The days of travelling rode past, night in, night out. They took into a habit of talking, joking around throughout their journey. Fei absorbs her knowledge of Nuwa, obsessing over her small book day in, then stopping after some time.
Lucian, read with her with interest in his eyes; eventually joining in after a week of their long journey. As he held the book in his hands, intensely eyeing it. He felt Fei next to him shift her weight. Then, her ear poked his cheek, causing his focus to be disturbed.
'Fei…' his mind wandered, feeling the fur of her scratch against his cheek. There was no buzzing in his head, as their connection was cut for a few days now. He tried to hold in all of his movements, feeling the slight scratching turn into her entire ear pushing against his face. 'She's…'
Bronya and Haru watched with a stifled laugh. Fei's intense gaze, and hands supporting her weight over him was an amusing scene to outsiders. Eventually Lucian moved the book around, making her head swivel around.
"U-Um… Fei… I'm trying to learn to…" Lucian quietly said to her, his voice became muffled with slight enjoyment. His words fell on deaf ears as Fei grabbed his wrist to keep it stuck in one place. Although he could easily unhook her grasp, he didn't resist. "Fei…"
"Oh wow, do you see that little Haru? Seems like they're having their own loveydovey time…"
"I-It seems… M-Miss Fei, umm… is too focused.."
"Fei…" Lucian called out to her quietly, again. This time her ears twitched, and her head slowly turned. "You're just going to cause… More misunderstandings." Her face turned a bright red, flinging herself back to the side of the carriage. Even more to hide her embarrassment, she brought her legs up to her chin.
A sigh of relief left Lucian's lips. He gave her a slight smile seeing her slight side eye. "You don't need to be- Nevermind…" She turned away at his words and appearance. 'Looks like it'll be another, teasing day for her.'
As his focus began to come back, there was a jolt and a stop from the carriage.
"Long ears, I need to talk to you." Roth popped his head in, whilst ordering Bronya to come out. "You three stay inside."
"Did I do something this time?" Bronya questioned with a slight turn of her head. Roth shook his head, but insisted with a curl of his finger. She let out a worried sigh, before hopping out of the carriage. They were pulled up to the grass on the side of the dirt path.
He took her further away, making distance between them and the carriage. His actions caused a slight stir in the three's minds.
'That's the weirdest thing in a long while… More like three days.' Lucian's mind wandered, he looked at the other two with furrowed eyebrows. Yet, he couldn't hear anything enter his ears.
After some time had lapsed by, Bronya popped her head in from the opening. There was a slight furrow in her eyebrows, and a slightly serious line in her lips. "Little Fei, Little Lucian, Rothie and I decided it was time to train you a bit more." She changed her gaze to Lucian. "You'll be working with Rothie. Meanwhile, Little Fei you're with me, okay?"
A little bit of time went by, Bronya convinced her to follow herself. Meanwhile Roth dragged Lucian to the opposite side of the carriage.
"You need to practice with your sword." Roth claimed he stood some distance away from Lucian. The vast field around them, made a perfect environment in his mind. There were no distractions from monsters appearing out of nowhere.
The dirt path separated the grass into two training fields, allowing Bronya to focus on Fei. Haru stayed on the back of the carriage, allowing her to watch both simultaneously.
"Come at me, don't swing wildly."
"Alright…" Lucian gritted his teeth as the last moments of his training flashed in his mind. He quickly unsheathed his weapon. With a slow breath in, and a quick release he kicked off his feet.
He pulled his arms back, and released them within striking distance of Roth. Easily, his attack was blocked with one hand.
"Not enough force." Roth commented, in the next moment he closed the small gap between them. He raised Lucian's blade with the hand that captured it. "Try again." With a light push he was sent stumbling backwards.
'And how am I supposed to do that?' Lucian's lips pursed tightly, he readied himself once again. He attempted once more, this time at a faster pace. But his swing was blocked once again.
