he grumbled and wrapped her leg around me.
"Don't move... you're a warm pillow."
I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh. "Laila, I need to get up."
She groaned in protest, but eventually loosened her grip and turned the other way, pulling the blanket over herself. I took the opportunity to get out of bed and walk over to the window. The sun had already risen, dyeing the sky orange. The day was starting, and I had a clear goal: to train.
I closed my eyes for a moment and concentrated. My Ki flowed naturally inside me, denser than yesterday. My control was increasing, but it still wasn't enough.
I remembered my main objective: to fly.
It was something so basic for the Z warriors, but for me it still seemed like a distant dream. If I wanted to reach their level, I needed to master it as quickly as possible.
I looked into the corner of the room, where my cell phone was charging. I picked it up and checked the time. It was still early. Maybe I could go out and train a bit before everyone woke up.
I glanced at Laila. She was still fast asleep, her face partially covered by the pillow. I'd better not wake her.
I left the room carefully, walking quietly to the living room. My stepfather and mother were probably still asleep. I grabbed a light jacket and went out the back door, feeling the cool morning air envelop me.
I went to a vacant lot behind the building where I lived, a place where I could train without worry. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling my Ki expand around my body. I began to channel my energy into my feet, trying to create a force against gravity.
Nothing happened.
I sighed. "Maybe if I try using small bursts of Ki..."
I bent my knees a little and let my energy accumulate in my feet. Then, in one swift movement, I released a small explosion.
I was thrown backwards, falling on my butt on the ground.
"Argh! This is harder than it looks..."
I stood up and shook the dust off my clothes. Okay, maybe I need to be more subtle with my energy control. I closed my eyes and tried again, this time releasing the Ki little by little as I felt the pressure against my feet.
This time, I felt my body rise a few centimeters.
My eyes went wide. "I did it...!"
But my excitement was short-lived. I lost control and fell flat on my face.
"Okay... I need more practice."
I spent the next hour refining my control, trying to keep a constant flow of Ki in my feet. With each attempt, I managed to stay in the air a little longer, until finally I was able to float for a few seconds without falling immediately.
It was at that moment that I felt a presence approaching.
"Hey, so this is where you were..."
I turned around and saw Laila standing there with her arms crossed and a curious look on her face.
"Ah... Did I wake you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of course not, I just woke up and you weren't there. As I'm an incredibly concerned girlfriend, I decided to come and find you." I smiled.
I smiled. "And you found me training."
Laila watched for a moment, then narrowed her eyes. "You're trying to fly, aren't you?" I nodded.
I nodded. "It's harder than I thought."
She came closer and poked my chest. "Do you really think you can learn this on your own?"
"Well, I have to learn some things on my own. Especially something as simple as flying."
Laila sighed. "Okay, but seriously, if you crash to the ground, I'm not going to help you."
I rolled my eyes and went back to practicing. Laila sat on the grass, watching with interest as I tried to perfect my Ki control. After a few more attempts, I finally managed to stay in the air for almost ten seconds before losing my balance.
"Holy shit! That was cool!" Laila clapped her hands, looking excited.
I smiled. "It's still not enough, but I'm getting there."
As I kept trying, I felt something strange. A slight change in the air around me. It was a presence... distant, but familiar at the same time.
My heart raced. Someone was watching me.
I looked around, but saw nothing. Just the bush and some trees in the distance.
"What is it?" Laila asked, noticing my expression.
"I don't know... for a moment, I thought I felt something."
She frowned, but didn't say anything.
I decided to ignore it for now and went back to training. However, the feeling of being watched didn't disappear completely.
Something was happening. And I needed to find out what it was.
This sensation... my senses became sharper as my body improved, so I was sure that the feeling of being watched was real.
My eyes scanned the surrounding landscape, but everything seemed normal. The wasteland was still deserted, with only a few trees and bushes scattered around. Even so, the feeling of being watched persisted, as if something-or someone-was lurking in the shadows.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm my mind. Maybe it was just paranoia. My body was still getting used to the increased sensory perception caused by mastering Ki. But at the same time, I couldn't completely ignore this instinct.
Laila noticed my discomfort and stood up, dusting off her clothes. "Are you sure you're okay? You look a bit tense."
I nodded slowly, without taking my eyes off the horizon. "I just... I had the feeling that someone was watching me. But I can't see anything."
She frowned and looked around. "I think your training is messing with your head. It's probably just tiredness."
I tried to agree, but something inside me told me it wasn't that simple.
I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. "Maybe that's what it is. We'd better get back before my mother realizes I've left without telling her."
Laila agreed and we both headed back to the apartment. But even as we walked, I couldn't shake the strange feeling that I was being watched.
....
The next few days were marked by an intense training routine. My flying skills began to improve significantly, and I was able to float in the air for longer periods of time. However, my progress did not come without difficulties. My mother and stepfather didn't mind too much, it was as if nothing had changed, now I was just more absent from home.
Laila continued to accompany me during training, always making sarcastic comments about my falls, but also encouraging me at the right times. Little by little, my body became accustomed to the flow of energy, and the feeling of lightness in the air became more natural.
Of course, as my Ki control gradually increased, I didn't try any Ki attacks for fear of getting out of control and attracting too much attention.
However, that feeling of being watched never completely disappeared. Sometimes, in the middle of training, I would suddenly stop, feeling a presence approaching. But when I looked around, I never saw anything. This began to really bother me.
It was on one of these occasions that I decided to try something out. While floating in the air, I closed my eyes and concentrated, expanding my perception of Ki to the maximum. If someone was really nearby, I would be able to sense their presence.
For a moment, everything was silent.
And then I felt it.
