Flames will be ignored. Constructive criticism welcomed, I want to do better and bring a fun story.
"speech"
'thought'
"English"
Void and veil-Training
2 weeks later
As we finished our run, I realized how much easier it was for both of us now, we were getting fast and enduring more every day. The people of this world adapted faster than thoughts on earth, it seems.
"Yes!" Sonia panted. She had finally beaten me in the run around the lake.
"Good work, Sonia," I congratulate my sister, we normally kept pace with each other. Not today, though.
"Indeed," Gran agreed "You are both getting better, well done," She waved us over to her. "it's time the two of you started battling with your partners," Gran started as she brought us over to the arena outside our fence, a simple black rectangle with the league's poke ball logo in the middle.
"Woo-hoo, come on Yamper," Sonia was ecstatic, as she bolted past us to one side of the arena with the fake corgi in tow barking like a lunatic.
Hatenna and I had been doing extra training in our off time, we'd use a dead Magikarp as bait for an Arrokuda, which we would then fight, kill and eat. It wasn't in a controlled environment, death was a very real possibility.
I was getting better at actively using psychic energy, fighting the Arrokuda's, and Hatenna was fighting any wild Pokemon that came for our catches, mostly Skwovet, which would then become a part of the meal, tasted like chicken. There were also Rookidee which we only knocked out, they were too intelligent to eat for my moral compass.
"Say, gran," I got her attention. "Maybe we could get Chewtle involved? I mean, Sonia will need to learn to deal with different types of pokemon, right?" I put my idea out there. In the future, Sonia only had Yamper as far as I know, I'm not sure what happened but extra help never hurts.
Gran hummed in thought, though Chewie looked interested, "Perhaps later, for now, we will need to focus on the basics." Meh, it's a start.
"For now both of you go and stand at opposite sides of the field," which of course we did, while gran stood at the edge in the center of the arena and raised an arm.
"This will be a one-on-one Pokémon battle, are the challenges ready?" Great gran was acting all official, just like when Jenny and Joy came to the lab. I felt myself wince. And their bloody daughters.
"You know it, ready Yamper," Sonia asked her partner. She received a happy bark and the dog took to the field.
sigh* 'Ready, Hatty?' I thought to her, resignation came from her, 'Yeah me too.'
"Sure," Was my admittedly lackluster response as Hatenna jumped from my head to the ground below, now facing Yamper. "Begin," Gran brought her arm down.
'Barrier,' I communicated to my partner instantly. Turns out that is what I had used to protect myself when the Arrokuda had attacked me, I had been thinking of ways to defend myself and the aura from RWBY had jumped to my mind. Weak as my barrier was it had stopped me from getting my chest caved in, and my partner had me using it as much as I was able until she could replicate it. A sheen of energy formed around her as Sonia commanded Yamper to tackle.
The false corgi ran forward, with admittedly good speed. Courtesy of his electric typing no doubt, but it wouldn't work, the Arrokuda's aqua jets were faster. "Confusion," I said aloud. 'On the ground in front of him,' I finished mentally, Hatty was still working on tactical planning she was young after all, but we were getting there. The ground in front of Yamper buckled slightly from the telekinetic force, causing Yamper to trip a second later,
"Disarming voice," I spoke calmly, my friend complied and screamed with fairy-type energy. Yamper who had yet to get up was struck dead on, "Yamper!" Sonia yelled in concern, as the pup was launched back several feet. 'Wait,' I stopped Hatenna from her finishing attack.
Irritation flooded me from the small psychic, 'I know, I know. But if we make this a curb stomp, Sonia and Yamper will be too demoralized to continue, likewise if we make it too easy they'll get cocky.' We had spent two weeks going for the kill fighting in life-and-death battles against wild Pokemon, most trainers never kill and never realize that that's what could happen to them, they got complacent. My adult mind was far more analytical, we wouldn't let our guards down, but this was mostly for Sonia and Yampers benefit. Yamper was beginning to get back up.
