Chapter 4 – The Training Begins
As we walk down to the street in my area (the suburd), Amsir lead us into a big houses.
“This is like a storage house” Said Alvern.
“Yes it is,” Said Amsir while walking to a man near the door.
“So we need a big place to practice” Said Zexalone.
“Not really, it just need a hidden place” Said Momo while stretching herself.
I see Amsir back to us.
“Alright, I already bribe the guard.”
“”What?”” Me, Zexalone and Alvern shocked.
“We can use this storage house for 2 days straight”
“Let’s go” Said Momo.
Three of us dumbfounded and looking at each other. We cannot say anything to their method for the renting the place.
….
Inside the storage house, well you can say it’s warehouse. A lot of woods stored here.
“Let’s wait here, we are waiting someone” Said Momo
“Who?” Asked Alvern.
“Your mentor”
“My? How about the others?”
“In order to avoid suspicion, this warehouse still used by the worker.” Said Momo.
“That is why, we keep our action to minimum” She continues.
“I see, so Zexalone and Kino will be taught by both of you?”
“Yes, I will teach Zexalone, and Momo will be teaching Kino” Said Amsir.
….
While we waiting, Zexalone come closer to me.
“You know what, she still not the true Momo” Whisper
“What? What do you mean?”
“Do you know the legend of archmage in this country?”
“N…No?”
“I heard, she is the queen”
“Really?”
“Yes, and she is young and hot”
When he said that, I look at Momo.
“No, of couse not.”
“It is true man, I can prove it to you”
“You are kidding,”
“Well, did you know how she invited me in the first place?”
“You make me curious,”
“I was said that because a beautiful lady asked me”
“Yes,”
“That was Momo, with Sexy Bomb Body”
“….”
“That body?” I point to Momo
“No, it was different”
I still cannot believe his story.
Creeeeeek~ *Sound of a door opened*
“Hi there,” Said Amsir
He walks toward us.
"Who will i teach now?" He asked
"Alvern," said Amsir while introducing Alvern.
"So, you are Alvern,"
"Yes, and you are?"
"I'am Xyfer, the alchemist, same as you"
They shake hands.
"Alright, now the member complete. Let's start the training shall we?" Said Amsir.
We separated with each other.
…
[Kino]
I'm following Momo into the corner of the room.
"Before i teach you, i want you to feel mana"
"Mana?"
"Yes," She answered while reaching out his right hand into the wall. (The are some range between the wall and Momo)
"Now i'm going to demonstrate the magic that you will learn."
As i step back, i see a mix black and purple in the palm of Momo's hand.
Something is generated in the air.
"Conjure, blowgun" She said,
A lot of particle can be seen, and it shaped together to become a blow gun.
"There," She grab the blowgun.
She moves towards me.
"That is conjure magic, you can create something but its not last long."
She handle it to me.
When i grab it...
Sssshhhh.... *Sound of the blowgun disappear*
"Ah, what happened?" I freak out.
"Anything that created by using conjure, will be disappear when it touched by another person" She explains.
"And it will disappear too even no one touch it"
"How can i determine how long it will be?"
"By the amount of how many you put your mana into it"
"For example, if you create a weapon that cost 50." She explains by using a number.
"And you put 100 mana into it, the weapon will last for around 2 minutes"
"I see,"
"Another things that you need to know, you can put extra mana to keep the things appear even it's touched another person"
She create another things from her hand.
"Here, grab this"
She give me a small iron ball.
"It feels real"
"Right,"
Wow, this is amazing. I can't wait to learn this.
"Now, lets start the feeling the flow of mana in your body"
....
I sat down in the corner of the warehouse and closed my eyes.
“Now, try to feel the blood flowing in your body”
“Uhh..”
I tried to feel my body, but I just only able to feel the wind, and the hot air caused by the warehouse atmosphere.
10 minutes later…
“I guess, it is too early for you”
“Uhhh…” I’m exhausted.
