Since we arrived in Caegwen, the days blurred into weeks, and weeks into months. I found out, very quickly I might add, that no matter how much time had passed, I found myself staring up at the canopy of golden leaves that surrounded the training ground just outside of Myrdin more often than not.
Anwill had often told me that it was considered character development, as he put it, and that honing in on the fundamentals was essential. My mother, Vyra, Haldir, and Derion, however, had a different approach which was beating it into me by way of mock battles. My mother believed that learning to both defend and attack against multiple assailants would hone my skills exponentially. To my credit, it was her and her whole team versus me today.
Of course, she might also be trying to break me, I thought.
I almost got caught out by being distracted with my thoughts, as I dodged one swing aimed for the back of my head and deflected another aimed for my ribs. Vyra, using her spear like an extension of her arm, redirected her deflected strike to try and trip me while I recovered from dodging another blunted arrow.
Derion, with his twin daggers, dashed in front of me with his fourth stage fully activated and slicing in a cross-attack, forcing me to parry it and use the momentum to carry me backwards. My mother dashed behind me, forcing me to deflect the incoming arrow while making sure the trajectory of my blade would also meet her own in time.
If she had been using her full strength, I don't think I would have made it, but my speed was just enough to meet her mid-swing. "You're getting faster, but you're still thinking too much," she said, sending me flying backward and towards the other three. Their barrage was unending, as swings, stabs, and arrows all flew in my direction. I parried what I couldn't dodge, and dodged what I couldn't hope to deflect. It was brutal, to say the least, as my use of second stage mana manipulation was being tested to its absolute limits, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep up.
Three of them are fourth stages, and my mom is a fifth stage mana manipulator. Granted, they're not going all out, but holy fuck I need a breather, I thought, parrying another stab from Vyra's spear.
Derion spotted an opening and caught the back of my leg with the back of his blade, not wanting to sever any tendons and ligaments I had, causing me to flip. Sensing the disturbed mana from Haldir's arrow, I instinctively pulled my blade up and placed the flat of it to my nape, blocking the arrow. As I spotted the ground to time my landing, I could just barely make out my mother's blurred figure drawing near.
This is about to hurt, isn't it? I thought in half a heartbeat, feeling my mother's hand grasping the base of my neck to continue my rotation. Yep. Get good, fucker, I heard her say in my mind.
I slammed into the ground, forming a large shockwave and dust cloud around me, forcing her teammates to shield their faces from the dirt being spewed like a volcanic eruption. I could feel the air leaving my body, and I struggled to maintain consciousness. Through the dust cloud, I could just make out my mother's figure towering over me, her glowing eyes piercing through the dust with a wide, toothy grin on her face.
"You could ease up a little when slamming the back of my head into the ground, though," I wheezed, reaching for the extended hand promptly appearing in front of my face. "Sorry, not sorry," my mother chuckled as she pulled me to my feet.
"Anwill thinks honing the fundamentals is what will make you grow, and to some extent, he is right. However, I've found that we learn at different paces," Vyra crossed her arms as she watched me dust myself off. "Apparently I'm not that quick to learn, as I keep getting my ass slammed into the ground," I chuckled, rubbing the top of my shoulder and rotating it to make sure it hadn't come out of place.
That's gonna leave a bruise, I thought.
"Well, from what Anwill has told me about your training with Master Pyle, I'd say we're similar in the ways that we learn," my mother said cheerfully. She hadn't even broken a sweat in our twenty-minute-long head-to-head battle.
"Maybe, but there's no way even with my decent proficiency at using the second stage could I hope to keep up with you," I retorted. "We'll see about that tomorrow," she said, patting me on the back. Anwill and Ysevel, who had been watching our duel, smiled as we walked over to them. "You've gotten stronger, Thoma," Anwill said, giving me a slow nod. "I'd hope so after having the shit kicked out of me the past few months," I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck.
"He's right, you know. When you first arrived, I was worried someone might break you if they squeezed you too much when giving you a hug," she said, tilting her head not-so subtly in my mother's direction. There was a slight chuckle that rippled through the group, and even I caught myself joining in.
"Well, it's not like I've really noticed much progress," I began. "How so?" Ysevel asked. "Well, I've been in armor all day, everyday for the past few months. By the time I bathe and get to bed, I'm so exhausted that I don't even have time to notice anything," I said plaintively.
"Ah, but you have grown, in more ways than one. You've matured a lot, both in and out of combat. I'm sure your mother and brother are just as proud, if not more so, than I am of you as well," Anwill chimed in. "You've also gotten a little more meat on those bones," my mother said, squeezing and poking my arm like a curious toddler. "Oh, and your hair has grown out nicely," Ysevel said, blushing slightly.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate the comment.
"Th-thank you. All of you," I managed to eek out, feeling my cheeks flushed with color as I turned my head, scratching my cheek. Unfortunately for me, I'd turned my head in the direction of my mother, who was lifting both of her eyebrows in rapid succession.
Mom, you know I couldn't even if I wanted to. Meliss is still waiting for me back in Codrean, I sent to her mentally. I know, but I can secretly hope for a few elven grandchildren, can't I? What's the matter with that? She asked, her tone riddled with expectant sarcasm. I chuckled mentally, and decided it was probably best to not answer that question.
"In any case, tomorrow's the big day. You should probably meditate with Ysevel again to make sure that you're prepared for tomorrow, because you'll be training with me," Anwill said, to which my mother nodded excitedly.
Subtle, I thought, watching that same, shit-eating grin Bernar normally had on his face growing on hers.
"I'd be more than happy to help you again, Thoma. If it helps you break into the third stage tomorrow, I'll stay as long as you need me to," she said, a small amount of her mother's regality leaking through her tone. "I'd appreciate the help," I replied with a warm smile. While I couldn't see them, I swore I felt Vyra and Haldir give each other knowing looks, while Derion's mind drifted elsewhere.
"Well, I'd better go clean up. It's been a long day already, and I'm sure that with the meditation session it will be even longer. I'd better get a head start before dinner, you know," I said, trying to bleed the conversation gently as I stretched my arm over my head. "Of course, dear. We'll see you at dinner, then?" my mother asked. "Your growing boy needs to eat, right?" I said sarcastically, which earned me another punch to the shoulder.