'I know she annoys you, but she's still my sister. Thank you, for helping,' I praised the witch-to-be, as Yamper finally refocused. "Yes!" Sonia shouted in delight. "Alright, Yamper, nuzzle," she told the pup. I bit back a sigh.
''Let them get the hit, then teleport back to the center of the field,' I advised my partner and received more irritation in turn. 'Consider it Endurance and stamina training, this is why we put the barrier up after all,' I sent to her, she scowled but did as I requested, and I winced as Yampers nuzzle sparked against Hatty's barrier. Then she teleported.
I could feel the rage building up in her, 'Look after this you and I can spar a bit, OK? I need the training, and you need an outlet. Just please don't kill me, I would be very upset,' I made clear I was joking about the kill me part and sent some muted amusement to the little witch. She huffed, but I received a feeling of acceptance from her.
"Yes!" Sonia cheered, "Good work Yap"
"Confusion, up," I started 'Launch him into the air, then teleport under him, 'I finish as Hatty put the plan into action, throwing the pup in the air while Sonia was distracted celebrating.
"Oh no," Sonia began to panic as Hatenna teleported under the dog.
"Disarming Voice," I called again, and the yellow hound was struck again, and tossed toward Sonia's side of the field.
'Let them recover, teleport back over here and heal yourself a bit with life dew,' I told her, she replied with discontent as she did so. 'Just a little longer, then you can knock him out, OK?' That garnered some relief from the little witch.
"Teleporting, huh, little brother?" I shrugged at Sonia's question. "Well fine then try this on for size," Sonia was looking rather smug now, though I just raised my brow in an unasked question.
"Thunder shock," Sonia barked out, Ah that would do it, Yamper complied and shot out a small stream of energy. I was surprised to see Sonia had taught Yamper a move outside of its standard move pool, or perhaps Yap had taught himself? Either way, that lightning was aimed at BOTH of us and getting awfully close, my reaction was immediate as soon as it registered, I jumped to the side as I commanded Hatty to teleport above the mutt mentally, this was no time for hesitation.
The thunder shock wasn't aimed at the ground, so when Hatty teleported away it shot through the space I had just occupied. 'Shit that was close,' I thought as I dodged to the side having predicted exactly that. I heard Sonia and gran gasp, though considering the confident smugness radiating from Hatenna she knew I would be fine and used the distraction to its fullest and struck the corgi with a disarming voice.
I regained my whit and refocused on the match before either Sonia or gran, 'Teleport in front of him,' I began mentally. "Confusion," I spoke aloud the second the faux witch was in front of the puppy, the next second Yamper was launched past a stunned Sonia.
Sigh*
That had been dangerous, most people would have been hit, and while that weak electric attack wouldn't necessarily kill a human, it could cause serious injury. Thankfully, Hatty was smart enough to throw Yamper PAST Sonia. Hopefully, Sonia and Yamper would learn.
"STOP!" gran roared over the now silent battlefield. "Stop. Stop. Stop." She repeated.
Hatenna scoffed at the lack of acknowledgment of her victory and teleported back to my head. Though, I gave her a pat on the head for her efforts.
"Jericho! Are you OK?" Sonia bellowed, running up to me rather frantically. Hatenna latched on to my inner calm as she approached us.
"I'm fine-," I was cut off as Sonia reached me and smothered me with a hug, causing Hatty to growl like an angry cat. Though this time, Sonia paid the little witch no mind.
Gran walked up to us as I began pushing my sister off of me," I'm fine, Sonia, promise." At which point, gran had arrived and pulled the frantic Sonia off of me. Giving me a once over, she sighed in relief, "You two are going to kill me from stress before old age gets the chance."
Gran turned to Sonia, "Jericho will be fine, go and check on Yamper." Sonia seemed torn for a moment, but seeing as I was fine, she gave me a final look over, then started over to the unconscious dog.
Gran sighed again, "I'm glad you're ok dear, excellent reflexes." She visibly straightened," You and your partner performed well enough to contend with rookie trainers, I am impressed. And thrilled you didn't get tunnel vision."
