Chapter 56

* swish *

Asta dodged another strike from Winter as he jumped back with his sword in hand.

" Focus. Ki can be used to predict an opponent's next move but you have to be ready to follow up with an attack right after. You can't dodge forever. " Winter said as she stood completely fine.

Asta breathed in heavily as he had cuts all over his body.

It's been 3 days since they arrived in Raque as Asta trained with Winter. She looked at the swords carefully and fought against Asta.

She didn't use any of her ice magic. Only enhancement when necessary.

When she learned Asta had Ki, she trained him in multiple areas while fighting against him.

Asta looked at her and raised his sword taking a deep breath. Winter stood ready as he rushed towards her.

He swung his sword with precision as he aimed for her shoulder. Winter blocked it and moved it to the side before counter-attacking.

Asta used to this dodged and spun around. He aimed his sword at her waist. Winter saw this and placed her sword in front of her. He held her sword with 2 hands as she stopped the attack.

Asta then jumped up as he dodged Winter's leg about to stop on the back of his knee. Winter saw this, thrusting her sword upwards to his face.

Asta dodged by tilting his head as a small cut formed on his cheek. Winter then stabbed a couple more times but Asta blocked by using his sword as a shield.

He landed on the ground and rushed towards her. He then used a downward slash as she dodged and countered.

He saw this coming and parried her sword. He kept going as he attacked. Winter stepped back as he either dodged or parried his sword with no issues.

Winter was then backed up towards a tree as Asta went in for an overhead slash. Winter saw this with a calm face as Asta started to swing it down but then stopped.

Asta had his chin raised as Winter's sword was at his throat.

" Good. You improved a lot in the short amount of time we have during our training sessions. " Winter said with a smile.

Asta sat on the ground and laid on his back He breathed in heavily as he smiled at her praise.

" So how's Noelle doing? " Winter asked as she remembered the silver-haired girl.

" She's been practicing but I know something is wrong. She's pretty exhausted at times. I told her to take a break but she is really stubborn. " Asta said.

" Do really think you should be calling her stubborn? " Winter asked her eyebrow raised.

" Yes. I'm the stubborn fool. That's my job. " Asta said.

They stared at each other then laughed.

" That was pretty funny. " Winter said.

" I have been hanging around captain Yami a lot. I guess some things rubbed off on me. " Asta said.

" True. As for your Noelle problem, I'll try talking to her. I want to see her capabilities. " Winter as she walked away.

" Okay. I'll come So in right after I take a break." Asta said.

" Okay. " Winter said.

...

Noelle breathed heavily as she soon sat down on the ground in frustration.

' It's not working. I can't hold the spell long enough. It's still incomplete. ' She thought as she grits her teeth.

She has about 4 days left and still hasn't been able to finish her spell to take them to the underwater temple.

" Seems you are having some trouble. What wrong? "

She turned her head to look at Winter who walked up to her.

" It's fine. I'm alright. You can... "

" Please tell me that bullshit. " Winter said as she interrupted Noelle.

Noelle looked at her, shocked. During her time with Winter, she never cursed as she was a laid back as possible.

"You are obviously not okay. From what I saw earlier I'm going to assume that you have trouble with your spell correct? " Winter asked.

" Yes. " Noelle said dejectedly as she looked down.

" Why? " Winter asked.

" What? " Noelle asked in confusion.

" What's making you unable to do that spell. You have a defense spell. All you need to do is hold that spell for a while, but you can't. Why? What's on your mind? What's bothering you? " Winter asked gently yet firmly as she looked Noelle in the eyes.

Noelle looked at Winter. She grew close to Winter as a friend who she could trust. It was nice to have her around.

" It's my family. Whenever I couldn't hold the spell long enough, I feel like a failure. When I do I can hear their insults towards me. " Noelle said.

" I see. " Winter said as he crouched next to Noelle. Noelle looked at her.

* smack *

Noelle's head turned to the side as she felt a sting on her left cheek.

" Do not lower yourself because a bunch of fools told you so, even if they are family. Never seek recognition from people who put you down.

Do you admire them? " Winter asked.

Noelle looked at her as she ignored the sting. She thought about it. When she got insulted there was only one person whose words hurt the most. Her brother Nozels.

" Only one of them. " She answered

" Ignore his words. Whose magic are you using? " Winter asked.

" Mine. " Noelle said.

" That's right. It's not anyone else's. " Winter said as she stood up.

" It's your magic. Use it however you want to. If you want to help defend people, do so. If you want to defeat someone with an attack spell, do so.

Only take helpful advice. If anyone disrespects you, ignore them.

Ignore your family's words, after all, you have a better one. " Winter said.

Noelle widened her eyes. The Black Bulls is her new home. Everyone cared for each other. Even when they had fights they all cared.

They were supportive. Even when she was acting like a soiled brat they didn't care much and still moved past that.

Noelle looked at Winter and stood up.

" Thank you. " She said as she had determination in her eyes.

" No problem. Do you need any help? " Winter asked.

" Yes actually. " Noelle said as she explained what went wrong as Winter listened and helped her.

____________________________________________

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