What do you see beyond the hill?

CHAPTER 6: TRAINING; THOUGH NOT REALLY (3)

"Sir hero, are you okay?"

The next morning, the maid's voice wakes me up. As soon as I open my eyes, the results of yesterday's trials are lying everywhere in plain sight. That and I have a headache.

"A magnificent skill, my ass. This thing is way too hard to understand."

"Sir?"

"It's nothing. Good morning."

"Good morning, Sir will." The maid shows me a beautiful smile. Is she not angry that I have torn down almost everything in here.

Yesterday, when I managed to finally use Amplify for the first time, I immediately tried it on different things. In the end, I didn't manage to use it on a full mattress so I took a piece of it as small as a handkerchief and amplified it. Now, it's only about testing it.

"I guess Telestal is up already."

"Yes, sir. He is actually training in the courtyard. He told us to ask you if you would like to have a morning spar against him."

"I see. Let's go then."

"Do you not want to eat before?"

"No, I can eat later. I need to test something."

I take the piece I managed to amplify and leave the bed. Together with the maid, we go to the courtyard and when I set foot there, the power of Telestal's aura greets me like a hot wind. His aura is glowing with a fiery red like hot iron and waving around his body and his sword with a calm rhythm. He has good focus, I guess. Though he really can't compare to him, I guess I can use Telestal to show me what I am lacking.

I use my own aura and advance. The maid doesn't follow me though. When I turn to look at her, she is trembling like a leaf to the wind.

"It's okay, you can leave for now."

"T-thank you, sir."

I know this sensation you have too well. I can't count the number of times I threw up when he did this.

"Good morning."

"…"

Telestal doesn't answer me. Even as I walk to him, he still doesn't say anything but when I am near him, out of nowhere, his arms move but I manage to dodge the attack. Seriously? His eyes are closed, though. Maybe he just doesn't know it is me?

His next attack is faster and even more powerful. It passes right by hair as I duck to evade it. The flow of his aura somehow blends with mine and the color changes for a second. Is he trying to teach me something? Then I should take this seriously. Since I can at least evade your attacks, I might have a chance to really learn something.

Telestal unleashes a flurry of attacks that are really straightforward but since the speed is something I can handle, it doesn't worry me much. But I still don't understand what I am supposed to do here.

When our auras are really close, mine takes his color instead but then changes right after. What does it mean? That bastard never explained anything that was important to me, look at my situation now.

"Fuck." Let's just test my new weapon.

Telestal raises his sword high in the sky. You are using a real weapon against someone unarmed. Is it something common with you guys? Because he was the exact same. Not minding the time, the place, or my condition. How did I even survive and accept to continue living with him? I wonder myself.

I grab the piece of cloth with both hands then use it right as Telestal strikes.

"Yes!!"

"Hm…"

To my own surprise, I find myself screaming in joy as the piece of cloth blocks his sword. It was still torn up to the middle but it blocked it and that's what matters.

"What is happening?"

Ah, oops. Telestal seems to have opened his eyes because of the scream. Oh well, there is nothing to hide, is there?

"Sorry, I guess I have distracted you."

"Why did you scream like that? Also, were you the one I was fighting until now?"

"What? You thought you were fighting an after image?"

"Oh…So you know of mental training as well. I am more and more impressed." He retrieves his sword and sheathes it back with an elegant movement.

"I heard of it, yes. Also, why does my aura takes your color when they meet."

"If your aura changes color then it means we are compatible. What is that piece of cloth in your hands."

"Compatible? Which means?" The diary never said anything about compatibility concerning aura.

"It means I can transfer part of my aura t you so that it lights the fire of your own aura, giving it an attribute. What is that piece of cloth in your hand?"

"I see." So, I can't just awaken my own aura then? His aura was purple, maybe that's why he couldn't do the same for me. "This is the result of my skill, by the way."

I give him the cloth he is so curious about and when he takes it, Telestal tries to tear it down completely. But it resists as if he was trying to bend steel. Yep, I was right, this is how it should be. Now, I only need to find what and how I can amplify things.

"Does it mean your skill can harden things?"

As he finally managed to tear it down, though with great effort, he looks at me with a smile. His face is glistering with sweat and his hand is a bit red. If it was that hard, you could have just left it like it was, you know?

"Something like that, yeah."

"I see. It must be a very good skill for combat then."

"We will see about that. Anyway, can we start training now?"

"If you still have some energy to spare. You are a hero and you just arrived in our world so I thought you would want to visit it first. There is a carriage ready for you at any time should you be interested."

"Nah, let's train."

***

"Huff…Huff… You seem to have calmed down compared to yesterday."

Telestal's attacks aren't as straightforward as they were before. He uses feints more often now and although they aren't hard to predict, I must still admit that I feel happiness in my stomach every time I see through his patterns and counter him.

I might not be completely right when I say that he has calmed down compared to yesterday but it is still true. I can see in his eyes that he can't believe what is happening. I can also tell from his body that he is ready to face it.

"I don't have much of a choice. My people need me so I can't be lagging behind for nothing."

"Right."

I launch the weight attached to my rope and I run to Telestal at the same time. He completely ignores the rope that flies past his ear and tries to strike me instead. I block it and the sound of my wooden sword cracking resounds deeply. His aura is naturally stronger so it was to be expected.

"A hero must be ready at all times!" What are you screaming that for?

I make the rope waves while bringing it back and Telestal lowers his head without looking. I would like to say that I am sure the attached weight will knock his head but…

"It can't be that easy, right?" Right as I say that, He evades it as I thought. But this time, the opening he has created is wide enough for me to use it.

I go for his throat and although he manages to deflect it a bit, part of my sword lightly grazes his neck.

"I won, right?"

"Nope."

He shows me my stomach and his sword is right on my ribs. If they were real swords, I would be the one dead. I can't believe I am still that naïve.

"I guess I need more training." Telestal retrieves his sword and stands normally to face me.

"As far as I am concerned, you are ready for the battlefield. But I would be seen as a laughing stock and a liar if I say that the hero under my care is ready the next day after his arrival. Even more so because you have met your magic teacher yet."

"I don't need a magic teacher now. But if you can introduce me to a blacksmith or anyone who crafts weapons and armors, I would be grateful."

"Hm…I will see what I can do. But for now, let us go and eat. I would also like to talk with you."

"About what?" I don't like that seriousness in your eyes Telestal.

"About the one who taught you. I have read a lot of books about heroes when I was young but never did I hear of one being able to use aura like us. The old tales do speak, however, of some heroes, especially the first one, who was able to fight using weapons, just like us."

"I see. Well, why not. I don't really like to talk too much about it but it's not like it is a secret."

***

After taking a bath, the maid brings me to the dining room. There, I find Telestal and Bernard talking quietly. Then, he gives him three letters, one of them being sealed.

I sit at his table and soon after, butlers start bringing food to us.

"Now that I think about it, I didn't even tell you, right? This city is called-"

"Don't worry, I don't need this information." It won't bring me anything to know that.

"You aren't the type to worry about a lot of things, I see. Well, it is not entirely a bad thing. Now, please tell me about your master, the one who taught you."

"He wasn't my master." What even gave you that idea?

"Oh, I am sorry. I didn't mean to anger you."

"I am not angry."

"Your eyes say otherwise."

"I am not angry at you, at least. It's just that thinking about him always gets me like this."

"I see."

"Anyway, hm…where should I start…"