Starting The Embers

A few days have gone by since I first met Leona and now I haven't seen her around. I don't even get the feeling that someone's watching me anymore when I train. I began to believe meeting Leona was just a one time event and I'd never see her again after that. She is a Zodiac Champion, a hero who protects our entire Realm...our universe.

As I was training today, I began to feel someone was watching me once again. I couldn't help myself but smile, hoping it was Leona watching me. I kept training as usual and began trying to break the iron training dummy, but I could feel my knuckles hurting the more I struck the dummy.

I grunted and stepped back, looking at the back of my hands. "It's not enough..."

"Well that's because you aren't hitting the weak spots of the dummy." A voice said behind me.

I looked back then noticed a lion walking toward me. "Leona..?"

Leona transformed into her human form then smiled at me as she sat on the ground. "I've been watching you for quite a while and you have some good technique."

I stared at Leona then looked at the dummy. "Thank you, but I need to get stronger and I don't know how much technique can help me."

"Pah! These new heroes have you brainwashed thinking strength is the only thing that matters in a battle." Leona said then stood up.

I looked at Leona then watched her walk up to the dummy. She moved the dummy out of the way then took the place of the dummy. I stared at her and wondered what she was doing.

"Listen, strength definitely does matter...but so do your other attributes. Speed, endurance, stamina, reflexes, and combat skill matters. Anyone with super strength can defeat another because they are strong, but when super strength meets someone with let's say like super speed. The speedster will have the upperhand simply because he is faster and can dish more damage than the guy with super strength and has better reflexes." Leona explained.

"You aren't getting anywhere just by training your strength. I can sense your burning desire to become greater and much stronger than you are now. I was like you at one point...then I was chosen to be a Guardian because the Zodiac God above me saw my potential and desires." Leona continued.

I listened to Leona then noticed her hold her hand out. I looked at her hand then looked back at her.

"August, after all these years watching you train in this forest...I know of your great potential. After all, your training location is literally near my Temple. You train tirelessly until your friend has to show up and take you back home. I want to see that fire burn within you." Leona said then smiled at me.

This was a moment I couldn't have ever imagined. The chance to actually be chosen by a Zodiac because of how much I trained to even keep up with someone like April. I did hesitate a bit, but I took her hand then grunted as a burning sensation rushed through my body.

Leona closed her eyes then smiled and her Leo Symbol shined on her shoulder. "I, Leona, the Leo Zodiac Champion, hereby choose you to be my Zodiac Knight. Together...We will show everyone our pride as the strongest Zodiac known to exist!"

I grunted even more and my eyes began to shine brightly. I felt my shoulder burning greatly then watched a flame appear on my shoulder then the Leo Symbol shined on my shoulder. The contract had been made and our bond was set.

"Because I chose you, every Zodiac has a System they can use to unlock more of their potential called the Z-System. I believe I have a spare system on me." Leona said then snapped her fingers then a phone appeared in her hand. "You're quite lucky as we didn't have systems when I was coming up. As the times change so does our technology."

"What does this System do?" I asked.

"This system allows you to keep track of your Zodiac Points, your abilities, skills, and even capable of creating unique skills personal to you. When learning new abilities, you always get the base version of it and it's up to you to train and constantly level them up." Leona said then handed the phone to me.

I looked at the phone then turned it on. I had to register myself as the owner by using my fingerprint then I began to see my stats, learned skills and abilities, and my Zodiac Points. I noticed I had three skills automatically unlocked.

"Lion's Fist, Burning Assault, and Leo Flame Burst are you basic default skills that are unlocked the moment you achieve the power of a Leo. Now that you have powers now, let's see..." Leona said then looked around.

"Oh! How about you come to my Temple and I can get you started with some ACTUAL training via my training simulator. This way you train and you can grow your powers." Leona suggested and looked at me.

I nodded and smiled. "Okay! Let's go!"

Leona smiled at me then transformed into her Lion Form. "Hop on."

I walked toward Leona then mounted on her back then she dashed off to her temple.

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April made her way to my training area and hummed. "Can't believe he keeps pushing himself this hard...but that's what I like about him~ He's always doing his best no matter....what...?"

April noticed I wasn't there and looked around. She grunted and immediately took her phone out then called me. I answered her call and she immediately sighed in relief.

"August? Where are you? I cooked dinner and everything! Are you coming home?" April asked.

"Yeah, I'll be home soon. Something came up while I was training, but you can go ahead and eat." I responded.

"No it's fine, I'll wait for you~ I made the dinner for us both anyway~" April said.

I chuckled softly. "You're always considering me aren't you..?"

April blushed a bit then began to head back to my house. "Yeah..~ You're my closest friend after all..~"

"Thank you...Hey, give me about 30 minutes. After I'm done with this, I'll be back home and we can enjoy dinner together." I said.

"Okay!~ Call me when you're heading back!~" April said happily.

"I will." I said then hung up and looked at Leona.

"And she isn't your girlfriend? She's obviously got the hots for you and you seriously dig her so what's up with that?" Leona asked.

I blushed and grunted softly. I looked away and turned away. "Can we focus on why I'm here and not my situationship with April..."

