Cato's POV
It had been around a week since I began training with Winsley, i had learnt a lot about dew in that time. Not only combat but a few new basic words that could help me
Winsley couldn't teach me how to use Ice but she could teach me how to use other elements in better ways, as such.
I learnt 3 new words!
Rova- sword
Soras- shield
And finally, my favourite.
Kerosa- rope
Kerosa in particular was my favourite due to it's sheer versatility, It helped me get an advantage in my spars against Winsley but I was still far from beating her.
I had hung out with Lance a lot as well, he was still just a fun guy to hang around although I haven't seen him fight once.
Basic training has also gotten…. Manageable, I am not looking like a dying horse at the end anymore at least.
"Cato Adrenna" I hear my name being called as I just finished with basic training
"Yes, Drill Sergeant?" I say, standing at attention at him referring to me
"You've been here around a week and despite your... unique circumstances, I believe it's time you join the rest of the trainees in combat exercises" he says with hesitation as I nod
"Understood, when may I report?" I ask him as he nods
"5:30 pm, we hold combat practice during that time." he explains as I nod
The buff man proceeded to walk away as I thought more deeply about it
Hopefully I can do it, while I am still new, I have some tricks up my sleeve.
The drill sergeant's name was Horven, just Horven. He was a rank 3 from what I know and specialised in using earth magic and it's variations
Either way, I had to head over to talk to Winsley for my lesson
I immediately take a quick bath in the bath house as I feel my muscles relax for a moment. It had only been a week since I got here yet my body had already started getting better
I wasn't a slouch before coming here, not at all. I was above average in sports but never good enough to play at a serious level.
Well, it wasn't like I ever got to train for them…
"Whathca thinkin about buddy~" Lance pops up once more, this time in the bath house as I feel cold water hit my head
"HOLY FUC- LANCE WHAT THE HELL"I yell out in panic as Lance rolls over laughing
"O-oh GOD, LOOK AT YOUR FACE" He bent over laughing as I wanted to give him a damn wedgie
"HOW DO YOU KEEP DOING THAT!" I ask him as Lance just shrugs
"Just what it takes to be a jokester bud~" he says with an airy smile as he laughs
"Either way, you're coming for the combat practice today right? Try not to get beat up too bad~" he says as I just clench my fist in a little bit of frustration at his lack of faith
"Hey! I can fight alright, don't underestimate me!" I say as he raises his eyebrows
"Sure bro, I believe ya. I'll see you there then! Also, try to train more with others alright? Spending so much time with Winsley might rot your brain and make you a machine like her!" Lance tries to joke as he walks out of the bath as I am left thinking for a second
Is he right..?
Am I limiting myself? I am not right?
I mean, Winsley taught me so much about dew, including being able to sense it, how to hone my control and even begin with making a dew core.
A dew core is a core of dew that people with dew can make, helping them store and use dew more efficiently
People then make layers over the core or even another core to help work as a better storage and help densen their dew and help increase their efficiency.
Either way, I snap myself out of my thoughts as I walk out, making my way to the library where I see Winsley.
