Waking up to another blissful morning something I dread doing. I do love waking up, but I hate that I have to learn new tactics on how to not so obviously avoid Christian, and is now very obvious to everyone around us that I am indeed hiding from Christian.
Arkalis has unknowingly been helping me keep busy though. The people from the villages have been coming for Arkalis help, and I have been the one tending to their complains. Most times, their complains are stuffs they could handle by themselves, to these people I just end up warning them not to waste the wizard time.
In my view i can finally call myself a full witch, but in Arkalis view, he believes that I still have a lot to learn. I can’t understand why he thinks that when, he has already stop with all my magic classes. He is now teaching me how to fight, Christian inclusive.
Arkalis felt that I might need to know how to fight in case my powers fails me, and he also believes that I might one day need the help of Christian skillful hands in protecting me.
I stood up from my bed and put on my training clothes. I left my room heading for the training grounds.
“Good morning Arkalis. Good morning Christian.” I greeted walking into the training ground.
“Good morning to you too, Anastasia.” Arkalis replied, while Christian only nods to my greetings. That’s weird.
Arkalis gave each of us two bucket filled with water, the buckets are linked with a stick. He instructed us to carry it on our shoulders and make sure not a single drop of water pours out. According to him, in martial arts… balance is the key ingredients.
Of course there was no way either me or Christian would be able to balance ourselves while having such heavy weights on our shoulders. In not time the buckets came crashing down along with the water in it.
“Fill the buckets back up and try again.” Arkalis instructs calmly, his hands behind his back.
Christian and I rushed to the drum and filled our buckets. Arkalis helped me in placing mine on my shoulder, while Christian skillfully placed his on his shoulder. I pouted in jealously, I want to be strong. But anyway, I am going to be consoling myself, with the fact that Christian is a guy who turns into a dragon since he became eleven.
I wasn’t able to hold on to the sticks linked to the buckets on my shoulder for up to ten seconds before it came crashing to the ground again. Christian on the other hand carried it very well showing off his muscles self. He only encountered problem with keeping the water from pouring little by little.
“Instead of watching him, why don’t you fill up your buckets and try again.” Arkalis said cutting through my little trance-like state.
I rolled my eyes, I hope he is not insinuating that I was checking Christian out, cause I wasn’t. I was definitely not checking his nice toned broad back. I guess… I was actually checking him out.
Using my magic I absorbed the water on the ground and transported it into the bucket. I had to try carrying the water two more times before I was able to finally stay for long, without falling it down. Now my only problem is to be able to balance myself, so I wouldn’t pour even a single drop of water.
Christian has been able to balance his self completely, and stay for long without pouring a single drop of water from the buckets. Arkalis is too busy applauding him and has no time to correct my repeated failure. Does he really has to teach Christian and I together.
“You won’t be able to focus and balance both bucket. If you are too lost in your thoughts and getting distracted by your own thoughts.” Arkalis said, his voice really close to my ear. I had to stagger a bit so I wouldn’t bring the buckets crashing to the ground, although it would be all Arkalis faults.
“Christian walk around the training ground, and make sure not a single drop of water falls out from any of the bucket. My ears would definitely hear it.” Arkalis instructs with a loud voice, while adding more water into my buckets.
My legs were wobbling in pain, my arms, my shoulders cried out for help. I blew air out of my mouth praying that not even a single drop of water falls out of any of the buckets. Beads of sweat gathered on my forehead, as I tried to stay balanced.
“Excellent work Christian. You can go in and rest. Training starts again by sundown. Do not forget.”
Christian drops his buckets of water, thanks Arkalis and leaves the training ground without glancing my way.
I sighed then tried focusing but it didn’t take long before the water came crashing down to the ground.
“Again.” Arkalis said looking undisturbed.
I groaned in pains using my hand to transport the water into the bucket. I breathe out picked up the stick used to connect the two bucket, it was so heavy…. Arkalis had to come give me a helping hand. He helped placed it on my shoulder, it didn’t take long before it came crashing down to the ground.
“I don’t get. I was having no problem carrying it on my shoulder and trying to balance it some minutes ago. Why I can’t I do it now.” I yelled out exasperated.
“You are weak, but far from that. You are overthinking it and also not focused. Stop dwelling in your pain, pay no attention to the aching on your shoulder blades.” Arkalis lectured calmly.
I released a huge breathe ready to try out again. I absorbed the water from the ground, and still added some water from the drum cause the water from the ground didn’t fill up the buckets.
I held the stick that was connected to both bucket strongly, and without any help from Arkalis i was able to place it on my shoulder.
I stared into the far distance ahead of me, clearing my mind of any negative/disturbing thoughts. I didn’t think about the water in the bucket, if it was going to fall or not.
