Training

City slowly was waking up and Sun has yet to rise and send Moon back to slumber until cycle repeats. I immediately woke up at exact six o clock since i'm early bird my whole life and i sensed that it's cold outside blanket right as i inhaled morning air. I pushed blanket off from me and got chills from the cold, like every morning i went into bathroom and got ready for new day. But today it's different, today is the day my training starts and i don't like it at all. 

I left my house and locked the door and started moving towards academic training grounds which were right part of the city. Ten minutes of walking and i finally arrived, big open grass field with dummies at the top of it for crossbow training and other is for melee combat. I sighed as i entered training grounds and then two guards came up to me.

"You have to hurry up miss Athena is waiting."

One of guards said with commanding voice while other guard just watched. 

"Alright." 

I said, tired of Athena and her bullshit guards. Two guards told me to follow them and they led me to Athena who was just standing there with her arms crossed and look full of hatred in her eyes. 

"You finally came you useless piece of shit." 

Athena said spiteful as she gets, she proceeded to walk right up to me and look me straight into my eyes. 

"I apologize for being late miss Athena."

I bowed down wanting to ease situation. 

"You learned from the last time i see."

Evil smile spread across her face

"No matter now, we should start, you will be using sword against me to see if you do any good in close combat" 

She pointed with wooden sword at me. I confirmed and grabbed a sword knowing that beating is coming but it is what it is.

We walked to each side of field and guards yelled to our fight begin, there was twenty of guards around the field and their voices echoed like thunder. Athena the moment fight started dashed into me and moved her wooden sword right to my head, but my army experience didn't come to nothing as i managed to avoid that attack and back off behind.

My glory was unfortunately short lived as Athena used some kind of wind magic to swiftly dash to me and hit my head with wooden sword, she wasn't holding back at all as my head started to hurt like bitch and i fell to the ground. 

"You have basic experience in swords but lack anything further than that."

She said as she smiled at me with hands on my head. While i was still on ground Athena picked me off my hair and pulled me with it again on my feet. I yelped from pain and then got smacked by Athena again.

"Shut up and let's continue this."

She commanded and we both returned to our starting areas. 

My face was sweating and my head still hurt while i looked at Athena with hatred, she noticed this and charged at me not waiting for guards to yell. She swung her sword straight at me but this time i switched my defense to offense and swung my sword back at her nearly touching her face. 

She got shocked, probably not expecting me to go on offensive but she was no fool and she charged back at me, this time using again that swift magic. Her body moved like a wind, fast and strong as she pushed me back nearly hitting me if it weren't for my quick reaction and experience to block it. 

"You aren't that bad for a man."

She laughed as her sword pressed against mine.

"I saw how you looked at me with hatred on your face, most of men look at me with fear."

She paused for a second backing of behind which made me think there's new incoming attack. 

"But those who looked at me with hatred had short life span, that foolish old man was one of them." 

Her body started glowing and small wind tornado began surrounding her body. 

"However you are my most valuable asset so i won't kill you."

She dashed again but this time, too fast for me to react in any way. Her sword hit mine and mine broke out in half out of sheer pressure, but next attack came from her fist not her sword as her fist hit my stomach making me fall to the ground again.

I gasped for air as my stomach hurt like never before and air couldn't enter my lungs, i desperately tried to breath in and out but with no avail. Minute passed like hour before i took small breath again, color went back into my face and i slowly managed to stand up. 

"Do tell me, do you have any magic or you're useless in that regard too?"

She asked in amused tone.

"I don't."

Came out from my mouth as i spoke feeling like rat in front of cat, i'm born without any magic unlike most of people. 

"Alright then i won't bother training you in that regard, however you will come here everyday at the same time and be trained by me."

She quickly paused and continued 

"I can't let you die so quickly in the frontline, even with those flying skills everyone is talking about."

I nodded feeling hopelessness and pain all over my body. I suddenly remembered that i have to be formal with her but this time smack didn't came, my guess that she's saving that for next fight.

