The next morning was the same as any other. They did some practice swings, tried some stances and than did some sparring.
Now they took their first break
'Okay now is the time to ask. But how am I suposed to ask this? Shall I be blunt or is that unbecoming for a gentleman? Are manners even necessary while training with each other, she isn't that much older and I think that we have build some kind of friendship.'
Redrick turned his head towards Lamia who was looking at the sun god altar.
'No we don't even use each others given name, we aren't that close yet. So I have to ask her without pressuring her to much. Miss Serpentine I noticed that you are holding yourself back? No than I am already assuming that she is holding her back, wich could lead to some conflict. Miss Serpentine is there a reason why you are so slow with attacking? No this sounds like me mocking her.
"Is there something wrong"
"No this question is to open, she could anwser with the most basic response while I want a propper more detailed anwser. It would be better to ask 'Miss Serpentine did somthing happen that caused you to be afraid while attacking an opponent?'. I think this would pry a bit to ....."
Redrick realised that he didn't anwser his own thoughts. Lamia was looking straight at him, she was done admiring the altar and was now standing next to the confused young man. Her calm, noble and collected face was struggling with somthing
'It's almost like her mask is breaking' redrick thought.
"Sorry miss Serpentine, I didn't notice I was thinking out loud, you don't have to anw..."
'Why am I feeling so drained, I never feel this tired during the first break. Why is everything spinning. I should probbablylay down.'
Lamia was still standing with a struggling face. Redrick wanted to ask if she was alright but he felt to tired to do so. His eyes closed.
'What is happening with me' were his last thoughts before falling asleep.
At that moment Lamia moved, hunched over grasping for air.
"Mister Goldfield, what did you just do to me?"
There was no anwser.
"Mister Goldfield are you alright"
Than she heard some light breathing.
'Is he sleeping because he is tired or out of stamina. No he never struggled thi much after training. Is this because of what happend to me just now.'
And than it clicked.
"It's his gift."
~
Redrick suddenly woke up, it felt like he was to late for school.
He was home schooled by miss Goldfield so the effect was not exactly the same but he still had enough adrenalin pumping in his blood to instantly made him aware of his situation.
'I fell asleep while training, that's a first'
"Are you feeling okay Mister Goldfield" Lamia had a bowl filled with soup in her hands and walked towards him.
"Here eat this, hopefully it will help."
'Well I am indeed a bit hungry' Redrick thought while taking the bowl in his hand.
"How long was I asleep miss. I hope that I didn't bother you to much with what just happend."
Miss Serpentine looked at him with a complicated face.
"No its fine. I think an hour or two has passed since you fell asleep. I cooked some lunch and did some power training during that time."
"Oh thats good, I'll be ready after eating this so dont worry to...." before Redrick could finish his reply Lamia jumped in.
"Is this the first time or did this happen more often?"
"I never fell asleep like this no." Redrick than thought about what had happend the last few days and realised that he had some problems with being well rested.
"Now that I think about it, I have had some struggles with staying awake after conversing with people. I have been drowsy or completely tired out in a few situations".
Lamia nodded and was deep in thoughts. After a few seconds she looked at Redrick.
"I think that I know what your gift is."
The young man put on a suprised face.
"My gift is that I fall asleep after talking to much."
Lamia started laughing.
"No no no. You never used your gift willingly before so it's understandable that you dont know. Gifts are powers that were given to us by the gods, they are usefull but not omnipotent. With power comes sacrifice".
At that point everything fell in the right place for the young man.
"So I get sleepy while I use my gift. But I didn't do anything out of the ordinary so what would be my gift than?"
" I think that your words have power over people, but it only works while you ask it in a question."
Redrick was getting confused, it did fit most situations but he felt that somthing was wrong in her statement.
"But I just asked you a question and I don't feel sleepy."
Miss Serpentine sat down on one of the church benches and thought for a bit.
"Well maybe I wanted to anwser that question anyway."
Lamia sighed
"You asked a question before you fell asleep, that question was the reason why you fell asleep. I really didn't want to anwser it, so your gift made you fall asleep."
Everything she said made sense.
"My hypothesis is that your gift takes power from your will. When you asked me that question I felt like I had to anwser but I was unwilling to do so. My will triumphed over yours so your body was exhausted as a result."
"Wait does that mean that I sacrifice my own will while using my gift, no that doesn't make sense, if that were true I would be a husk of a man."
Redrick and Lamia were both contemplating for a few minutes.
"Well there is only one way to find the extends of your gift, let's do some experiments". Lamia suggested
Redrick nodded and had a great idea.
"Loaf could you come over hear?"
And a little yawn started to form.