"Today Leon, we're going to be looking at light manipulation rather than light restoration and insight." Professor Caeline says as we sit in the dimly lighted Starlight Atrium.
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"You've learned how to gather and generate light energy. But now we're going to learn how to use these skills in a practical sense." He says and I nod.
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"Firstly, we're going to look at light manipulation, and how you can use that against a potential threat," He starts. "I want you to watch me first."
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I nod and Professor Caeline stands up, he raises his hands and gradually creates more distance between them and a ball of light grows from there.
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When it gets no bigger than a soccer ball, he stops and holds it there.
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"I want you to walk over and lightly touch the Luminus ball." Professor Caeline states more than suggests.
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I eye it cautiously before taking a few timid steps before reaching my hand to the ball.
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As soon as I touched it, I felt that same tingly sensation, but there was also this soft warm feeling to it.
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"What now?" I ask as I continue to feel it.
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"Light is energy. And light is heat. You can make this as hot as you want." He says to me.
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From previous experiences, the thought of fire really makes me feel almost sick to my stomach.
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Professor Caeline drops his hands and the ball dissipates.
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"Something the matter Leodonis?" He asks me and I look up to meet his gaze.
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"I uh...I'm not really good with fire." I say softly and he nods, like he understood.
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"You have to understand that this is apart of you. And it's not going anywhere, the best you can do is embrace this part of yourself so it's something you can use rather than be something you're afraid of." He says, his tone gentle and calm.
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I take a deep breath.
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"You're in control. Anything you want to happen, you can will it so." He says to me and I nod.
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I take another deep breath before stepping away from the professor and holding my hands out.
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I imagine my feet anchoring me to the floor with deep roots that eventually meet this huge ball of life and light at the earths core.
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Small sparks of light form, sparking like those fancy candles before it finally forms a small ball of light.
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"Good." Professor Caeline comments.
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I feel my hands become a bit shaky but I let my hands move further and further from each other and the ball gradually grows. Once it was a bit bigger than a soccer ball, I look to Professor Caeline.
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"I want you to channel heat into that ball." He says to me.
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"How?"
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"Will it so." He says simply.
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I huff and take a deep breath and focus on trying to make this thing warm, at least.
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Turns out, it didn't take long for it to become really bloody hot. I was even sweating, and I NEVER sweat.
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It was now a hot ball of so much energy that it was flaming, the flames this light yellow color.
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"What now?" I ask, and wow I say that a lot.
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"You can use that in any case, you can throw it, blast it, almost anything. But for now, that's enough. All you have to do now is read the Solaria." He says.
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I smile and nod before letting my hands drop and the ball disappears with a small pop that I had to dodge or it was going to fry off my eyebrows, can't let that happen again.
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"You're an exceptional student Leon. This was our last introduction training. Next week you will be learning the Umbrus Strain with another professor but if you have any questions, feel free to ask me." He says and I nod, a smile planted on my face.
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"Thank you so much Professor Caeline." I respond.
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"Head to training with Master Tao." He says and I nod, I grab my bag and head towards the training grounds.
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The training grounds are almost like baseball batting cages. Just an open area with a mesh net surrounding the space, a bit over fifteen meters wide. Close to the training grounds are the locker rooms, just any regular locker room.
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I walk in and I see Deimos stood, leaning up against a locker in his full school uniform. I'm almost used to his little pop ins, so Im actually proud of myself for not jumping.
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"I'm assuming you're not here for training." I decide to say dryly as I step deeper into the locker rooms, no amusement in my voice.
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He shakes his head, that same weird smile on his face. "Just came to check on my favorite Caeles."
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I roll my eyes. "Oh cut the crap. What do you want?"
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He shrugs. "This actually isn't about me, it's about you. Where are we going tonight? To use the Solaria."
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I huff, thinking. "Soccer field?"
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He shakes his head. "Guardian spirits are always roaming there."
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"Gossamer?" I suggest.
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He shakes his head. "We can't practice there, too many objects you could potentially blow up." He says dryly.
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I roll my eyes. "Then the woods? Not the whispering one."
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He shrugs. "Ten o'clock, close to Song Stone. Don't be late." He says before briskly walking out of the room.
