"You were gone for quite some time. I was beginning to worry that I might have had to find you." I simply stared and tossed him the bag of dust, and the book. "I'm taking it that it was actually useful."
"Yeah," was all I said, followed by walking towards the loft ladder to sit.
"So did the spell work?" he asked. I only looked up and nodded. "Well then I guess we'll have to get you some more complicated spells then, or maybe more intensive training." There was then a brief moment of silence. "You are different. Before when you woke up, you were full of questions, and now, you just sit there, with nothing to say at all. "
"When you get attacked by a demonic bird, then we'll see how much you have to say."
I looked down, and a book slid right under the chair.
"So is that what you killed? I have to say, that's quite impressive for a first try. You're ready for your second and final stage of training then."
"When hell freezes over . . ."
"My, my. Someone is annoyed. I can't seem to understand the sudden change in your behavior. And despite the change, you still seem to be following the little agreement we had." He approached me, and I jumped from the chair and snatched him by the collar of his cloak.
"You've turned my life into a living hell hole, and now you wanna' give me some crap about I've changed. You literally almost killed me, along with that massive piece of flying feathers."
"What was our agreement pupil?"
"I have yet to betray you. I said this is full of shit. No more comments, no more questions. Just give me the training, and what ever it is I need to earn, and then maybe things will be better." I released his cloak and walked towards the barn doors. My foot stepped over the threshold as a loud clang, followed by a cloud of moving dust caught my attention. I turned around and a large sword was thrust into the barn floor.
"It's a sword. Wield it, perfectly." He dropped a book. "Spells. Learn them. Twenty. Any twenty you want. Finish that, and your training will continue." He came towards the barn doors, glared at me, and continued to walk off.
I didn't feel like wasting time because I had wanted to continue the training. I walked up to the massive piece of bright metal, and wrapped both hands around the handle. I heaved the sword out of the ground, and staggered five steps to the right. The staggering shifted the weight of the sword, and forced me to swing around. I staggered a few more steps then thrust it into the ground again. I climbed up the loft and found some bandages. After wrapping my palms in them tightly, I hopped down from the loft and tried to wield the sword again.
About a week went by before I could heave the sword over my shoulder with no trouble, but I still had trouble swinging. Someday, around noon, I picked up the book, and chose five random spells I would work at. I managed to cast all but one spell, which I decided I'd work at later. I stopped for a second and thought of everything in the past from rescuing to Shana, to meeting everyone, to saving the world from the re-birth. All of it, now, meant very little to nothing. I inhaled, exhaled deeply, dropped the book, and heaved the sword out of the ground over my shoulder.
Two weeks afterward I started training myself by running through the woods and slashing and casting spells on marked trees and bushes. During the process, I timed myself, and would do this over and over, until I managed to finish in under a minute. Still, I felt that I had not accomplished enough, almost as if everything I was doing was superficial. The feel of power and strength wasn't satisfying enough. Even though I wanted more, I placed my feelings aside, and went back to the barn.
"Welcome back pupil."
"Yeah. So what's next on the agenda?"
"You can wield the sword?" I swung it for him as a demonstration. "And the spells?"
"Thirty one spells memorized, five being highly useful."
"Then we're doing well. Now since you've completed the training portion, its time for your tests."
"Sounds good."
"I'm glad you think that. Test one. There's a fort not too far from this barn. It's down in the valley past the woods. Clean it out."
"Wait, you want me clear it out."
"Yes, kill as many soldiers as you can."
"Do I have to,"
"You have been involved in warfare for quite some time now. Killing shouldn't be a new concept. Trust me. Old habits die hard. It wont be anything new for you."
"You want it gone so bad, you destroy it." I felt a swift punch in my chest, then a powerful force that hit me from behind. It knocked me off my feet, and I sailed through the air, and slid through the dirt after crashing. I struggled to get up, and saw him standing over me.
"I'm glad that you feel strong enough that you should be able to give me commands. You agreed. You agreed that you would follow any order I give. And now, you are betraying that order. I have to know, why, are you still resisting this. Everything I've given you, and you still feel the need to be a pain." I saw something come towards me, but too quick so I couldn't react. I flew across the room into a wall. "Do you not want any of this. If so, by all means, feel free to say so any point in time. I have no problem with watching you and the rest of your pathetic friends squirm, just as we first met."
"Where's . . . the fort again?" I struggled to ask.
"I'm glad that we can see eye to eye. Past the woods, down in the valley. Go, and return before sundown."
I walked towards the center of the barn to grab my sword, then headed for the woods. After minutes of brush cutting, and sliding down hills, I could see the fort from the top of the valley. I charged down the valley, then for the fort. They saw me coming from the watch towers and sounded bell alarms. I could see them lining up bowmen at the wall, readying their bows. I placed my hand outward, and shot a block lit ball of energy at the entire wall, and everything turned to stone. I swung the sword through the entire stone fort entrance, and continued to charge through the fort. Numerous soldiers drew swords, and attempted to attack. I slashed and slit soldier by soldier.
One livid soldier came out of a room yelling. "What the hell . . .?" He turned around, and noticed me, "It's you.!" I realized that it was the same man I had fought who had combined the blue and gold dragoon spirits.
"Well then," he said as he drew a sword, "I guess I get to reap my revenge sooner than I had planned."
"Yeah, I guess you do."