I just kept my focus on the tree not so far from me. I began to feel really light-weighted, it felt like I had absolutely nothing on my shoulder.
“That’s good. Now walk around the training ground with it. I don’t want to see or hear a drop of water falling from both buckets.” Arkalis instructs.
I released another round of breathe, then walked around the training ground.. soon I was back at my position in front of Arkalis. May I add the fact that not a single drop of water fell out of the buckets. I’m happy!
Arkalis dismissed me, I hurriedly dropped the heavy buckets and happily left the training ground. I just want to lay on my bed and sleep.
********************************************
THE NEXT DAY
********************************************
“Punch the dummy like you mean it, Anastasia.” The general commandant in army growled in my ear. Arkalis had handed over I and Christian to the General Commandant of Azra Army.
He requested that the commandant trains us specially. And since the beginning today Christian and I have been training with the army, I already miss my bed, Aria, and Freya. I really do want to go back to Arkalis’s house.
I packed up a punch then threw at the dummy in front of me… on it’s face. “How are you going to defend yourself against your enemy with such a weak punch. I have always said and I will keep on saying this… My army isn’t a place for a girl. A girl’s place is in the kitchen helping her mother. I don’t understand why Arkalis has to ask that I train you myself. If he isn’t a respected wizard that has always helped my Army, I would have definitely refused.” The general complained with so much displeasure, not even caring to hide the fact that he doesn’t like me. The feeling is mutual sir.
Without thinking I set the dummy’s head on fire.
“Nice, but I asked you to hit not showcase your powers. You are here to learn how to fight, not to learn magic.” He said through gritted teeths.
“It was meant for you.” I mumbled loud enough to his hearing, returning his hard stare.
“You are going to stay up all night practicing that punch, and you better impress me by tomorrow morning, or I will be throwing you out of my camp.” He gave me a hard glare, and walked away. I should have burnt his head.
****************************************************************************************
“1, 2, 3.” I counted then punched the dummy really hard but it remained unmoving. This is so frustrating. I have been practicing my punch all night, and still yet nothing.. I’m not getting any better at it. My knuckles hurt badly, I had them wrapped with a bandage.
“You are really bad at throwing a punch.” Christian voice came from behind me, I turned around abruptly.
“Yeah, I can see that.” I grunted rolling my eyes. He doesn’t really have to throw how bad I am at me.
I faced the dummy back again, “1, 2, 3.” I counted and then punched it. Still no slight movement from the stupid dummy. Arghhh.
“This is so annoying.” I exclaimed throwing my hands up in the air.
“Why don’t you calm down.” Christian whispered in my ear, his hands kneading their way to my shoulder. He gave me a slow reliving massage… my mouth produced a ragged breathe.
I shut my eyes tight, enjoying his massage… relaxing in his touch.
“You know it would have been really funny to see the general’s head on fire.” He whispered in my ear, and I chuckled picturing the generals head on fire, and how his underlings would run around trying to get water. That would definitely be a funny sight. I laughed out.
“Now that I have been able to make you laugh and relax. Why don’t we try throwing that punch again.” I didn’t need to look at his face to know he has a wide grin plastered across his lips.
He removes his hands from my shoulder, and I almost asked him to put them back. I sighed inwardly.
I took my stance, packed up a punch… “Try imagining the face of maybe… the general.”
I nod my head to what he said, tightened my fist and then hit the dummy with so much anger that I had earlier for the general.
“Wow that is good, you must really want to beat up the general.” Christian chuckled, I laughed.
“But let’s be honest. That punch would definitely not impress the general. So is there anyone else you would want to beat to a pulp?” He questioned. I nod in reply, already having a name In my mind.
“The dummy is all yours.” He did a funny bow, I shake my head chuckling.
I took my stance once more. I imagined the face of that little boy who claimed to be *Terror* I definitely do not believe the real face of terror would be of a little boy, that little boy is just amongst his many disguise. But for now the kid’s face would do.
Picturing the kid’s face(terror) I packed up a punch, and then hit the dummy’s face… anger surging through my veins.
“Oh… My.. God.” Those were the only words that I and Christian could produced from our mouths as we stared at the headless dummy in front of us.
“Who the heck did you imagine?” Christian asked on finding his voice, his gaze directed at me.
“Terror.” I replied.
“That explains a lot.” He replied back solemnly.
“I should probably call it a night.” I said.
“Should I walk you to your tenth?” He questioned.
My breathe hitched as the eyes I have been avoiding to look at for weeks, gazed into mine..
*You should kiss him….* my subconsciousness said In excitement.
I gulped, “No.”
“Goodnight Christian.” I added, on realizing my no sounded a little bit harsh. I turned around and walked away, my teeth sinking deep into my lower lip.