CHAPTER 31: Underground Training Arena

"When we observed destruction magic, the ones who awakened the fire element where deemed extremely lucky because in battle it displayed excessive chaos. Nonetheless being granted the lightning element is perceived as a special gift, you may ask yourself why. The reason behind may be that lightning is viewed as the strongest element when it came to destruction, not only that but rare individual managed to awaken it. Kid, you managed to awaken two of those elements, not to mention you have dragon abilities. Do you know what that means kid?"

I replied wincing in pain." It means that I will be omnipotent in the future."

"Yes that too, but remember, with great power comes with great responsibility."

"Great, you are now training me to be a hero." I lamented in an unmotivated tone.

"Wrong, even villains have responsibility, you will forge the path you want to walk in and the responsibilities will follow."

He turned walking back to the house.

"Stop standing there like a fool and follow me." Fodel gruffly ordered.

Dragging my body, I stumbled inside a small square building. Everything inside was vibrant white, the walls, ceiling including the floor.

"Take us down." As Fodel commanded, harsh squealing sounds echoed inside the commodious room.

The floor grumbled and instantly started travelling downwards. I watched in awe as the elevator took us underground.

The squealing stopped along with the elevator. We stepped outside and the crystal bulbs in the ceiling lit up illuminating the whole space inside.

My mouth hanged open. I rubbed my eyes thrice making sure they weren't deceiving me.

I couldn't believe we where in a freaking huge underground training, every equipment existed along with places for carrying out any training. This place was like the size of a football pitch, but the twist was that it was under a mantion.

"This is where we will be training boy."

"I never thought they would be such a huge place under your mantion."

"With magic anything is possible. I know with your magic skills alone you will be unstoppable in the future, but it's always great to be the Jack of all trades. Although I'm only remembered for my sword skills."

"We will start with physical training, start warming up kid, give me 200 squats."

I nodded without complaining and started training, I spent hours performing various leg exercises.

"Come on, faster boy faster!" He shouted.

I was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily after finishing my last exercise.

"Good! now give me 50 laps!"

My eyes bulged out at the huge arena like place, I don't think I could even manage more than 20.

"Around as in like. Wait you don't mean." I stutterd

"Boy I won't repeat myself twice."

Cursing under his breath Kean began jogging and swiftly finished the first, second, third.

Meanwhile.

'Where is he?' Layla pondered as she kept wondering inside the mantion, she has prepared breakfast and he was no where to be seen.

Before she could knock a sweet voice echoed telling her to enter.

Opening the door uncertainly she approached Aeverie who seemed to be meditating on the floor.

"Food is ready."

"Ok." She replied in a cold tone.

Layla was annoyed by her manner but she went along with it.

"Have you seen Kean?"

"He's training with Fodel." Her fist tightened when she replied in fury.

Something about Aeverie seemed to be different, Layla could sense her aura reeked of death along with her personality, before she could cogitate further sudden burst of dark energy manifested and began accumulating. 

Layla stared in terror as everything in the room floated in the air as if gravity didn't exist, the room itself was falling apart as cracks on the wall could be seen spreading, along with ear piercing rustling that made everything worse. when the windows shuttered she knew something had to be done.

The air became thinner, making it hard to breathe, regardless of that she felt as if the aura flowing from Aeverie alone could destroy her soul.

"Aeverie!" Layla yelled in fear. 

Faltering, she grasped her shoulder. "Aeverie!! Calm down!"

All the objects that levitated fell down and the dark aura slowly shrank back.

"What is wrong with you?" Layla spoke while gasping for air.

"I'm sorry, I can't control my powers."

"Is it really the reason? You suddenly got angry when I asked about Kean." She fumed.

Her expression softened. "You see I can feel when Kean is in danger or suffering any pain. I knew Fodel's training won't be easy but for him to feel such pain, this is going overboard, I can't control my emotions anymore." Her dark voice made Layla shudder in fear.

Tears could be seen welling up from Aeverie's eyes.

Despite her dark nature Layla understood her. "He's a lot stronger than you think, the fact that he hasn't quit the excruciating training shows that. I believe in him, he has protected me all the time, he's kind, charming and very attractive. No wonder sometimes I can't control myself when I'm near him."

Aeverie raised her brow when Layla rumbled in a dreamy state going off course to something else.

She chucked pulling her back to reality.

"Have you told him about your feelings."

"Huh what! wai! that's not what I meant." Layla's face turned crimson as she averted her gaze.

"You are blushing."

"No I'm not." She covered her face with both hands.

"Anyway thanks, If you didn't show up I might have gone crazy, I should believe in him too and I do my uttermost to maintain my emotions." She smiled wryly.

'Mybe I should hang with her for a while so she doesn't trash the place further.'

"Umm I left my clothes in my old house, do you mind borrowing me some." She helplessly changed the subjects while staring at the pile of clothes on the bed.

"I have a lot so just take everything you like on the bed."

"Really?" Layla beamed with stars in her eyes.

"Yeah take anything you like." Aeverie Insisted.

At the underground training...

I bent down using my thighs to support my hands.

My whole body was drenched in sweat, my legs ached as if they were broken in multiple places. I slowly touched the liquid flowing from both my nostrils, the smell of iron earlier was indicating my nose bleed. I could even taste blood in my mouth.

Sowly glancing at the track ahead my hazy eyes made everything seem bleak. The ringing in my ears was starting to get on my nerves.

"Come on, you have done 32 laps just 18 left." The system encouraged but my body couldn't move anymore. What made the laps more difficult where the obstacles on the track that popped out of nowhere.

I forced my body to move forward, each step I took made me feel as if my heart will explored, everything then turned upside down and my eyes unvoluntary closed.

"Nap time is over!" The system barked

As I slowly opened my eyes a gruffly voice remarked.

"Well that was fast, most students I teached lasted two to four hours knocked on the ground after running that long." Fodel sat on the floor with his legs crossed together

"How long have I been out for?"

"Not more than thirty minutes."

It was actually thanks to the system that pulled me back from my slumber.

"Let's finish up today's training." Fodel instantly hoped up.

"WHAT! No way, I don't think my body can do any more training, I can't walk, my legs are actually swollen from dashing around for hours!" I lamented while languid breathing.

"You are stronger than you think kid. When you are in a fight and your legs are broken, does that mean you just give up because you can't walk. It simply means you use what's left, your brain and arms will now be the most crucial things in that fight."

I sighed hopelessly.

"Don't worry, soon you will get used to the pain that it won't bother you anymore. Nonetheless I hope you are ready."

Despite his condition, Kean managed to carry out all the upper body training instructed by Fodel.

Layla and Aeverie got to know each other better as they spent the whole afternoon together, inspite of that some things never change regardless of their bond. The duo always argued over trivial things.

It was late evening and the front door cracked open.

Layla swiftly stood up from the sofa with a dazzling smile, being apart from him even for hours made her heart ache for Kean in a strange way.

Layla was startled when she stared at Kean who looked like he just survived a full scale war.

Kean supported himself with Fodel's shoulder as he could not walk, his body contained many bruises and the blood on his face made Layla feel like her own heart was bleeding, while Aeverie felt like she was witnessing her worst nightmare.

"Fodel!!" Aeverie growled in a wrathful tone.

"He might look awful but don't worry Hes fine, this is what real training looks like." Fodel chuckled lightly.