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I sigh, shaking my head. I throw that interaction to the back of my mind and quickly change into my sports clothes and get ready for combat training.
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When I make it to the training session, Master Tao was already looking at me disapprovingly.
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"You're late." He says and beside him was that stupid punching bag. If it had facial features I would imagine it had a stupid smug smile on its stupid face.
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"Sorry Sir." I say and he nods, he points to the center of the sparring circle.
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"Get into position." He says simply and I nod. I head to the center and the punching bag follows, a slight waddle in its walk which I almost laugh at.
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The punching bag swayed gently, as if waiting for me to do something. I took a deep breath, shifted my weight from foot to foot, and raised my fists. It wasn't menacing in the slightest—it was just a bag stuffed with whatever enchanted punching bags were filled with. But somehow, its steady movement felt...judgmental.
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"Alright, you inanimate sack of torment," I muttered under my breath.
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I threw a jab, quick and light, just like Master Tao had shown me. The bag moved—no, dodged. My fist sliced through empty air, and I stumbled forward, catching myself just in time to avoid a face-first meeting with the floor. Behind me, I heard the professor sigh.
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"Leon, keep your stance grounded. You're not trying to fight a butterfly."
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"Maybe the butterfly would be easier," I shot back under my breath, straightening up. The bag swung back toward me, and in a panic, I jabbed again, this time hitting it dead center. The contact sent a satisfying thud up my arm, and for a split second, I felt victorious.
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Then the bag retaliated.
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It swung back faster than I expected, slamming into my shoulder with the precision of a grumpy goat. I yelped and stumbled sideways, catching myself against the wall. The bag wobbled innocently, as if it hadn't just tried to knock me out.
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"Good reflexes," Master Tao called out, though his tone carried the distinct weight of sarcasm.
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"I think it hates me," I muttered, rubbing my shoulder. The bag creaked softly almost like it was agreeing.
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I reset my stance, feet planted firmly this time. I could do this. I would do this. I lunged forward with a quick one-two combo, fists connecting solidly with the bag. It swung violently but didn't get a chance to counter before I threw another punch, then another.
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"Now you're getting it," Master Tao said, sounding impressed for once.
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That's when my foot caught on something—a loose floorboard, a stray thought, who knows and I went sprawling, arms flailing as I toppled to the ground. The punching bag loomed over me, swaying victoriously, like it had just won the match.
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"Impressive strategy," Master Tao drawled. "If the bag doesn't defeat you, the floor will."
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I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I'm so glad you're here to provide moral support."
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"Anytime," he said, far too cheerfully.
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We continued with this salsa dancing for ages. Punch here, punch there, punch everywhere and it all mostly coming from that damned punching bag.
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Eventually I managed to kick that thing in the ass, and it immediately got up and pushed me down before sitting on my chest. What is with this thing and trying to sit on my chest the whole time?
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"You're slower today than on the day of your first session." Master Tao says, his whole face literally oozing with displeasure.
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The punching bag got off me and I sigh in relief, taking a big gasp of air.
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I sigh and sit up. "I know sir, I apologize." I say as I rub my now sore back.
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He nods once. "Head to lunch. I'll see you Monday."
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I nod and get up, quite sluggishly I might add. I head back to the locker-room and grab my stuff before heading towards the castle for lunch.
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I was feeling a bit glum today to be honest. I don't know what's going on, maybe it's that juice Seph gave me, but I just felt off.
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I make my way to lunch and dump my bag with the rest outside the cafeteria.
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It seemed everybody was sat, I was the only person in the line as well. I get my food and a small thank you to the kitchen staff before heading to our table.
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I found everyone and I was met with smiles.
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"Hey guys." I greet before sitting down next to Erika and Lakota.
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"Hey Leon!" Saeg greets. "We were just talking about interhouse challengers this weekend." She says and I nod.
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"What about it?" I ask as I start to pick at my food.
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"Just that the prefects are going around looking for people to be on the teams for this weekend. Would you be interested?" Kota explains and asks.
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"I'm not too sure. I kinda have a lot to catch up on and all that stuff." I say and Lakota nods in understanding.
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"It could be fun." Rebecca adds gently and I smile at that.
