"Better!" Jenovan laughed, his movements quickening.
His expression was crazed as he leaned into the fight instead of stepping back. Despite trying to keep up, every flicker of flame Killian conjured was squashed by Jenovan's intense fire.
The way Jenovan smiled, like he was alive only while fighting. His fire burned wildly and crashed down as quickly as its wielder.
Yet Killian still considered it fair training. The Mage's movements came naturally but they were honed by years of being in high-end realms and being battle frenzy.
I can imitate that.
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he heard his HEART beat. What?
"Concentrate!"
Jenovan's voice brought him back.
They went at it again. Back and forth.
Each time Killian's fire morphed, it was less rigid, more natural, and drawn from the space around him. He could feel it better the more he kept using it.
It wasn't stabilised yet, but since he used less mana, it was easier to maintain.
He could keep up with it for as long as Jenovan wanted to play. He watched his legs. They always followed his arms, never preceding them.
That's why I never see him coming.
Most people ground their legs before an attack, so their movements can be read.
By being hard to read, he easily compensates for his speed if met with a faster opponent.
Killian noticed his eyes following his movements, so he drew him in. He swung his right hand. Jenovan subtly raised a brow, before dodging and slamming his shoulders.
Killian had already gotten used to the hits. He doesn't fall for obvious feints.
He swung seriously, using more mana that he should, till his hand felt numb due to the chains trying to restrict his mana flow.
"No, use less—"
Killian's leg slammed on his other side instantly. He bit his lower lips when Jenovan's fingers dug into his skin. He forced a smile. "You were slow."
"Sneaky, aren't you." Jenovan threw his leg back. "But really, use less mana. The practice is futile if you keep using mana to test me. Let me train you."
Killian folded his arms but agreed with a nod. It was a request from a man that kept him in chains, but he was training him without prior agreement with his parents.
So he should do as he wanted till he tired out.
But it still wasn't enough.
Jenovan broke through his guard again, being more careful of his feints and swings, forcing him back as the training dragged on.
Killian's stamina depleted, but seeing as Jenovan was still active, he forced himself to faint.
Now rest!
Jenovan paused, seeing the boy fall to the ground. He was worried at first, before laughing till he choked.
"Haa… you are something, Killian."
.
.
The next session started with workouts.
Killian's hands pressed against the ground, as he pushed up again and again. Sweat dripped down his face, and his arms shook but never stopped.
He kept going, counting inwardly. His breathing was uneven but steady enough to continue.
He noticed Jenovan stood beside him, watching too closely.
"One. Six. Seven." He stopped. "Step back, please"
"Hmm? I'm just taking notes."
"It's creepy." Killian muttered between breaths.
Jenovan smirked, but moved aside. "Since you got your sharp tongue back, I assume you feel better. Let's continue."
Killian didn't respond, and quietly wore his shirt. He stared as fire took form in Jenovan's hand.
It wasn't a ball of fire this time but a loose structured shape, like a spear.
He grabbed it, and swung.
Killian barely leaned back in time to avoid it. His eyes widened slightly as he straightened.
"You held it. How?" he asked. Even if the obvious question should be why Jenovan suddenly tried to kill him.
The man tilted his head. "Why not? Can't the Earth Element Users hold the Earth?"
Killian forced himself off the ground when his legs stopped shaking. "Earth is physical. Fire has never been."
But if it could be held, he could use it like he used his tendrils. More direct attacks. They could be controlled, and shaped to what he wanted.
He wouldn't need a dagger for airstrikes.
Jenovan's hand moved again, drawing lines in the air that hung there for a second, unlike the last one that vanished after the strike.
Killian reached for it, but from the corner of his eye, he noticed Jenovan's lips tug upwards.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
All three exploded instantly, but Killian was already a good distance backwards. Jenovan laughed again, clearly amused by his murder attempts.
Killian wiped the sweat from his face. Truly, psychopaths couldn't be handled with logic.
"Are you teaching me or showing off?"
Jenovan grinned, drawing something again.
A large question mark. "You learn this tomorrow," he said. "It depends on how well you burn the natural fuel in the air, else you can't shape it."
Killian raised his hand and blasted it apart, the question mark dispersed as he stepped forward.
"I'll learn it. Maybe not today, but definitely."
Jenovan smiled wider. "Of course, your fire barely heats leftover pizza," he teased. "You would need much hotter."
Killian's jaw tightened. So it hadn't been even close to enough? "How hot should it be?"
Jenovan looked up briefly. "Close to midday sun."
Killian didn't respond. He turned, and picked up a crystal from Jenovan's worktable. He went by the window and reflected sunlight onto his skin.
Jenovan's voice snapped instantly. "That's a refined crystal, it will burn—"
It already burned, but Killian didn't move.
He stood there, letting the heat bite into his skin, memorising the intensity and how it felt.
I can recreate this easily if I use my mana fully.
But with limited mana, I have to burn more oxygen.
He nodded once, stepping away from the window. "I get it." He returned the crystal to the table.
Jenovan stared at him. "You're mad."
Killian rolled his shoulder slightly. "If I try again, I will be closer to the intensity. I can do it."
Jenovan chuckled, shaking his head. "My Quara wasn't this crazy. Do you like the feeling of pain?"
Killian's eyes stayed steady, looking at the wound on his hand with a rather indifferent expression. Memories of his ordeal during Juda's possession came back to him. He couldn't let it happen again.
"I'd prefer to cause myself pain to learn," he said. "Then be dealt pain because of my weakness."
Jenovan's smile faded into something serious. "Good. I'll teach you then." He nodded at his own words. "It might break you a bit."
Killian hesitated a bit. He didn't necessarily want a teacher but he could tell he had a lot to learn from Jenovan.
He also knew how their training would be a race to survive his madness. But his sister survived it.
"I'll just do my best," he said simply.
It seemed enough as Jenovan nodded. "Short break, over. Come."
They went at it again.
Killian tried condensing mana within a vacuum of air, using both palms. It diffused, sounding like a deflated balloon. He tried again.
[Warning!]
Huh? Then—
His mana went wild, against his control.