"Ooohh~ A situationship?~ Mmm so you two are getting it on, no wonder she's at your house all the time~" Leona teased.

I blushed even more and sighed. "It's not— Whatever, yes we're having sex and all that good stuff, but she's not the topic right now. What about this training?"

"Alright, alright~ Let's get down to it. I'll have you fighting against a Threat Level 1 Enemy. A simple hero with the power of basic earth manipulation. Starting simulation...now!" Leona said then pressed a button.

I noticed the room around us began to change into an open battlefield with a hero standing in front of us. He looked ready to battle and I assumed my position.

"Have you read how to use your skills and abilities?" Leona asked.

I nodded and put my Z-System away. "I did while we were coming here. It seems pretty simple, but since I'm still new I don't know how well I'll do."

"Don't think about it too much, just go out there and show that hero what for!" Leona said then crossed her arms.

I nodded then walked forward. This was my first actual fight since I was 14. I haven't fought anyone since my rival because I needed to become even stronger than him.

I ran toward the hero then went for a swift jab, but he dodged it then went for a counter. I blocked his counter then struck him with a gut punch then landed a few body blows. I knocked him away with a spinning kick, but he recovered then thrusted his hand forward, hurling multiple large rocks at me. I surrounded my hands with fiery aura then struck the rocks, breaking them.

"Come on! I wanna see some more fire power!" Leona called out.

I nodded then closed my eyes taking a deep breath. I got into the stance Leona got into when she fought against that cloaked figure. Leona rose an eyebrow and was pretty surprised and impressed by how good the stance I took was.

'He's been learning my stance huh..? So he was watching that closely..~ I knew I chose the right guy, but let's see what he actually does now.' Leona thought to herself.

I dashed toward the hero and went for a punch, but he dodged my attack then evaded my next strike. He grabbed my wrist then struck my stomach then knocked me away with a heavy blow. I grunted as I rolled backwards. I stood up then noticed the hero dashing toward me. He went for a lunging strike, but I managed to dodge him and heard the ground rumbling. I looked down and noticed he extracted a portion of the ground where I stood then rose me upwards. I looked down at the hero and propelled myself toward him. The hero closed his fist then the large boulder in the sky broke into many pieces and formed into rock spikes.

I noticed the hero's smirk then looked back, seeing the rock spikes raining down toward me. I grunted then used my Burning Assault, blowing multiple fireballs at the raining rock spikes. I sensed the hero going for an attack behind me then ducked under his attack then kicked him away and dashed toward him.

"His senses are heightened and his reflexes are much better than what they once were. The power of a Leo is absolutely great...He can finally truly keep up with heroes of his level." Leona said then smirked. "August! Go ahead and finish him off!"

I dodged another attack from the hero then jumped backwards. I began to form a ball of fire in my hands then grunted as the heat began burning my palms. I bellowed as I made the fireball larger bit by bit.

"Zodiac Arts: Leo Flame Burst!" I bellowed then stomped on the ground and launched the large fireball at the hero at blazing speeds.

The hero grunted as he noticed the speed of the fireball headed his way then groaned as it hit him then caused a fiery explosion, releasing hot winds.

[Training Complete!]

[Hero defeated!]

[Zodiac Points Earned: +100]

I panted softly and fell to my knees then noticed the room returning to normal. I watched as Leona walked toward me. "How'd I do?"

"Better than I initially expected. Took him out in 10 minutes. See it's different when your training partner is attacking you as well isn't it?~" Leona chuckled.

"Definitely... I'm never this tired after ten minutes of training..." I said then sighed.

"Your body is adjusting to the intensity. Although this was a Threat Level 1 enemy, the battles are just as intense as it would be on an actual battlefield, forcing you to actually think about your movements and when to strike and defend. This was an easy one since it was a case of who was stronger, but next time I'll set you up against other targets so you can get the picture of what it's actually like out there." Leona explained.

I nodded then wiped the sweat off my forehead and stood up. "I think I'm done for the day. My body actually hurts.."

Leona giggled softly and sighed. "Alright~ We are gonna just take it easy for now since you are still new to this. I don't expect you to pull off anything crazy right now."

I nodded and smiled at Leona. "Got it..."

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I made it home and walked inside. "I'm home!"

April heard my voice then happily got off the couch then hurried toward me. "August!~"

I smiled when April hugged me then I hugged her back. "You really missed me huh..?"

April let go of me then held my hand. "Yeah..~ It's always pretty lonely here when you're out training..~ Come to the kitchen! I made your favorite, my special fried rice and my mom's specialty Fiery Orange Chicken!~"

"Mmm..~ I can tell you absolutely want something after dinner..~" I chuckled and teased.

April giggled softly and looked back at me. "I look forward to it every night, but tonight I felt extra special~ Come on, I'm starving and you know how I get when I'm hungry~"

"Yeah yeah, I know." I chuckled.

April and I began to help ourselves to the food and sat down at the table together, enjoying each other's company. I didn't want to tell her that I had bonded with Leona just yet because I didn't know how dangerous it would be if anyone found out that I was a Zodiac Knight in training, but I knew it would pay off in the long run. All I knew was I could finally protect April like I dreamed of doing when she's here instead of her protecting me.