Lesson

Roran woke up to a ringing alarm. The sun was starting to rise, with the early rays piercing through the morning mist. He groaned, and then reluctantly, pushed himself up from his bed.

5 A.M. was a peculiar time for a lesson, Roran thought to himself. There weren't many people awake yet, and although that would provide more privacy, none of the training centers at the academy were open yet.

While musing to himself, Roran walked into the bathroom, washed, and dressed himself cleanly. Then, after checking everything was under order, he opened the door gingerly.

"You're late," Jordis said coolly, "by two seconds."

Roran laughed, and then stopped, looking at Jordis carefully. His instinct warned him that something was going to happen. Jordis stood very still; too still.

Roran stepped to the side.

Nothing.

He jumped forwards.

Nothing.

He walked backwards.

Nothing.

He stepped to the other side.

Nothing.

He turned.

Jordis, at that exact moment that Roran's vision left him, unsheathed one of his daggers, concealed in his trousers, and pointed it precariously close to Roran's throat. Roran then turned back, as fast as he could. Seeing the dagger, Roran froze. Jordis stood as still as ever. He slowly moved his hand, drawing a small line on Roran. Blood trickled down.

And then he withdrew the dagger, putting it back to its hiding place.

"You're late," Jordis said coolly, "by two seconds."

Roran, frightened, answered, "I'm sorry," he lowered his head.

Jordis turned, with his back facing Roran, and then commanded, "Follow me."

"Yes."

Soon, the two reached a small, enclosed room, "Here we will start. First, try to punch this bag as hard as you can."

Jordis was pointing towards an innocent looking sandbag. Roran looked unsure, and then ran, sprinting. He threw a punch towards the sandbag, with all the momentum of his body.

Roran's fist connected with a loud bang. And then Roran stumbled back. The sandbag was crazily hard, and the punch hurt. A lot. The sandbag didn't move at all.

Jordis then gave Roran another goal. "Punch this sandbag so that it flies to the other side of the room," in a gentlemanly gesture, Jordis directed Roran.

Roran, this time, learnt his lesson. He used his Mana, applying earth to his fist and then air to the sandbag, to make it lighter.

Again, he ran, and with a similar punch, the sandbag flew away this time. Jordis raised his eyebrows. The kid's magic is very powerful, he thought, the temporary enchantments gave a lot of enhancement.

Roran was quite satisfied with himself, but Jordis' words dampened his enthusiasm, "Do you really think an opponent would let you do that? Although a round punch gives more power, try to make your arms straight. It is faster. You can chain your attacks with faster punches. For example, a one-two."

"The first fist should be hard, to send the enemy off balance, and then the second even harder, to eliminate them. Your stance should be sideways, with your preferred foot in front. This way, you have much less body for the enemy to target."

"Of course, Mana is very useful. One thing to keep in mind is that Mana cannot be overused. You could find yourself in a situation where you have run out, or when the enemy has even more powerful magic."

Roran listened attentively, taking care to remember everything and how to implement them when necessary.

Jordis then finished lecturing. He beckoned for Roran to go over, "Come here. Try to hit me."

Roran looked quite uncertain but overcame it and stepped forwards. He approached Jordis, in a sideways stance, moving so that his body is prepared to act when the moment comes.

Jordis was standing, relaxed. His arms were loose on his sides, as if taking a casual stroll around a park.

In a small whoosh, Roran's fist approached. Jordis slid to the side, and then dashed, starting from the left of Roran, who already casted a simple earth wall as a barrier.

Jordis approached Roran from behind the earth wall, which, although was intended to serve as a barrier, was also a visual obstruction to both sides. Jordis crept towards the base of the wall, and then, with a leap, overpassed it, placing himself directly above Roran. Who was not there.

Roran had noticed this problem the moment that Jordis had gone silent. He had placed down some simple earth spiked, and then, the moment that Jordis jumped over the wall, circled to the other side. This way he wouldn't be seen.

Jordis realized this instantly, of course. He used his own Mana to break apart the spikes, and then also obliterate the wall, turning it into shards of earth and then sending then towards Roran's direction.

Only one shard looked like it was going to hit Roran. Roran flicked it away with Air

Unexpectedly, the shards from the earth wall which were laying on the ground, shot up and then all surrounded Roran Leaving him no space to move.

"You have to make sure that nothing that is close can hurt you. Brilliantly played, but again, you are overusing magic." Jordis spoke, "I am teaching close-combat, not magic."

Roran nodded.

"Now try again."

They repeated this sequence for the rest of the lesson.

"How?" Roran asked. Jordis was completely dry, no sign of any perspiration. On the contrary, Roran was quite literally, sweating rivers.

Jordis smiled but didn't speak.

Roran didn't pursue the question and walked towards the mission center. He had a day off, and he planned to take full advantage of it.

"Hello Roran. What do you need?" The Missionmaster said.

"I would like to register myself as an arms-to-hire for the Academy. Also, any mission available I will take."

"Of course. There is one quite suitable right now. Eliminate the pack of Demon wolves with a patrol. The pay is one credit. Here is a map to show you the location of the patrol."

Roran nodded, and then left. He was holding the map, looking intrigued. The map was shockingly detailed, with a red dot moving on top. Supposedly, it was the patrol Roran was meant to team up with. He tracked their progress for a bit, and then, after figuring out their pattern, proceeded to meet them.