"About time, how could you be so late?" she berates me at which I look at the clock on the wall
"I am barely 2 minutes late Winsley.." I say with a sweatdrop
"Unacceptable! I cannot be seen associating with a lout!" she says sternly, my body letting out a sigh at the sight
"Just… I am sorry for being late…" I say with a sigh in the end as she satisfyingly huffed
"Very well, now we can proceed with the lesson." she says a lot more lightly as I look out the window in the library and see the other trainees hanging out
"Hey Winsley, why don't you ever hang out with the other trainees?" I ask her out of curiosity
"Delaying our lecture will not help you in any way." Winsley says coldly
I was about to relent but Somnia of all people put themself into the conversation
"That's because Winsley is an absolute social failure" Somnia says, flipping the book in their life as Winsley responded with a sudden yell
"I am not! I have you and Cato as friends do I not?" she says with more emotion than I had seen all week
"Child I am far too old to even try and associate with a social outcast like you for a friend. Cato on the other hand is someone who's learning from you, have you ever talked to him about anything that isn't related to dew?" Somnia tears into Winsley monotonously as I see Winsley physically recoil a bit
"We are friends right Cato?" she asks me, looking down at me as she held onto my shoulders for dear life
"NO!? YES!? I AM NOT SUre." I yelp out in panic before giving my honest thoughts in the end
Winsley looks down in disappointment as I look at her differently
She's a person in the end afterall, I should've tried better
"Winsley… I like being around you and learning from you. But I don't know if you see me as a friend or consider me as such. Till now I believed you saw it as a business relationship that came from a request" I explain myself a little awkwardly as Winsley sighs, composing herself a little
"Thats…. Understandable. I am not good with this, you see. I started considering you a friend 4 days ago, you are not incompetent and are genuine in your pursuit of knowledge so I see you as a friend." Winsley explains herself, still a little cold but a lot more genuine
"I see….. Well I am glad, I am happy to be your friend" I say as Winsley's eyes widen a little
"Thank you.." she says as I smile at her
"I would love to learn more about you, what about any friends back home?" I ask her, perhaps she had a close friend or two back home in the north and she just couldn't form connections here
"I don't… have friends you see. I don't really have any friends my age you see. Either they were…. Incompetent or had unsavoury intentions. The same goes here, I didn't feel comfortable with anyone here." she explains as I nod slowly
That…. Was concerning
"I see…. I understand" I say, nodding at her words as I sit down in the chair as she does as well
"I only had my family honestly, my father and mother trained me since I was young so I was pretty much unrivaled in the academy and even in tournaments. I was the pride of the north." she says while I quietly listen
"But with that came countless hours of practice, I practiced my element and all the words I knew until I depleted every drop inside me. I even landed myself in the hospital for 2 months because I tried to make a dew core without any help." Winsley says as I feel my eyes widen
"You see…. I wish to be the best, I am obsessed with it I might add. I hate weakness, especially if said weakness is my own. I was raised to be the strongest and I don't see myself stopping at anything. I am currently at rank 3 and with a few years more, I might be able to become a rank 4." she explains, the fire in her eyes burning with fire.
"What about you? I rattled off my life story, now it is your turn." Winsley asks me as I tried to respond but my words got caught in my throat
Can I tell her that I am not from this world…?
I…
For now, It's better to keep it a secret. Even if she does or doesn't believe me, it's far too much trouble.
"My life was pretty boring. My parents sheltered me as I grew up, I didn't know that dew even existed. Thankfully I got away and somehow found myself in the south, now I am here" I explain to her, omitting most of my story as she narrows her eyes at me and nods
"I see. Well, where are you from?" she asks me, her blue eyes staring into my soul
"From the central area of the continent" I say without missing a beat, as if I was reciting a lie I made ages ago
"....Cato, are we not friends?" Winsley asks me, her eyes having a level of hurt in them.
"We are…" I say, unsure of what to say. I knew I was caught in a lie as Winsley got up and was about to leave
"WAIT" I grabbed onto her wrist as I feel her eyes widen and the temperature of the room drop
"Let. g-" Winsley was saying with a glare before I cut her off
"Let me speak Winsley! You ARE my friend!" I say before she flinches a little
"I want to tell you but I am scared of the consequences, I can't tell you the whole truth of my origins but I want to someday. So please….. Just wait until I can, okay?" I ask her, feeling vulnerable as I didn't wish to lose the closest support I had found in this world
Winsley looked down at me, almost surprised at my heartfelt words as she sighed
"Very well. I will forgive you this once." she said while looking away
I sighed and slumped back into my chair, almost afraid of what happened.
"You kids are almost more interesting than this book, is this the fabled teen drama?" Somnia commented from the background as both of us glare at them in sync
We sigh before I end up laughing as the air around me and Winsley lightened, Somnia also seemed to be a little more cheery.
"Also, I am going to be in battle practice this evening, any tips?" I ask her as she just looks at me before sitting down and resting her face on her hand
"Don't hold back and you'll be fine" was all that Winsley said