I let my self lying on the floor.
“So cold,” I dunno that the floor is so cold.
“What to do,” She murmuring herself.
I look at Momo who is struggling on how to teach me.
“How did I manage to feel mana, ohhh my god..”
I feel tired, as I close my eyes.
“…”
I feel my heart beat.
Then I’m trying to imagine, how I live.
This heart of mine, which is always beating, tell me that I’m alive.
I’m very grateful that I can feel this.
I try to not moving a single nerve in my body, and I feel like a beat on my hand, my feed, even on my finger.
That is weird feeling.
As I’am feeling the nerve beat in my body,
“Please hold that feeling,”
“…” I don’t respon to her as I don’t even bother to hear anything she said.
Suddenly I feel chilling through my right hand.
“Hah?”
As I opened my eyes in shock, I see the person on my right side.
“Who are you?”
“Hmm? I’m Momo, the queen”
I can’t believe my eyes.
“Are you for real?”
“Yes.”
That small girl turned into a fine adult woman, I bet she is taller than me.
Then I see my right hand is held by her.
“Now you must be able to feel the mana in your body”
Now that she mention it, I feel like there is something flowing in my body.
“The flow of mana follows your blood circulate in your body” She explains.
…
“Now, get up. Let’s try the conjure magic that I show you earlier” She pull me.
I get up as she instructed,
“Now, imagine the flow of mana as you manage to feel the flow of your blood circulate in your body”
I’m imagine the small iron ball that she shown me before.
….
“I-I did it” I can’t believe myself.
“Good Job” She said.
I created the small iron ball in my hand.
“But, I feel a bit tired”
“Yes, the mana same as the energy that you have”
“So, if I’m running and using mana at the same time?”
“You will exhausted more than just running”
Then she walks a bit close to me.
“That is why you need to practice,” She hold the iron ball, and it vanish.
“Here, take it”
She gives me a blowgun made from iron.
“That is your weapon, for now”
“Thanks, so what should I do?”
“You practice using it,” She said.
“But, before that. Try to focus your mana in your body around your chest”
I try what she asked me.
“And blow from the blowgun”
FFFFFFUUUUUUHHHHHHHH~
It made the sounds like a high sound pitch, and the wind sweeping the dust on the wall.
“Wow,” I can’t believe myself to be able to do that.
“Good, now conjure a small sturdy things that fit into the blowgun”
I try to imitate Momo’s pose, and conjure the small iron cylinder.
WOOOSH~ *the sounds of the particle in my palm*
“Then, load it into blowgun and shot it”
FFFFUUUUHHHH~
It flew faster than I imagine..
PRAKK~
It hit the woods on the top of cupboard.
KREEEKK~
The wood is falling.
BRAKK~
It hit Zexalone’s head.
“…” I’m facing the queens like a person having a conversation.
“Well, I think you need to practice your aim.”
“Yes”
….
After practicing archery skills.
“Now, you need to take some rest to replenish your mana” Said Momo.
She already back to her small appereances.
“Yes”
I sit down and try to calm my mind. Trying to feel the flow of mana again.
TOK…TOK…TOK… *the sounds of something solid bounced*
“Hmm?”
I look at the last sounds place.
“What is this?”
I look down, something like ball on my crotch.
BOOM~
Note : This scene cannot be told. I hope you can imagine it by yourself.
[Zexalone]
“Let us practice with how to move silently” Said Amsir.
I nod.
“First, you must know what you are wearing”
“I’m wearing, hard boots” I said while looking at my leg.
“Then, you must know the terrain”
“The terrain, that means..”
“Yes, For now it is cement floor”
He walks into the other corner of the warehouse.
“As you know, you need to keep calm when you want to move silently”
“Hmm..”
“The cement is hard, as you know that hard things tend to produce soft sound” He explains while giving an example.
