State of Affairs (2)

My day began with dust and dirt as I tripped and fell face-first to the ground. I quickly stood up and instinctively touched my face, relieved to find no scratches but still feeling the pain across my face. Just as I was about to take a deep breath, a tiny ball of fire was hurled towards me, aimed at my face.

"Why is it always the face?!" I shouted at my uncle with an irritated and loud voice.

I looked up to see my uncle, his palms facing forward in the direction he intended to shoot. His expression was blank and emotionless as he faced forward, determined and serious.

"Covering the sight of your foe is essential to produce results when attacking. Always be aware of your surroundings, Enzo," he replied with a loud voice that exuded grace, shooting out another fireball.

"Yes, Uncle Robert. I will remember that," I replied, about to say more when Aion and Ron suddenly came out from behind and tackled me, throwing me several feet away from where I stood. Lying on the ground with my chin pressed against the dirt, I looked up to see both of them staring at me with serious expressions, their movements decisive and unwavering. They were faster than when we were playing tag, and now I could only guess where they might be.

My heart pounded with intensity as I slowly tried to stand up from the ground, noticing a grazed knee from the impact. I quickly gathered myself, preparing for another tackle that I knew would come.

But instead of another tackle, I heard my uncle's voice echoing through the ranch, commanding a halt. I wondered why the entire village couldn't hear my uncle's voice when he shouted.

"Stop, that is enough for today, Enzo. Learn this well and remember, as it can lead to victory in your future battles," he stated in a stoic and monotone voice as he turned around, making his way to the entrance of the mansion.

Aion and Ron followed suit, walking calmly behind him toward the entrance door. Uncle Robert's coat fluttered in the wind as he leisurely strode down the dirt path.

"Wait... I'm not done yet. I still want to continue. I want to learn about the world around me, I want to see my parents, and I want to know and understand them. I need answers to what I should know," I called out to my uncle.

struggled to stand up, feeling my legs shaking and pain coursing through my body from the impact of being tackled and thrown. My head felt heavy, and so did my body. I felt frustrated that this might be my limit, but that alone wasn't enough to make me give up.

Aware of my physical limitations that could potentially hinder my aspirations, annoyance, and anger surged within me. How could I hope to win against the two hounds with my uncle as their support?

My mind revved up as I began to think about the possibilities and what I can do. Suddenly warmth enveloped my body, and I decided to channel this energy and focus on it.

My mind burned with a mix of pain and pleasure, a sensation that wasn't supposed to happen.

In the heat of the moment, I crouched down and spread my arms wide open, palms facing my uncle near the door. Something was about to happen when suddenly, I got hit on the back of my head and kissed the dirt once more.

My face throbbed with pain, and I quickly curled up, covering it with my hands as if doing so would ease the agony.

"Don't be hasty, Enzo. I understand the concern pertaining to the responsibilities and future that would be ahead of you. That was why it was information that would be classified until it was deemed necessary and appropriate." Stopping on the spot, he replied and spoke in a deep monotone voice.

"And who said that we would stop for today?" He continued walking through the door and going inside. Don soon followed after hitting me on the back of my head.

Feeling frustrated, I quickly got up and ran after my uncle walking by through the corridor. I followed him quickly and found him a distance away from me. I went after him, feeling my blood pump faster while my muscles hurt every time my feet touched the ground. I felt that I was close to him, but when I looked forward, he moved the distance again but this time much farther and went inside the room on the right.

"Uncle, please wait...arghhhhhh," I struggled to speak while running with sore muscles.

Reaching the door with the rustic wood design and tightly grabbing the doorknob, the doorknob got pulled out of the door as I tried to open it.

"Huh...What?"

I looked at the knob for a brief moment before it sparked bright blue and heated up. My eyes went wide open, but before I could let go of the knob, it electrocuted me by no means painful but definitely stung my body.

"This is bull-" the knob exploded before I could finish my sentence. Don't ask me why I know the word; I just do.

The door was ajar, and I rammed it filled with frustration and force, not thinking about what could happen, not knowing that Uncle Robert was standing beside the window, aiming his palm up straight at me and shooting off a powerful gust of wind that threw me out of the room before I could even take a step inside.

"What was that for?" I quickly stood up and shouted at him, having enough of frustration and annoyance.

"I will teach you many things. One of them would be this lesson." Shooting another strong gust of wind, my back pounded against the wall, and I sat down staring at him with disbelief.

"Throughout your training in this house, I will train your physical prowess, mental capabilities, and supernatural abilities. For starters, I will give you a minute to run, hide, or just continue sitting down on the floor...The time starts now." Saying it in a rough and strong voice, he made me flinch and desolate.

I gathered myself and moved along the corridors and hallways.

I felt my heartbeat, my blood flowing through my veins at rapid speeds, sweat falling off my face as I ran around the mansion, trying to escape. My footsteps allowed the sound of thumping that could be heard around the house. I was desperate to find the answer on what I can do.

"Before I begin, I would need to explain the rules of this tag game of ours." Suddenly appearing behind me was my uncle, whose face was cold and despondent.

Frightened, I walked back while staring at him with disbelief, wondering how fast he could be to catch up to me in no time at all. Looking around, I saw the dogs standing in areas that covered leverage around the mansion, staring at me like they had found their prey to hunt. Rather than playing, it felt like I was risking my life in this little hunting game.

Gradually walking across the carpet floor with his shoes that echoed every time the floor made contact, he raised a finger and said, "30 seconds is the least that I expect you to hide and survive from me. Do this, and I will answer and do what you need to ask for, once only." He lowered his arm and began to count, "30...29...28..."

My heart pounded with intensity as I quickly tried to think of a hiding place. I noticed a room near the small bookshelf nearby. It seemed like the perfect spot to hide from my uncle and the dogs. Without wasting any time, I dashed towards the small bookshelf, pushed it aside, and slipped into the hidden room.

I locked the door and was about to make my way to another room when suddenly the door behind me got penetrated by the hounds that jumped through I was pushed by the sudden fright and was on the ground laying down.

My face was full of bewilderment not believing what just happened. They growled their fangs at me ready to pounce anything. Fortunately they didn't, before they could a hand was placed on my head.

I looked up and saw his face with a smirk and attitude that made him more than annoying.

"Two seconds, not bad I expected you would only last a second you doing good," He said.

My eyes twitched as I heard him say that. I thought to myself, reflecting on the frustrating day filled with disrespect and suffering. Today is a frustrating day, full of disrespect and suffering.

"We shall continue this routine everyday until you can survive and defeat both Aion and Ron with me as their support, Attempt to catch me, and Survive while being chased. That would be the morning agenda for the afternoon it would be about learning about the sovereigns, magic, and the environment around you." He continued rummaging through his trench coat pocket and pulled out a pocket watch.

"Go to your room clean yourself up, we eat lunch in 10. Move fast. Also...If you so do so, I will teach everything that I can to you" Echoing in the room, I was happy and sore while I listened to him this was the chance, this was the time. I needed this opportunity.

What followed would soon be despair, agony, failure, success, and above all. Improvement.