On his third attack, he was pulled forth. His sword arm fell to the side, and his weapon clattered to the ground. His next order was to come at Roth with everything he has got. Fists, legs any anything he could think of.
Thus he complied, sprinting in to close the quarters between them two. Throwing a feint with his sword, as if he tried to separate Roth's head from his body. Drawing in his blade, then jabbing towards Roth's gut.
Nanoseconds later, he caught the tip. Lucian anticipated that move, letting his sword from his hands. Finally, he caught Roth off guard. Letting one quick swing be caught with his right arm, then throwing another.
His fist struck square on his nose. When Lucian pulled his hand back, there wasn't even a scratch or mark on Roth's nose. Naught but a small trace of blood fell, staining the small blade of grass underneath.
"uh... ACK-!" He could only let out before a humongous fist sent him plummeting to the ground. "What th-! YOU TOLD ME TO-" The pulsating pain from his cheek cut his words off. Somehow, he managed to get to his feet, massaging the part Roth struck.
"Kid, I didn't say I wouldn't strike back."
"Did you have to hit so hard?! I think you broke a tooth!"
"Held back as much as I could. Pick your weapon up again."
"..."
******************************************************
"Alrighty, Little Fei…" Bronya strolled a little ways away from Fei. "We'll be working on your reaction speed."
"M-My reaction.. Speed?"
"Mhm… In a fight, being slow can be the cause of a death."
"I-I Know…"
"Remember during the dungeon, how all those skeletons swarmed Little Lucian? How he had to rip one of the arms off?"
"Y-Yes…"
Bronya mimicked Lucian's movements, then continued with her words. "If he was just moments slower, he would've been cleaned from the bones. That swarm would've slaughtered him."
"I-I see…" Fei lowered her head. 'He needs… To be more careful…' Her hands slowly tightened into a fist. Bronya's intentions were already clear; If the situation had been much more severe, and she reacted any slower he would've been dead.
"Looks like I don't need to say much more, huh?"
"Y-Yes…"
"Hmph, good. You catch on quicker than I thought you would…" Bronya crossed her arms, her demeanor tried to take on as a mentor. She puffed her chest up high, and her shoulders stayed firm.
'What is she trying to say…?' Fei's mind wondered to her words, 'catch on quicker?'. In other words, is Bronya trying to say she's slow mentally? Fei slightly shook her head, she knew how she thought; it would be something extremely wild and unthought of.
"You stand there, we'll be treating your hesitation and reaction speed, m'kay?"
"O-Okay… W-What are, are we going to do?"
Bronya raised a finger, then went on with her explanation. "You'll try to catch me with a spell. Anything will work, but no hurting me got it?"
"I-I go- got it…" Alongside her confirmation, Fei nodded her head slightly. Yet, before she could react Bronya dashed forward at a tough speed to track.
In just a breath, Bronya already was behind Fei. One tap of her finger caused Fei's body to shake, then a whisper sent down chills. "You must be prepared for an attack… You reacted way too slowly."
The second round Bronya came at a much slower pace. Allowing for Fei to keep an eye on her. In Fei's first spell, a large chain threatened to wrap Bronya up. With a measly sidestep she dodged its grasps.
"Is that all you got?" She taunted with a cocky tone, easily backstepping the second. Seconds later, she stood in front of Fei with her finger aimed at her nose. "Third try, don't hesitate to throw things at me."
For a few minutes, and time after time Fei tried her best. But Bronya merely sidestepped, and just narrowly dodged every attempt. She felt a little flame well up in her chest.
On her fourth attempt, she increased her pace. Her spells flung out faster, jolting out of the ground causing Bronya's speed to increase.
Fei's body subconsciously took a stumble back. No matter how fast she increased her casting speed, Bronya matched her.
Thus, their fifth spar proceeded.
'I have… I have to use something else…' Fei thought, her body started shaking as Bronya set off. She threw a chain, only stopping Bronya's unrelenting pursuit for a mere second. 'I have to…' Though it was their first official training, the pressure exuding off her opponent multiplied.