“You see there? A small wooden plank”
“Yes,”
“Jump on it”
I move into the small wooden plank, and jump.
KRAK~ *The sounds of the wooden plank get pressed by my legs*
“Good, now jump into the floor”
I jump from the wooden plank into the floor.
DEP~
The sounds produce small tone, like a faint sound?
“Do you get it?”
“Yes, it depends on what I stand”
“Good, now..” He looks around.
“Try to move around this building without making any sound, and no one know that you are there”
“Can you give me the example first?”
“Sure”
He walks into a group of people that is working in warehouse.
“I bet he cannot do it”
He walks into a person who is standing looking around him. Seems like a manager of this place.
“He is gonna get spotted”
“Hey, you move that things over there” Said the manager.
And I see Amsir leisurely strolling from behind him.
“Wha?”
How the f-?
….
“That’s how you do it”
He just walks leisurely, and no one notice it.
“That, that was so cool!!”
If I can do that, I can move silently away from my bosses.
“Now, you do it”
“Alright”
….
“Hey..”
“Watch out!”
“Look where you are walking!”
“Can you not disturb us? Get lost!”
“Dude, you are nuisance!”
…
“How?”
It hurts.
“Come on, at least you are brave enough to get scolded like that. Ahahaha”
“Easy for you to say” I sit down, on the wooden plank.
“But you already good with your step. It just..”
“It just?”
“Can you not move into their face? I mean, not in their sight”
“You mean?”
“You need to move into their blind spot”
“Ah, I see”
“But you need to practice to read their movement” As he explains, he pointed to one of the group of people working there.
“Each person has their own unique rhythm, you need to be able to read that ryhtm in a fraction of a second”
“That short time?”
“Yes.”
I see, so I need to keep an eye on my surrounding when I do that.
“From the way you look, I think you understand. Then, do it again.”
“Alright”
…
So far so good, no one notice me.
PRAKK~
Huh?
KREEEEK~
What?
BRAKK~
“OUCH!!”
Something hit my head.
“Uhh…”
I fainted.
…
When I open my eyes.
“Ah, you are stronger than I though”
“Umm, what happened?”
I remember that something hard hit my head.
“You got hit by a wooden board”
I check my head.
“No blood?”
“Yes, I was healing you while you were unconscious”
“Ah, thanks”
“Now, since you are awake, the wound still can be seen. So here”
He gave me a small box.
“What is this?”
“First aid kit”
“What am I gonna do with this?”
“Go fix yourself”
“…”
….
“Done?”
“Yes..” I put the kit away.
“Now, let me stab you a little”
“…what?”
“Let me stab you a little” He said while taking a knife from his waist.
I step back a bit,
“Are you serious?”
“Yes” He said it confidently.
He keeps moving forward.
“Wa-wait, I still don’t get it” I moved a few step back.
“This is for your training” He is smiling while saying that.
“What part of ‘Stabbing’ me is the training??”
“Come on, don’t be shy”
I run,
“Hey, come back here!”
He is crazy!!
“It is for yourself!!”
“NO ONE WANTS TO GET STABBED BY NO REASON COK!!” I’m yelling while looking at him whose run after me.
“Watch out!”
I tripped over Alvern’s body.
BRUKK~ *the sounds of Zexalone fall*
“Ouch,”
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING??”
“Get away!” I pushed Alvern away.
“Hey, you are hurt!! Come back here!!” said Amsir.
“NO!!”
….
After several minutes, he caught me.
“You finally calm down”
I’m out of breath. Geez, I dunno what to think anymore.
“Now, let’s move on to next training”
“I’am HURT!! Let me bandage myself first!!”
“That is why I want to teach you the healing magic”
“Huh?” I dumbfounded.
“Healing magic, a basic one for you.”
“Wha-WHAT!!” I’m surprised.
“Look, I know you can learn this quickly, because you can feel mana in your body.”
He showed me how to use ‘heal’ magic.
