After Father and Uncle Samuel headed back, we were escorted inside the mansion to a huge room with high ceilings and ornate decorations. Mentor Shane stood before us, his presence commanding respect.
"Okay, from today onwards, you both will be trained alongside Sara and Asher. So, all of you should greet and introduce yourselves," Mentor Shane said, his voice firm yet encouraging.
I stepped forward, trying to project confidence. "Hello, I am Aric, and her name is Clara. Nice to meet you, Sara and Asher. I hope we will get along well."
"Ah, nice to meet you too, Aric and Clara," Asher responded with a friendly smile. "We are pleased to train alongside you."
Sara, standing next to him, simply nodded. "Me too," she said with a nonchalant expression. From the start, it was clear she was reserved and perhaps a bit cold towards outsiders.
Mentor Shane clapped his hands to get our attention. "Alright, if you have introduced yourselves, let's start our training. But first, we need to cover the basics. To get into the academy, you must learn to fight with a sword. Selection is based on your sword skills combined with your core element. So, have either of you practiced with swords before?"
"Yes, I have practiced with my father," I replied, recalling the long hours spent in training.
"Good," Mentor Shane said with a nod of approval. "That will be beneficial. Now, let's have a duel between you and Sara. This will give me a sense of your current skill level and what we need to focus on."
He directed us to a large, open area in the room, clearly designated for combat practice. Swords of various sizes and designs were mounted on the walls, and the floor was marked with boundaries for dueling.
Sara and I each selected a practice sword. She handled hers with the ease of someone accustomed to its weight and balance. I could feel the anticipation building as we faced each other, readying ourselves for the duel.
As we faced each other in the designated dueling area, I took a moment to study Sara. She was poised, her eyes sharp and focused, with a calm demeanor that suggested she was no stranger to combat. I could sense an underlying intensity in her stance, a readiness to spring into action.
We both selected our practice swords from the rack. I chose a medium-weight blade, familiar and balanced in my hand. Sara picked a slender, slightly curved sword that seemed to match her agile frame. We took our positions, the room falling silent in anticipation.
"Begin!" Mentor Shane's voice rang out, signaling the start of our duel.
Sara was quick off the mark, advancing with a fluid grace that belied the power behind her strikes. Her first attack came in a swift arc aimed at my shoulder. I barely had time to raise my sword and deflect the blow, feeling the impact reverberate up my arm.
She followed up immediately with a series of rapid thrusts and slashes, each one precise and controlled. I parried and dodged, struggling to find an opening in her relentless assault. Her footwork was impeccable, keeping her balanced and ready to shift directions at a moment's notice.
I managed to counterattack with a sweeping strike aimed at her midsection, but she deftly sidestepped, using my momentum against me to launch a counter of her own. Her blade came dangerously close to my ribs before I could twist away, the narrow miss reminding me of her skill.
Adjusting my strategy, I tried to use my strength to my advantage. I went on the offensive, delivering powerful, broad swings designed to overwhelm her defenses. Sara met each attack with calm precision, her movements economical and effective. She wasn't just blocking my strikes; she was redirecting them, conserving her energy while forcing me to expend mine.
The clashing of our swords filled the room, a rhythm of metal against metal that echoed with each exchange. I was beginning to understand why she had a reputation for being cold; her focus was absolute, her emotions tightly controlled, allowing no distraction.
Sweat started to bead on my forehead as the duel wore on. My arms ached from the effort, but I refused to back down. I watched her closely, looking for any sign of fatigue or a lapse in her guard. It was then that I noticed a slight shift in her stance, a barely perceptible opening.
Seizing the opportunity, I feigned a high strike, then quickly pivoted and aimed a low sweep at her legs. For a moment, it seemed I might catch her off guard. But Sara reacted with astonishing speed, leaping back and bringing her sword down in a powerful block that sent vibrations through both our blades.
She countered immediately, her sword slicing through the air in a diagonal arc. I barely had time to parry, the force of her blow driving me back a few steps. She pressed her advantage, each strike coming faster and harder, pushing me to my limits.
Realizing I needed to change tactics, I started incorporating feints and misdirections, trying to throw her off balance. I managed to land a glancing blow on her arm, but it did little to slow her down. Her response was immediate and fierce, her sword cutting through the air with deadly accuracy.
Our duel continued, each of us testing the other's skill and endurance. I could feel myself improving, adapting to her style, but she was always one step ahead, her experience and precision evident in every move.
Finally, Mentor Shane called a halt. "Enough!" he said, stepping between us. We both lowered our swords, breathing heavily.
"Excellent work, both of you," he said, his tone approving. "Aric, you have shown great adaptability and resilience. Sara, your skills are as sharp as ever. This duel has highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement, which we will address in the coming training sessions."
As I wiped the sweat from my brow, I glanced at Sara. She met my gaze with a nod of respect, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Despite her initial cold demeanor, I sensed a mutual understanding and a budding camaraderie forged through the heat of battle.
Alright, now that I have seen your sword skills, Aric, let's move on," Mentor Shane said, turning his attention to Clara. "Clara, you haven't practiced with a sword, right? I'll teach you, and you will need to practice regularly."
Clara nodded, looking determined.
"Good. Now, let's move to the main focus of our training: Elemental abilities."
At that moment, a voice interrupted, catching me off guard. "Haha, it is now my showtime,"