'Foolish for freezing.'
Bronya's size multiplied in front of Fei's eyes, her eyes held no light. The sun's dancing gaze darkened instantly. Yet an unexpected spell nearly caught Bronya's legs. Multiple hands of ice grabbed above, her bewilderment had not stopped there. Just where she placed her own feet, another pair reached forth.
She hopped around, dodging the contorting hands. That layer of fear that warped Fei's vision disappeared. Her eyes struggled to watch her move around. As her torrent of spells reached their limit, her body suddenly felt weighed down.
Sweat started to drench her entire body; one last spell finished, and she collapsed to the ground.
Bronya's head turned to witness Fei's collapsing, as a hand caught her leg. The smile that appeared on her lips were not of frustration, or irritants; she pulled her leg out of the malleable, fragile ice and strolled towards Fei in a slow manner.
"That wasn't so bad, Little Fei." She extolled Fei's actions with loud claps. Though the one deserving her praise, could barely let out a breath.
She gasped, choking for air. With each try, her body shuttered. This continued for many, countless minutes. The weight on her entire body barely decreased, yet her breathing ceased struggling.
"That really did a number on ya…"
"S-Sorry…."
"Hm? It's good to push yerself… You don't need to apologize! Here lemme help you up." Bronya kneeled down, with her right hand extended. Fei shakily accepted her offer, and was subsequently pulled to her feet. "You really are impressive without that bad hesitation ya have. I'll let you have that win today."
"W-Win…?"
"Mhm! That'd be a win for you."
"I-I… I didn't- didn't do anything…"
"Nah… You did, your spell caught my leg!" In a cheery manner, Bronya patted her shoulder. "Why don't you join Little Lucian and take a break?" She directed Fei towards Lucian who was sitting in front of Haru, his shoulders were slumped and an evident bruise was located on his cheek. "Meanwhile… Rothie! Wanna go for a few rounds?"
"Sure."
"Make sure to go easy on me, 'kay? I'm not a brooding brute like y-"
"Come over here."
"...Fine."
Soon after clinks, and clangs resounded throughout the area. Their spar went at a speed that neither of them could focus on. As a result, Fei took her seat right beside Lucian. He seemed to be nursing a small injury that was located on his arm.
He turned his head slowly, and asked, "how did your training with Bronya go?" His head tilted slightly upon the sight of sweat dabbing on Fei's forehead. He could hear her breath struggle to be let out.
"It- It went… Okay… H-H-How did it go with r–Roth?"
"It went… Well." He rolled his sleeve up, on his forearm was a dried chunk of blood. "Well, he is… Not fun to train with."
"Are you okay?!"
"Yeah, yeah… It wasn't that deep of a cut."
"Y-You still need to be careful!" Fei raised her hands over Lucian's cut; however he pushed her hands down with a shake of his head. "W-Why…?"
Instead of verbally explaining, he scraped the blood off- Showing a slightly pink, but healing scar. "It's already healed, see? It was just a scratch." He flashed her a smile as a thought came to his mind. 'And you need to be careful… You look like you used up all your magic.'
"Um… W-What are you talking about?"
"Huh? Oh, right you can't hear what Fei wants to ask. We're talking about our training–"
"Uhm… Can Miss Fei use telepathy?"
"Ah… Uh, yes she can. She's been using it the entire time you've been travelling with us."
"I-I see..."
Haru fidgeted with her hands, her lips pushed together; if one didn't want to ask a question, this was the opposite of what to do. Even Fei and Lucian could see it.
"If you want to ask something, you can."
"Um... I'm sorry to bother...Can Miss Fei teach me to use magic rike... I-I mean like she does?" Haru blubbered out, her ears flattened, her eyes lowered to the ground. "If... If ito's too much trouble... Please do noto worry about it..."
"I-I can't... I-I don't... I don't know how I do it..." Fei responded before Lucian could answer for her. Her actions caused Lucian to look at her, both awe and pride lingered in his chest. "I do- don't know how I do, I do it..."