“The basic principle of healing magic is like a drug that injected in your body” He explains while healing my wound.
The wound began to close.
“The ‘heal’ magic increase ones regeneration or works of your body. Like a doping.” He continues.
“Don’t tell me, you want to teach this ‘heal’ magic from my own wounds?”
“Yes.”
Oh my god, why you did not tell me that first!!
“Good, now the wounds is closed, but you still can feel the pain” He explains.
I touch my wound, I can’t believe that it does not hurt in the surface. But I still can feel the pain like a sting inside the closed wounds.
“Because your body still need to adapt the changes in your wounds” He take a knife again.
“What are you gonna do with the knife?” I started to panic.
“What? This? To give you another wounds for you to practice” He said calmly.
“NO WAY!!” I try to run away.
But he grabbed my hand firmly.
“No, no, no… You need to feel it yourself, so you know how the ‘heal’ magic works”
“Wait, wait, wait, is there another way to teach this magic?”
“This is the most efficient one, so, grit your teeth!” He stabbed the knife into my palm.
“JANCOOOOOOOKK!!!!” I yell in depression.
….
[Alvern]
We moves into different corner.
“Xyfer, may I ask?”
“Yes?”
“Are you the master alchemist that works in the castle?”
“Yes I am”
“Wow, I can’t believe that you are teaching me right now”
I heard he managed to make a rare potion that can improves ones vitality and boost their senses.
“Yes, the queen.. ehem.. Momo asked me privately”
“Are you agree with her plan?”
“You mean, this whole secret team and behind things?”
“Yes”
He suddenly silent, from his face, I think he tries to remember his conversation with Momo.
“You know,”
“Hmm?”
“I like the idea of this plan because..”
“Because?”
“I can get any materials by just asking Momo”
“I agree with you”
Yes, a companion.
….
We arrived at the place.
“Now, I’m going to teach you a little bit of self defense”
“Self-defense?”
“Avoid this!” He suddenly throw a punch into my face.
BUKK~
“Umph…”
THAT HURTS!!
“What’s wrong, you need to be able to avoid that. I even warn you before I launch my punch”
“That was too sudden!” I touch my nose, phew. It’s still alright.
“Okay, okay, now get ready”
“Wait, wait, I think I need to teach the basic first?”
“No need,” He kick me so fast.
BUKK~
“AAArrgh~” I scream
“Come on, you can do it. Just try to avoid me!”
“No, No, No, WAIT!!!”
Note : We cannot explain what happened to Alvern since this scene is very brutal scene where Alvern need to learn how to defense by himself without training any martial arts.
….
“Good, I think that is enough, we will continue later. Move into the next training lesson”
My body, it hurts.
“Ah, drink this”
He gave me a potions.
“Thanks” and I drink it.
“Ugh, feels like a beer”
“It is a healing potion but I mixed it with beer”
“WHAT?”
This guys is crazy.
“Delicious right?”
“…”
“Do not worry, look your wound starting to close”
I see my wounds on my ribs, hand, face, they starting to close.
Hmm? I feel refresh.
“Good, your face is not pale anymore”
“Phew, so what’s next?”
“You can use magic right?”
“Yes, but only ‘arm’ enchantment”
“Ahh, yes, that is the basic alchemist and blacksmith magic”
“Now, I want you to receive this.” He give me something like a ring.
“What is this?”
“This is the magic ring that stores a rare magic. I hope you will not lose it.”
“What magic inside?”
“Book of exploring”
“What? ‘Book of exploring’?? Isn’t this magic only few people can get it?”
“Yes, you will get it if you can get a lot of achievement and graduate from alchemist or blacksmith school”
This is cool, I never tought that I would get this rare magic so easely.
“But, why you give me such a rare magic?”
“Well, you know that alchemist or blacksmith rarely be able to move around. I mean, this job is focused on one place and develop any kind of things that can help people right?”
“Yes.”