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"Are you guys doing it?" I ask, deciding to just leave my food untouched instead of playing around with it on my plate.
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Raphael nods, excitedly even. "Hell yeah. It's always fun." He says and I smile at his enthusiasm.
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"Raph and I are in the same Celestial Relay team." Lakota says softly, a volume only I could hear and I look at him with a teasing smile
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I wiggle my eyebrows. "Gonna make a move yet or are you gonna keep admiring from a distance." I whisper back.
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He laughs softly. "I think I'll keep admiring from a distance."
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"No whispering, you pigs." Raph scolds from his seat on the other side of the table.
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We send him a sheepish smile before disbanding our little gossip session.
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I turn to Erika. "You participating?"
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She shakes her head. "Nah, sports is not my thing."
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I nod at that. "Are you okay though?"
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She looks at me, and I could see the slight hesitation before she nods and gives me a show stopping smile. "I'm fine."
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I smile and nod. Everyone eats and small talk flutters around us as everyone eats, I decide to take a few bites of my food as well.
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Laemon calls for the moment of silence and everyone keeps quiet and bows their heads for their silent prayers. Just like that the moment is over and everyone starts going about their business again, everyone from our table gets up and starts to leave and I follow.
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We dump in dumping trays before heading to out of the cafeteria.
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"What do you wanna do now?" Lakota asks and we leave the cafeteria heading towards Apollo.
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"I have training with Michael." I huff.
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"Training? With Michael? With our head prefect?" He asks in shock almost.
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I let out a small laugh. "Yeah, he's a prefect. Not the president. Why so shocked?"
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"Because Michael never helps anyone. He's got the best grades in the school and he's said no to everyone who has asked him to tutor them." He says and I shrug again.
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"So?" I ask.
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Lakota groans. "Quit being dense Leon, that man wants a slice." He says while wiggling his eyebrows.
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I cringe at that. "Gross, he's just helping me because those psychos are after me, remember?"
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"That's a plausible explanation. But I still think he wants a piece of Leon-pie." He says and I almost gag at that which makes him laugh even more.
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We get to Apollo and make our way to our rooms. We split when we get to our doors and I feel over joyed when I see Seph sat on my bed.
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I smile brightly and drop my bag before walking over to him and scooping him up in my hands and give him a huge hug. I immediately feel better after the weird day I had, feeling Seph's weirdly warm scales under my fingers.
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I continue to hold him for a few more seconds before putting him down and petting his head.
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The door opens and I don't really pay attention because I thought it would be Raphael until I felt a very strong presence, which only comes from two people here.
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I turn to see that Michael is stood at my door. He's in his sports clothes, but instead of the shorts he's wearing long tracksuit pants and abnormally white sneakers.
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"Are you going to ogle me all day or are we going for training?" He asks me, that bored expression he's always sporting. Okay, grumpy Michael, got it.
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"Oh uh, okay." I say, putting my things down and petting Seraphim one more time before following Michael out the door.
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We walk in silence, not the comfortable kind. The very uncomfortable kind. I'm also still grossed out that he saw me booty butt naked yesterday.
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Ai ai ai.
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We head out of the hostel and down the soccer field until we're by the fields close to Mistweave. Once we're there he stops dead in the center of the field and just stands there.
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I look around as I also stop walking, kinda just hanging behind him very awkwardly.
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Michael takes a few steps forward before turning to look at me. With his hands spread out, he closed his eyes and quickly raised his hands as if he was carrying something. I looked at him in confusion before platforms and other objects starts to appear all around us, forming a perfect training space. There were barricades, more of those bloody enchanted punching bags, and target dummies.
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Holy cow.
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"Combat," Michael began, his tone sharp, "is not about brute force. It's about strategy. Precision. Discipline." A staff appears in front of me and before it falls to the ground I quickly grab it.
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I leaned on the hilt of a conjured practice staff, suppressing the urge to want to touch everything. "Wow, Michael. You should start charging for these motivational speeches."
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Michael didn't even glance at me. "Zip it, Leon. I'm trying to save your life, though I'm beginning to think you're determined to make it as short as possible."
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I straightened, rolling my eyes. "Fine, O Wise One. Enlighten me."