"I- Ah... Uh.. I thought- I thought you did... Miss Alice... Taught me that... Tohese catalyst..." Haru fumbled in her pocket for a moment, then revealed a cracked, nigh transparent gem hooked by a chain out. "Catalyst...? Crystals peopre- Sorry, people can only use to produce... Magic. But umm, you, Miss Fei... You don'to use one... Do you?"
"I... Never- never had t-to..." Fei said, she subconsciously grabbed Lucian's sleeve. Haru's questions started to make her heart race. From their first meeting, that question ate at her mind suddenly. Are you really a demi-human?
"... Fei might not be able to teach you magic, but she might be able to teach you other things."
"E-Eh? Um, Mister Rushien, what do you mean?"
'That's an odd way to pronounce my name...' "She can teach you... Can you read or write?"
"Um... No- No I can't."
Before Lucian could make an offer, a loud scream rushed into their ears.
"AH! ROTHIE?! OW?! WHY THE HECK DID YOU DO THAT?!"
"I barely poked you."
"YOU DID NOT! THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE A MARK!"
In the distance, Bronya held out her arm. Small tears welled up in her eyes, if one could see there was a slight scratch on her arm. Speckles of blood pooled out.
"Long ears... That was just a poke... Look at what you did to my hand."
"YOU CAN TAKE IT! YOU GOT THICK SKIN, I'm-"
Roth covered his face, there goes her usual argument... 'I'm a delicate lady...' "Long ears, we're sparring. Expect to get hurt."
"Hmph... I won't go easy on you again."
Their verbal and physical clashes went on for hours; only did they stop when Bronya's arms gained a few more scratches. She nursed her wounds tenderly, carefully applying strips of bandages to soak the bits of blood spewing out.
The three that barely knew her watched in awe; is this wood elf that bad with pain? She appears as fragile as a newborn baby. After a few defiant complaints, they all took a rest; satiating a hunger that appeared in their stomachs and listening to each other.
Then their next destination popped in everyone's minds; their last city was three days previous. The next city was located beyond a forest, one that held a dangerous reputation in many minds.
Bronya brought her axe in hand, and scratched a few names of dangerous creatures. Orcs, ghouls and a familiar name, skeletons.
Orcs much like goblins are child-like in intelligence, according to Bronya. She drew a shoddily made version, just a goblin but much bigger and uglier.
"They destroy their opponents through brute force. Much like… A giant we know ourselves." Bronya leaned back in her non-existent chair, whilst a smug smile appeared on her face. That "giant" she mentioned scanned the area around him. She saw what was in his hands, and pleaded, "Wait! Wait! I was joking!"
"Continue."
"Alright! Alright! Geez! Our next big baddy are ghouls. They're basically walking corpses… Similar to skeletons but hold muscle and skin."
"I thought monsters were just creatures, animalistic and whatnot…"
"Most are, they're beings made of mana. Their bodies feast, and rely on mana. Those skeletons in the dungeons, no one knows how they came to be. They're commonly reanimated corpses of humans, or humanesque beings." Bronya explained, she shifted her weight then leaned forward. Her eyes slowly shifted to Fei who had an intently listening face. Then they rolled to Lucian. "There's a certain rumor in the guild… Those skeletons are reanimated beings of an old world, that's why there are buildings in there. But that's just a rumor… Nothing to really be concerned about."
"That… Huh, alright. What should we really be concerned about?"
"Don't let 'em bite you. First of all, they hurt. Second of all, if they do get a bite on ya, those wounds will not heal. Naturally, they need to be washed out by another mana force." Bronya elaborated, slightly gesturing towards Fei. "Skeletons, treat 'em like child's play. Destroy their body, and you'll be fine. Got it?"
Everyone nodded their heads, resulting in Bronya letting out an audible clap. They quickly packed their things. Their next destination was soon on the horizon, an eerie looking forest. The bark of each tree was a dark grey. The leaves are a dark sickly green color.