“Since you are an alchemist that learn a little bit of blacksmith, and you got chosen in this project, I believe you will be able to move anywhere as long as the mission brings you.”
He asks me to sit down,
I sit beside him.
“You will experience any kind of hardship, finding any kind of items, like that”
“Ah, so you want me to collect all the data from it and put it in this book?”
“Yes.”
I see, so this book will tell the whole world that there is more than what they know. It’s like, looking a hidden treasure.
“Now, pour your mana into it”
“How?”
“Just make sure you put your mana near the things that touch with your body.”
I put mana into my finger while holding the ring.
PLOP~ *a sound of a things pop up in the air*
“Wow, it’s a book”
“Yes, the book still empty, you need to write it from zero”
“Nice, I might put a lot of things about beer too”
“Yes, you can do that, like the beer potion that I used to you”
Well, that was amazing in different way though.
“I believe that you will be able to give a lot of information into this book”
“And, what happened if I lost it?”
“Even you lost the ring, or the ring destroyed, it doesn’t matter”
“It doesn’t matter?”
“Yes, just now, the magic already registered in your body, but you still need a trigger to be able to use it.” He points the ring.
“Like this ring.”
I look at the ring.
“So, even the ring changes, as long as you already have the magic, you can use it”
“You mean, the data in the book of knowledge still mine?”
“Yes,”
Oh my god, so no matter what, the knowledge still inside me?
“But, the magic will lost once the wearer died”
“I know that,”
“No, no, no, I mean, the magic is lost, and the book will become real”
“You mean, it will become a book that can be read by other people?”
“Yes, and we will put it in the library”
“It’s like a biography book?”
“Umm, something like that.”
Well, that’s is amazing. Even though I died, the knowledge will be pass on the new generation. I like it.
“Now, let’s move on the next training, that is enchanting ‘Visual’ and ‘Audio’ magic”
….
He gives me the explanation in very detail about the ‘Visual’ and ‘Audio’ magic,
“So, the point is, you put your mana into your eyes or ear?”
“Yes”
“So why did you explain the history of magic?”
“To kill time”
“Oh god, kill me”
“No, no, no, you need to practice it. Because not everyone able to do that.”
“Alright, alright”
“But there is a thing. If you cast the ‘Audio’ magic to other person, you can speak with him/her directly”
“Really?”
“Yes, try it.” He points to where I need to sit.
“I cast the ‘Audio’ magic on you now”
I can feel it. I mean, I can hear everyone.
“Ohhh, ahhh, ooooooooohhh…. I spent”
What the fu- did I just hear?
“Ohhh, look, I found two lizardman doing some reproduction.”
What?
“NO ONE WANTS TO GET STABBED BY NO REASON COK!!”
What the fu-?
BRUKK~
“Ouch,”
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING??”
“Get away!” I got pushed.
And he run away.
“What the fu- is he doing?”
“Hey, can you hear me now?”
I look at Xyfer.
“Wow, I still can hear you clearly”
“Yes”
Not only you can communication with each other, but also can hear, umm yeah, a lot of displeasant things.
….
“Okay, I’m going to give you some good items” He takes something from his pocket.
Then he give me three black balls.
“What is it for?”
“Pour mana in it, and throw to that direction”
I throw it as instructed.
BOOOM~
Oh my god…
“That’s a bomb, like a time bomb” He explains calmly.
“I will teach you how to make it later, I hope it’s useful in the future”
“Cool”
“Now, try it again”
I pour mana in to it.
“Wow, it started to glow”
“THROW IT!!”
“Hu-“
BOOOM~
It explodes in my hand.
“Aaargh…” My hand almost gone, glad I throw it away in a split second.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes”
I’m looking at my hand.
“Where is the other one?”
“Ah, it drops over there” He points it.
I look at the direction he points it.
“Oh shi-“
BOOOOM~
Note : The three of them will train like that for two days.