Sonia came running back up to us with an unconscious Yamper in her arms. "Sonia, you did extremely well for someone who has never battled before. But please watch your surroundings. "Gran practically begged her, Sonia looked down at her feet in shame and embarrassment. I nudged my sister slightly and gave her a quick thumbs up when she turned to me, hoping to help.
"We will have to keep practicing, and next time I will have Chewtle act as a wild encounter without anyone to command him," Here the named Pokemon perked up. "Then we will swap Yamper and Chewtle around and see how you do with a different Pokemon and a type disadvantage," Gran finished and turned to me.
"Jericho, have Hatenna learn light screen and reflect, I will assist you, but it's become apparent we will require a lines Pokemon," Gran didn't wait for a response and began addressing us both." I am quite frankly amazed that the two of you both managed to teach your partners moves outside of their species movesets," That helped, Sonia had puffed up at the praise. My own thoughts were however on something else, 'I know I helped a bit with the barrier, but who taught you to teleport?' I questioned, receiving an image of Hatenna and her mother. Ah, that explained it, her mother was a GYM Pokemon.
Gran was still talking though, I was getting better at multitasking my thoughts it seemed, "I will also be going through and teaching you both first aid, for yourselves and your Pokemon. For now, though, let's get back inside, shall we?" Gran finished as she slumped and started back to the house. Hmm, it'll be good to refresh my first aid training, wonder what the differences might be? That was as far as I got when Sonia began her apologies once more.
Sigh*
After doing our usual Lunch hunt and eating our fill, Hatenna and I had a little spar. Bright side, I'm now learning parkour, the downside is I got my arse kicked through the forest while fending off wild Pokemon.
Now back at the house, I had found myself reading through the tower books again, interestingly curses could be cast as rituals and spells. Rituals required herbs, symbols, wordplay, stones, objects and sometimes had to be done at certain times of the day or require a Poppet, a type of magic doll, a lot of preparation, and power for a longer and stronger effect. While spells didn't require as much power or time, only some words, a focus, and some power. While far less powerful, it was much, much quicker and could be boosted with some of the required elements that would be used for a ritual. I'd need to gather some items from the woods and find a focus of sorts I wasn't powerful enough to do it without.
I had also begun going through the alchemy book for metal alchemy as well, I needed a better knife. Different symbols acted as instructions, sometimes Latin was added, a perfect circle, and the correct materials and calculations.
Whereas my history book on the magic circle had provided me with some interesting information namely, it had offhandedly mentioned how eclipses were linked to the veil, as is Halloween. During these times, the veil grows naturally thin, meaning it's when most summonings happen. I made a note to check the night of my parents' death, but more pressing was the upcoming lunar eclipse right in the middle of the training course, great. Just great.
Lastly, I had begun going through old MMA forms from my past life putting the muscle memory in my new body, along with, morning yoga. I am going to be busy for the next 6 weeks, but it'll be worth it. I hope.
Curiosity entered me as laid on my bed, 'Just thinking about everything that needs doing,' I informed the faux witch. Thankfully, my new diet and Hattys teaching had been a massive help for stopping my headaches and preventing more bruising on my body or bleeding and as a bonus, I wouldn't stick out to other adepts.
Hatty had been learning from me as well mind you, case and point I had been going through the book of Wicca with her, the same one I had made the base of my talisman from, the same one she was currently reading. She had picked that up fast.
Hmm, I'll have to ask gran if she can pick up some belt bags for me as well, I will need to store my memorials somewhere.
It was getting late, though, and I required a shower after a hard day of work. I sat up and stretched gathering my things, and as soon as I got my new clothes Hatty caught on and teleported on top of my head.
Sigh*
A/N: Eleventh chapter of Void and Veil done. Sorry about the wait works been kicking my arse, it was even worse that I though it would be, and I had two family birthdays, work will still be an issue but hopefully it will get better and make this easier.