Aether Beasts

"We only trained for a few hours yesterday and didn't really get into what I want to use these four days for," Zirani said. "We will still be using the weights and other exercises I've taught you, but apart from that, the focus will be on combat alone. We're going to work on your martial skills and I'm going to teach you a few things I think will help you because raw power is necessary but so is a skill. I've seen weaker arcanists take down more powerful opponents because of their greater skill and in a way you two have also done that."

"So sparring?" Misty asked.

Zirani nodded. "Yes, but not just that. You two won't be sparring each other."

Zirani snapped her fingers and two people who had been watching stepped forwards. I recognized the satyr, but not the elven fae with the cold look on his fae. "This is Rall, your sparring partner Aiden and the other is Gerick, one of Lady Aeveire's personal guards. Before I begin teaching you I want you two to spar against your opponents. Anything is allowed, and I want you to try and take down the other as fast as possible. None lethal and without any serious injuries. Consider this a warm-up." 𝘧r𝑒𝘦𝒘𝘦𝙗ｎovel.𝐜o𝒎

Rall smiled as he and I walked to on edge of the space. "Watch me dear Misty, I shall show you just how superior I am."

Misty rolled her eyes and glanced at me as she faces off against the guards. "Teach him a lesson, but don't hurt him too badly. He doesn't know any better."

"I know I am better for you," Rall said joyously, smashing his rather large fists together

I rolled my shoulders and flexed my fingers before getting into a basic martial stance, my body turned with one foot in front of me, and the other behind. Rall did no such thing and simply continued to smile at Misty.

I clamped down on my anger and let it cool into an icy cold which I let cover me in its cold embrace. I took a deep breath and told myself that this was non-lethal and that I couldn't kill this idiot. Misty was right he didn't know better and I was willing to let him off somewhat because of his nature, but that didn't mean he wasnt about to get a beating. When this was over he would understand that there were lines and what happened when he crossed them.

"On my mark," Zirani said. "Three, two, one!"

I burst forward, my bark armor forming around me in a flash as Rall slammed a hoof into the ground. The earth cracked and shook but I did not falter, not even when two spikes of earth shot up at me.

I casually dodged the first and jumped over the second with a hand. Whilst I did, I prepared an enhanced impact seed using nature and my mutated aether to greatly increase the force.

When it was ready, I sent it towards him and in response, he slammed another foot down and a wall of stone rose in front of him. The seed hit and proceeded to blast the wall to pieces, and instead of using that as cover I formed a large spear of wood and launched it into the air, a few feet above him.

I saw his shocked look but then I was in the air above him, grasping the spear, and bringing it down upon him. His senses must have been good as he dodged and attempted to strike me while I was still in the air. I tilted my body to dodge the blow, and counter-attacked by shoving two fingers into his mouth and releasing a spray of paralytic poison down his throat.

I quickly pulled them back before he could bite down, and was about to follow up, but it seemed that a satyr's body was resistant as he only spasmed slightly before an angry look came over his face and he launched himself at me. He moved at a fast speed, but not fast enough, and I was able to dodge the first strike, though his follow-up strike ended up breaking my spear.

The next minute was a brawl of hand-to-hand combat in which I dominated mainly because of the way he fought. There was no finesse or flow or rhythm to his movements. It was just a barrage of haymakers and attempts to grab me, which did not work out for him.

"Aiden," Zirnai called. "What part of, end it as quickly as possible, didn't you understand? Stop playing with him. We have plenty of time for extended sparring later and testing our combinations."

"Fine," I called back as I ducked a hook. "Sorry but this ends now."

I rose, striking his chest with a palm. He was confused and smiled, probably thinking i had done no damage and was open, but then the burst of pure solar power hit him and he screamed at the burning as he was sent flying away.

I could have formed another spatial marked spear, but they were costly, and it wasn't really needed. I walked over and found him laying on his back with a pained look on his face and a severe burn mark on his chest. It looked nasty and sizzled. I sort of felt a bit bad. I could have used a mix of poison and injected that into him using some small hollow wooden spears or a knife, though I had no idea how resistant he was. I had been surprised he was resistant to paralytic poison though it's not like I was facing a lower arcanist or a normal human. He was an aether beast, a smart one, but still an aether beast and no doubt even weaker Aether beasts had better natural resistance than normal humans. Rall was from the lands beyond the scar and so had probably grown in strength over his life so he was probably even more resistant, though enough and strong enough types would have worked, No point in risking it though.

I leaned down and stared into Rall's eyes. "This is a warning, the only warning you'll get it. I will turn you into ashes if you cross the line again, understand?"

He gulped then nodded.

"Good."

It was then that I realized I couldn't hear any sounds of fighting which meant Misty was done. I stood and turned to see her opponent on his ass with his hands over his ears.

"Did you use a sonic attack?" I asked. "I didn't hear it."

Misty smiled. "It was point-blank, into an ear."

I winced. "Oof, did you pop his eardrums?"

She nodded. "Probably, but they can be healed. without too much problem. I think I could have blasted his brain and head to bits if I had used more power. My fight ended quickly."

"Good thing you didn't and well I wanted to spend a bit longer sparring him," I replied. "He's strong, but unskilled and relies way too much on simple techniques and his raw power. I could have beat him in the first exchange."

"Indeed you could have," Zirani said, waving to two dryads to come and help Rall and the guard. "Now that we are done with that, we can begin the proper training. You two already have your weights on so I want—"

"What!"

We all turned to see Shana with a shocked look on her face. When she noticed our attention she blushed and stuttered. "Y-you have the weights from yesterday on while you were fighting?"

"Lesser versions," Zirani said. "The ones from yesterday would be too much and they would not be able to fight or spar properly. Those are for pure physical conditioning and training. Now if you can't be silent then leave."

Shana nodded. "I'm sorry, I'll be quiet."

"Good." Zirani turned back to us. "As I was saying I want to start you two off with your techniques and synergy."

For the next few hours, Zirani worked me and Misty to the bone, starting with our synergy in using techniques and how best to use them together, and to be efficient in our use of aether. She had us go over various moves, comboing our techniques in between and going from pure fists or in my case, glaive as well, to techniques and switching. She sparred with each of us, giving us pointers and tips when needed. Counter attacking and using openings to your advantage. Timing attacks and techniques so that we could be as efficient as possible and not waste any time as seconds could mean the difference between defeat and victory in a fight.

I preferred this type of training a lot more than the simple physical stuff because I loved learning how to use my techniques in a better way and how to synergize them and chain them together. How to combine their effects and when best to use one over another. This was true combat training, and I loved it, even when I got my ass handed to me my Zirani, not that I expected any different.

I was also glad to finally be using my glaive again, and despite Zirani wanting me to learn other weapons as well, she was fine with me using the glaive as long as I didn't get too attached. Yes, there were those who focus on a weapon like a sword, spear, or glaive, but I was more of a specialist in a way in that my fighting style was very much varied and changed according to who I was facing.

No matter who Misty faced, she always favored speed, and Sandra loved skirmishing at range, but I was none of that. It was sort of like I was a jack of all trades, but instead of being a master of none, Zirani wanted me to be a master of many.

And I couldn't lie, that sounded amazing.