52 Too rough

AUTHOR'S POV

Stellan thought that the kiss felt familiar. He closed his eyes and listened to the rhythm of his fluctuating heartbeat. Confused and marvelled at the same time, he wondered why he splendidly felt happy when he clearly kissed a man. Despite convincing himself that he shouldn't do what he did, he chose to savour the moment to clear out his true feelings.

Awakened from daydreaming, Stellan realized that the lords have already stepped aside as Alesso start to train the new Paladin. "Shall we start?", Alesso asked as he rub Haelan's shoulder with a smile. Then, he made Haelan hold his bow up to pull an energy arrow. With his body close to Haelan, Alesso held the bow with her hand as they drew one fiery red energy beam up ahead. Stellan could barely watch. Without removing his sharp gaze, he could just grunt in irritation while he lock his eyes on Haelan who's way too close to Alesso.

Haelan's eyes widened after witnessing how quick and savagely injurious those energy beams that Alesso released. Unlike last time, the arrows today instantly burned a large amount of grass as it touched the ground. 'The red capes control their powers huh?', Haelan thought.

"Is this the kind of training you do here in Brandenburg? No wonder why your knights and archers are lousy fighters", Vesta said unimpressed as she watch closely. Stellan just crossed his arms across his chest with a deep sigh. He thought, Alesso could show the speed and capability of his arrows even without standing too close.

Alesso then whispered to Haelan that made her feel perturbed and hesitant. Without much choice, she went in the far end of the training grounds as what Alesso have commanded. As soon as Haelan was in position, she looked up the dark skies which is still far from having expected downpour. She thought, as long as not even a single drop of rain would touch the ground, she could discretely use the power of the wind to survive the training.

Shortly after, Alesso started pulling fire powered arrows in succession. Haelan's goal is to go back in the middle of the training grounds as the archer storm her with his arrows. The moment when one arrow flew towards Haelan, the new Paladin began to run swiftly in different directions to dodge the Paladin Archer's razor-sharp beams.

As hard as it seem, Haelan struggled to avoid Alesso's arrows with not one scratch at first. They were extremely expeditious and aggressive that she needed the strongest bursts of the wind and proper timing to veer them with only an inch away from her small frame.

Starting with one arrow at a time, the archer drew his beams as quickly as he can before he shifted to three arrows in one go. Swerving and turning, Haelan seemed like she's dancing with the wind as she push the arrows with one flick. She received deep cuts on her arms and cheek everytime she misses a hit. With a few more steps back to the Lords, Haelan received a few more arrows from the determined Paladin.

"Did you see that?", Lord Callaghan said as they watch how some arrows swerve on their own. He looked closely at her hand that seemed to command the arrows. Alesso's beams are always specfic with its target, that no matter where they're drawn, it will only hit its aim.

"Hmm.. you think it's the wind?", Lord Harlan watched intently how Haelan dodge the arrows. The wind seemed to have only swirled where Haelan is. Also, her moves were quite fascinating and tactical as if she was already trained by someone very experienced.

"Like I told you, his footwork is beyond amazing.", Stellan clearly said as they watch Haelan's exceptionally prodigous footwork agility.

"Do you have plans to hit him?", Vesta asked Alesso as she pulled up her labrys. She tightened her grip until the double blades of her labrys glowed in bright red. Alesso continued firing until he started to sweat it out as his hood drop on his shoulder.

Stellan was about to interfere with Vesta, but Lord Callaghan stopped him as he held his arm. "We have to see, Stellan", Lord Callaghan said.

"He might not survive it", Stellan gritted his teeth as he's unsure if Haelan could get through the blazing blades of Vesta's labrys. Vesta's power is so strong, that it could wipe out a mile of thick trees in one hit.

"Still", Lord Callaghan nodded as he insisted.

"Mind if I join?", Vesta wielded her labrys in the air and hit the wind which made a strong energy force attacking Haelan directly.

Bracing herself on the incoming flying arrows and an unstoppable airstrike from Vesta's labrys, Haelan took the hit with her arms crossed protecting her body as she called the strongest gush of the winds. A slight explosion was heard, with flickering current of energy scattered in the air.

Just at that moment, thick hazy smoke appeared in Haelan's direction. Alesso stopped from firing arrows, while the Paladins and the lords waited for the smoke to clear and see what have become of Haelan. "Was that too rough?", Vesta asked as she try to see beyond the thick smoke.

Lord Harlan couldn't be more worried of the student. Waiting on bated breath, they stared at the each other as if they have probably severely hurt Haelan. "Are you still alive?", Vesta asked as she squinted her eyes.

Not too long, as the thick haze gradually subside, they saw the new Paladin appear with a few scratch. Haelan limped a little as she walk back to the lords. "Still alive", Haelan said as she catch her breath.

"Ha! I knew it", Lord Harlan laughed in glory with a clap. They were truly astonished to see how Haelan got through it. They might not have seen Haelan's real power as a Paladin yet, however Haelan would make a remarkable warrior after she faced Alesso's arrows and Vesta's labrys.

On the other hand, Vesta couldn't believe that Haelan survived the rage of her double-pitted axe with just a scratch. "Not bad, you have my respect", she just said.

"That was good, Tiny", Alesso complimented. Everyone can tell that the archer wearied out after shooting arrows with so much effort. "He's all yours Stellan", he said as he step aside.

Stellan took a brief look on Haelan's light wounds. Keeping in mind that Haelan should train hard and learn well from the Paladins, he decided to continue. Suddenly, Atrius, Jacomus and Yiannis arrived wearing a dark green brocade. Along with their swords, they wore a proud smirk as they see Haelan. Jac even gave Haelan a subtle wave, while Atrius nodded with a smile on his face.

"We have guests?", Vesta asked as she click her tongue at the warriors coming in.

"Let's see how well can you dodge a sword this time", Stellan said.

Haelan hardened her jaw as she breathe deeply. 'Stellan, you're the death of me', she thought as her power diminish at the sudden rainfall.