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"There are three techniques you need to master before you'll even have a chance against the Vel'Shamar. Let's start with the basics. Technique one: Focused Strike. This is a single, concentrated blast of Essence designed to pierce through defenses. Imagine threading a needle except the needle is made of pure light, and if you miss, you're dead."
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Michael held up a hand, summoning a small sphere of white light. It pulsed faintly. "You guide the Essence. You don't throw it, you don't hurl it like some kind of magical tantrum. You direct it, like this."
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With a flick of his wrist, the orb zipped through the air, slicing cleanly through a practice target that shimmered into existence. The target dissolved instantly.
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I whistled, no wonder he's the big tough guy here. "Okay, not bad. But could you make it a little flashier?"
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Michael ignored me again, also I have no idea when I became so witty, it's kinda hot. Sorry.
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"Next. Radiant Pulse. This is not an attack it's a tool. A wave of light meant to disorient, blind, and disrupt your enemies long enough for you to reposition. Timing is everything. Too early, and you'll waste it. Too late, and you'll be dead."
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He clapped his hands together, and a blinding flash erupted outward, washing over the arena in a ripple of pure white energy. I stumbled back, shielding my eyes.
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"See?" Michael said, smugly.
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"See?!" Leon exclaimed, blinking furiously. "No, I don't! You just burned out my retinas!"
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"They'll recover," Michael said dismissively. "Which brings us to the final technique: Aegis Solis. A defensive maneuver. Think of it as a shield of light, something to protect yourself when you're too busy complaining to actually dodge."
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I gave him a flat look. "That's helpful. Thanks."
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Michael 'wickedly grinned' faintly, the only sign he actually was capable of humor. "You're welcome. Now, let's see if you can manage not to embarrass yourself."
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The training begins. God, I'm screwed.
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I squared my shoulders and summoned a small ball of Essence. Golden light rippled around me, gathering in my palms like liquid sunlight. I held it there for a moment, concentrating on forming the orb Michael had demonstrated, but it was more of a...weird football shape.
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"Too much energy," Michael snapped. "Dial it back. You're not building a bonfire, you're threading a needle, remember?"
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I groaned. "If I had a gold coin for every metaphor you've thrown at me today, I'd be rich."
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Michael's nostrils flared slightly in irritation. "If you spent less time talking and more time focusing, you wouldn't need the metaphors."
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I exhaled sharply, letting the excess energy dissipate. The orb shrank, its edges stabilizing. "Better?"
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"Barely," Michael said, unimpressed. "Now, release it. Controlled. Think surgeon, not battering ram."
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I pointed my hand forward, and the orb shot across the arena, missing the target entirely and fizzling out in the distance. I think I put too much magic juice in that one.
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Michael pinched the bridge of his nose. "Surgeon, Leon. Not drunken uncle."
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"Maybe I just need you as a target," I shot back.
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"Maybe you just need to listen," Michael retorted. "Try again."
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I summoned the orb once more, muttering under my breath about the joys of being tutored by a winged perfectionist. This time, the orb flew straighter, hitting the edge of the target.
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Michael nodded grudgingly. "Progress. I suppose even you can improve with enough repetition."
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A grin spread across my face. "Is that your way of saying I'm a natural?"
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Michael gave me a look so deadpan it could have killed a victorian child. "Yes, Leon. You're a natural at mediocrity."
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I groaned again. "I liked you better when you were an outright asshole."
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Michael's smirk returned. "We're not done yet. Show me a Radiant Pulse."
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I hesitated, trying to remember the mechanics. "Uh, clap my hands and hope for the best?"
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Michael sighed. "If you botch this, I'll make sure your hands glow for a week as punishment."
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I clapped, summoning a ripple of golden light. It wasn't as strong or clean as Michael's, but it spread out in an impressive wave, briefly illuminating the entire arena.
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Michael tilted his head, as if conceding a minor victory. "Not terrible. At least I can see the resemblance to an actual Radiant Pulse."
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I threw up his arms. "Finally, a compliment! I'd like that framed and hung up."
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Michael rolled his eyes. "Don't get too comfortable. Your next lesson is dodging while under fire."
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"Wait, what?" I asked in confusion, but Michael's hands were already glowing.
