39 Strength in Numbers (1/2)
The next few days, Leo and Bianca trained their new small militia thoroughly. They would need to know how to use their aura if they had any chance in getting to Will, let alone the next village over.
Within the first day, the group had been able to summon a small flame at first. To Leo's surprise, they were able to increase the density within only a few hours. In his mind, he knew he should have expected it. The gift came from the very land they had traveled to after all.
The second day, Leo paired them into twos and had them spar with their weapons. There were so many different types of weapons ranging from swords, axes, bows and even some he wasn't familiar with. In the end, he allowed them to choose their partner for themselves.
While sparring, he saw a lot of injuries in which should have benched them, instead some of them were more adept at healing which stood to the side. In moments, anywhere from bruises to slashes were healed and the injured would return to their training.
Some would fight in teams as Leo and Bianca would. A sword for one, and a defensive ability for the other. He appreciated the fact that he didn't need to stress the importance of team work. The group already worked like a well oiled machine.
As the sun began to set on the second day, Leo had been watching the crimson in both aura and blood of the group's training rise through the air. He had not expected such a response to receiving their gift, but at the same time he was grateful. As he stood at the head of the makeshift training ground they made from one of the crop fields, he could see Roy coming out of the group.
”Feel like sparring?” he asked with a playful smile. Leo raised an eyebrow. None of the others were brave enough to ask. Since he was more adept at his abilities, no one really felt like a match.
Leo nodded while returning the smile. ”If you think you're ready to take on a veteran, I'll indulge you.” Silver flame shot out of his ring in a large ball. He threw it up in the air, his sword fell into his hand in the ready position. Within a span of a few seconds, his partner saw the silver gleam in his eyes.
Roy took a minute longer to summon his weapon. He felt out his aura and circulated it to his ring. In moments, his axe materialized in his hand from a burst of crimson flame.
Not holding back even For a second, Roy launched himself forward. The axe gleaming in the rays of the falling sun. Aiming for Leo's midsection, he came up short as his opponent parried the blow with his sword. For an instant, the weapons colored as silver met crimson in a dance of flames.
Leo jumped back to gain some distance from Roy. He hadn't had as much defensive training from Will as he had offense. He needed a counter attack before Roy could cover the distance. Within a span if a thought, his hand glowed silver as he launched a fist of silver flame towards the new member.
Roy met the silver missile with a wall of crimson, cancelling out Leo's flame. As the crimson subsided, Leo launched himself over the wall and surprised Roy with an attack before he was prepared.
Roy fumbled with his axe, trying to match the angle the sword was coming down at. The instant he got his weapon In the correct position, Leo brought his sword behind his back to the other hand as he used his opponents axe as a stepping board and launched himself in the air with a condensed flame under his feet.
With dozens of feet in the air, Leo launched five more silver missiles. Roy was struggling to keep up. The silver was inches above his head before he used a blanket of his crimson flame over his head as protection. Leo took advantage of his opponents momentary blindness. The moment he touched back down, he used the same condensed flame to launch himself forward under the blanket. When the crimson subsided, Leo's sword was planted firmly to Roy's throat.
Roy took a step back from the blade. Leo had been precise with his movements to the point that the blade itself was dulled by his flames the moment it reached Roy's neck. The cooling effect helped nothing as he stared at Leo. ”How?” he gasped as he rubbed his neck. ”How could you know to use your flames this way? Even when they were still around, I have never seen those moves.”
Leo's eyes gleamed silver as he chuckled momentarily. ”Its really not about the power of your gift, but how you can use it to your advantage.” Leo looked at Roy and put the flat of his blade on his own shoulder. ”I used small flames on you in order for you to panic and use a large wall to block me from view, I only needed seconds to get through your defenses.”
It was quiet in the field as he looked around. Leo saw every eye on their quick yet intense battle. ”It isn't about overpowering your opponent any longer,” he yelled out to the group. ”It's about using their power against them. Make them confident while you are ten steps ahead of them. Take advantage of their power and you will never fail.”
With his instructions given, Leo nodded at Roy as he put his sword away. Good lecture, glad to see you were paying attention. He heard in his mind. Leo smiled as he turned towards the town. ”Of course you would be watching.” he said with a sigh as he turned his head towards the sky. Don't worry about me for a while bro, keep up with the training and I'll tell you where to go next. You're doing better than I could have hoped for.
Leo felt a presence leave his mind. He knew Will ran out of time. ”You better come back to us.” he muttered as he went back to his new cottage, It was time to pack up and set out. He had to be near the next village before Maya struck once more.
While Leo and Bianca set out once more with the new militia within Nearwood village for the next few weeks, a stranger walked the gravel road near the dark forest.
Wearing a brown duster over a black shirt and blue jeans, one would think he came from a western novel. He wore brown boots and his his face with a brown cowboy hat. His dog tags rattled in the steady breeze as he walked.
No matter how you looked at the man, his long sandy blonde hair pulled into a pony tail and the sandpaper scruff on his chin, he looked almost as if the West spat him out in the middle of Crystallia.