick to her stomach, sending her flying several meters before she lands on the ground.
I remain rooted to my spot, a silent observer. I know Kira is eager to learn, and intervening would only hinder her progress. She rises to her feet, determination gleaming in her eyes as she brushes off the dirt. A fierce glare is exchanged between Kira and Gina, a silent challenge hanging in the air.
Without hesitation, Kira charges forward, her focus unwavering. Gina smirks, swinging her sword with a calculated strike. Kira's reflexes are quick as she dodges the first swing, but Gina follows up with another slash, her speed catching Kira off guard. Thinking quickly, Kira uses the momentum of Gina's blade to her advantage, deflecting the strike with a precise motion.
The tables turn as Gina loses her footing, stumbling backward. Sensing an opportunity, Kira seizes the moment, launching into a series of attacks. She stabs at Gina's thigh, slashes across her shoulder, and finishes with a powerful kick to the back of her head, causing Gina to collapse face-first to the ground.
In a swift motion, Kira is on top of her fallen opponent, dagger raised threateningly. Inches from Gina's throat, she pauses signaling the end of the spar.
"That was not a bad move, looks like you used someone's move from yesterday," Ragnar says, giving me a slight glance as he smirks showing his sharp fangs.
Gina pushes the young miss off of her and gets up. The young miss looks at Ragnar. "Sir, may I have a practice match with you." she is breathing hard.
Ragnar looks at her and is amused. He removes his swords from his waist and holds the wooden staff. "Sure, why not."
He begins to spin the staff with such speed that it becomes a blur, a mesmerizing display of skill. The young miss charges towards him, determination etched on her face, but he anticipates her move. With a swift motion of his left arm, he swings the staff, connecting solidly with the side of her stomach. She stumbles and falls to the ground, the impact jolting through her body.
Getting back on her feet, she glares at him with fierce intensity. Determined to press on, she changes tactics, darting in a zigzag motion to throw him off. Ragnar, however, remains composed. As she approaches, he stops her in her tracks with a well-timed sweep of the staff, knocking her feet out from under her. She crashes to the ground, momentarily stunned.
Turning his attention to the rest of the students, Ragnar speaks with authority. "This is practice. Use your eyes to analyze your opponent, observe their movements, and identify their weaknesses. Watch their body language. Fighting is not just about strength; it's about strategy and understanding your opponent."
The young miss struggles to her feet, her face flushed red from the embarrassment. "Do you give up?" Ragnar's gaze is steady as he awaits her response.
With a determined shake of her head, she rushes forward once more, this time with a low stance. Ragnar swings the staff, but she's quick, ducking beneath his strike and delivering a swift kick to his right foot. Caught off guard, Ragnar stumbles, momentarily losing his balance.
Seizing the opportunity, the young miss pounces, landing on top of him. A smirk plays on Ragnar's lips as he prepares to demonstrate a lesson in strength. With a surge of power, he pushes her off and tosses her aside. She lands on her back with a groan of pain, the impact reverberating through her body as she lays there, breathing heavily.
I walk up to her. "Young miss, are you ok?" I ask casually.
"Ren-Renzor, you should be helping me." she is annoyed.
"Young Miss, if I help you every time you lose, you will never learn. The only way to improve is to lose, and experience failure. Only then can you learn and become better."
She gets up and dusts herself off and she is glaring at me.
"You will always have my support, but sometimes you need to rely on yourself. If you can't even rely on yourself, what will you do when I'm not here."
She is surprised. She looks down and nods.
The students are looking at me, and some are talking amongst each other.
Ragnar walks up to us and is surprised. "He is right, you need to learn how to protect yourself. You can not depend on others forever." He announces to all the students.
Ragnar walks up to me and says. "You have been teaching her?"
"Yeah," I say. "Ragnar I have made a mistake, I was about to have sex with another woman, but stopped myself from going further. I feel like I betrayed Aya and the children. Now I can't stop thinking about it. Am I a bad person, and husband. It has been a year and a half since I did anything like that, and now. Ugh... Forget it." I get flustered.
"Renzor, that is completely normal, and don't feel guilty. You are a man and a young one at that. If you are a bad person, why did you stop yourself? And you could have finished it, but you didn't. You still have your dignity and sense of loyalty. Don't beat yourself up." He pats my back. "Even if you did it, I think Aya won't mind. Beastmen usually have a high sex drive, and you are human and brought up by beastkin. I think Aya will understand." He gives me a toothy grin.
I laugh awkwardly. "Yeah, sure. Like Aya wouldn't allow that."
"Well, you will never know, until you are free." He chuckles.
I laugh and nod. The students see me and Ragnar laughing and they are surprised. Ragnar leaves and the class resumes. The young miss is practicing her defense.
After a while the class ends and the students begin to leave. "Young miss, your next class is ancient magic."
She nods, and we are heading out. She grabs a quick bite before class and drinks some water. We head to the next class, and I can see the students are already there.
A dimly lit classroom filled with students. Professor Garrus, an old-looking demon man with a commanding presence, stands at the front of the room. "Good morning, class. Today, we embark on a journey through the annals of ancient magic and history. Take your seats, and let us delve into realms unknown."
Kira and the other students settle in, their attention focused on Professor Garrus.
"Ancient magic, a force as old as time itself, woven into the very fabric of our existence. It whispers secrets of power and mystery, waiting to be unraveled by those with the courage to seek its depths."
He gestures to a dusty tome on his desk, its pages filled with ancient runes.
"Our exploration begins with the civilizations of old, where sorcery and enchantment reigned supreme. From the mystic pyramids of Egypt to the towering ziggurats of Mesopotamia, magic intertwined with the daily lives of our ancestors."
As he speaks, images of ancient ruins and artifacts are created using visualization magic.
"But beware, for with great power comes great peril. The dark arts, ever lurking in the shadows, tempt the unwary with promises of dominion and destruction." His voice grows solemn, a hint of warning in his tone. "Yet, amidst the darkness, there are those who wield magic for the greater good. The druids of ancient Britain, the sages of Greece, the shamans of the Americas – guardians of wisdom and harmony in a world fraught with chaos."
He pauses, allowing his words to sink in before continuing.
"As we journey through the corridors of time, remember this: knowledge is both a shield and a sword. It is up to us to wield it wisely, lest we be consumed by the very forces we seek to control." The students nod in understanding, their curiosity ignited by Professor Garrus's words. "And so, with open minds and steadfast hearts, let us continue our quest for enlightenment. For in the pages of history, lies the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe itself."
Professor Garrus resumes his lecture, his voice resonating with ancient wisdom as he guides them through the wonders of ancient magic and history. I am also captivated by the professor's knowledge.
As the lecture concludes, "And that, my young pupils, is how ancient magic shaped the course of our shared history." Professor Garrus's voice fills the lecture hall, he looks at the clock.
"It appears our time is up for today. Next week, we shall delve into the specifics of magical theory, as well as the various applications of ancient magic in modern-day society." All the students dispersed as this was the last class of the day.
Kira and her friend head to the dining one last time for dinner and then we head to her room as the sun set.
"Young miss, can I go out and train for tonight? I will be back before midnight."
"Of course, Ren-Renzor, just make sure to come back. I will be studying for the next few hours. And don't take too long. Good night."
"Thank you, young miss." I bow and leave.