For the rest of day we trained and by that i mean she beat me to the pulp.

Next morning we repeated the same, Athena used every second to torment me and insult me in every way known to man and woman. During breaks i scanned Athena's magic, body movements and fight style trying to find counter point against her. I knew that me facing against her in a real fight to death would only lead to result of me dying like ant, her magic control was top notch just like her sword skills.

Me being magicless person is disadvantage by nature lowering my success rate nearly to zero, yeah sure my sword skills can keep up for a bit but not after her magic comes in play. I've been thinking ways to kill Athena but no idea that succeed could cross my mind, maybe in aerial combat i would stood higher chance since i'm pretty confident in my flying skills but my fear still holds me back.

"Stand up you shithead."

Athena's voice brought me back to reality as she was standing right in front of me. 

"Yes Miss Athena."

 I said bowing my head down and stood up, 

"You improved since yesterday i must say but i will get you in proper shape to be of use in upcoming battles." 

She said with cold face.

With that Athena and Sparrow trained from day to day, a month fully passed until one day Sparrow was called to Palace. 

Tall door stood before me as i inhaled cold morning air and prepared for anything troublesome coming my way. Two guards opened the door and escorted me to Athena who was sitting on her throne, surrounded by guards around her, maids and other people in fancier suits which some i knew and some not. I bowed down and awaited for Athena's words 

"Well Sparrow your training in melee is finally over." 

She said with cold grin on her face, sitting on her throne comfortably and looking down on me. 

"It's time for you to fly on your ship again."

My eyes widened in surprise

"Guards will take you to your airship, your first mission will begin in couple of days until you fully prepare your ship and yourself for the flight." 

She said and waved to guards, they told me to follow them and we exited palace as heavy doors closed behind us.

Each step we took felt heavy like cannon ball and each minute passed like hour for me, guards led me to the airship docks where airship were stored and boarded. People were looking at me as me and guards passed, i could hear them whispering my name and that Athena took me under her wig. 

"Long time no see Sparrow!"

Someone yelled from the distance, guards stopped me with them as my well known old friend Orven approached. He's pretty tall man with height up to two meters and muscular build, he has brown eyes with black short hair which made him popular among people. 

Black and Brown hair and eyes are very rare among people, rare so much that only couple of them is born across the continent each hundred years. Orven wore red cloak and black academic uniform and iron spear on his back. 

"I see you missed us!"

He said laughing loudly pissing the guards off 

"Stand aside academician, we have a matter to do." 

Guards said angrily standing before Orven. However Orven was not amused as he was towering them

"Since when are you guys so formal? we academics were all like brothers before you ruined entire academy." 

Orven said with cold expression but i could feel anger coming out of him. 

"We don't have a time for this, stand beside or we will take action." 

Spears shined on sunlight.

"Sparrow once you're done come find me inside our inn, you know what i mean."

He waved and walked away. 

We continued climbing steps until we finally reached the port, guards took me right to the hangars and started unlocking one medium sized hangar. Hangar was made out of wood and it was painted in white, dusty windows couldn't give deeper look into it and there was a sign on the doors saying Do not enter which made me guess that this is the place where Thunderbird my lovely airship is stored.

Huge hangar doors opened and then i saw my Thunderbird standing there waiting for it's masters return. Around my airship there was bunch of rubbish laying on the floor and tools spread all over the place which made me cringe just looking at it. 

"You have two days to prepare." 

Guards said and they took off leaving me completely alone. I got inside and took a better look on my Thunderbird, it had medium sized hull only for couple of people to sail, a mix of white and blue balloon with academic marks on it and steel armor on balloons front which is used when charging at enemy airship from side. On it's sides two wings were attached for faster and better turning and overall flying on wind and on the sides on top there was built small two propellers for speed. 

After taking a good examination of the ship i closed off hangar doors and started picking up tools around the ground. I took off my cloak and placed it on a table which was right in front of me.

"Time to make you alive again."

I murmured as my hands grabbed tools.