Chapter 110 The Deserters Fortress (1/2)
”You think I'm ready?”
Arran was almost surprised when he heard Snowcloud say the words It had already been teeks since she had given hih she had said he only had a week, her previous comments on his efforts had contained precious little praise — certainly not enough to suggest she thought he was alain ”But first, I'll have to test your skill Your progress in training has been reht”
”Then let's spar,” Arran replied, eager to find out how he ainst a powerful novice The only Shadowfla man he crippled in Eremont, but he knew that his opponent there had been a poor example of the Shadowflame Society's power
Snowcloud nodded, then drew her sword It had a long, thin blade, and Snowcloud held it with such practiced ease that Arran i from the moment she could hold a sword
”We'll try a few rounds without ic, first,” she said
Arran drew his sword as well — the heavy-bladed one he had taken from the novice in Erees were short and tentative, each of thee their opponent's skill Yet after only a short while theiran to learn their relative strengths
The difference between the two of thee in strength and e when it caood two hours sparring, with Snowcloud winning all but a few exchanges This neither surprised nor disappointed Arran — he already understood that with Snowcloud's background, she would have trained from her earliest youth, with the Sixth Valley's best teachers to instruct her
When they finally finished, Snowcloud looked at Arran approvingly
”You're strong,” she said ”And you're far better with the sword than ic”
Again they faced each other, and this tier While Arran's advantage in strength was even larger when it caic, his abilities proved no match for Snowcloud's skill and control, and she used a nuap in ability es, and even then, he could tell that Snowcloud had been holding back
Only once did he e to best her, and that hen he surprised her with the Force shi+eld and Battering Force spells But although she seele win she rapidly adapted, and he did not score any more victories
Nevertheless, he could tell that he had iht in Hillfort's arena His control over his ic was far better than it had been, and he could now Sense his opponent's attacks as soon as they were formed, rather than when they were launched
”You're strong,” Snowcloud eventually said, ”but cluic at all”
”I haven't,” Arran replied truthfully The only skilled ic had been Master Zhao, and that hen Arran knew barely anything about it His knowledge of spells had come from scrolls, and his practice had mostly just been trial and error
”Then I will need to instruct you,” she replied in a thoughtful tone ”After we defeat the deserters, I will give you daily instruction — with your strength, you should ress”
Arran nodded in acquiescence Although he wouldbefore the battle, he understood that there sih time for that Snowcloud had already delayed their attack by a week to allow him to learn to conceal his Natural Essence, and she would not be willing to wait months for Arran to increase his skill at spellcraft
”There's another thing I should mention,” she continued ”The Essence containht you will conceal your Essence, but using it will expose you as a e to others”
Arran raised an eyebrow in confusion, but after only a ht, he understood Natural Essence was present in everything, and anyone who did not release any would necessarily have to be a trained e
”Then how do I fix that?” he asked
”You will need to learn how to release so the containment technique,” Snowcloud replied ”But that takes practice, and practice takes ti,” Snowcloud said with a laugh ”I never had much talent for the technique That's why I have the bracelet — it was given toto containthe fa it took me another three years, and I was already ten when I finally ht, he asked, ”You started training at five?”