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"Dodge," Michael said, launching a barrage of orbs straight at me.
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I yelped loudly and dove out of the way, golden Essence sputtering around me like fireworks.
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Somewhere in the chaos, I could have sworn I saw Michael smirk again. It's like this weirdo takes pleasure in my stressful moments.
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"You have to do better than that." Michael called out and from my place on the floor a large bolt of light came flying towards me.
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I rolled out of the way with another yelp.
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"Quit it before I use my weird godly magic to smite your ass!" I rush as I dodge another one of his assaults.
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He scoffs. "Please, you can try." He says smugly.
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I see him raise his hands to deliver another freaking bomb, I run away though and dived over a barrier and hid behind it. Great, now my knee feels achy.
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"You can't hide forever." He calls.
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"Yes I can!" I call back. It goes quiet, and I take a deep breath, that's until the bloody thing blocking me from Michaels crazy blasts exploded.
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Yep, he made it go poof.
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I actually scream this time.
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"Fight back!" He shouts.
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"You barely taught me how to do this shit!" I shout back.
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I move away from his line of sight and actually try to conjure something up. I was not gonna do that focused strike bull crap because it might actually hurt him. Ha! As if I can hurt this guy.
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My thoughts stop when another blazing ball of light comes hurtling to my head, I had to actually fall to my knees to dodge that.
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I'll just do what Professor Caeline taught me. I don't have time to do the whole grounding thing so this time I'll actually have to will it so, plus I've been practicing.
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As Michael winds up for another blow I raise my hands and the ball of light actually forms. I was shook! Focus Leon!
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I generate a significant amount of heat into the sphere and as Michael launched his own attack, I blasted mine at the same time. The two collided together causing a semi-large explosion of light in the area.
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As I was about to pat myself on the back for my plan actually working, Michael retaliated. He sent five consecutive bolts of light my direction at dangerous speeds.
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I have no idea how I did it, but I felt my body tingle a little and I was able to dodge them with so much swift precision and movement, I even did a freaking backflip! Wow, I am so cool.
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But just as I landed, another attack was struck and blasted me square in the chest making me fly backwards, my feet even lifted off the ground, I flew like four feet off the ground before I came crashing to the floor with a violent thud.
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I let out a groan, my hand coming to rub my ass and my lower back because that hurt like hell.
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Michael didn't seem bothered by my obvious pain he just walked over all smug looking. He got to me and stood over my head, looking down at me.
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"I may have gone too far." He says with a small smirk.
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I narrow my eyes at him. "You think?"
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He exhales what I think is supposed to be laugh. "If you didn't spend so much time giving me all that snark you would have probably-"
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As he spoke, I lifted my hands up and mustered all my strength and energy into one single clap.
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The bright light flashed so brightly that Michael stumbled backwards, his hands to his eyes, covering and rubbing them.
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I started to panic because he seemed genuinely frazzled so I got up quickly and walked over to him, his face still his hands.
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"Shit. Michael I'm so so sorry, I was just trying to do that Radiant pulse thing and whatever and you blasted me like ten feet in the air and I needed to get even but I'm so so so so— wait, are you laughing?"
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Michael lifts his face from his hands, a large smile on his face as he lets out pelts of laughter.
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"Dude! You freaking scared me!" I said, pushing him away. He just laughs louder, he shakes his head a bit before pushing his hair back out of his face.
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"You actually learnt how to do the Radiant Pulse." He says after recovering from his laughter, wiping his eyes.
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"Duh, I'm not in the Inner Ring for no reason." I say a bit smugly and he rolls his eyes, but the smile doesn't vanish from his face.
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He shakes his head. "Head back to the hostel for dinner." He says and I actually smile, shaking my head and starting to leave.
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"That makes us even!" I call as I walk away.
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He shakes his head, seemingly amused. I turn around and don't look back as I walk away. Big mistake because something hits my back full force and I'm sent flying forward. I land on my face, and I hear laughs coming from above me, I look up and huff when I see Michael walking away.
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"Now, you'll have to settle the score again." He calls with a grin before walking away.
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I huff and blow my curls out of my eyes before I stand up.
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Asshole.
and then Add to home screen.