An energy, weak but distinct, hidden among the trees nearby. My heart raced. I wasn't imagining things. Someone was really there.
Without hesitation, I spun in the air and shot towards the spot where I felt the presence. Laila shouted something, but I was too far away to hear.
When I reached the spot, I stopped in mid-air and looked around. Nothing. Just trees and bushes swaying in the wind. But I knew something was there.
"I know you're there!" I shouted. "Come out!"
Silence was my only answer. But then, for a brief moment, a figure moved between the shadows.
My eyes widened. I wasn't mistaken. There was someone there.
Before I could react, I felt a wave of energy coming towards me. Instinctively, I threw myself to the side, dodging an invisible attack that made the ground explode into dust and debris.
Adrenaline rushed through my body. I had been right all along. But the question was: who was watching me? And what did it want with me?
The dust began to settle and, between the shadows of the trees, I saw a silhouette stand out.
Someone had finally appeared.
My heart was pounding in my chest. The dust raised by the attack still hung in the air, forming an opaque curtain between me and the mysterious figure hiding in the shadows. I swallowed, maintaining my position in the air. My body was tense, ready to react to any sudden movement.
Little by little, the silhouette began to become clearer. The figure emerged from the shadows, walking slowly, without showing any haste. He was a tall, slender man, wearing a dark cloak that covered most of his body. His face was partially hidden under a hood, but his eyes shone with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
"It took you a while to notice me," he said, his voice calm and controlled.
I became alert. "Who are you? And why are you watching me?"
The man smiled, crossing his arms. "Let's just say I was curious to see what you were capable of. You're trying to learn to fly... and frankly, you're doing an average job."
I clenched my fists. "If you've come here just to make fun of me, you'd better leave."
He laughed low. "So impulsive. But that's good. It means you have potential."
My Ki swayed involuntarily. There was something strange about this guy. He spoke as if he knew me, but I had no idea who he was. And more than that... his energy was unlike anything I'd ever felt before. It wasn't just strong, it was dense, almost suffocating. As if he was deliberately holding back his true power.
Laila finally reached me, panting. "What the hell was that?!" She looked at the stranger suspiciously. "Who is this guy?"
The man turned his attention to her, his eyes analyzing her for a brief moment before returning to me. "Don't worry, girl. I didn't come to hurt you. At least, not yet."
My patience was wearing thin. "Just answer me: who are you and what do you want with me?"
It's not that I'm impatient or anything, but Laila was there, and I could feel it, this guy... he was stronger than me, I'm not sure I could protect her.
He let out a sigh and finally uncrossed his arms. "Very well. Since you insist... My name is Kael. And I've come to test you."
Before I could ask what he meant by that, Kael disappeared before my eyes.
My instinct screamed a late warning. A second later, I felt an overwhelming impact on my stomach, throwing me backwards hard. The air escaped from my lungs as I was thrown against a tree, splitting the trunk in half.
Laila shouted my name.
Gasping, I got up from the ground, feeling an intense pain in my stomach. The blow was not only quick, but also incredibly precise. He was testing my endurance, my ability to react. If he'd wanted to, he could have knocked me out with a single blow.
The only other person I saw with such skill was Kuririn, but even Warrior Z seemed a little behind in skill compared to this guy who appeared out of nowhere.
Kael reappeared a few meters away, with his hands in his pockets and an impassive look on his face. "You're not completely useless. You managed to react, even if it was too late. But your speed is still pathetic."
I took a deep breath, ignoring the pain. My blood was boiling. "So that's it? You just showed up here to beat me up?"
Kael tilted his head, as if considering the question. "More or less. I want to see how far your determination goes. You have some talent, but talent alone means nothing. I need to know if you have something more." He paused, then smiled. "If you have what it takes to survive."
That last sentence sent a shiver up my spine. Something told me that Kael wasn't just some lunatic trying to test my power. He knew something I didn't. And that worried me.
But there was no time to think about that now.
I clenched my fists and concentrated my Ki. If he wanted a test, I'd give him one.
My feet left the ground and, for the first time, I was able to maintain my flight steadily without having to exert so much effort. Kael noticed this and arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting... So you're a fast learner. Let's see if that applies to combat."
Before he could make his next move, I attacked first.
I fired in his direction with all the speed I could muster. My intention was simple: to hit him before he disappeared again. I threw a punch straight at his face, but just as my fist was about to hit him, he tilted his head slightly to the side, dodging effortlessly.
"Too slow."
Before I could react, he grabbed my arm and spun me around in the air, throwing me back to the ground with a thud. A second later, he appeared above me, coming down with a knee. I rolled to the side at the last second, narrowly avoiding the impact.
I stood up quickly, trying to catch my breath. Every blow he struck was calculated. He was pushing me, forcing me to react and adapt. But I was still far behind him.
Kael smiled. "At least you know when to dodge. That's a start."
My frustration grew. I knew I was no match for him, but I couldn't just accept being a punching bag either.
So I decided to try something different.
Instead of attacking directly, I stepped back and started channeling my energy. Kael watched curiously. "Hmm? Are you going to try something new? Let's see if it's worth it."
I closed my eyes for a brief moment and when I opened them again, I released a small pulse of Ki around my body. It was a technique I still hadn't fully mastered, but if it worked... maybe I could at least surprise him.
Kael smiled. "Now it's getting interesting. Let's see what you're capable of."
The real test was just beginning.
Hello, the author here, I'm just stopping by to let you know that English is not my original language, I only know the basics, I have a version of this fanfic in Portuguese which is my birth language, so if you want to see it, just go to the link below
I'm currently translating with DeepL, but if anyone has a better option, let me know.
Portuguese version -> (https://www.webnovel.com/book/28373957608441305)