Touch of Fate

Chapter 113: Subtle Growth

Brenden sighed as he watched his student fall for the third time in as many minutes. She struggled back to her feet and resumed running, despite the fact that she could barely stand.

Thankfully, it was early enough that the training yard was largely deserted, so no one witnessed her sloppy form with the exception of one gray haired man, who worked out every morning about this time. Judging from his slender, yet incredibly toned physique and the smoothly lethal motions he practiced, Brenden assumed he was an instructor in the Martial Arts Department.

As Sera collapsed for the fourth time, he went with Tal to give her a hand up. Part of him wished that Mike was present, since a little bit of healing magic would go a long way towards increasing the amount of time she could train. Of course he was fairly certain they'd end up with another set of problems as compensation.

Maybe a bunch of arrogant nobles would pick a fight with them, or an assassin would target one of the other students while they were nearby, or he'd accidentally uncover a secret chamber below the storage shed that housed the angry ghost of a former headmaster. It was probably for the best that he was tied up with other things.

He'd started Sera off on running laps around the training yard, followed by a few body weight exercises designed to build strength and endurance in the arms and upper body. It became increasingly apparent though, that the Oracle had rarely exercised with any intensity. A mere 10km jog had her near the point of fainting. Brenden couldn't understand how a person so close to his age could be so out of shape.

Mike, of course, would have found this assumption ridiculous.

"You good? We still have a lot more to do before we stop for breakfast." The beastman asked while leveraging the girl to her feet.

"I..cango...on." Sera gasped while trying to keep her balance using his arm. Her legs looked like they were threatening to give out at any moment.

[Well, she's got spirit at the very least. Now if she can just pick up a few physical skills, she'll be at a good starting point.]

"I think we'll call it quits on the conditioning exercises for now. Let's move on to archery practice."

The training yard had a section devoted to archery targets, which were basically bundles of straw made to look like a humanoid figure.

After Sera had caught her breath, and could stand on her own, she picked up the practice bow, a quiver of blunted arrows, and took up a place along the firing line.

She assumed a decent stance, drew back her first arrow with trembling arms, and let loose. It went about 3m before falling to the ground. Frowning, she tried again, this time making it less than 2m.

[Might have to look for a bow with less pull weight. I think they make some for children.]

Tal walked over and took the bow from Sera.

"Relax. Deep breath. Let flow." With one smooth motion the elf drew and fired, striking the center of the target dummy with apparent ease.

Brenden snorted, not surprised that Tal was able to shoot that well. She had a lot of hidden depths. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her do something ridiculous with little apparent effort. However, when compared to the idiot genius Mike, who regularly performed the impossible by accident, she tended to be overshadowed.

Sera tried again, taking Tal's advice. Drawing the bow back as far as she could manage, she took a moment to breathe in and out, and steady her aim. With a simple motion she released the arrow. Brenden watched it as it arced through the air before slamming into the target dummy's knee.

"I did! I hit the target." Sera celebrated, jumping up and down. This was the first time she'd really succeeded at something since they had started training her, and she was understandably excited.

"Well done." Tal commented in monotone, but it was clear that she was proud of Sera.

An arrogant voice, dripping with sarcasm broke in. "Wow, are you really happy with that shot? I've seen kids do better than that. Not to mention it took you multiple tries to even get close to the target. It's hard to believe that you are a fellow student."

"I don't think she's a student, Carson. She's covered in dirt, so probably a servant girl." Another voice, female and a little whiny this time, answered in turn.

A pair of students dressed in the crimson uniform of the Martial Arts department had approached while they were distracted. The one called Carson was a tall, blonde, and athletic looking man. Many would consider him handsome, but his arrogant smirk twisted his features into something ugly. He had one arm draped around the shoulders of a slender brunette, who was clinging to him.

A second dark haired man stood behind the couple, dressed in a simple grey tunic, sword resting on one hip. He kept his face neutral, but a hint of a frown could be seen on his lips. Brenden could tell with a glance that this man was a bodyguard, and a particularly well trained one at that.

"Hey, I'm still learning! I hadn't picked up a bow until yesterday." Sera responded defensively. She spoke without thinking, and he could tell that she instantly regretted her words.

Carson's smirk turned into a full on predatory grin. "Seems we have a servant who doesn't understand her place."

Gritting her teeth, Sera bowed her head. "Apologies, my lord. I spoke out of turn."

"It sounds like she's apologizing, doesn't it Gina?" He asked is female companion.

"I think so Carson, but I'm not really sure." She gave her own predatory grin.

He held up a finger in mock realization. "Ah! I know what's wrong. She's still standing. Why don't you try again from your knees. Really get down in that dirt. Its where you belong, after all."

The couple laughed at Sera's grimace as she started trembling.

Brenden had seen this kind of noble in the past, and been the target of more than a few of them. When he was younger, he quickly learned that the best method was to simply give in to their twisted games. Once they had their fun, they would move on, leaving you beaten but alive. He'd seen what happened to those that resisted, and it wasn't pretty.

He figured that they wouldn't be able to do anything too crazy here on campus, especially since they didn't know who they were associated with. Push too hard and they'd risk angering the wrong noble. Besides, Mike would be held accountable for anything they did. Depending on how things played out, he could even be expelled. It would be safest to just do as they want.

He simply had to let them humiliate Sera right in front him.

There was a stab of memory. A dirty ally, strewn with garbage. Ragged cloth and blood. The noble's feral grin. Her limp body.

"What's this? The mutt wants to play the hero?" Carson asked in a mockingly, however there was hint of fear in voice.

Brenden realized he was now standing in front of Sera protectively. Judging from the way the bodyguard tensed, some of his feelings must be showing on his face. There was a cold rage building deep within him. He felt his hand creep towards the hilt of his sword.

"I believe that is quite enough of that." The athletic old man was suddenly standing in the middle of them. His body posture seemed relaxed, but Brenden felt an intense pressure.

"Master Liam, I didn't see you there. My apologies for not greeting you." Carson's personality had completely reversed, as he now spoke with respect and humility.

"Then you need to work on your awareness. I have been here for hours. Long enough to witness this young woman work harder than most Martial Arts students." He spoke in a calm measured manner, stroking his neatly trimmed goatee with one hand. "I fail to see why a honorable student of this department would lower himself to harassing her."

Liam was not a large man. Both Carson and Brenden stood a head taller than him, and outweighed him by several kilograms. However, his presence alone made him feel like a giant.

"Master, this low-class woman spoke to me out of turn. I was merely doing my duty in disciplining her, when this beastman threatened me."

Brenden felt another surge of anger, and opened his mouth to speak, but stopped when he felt a small pat on his shoulder.

Sera muttered a quiet, "Thanks," before stepping out in front of him.

Sketching a humble bow, she spoke in a steady manner, "The lord speaks true Master Liam. He saw fit to offer his advice on my poor archery, and in a moment of anger I spoke out harshly towards him, spurning his good intentions. For this, I once again apologize, my lord."

Liam looked over at Carson, "It seems your lesson has proven sufficient." He waved his hand in a dismissive manner that said the matter was now closed.

"Now, if I recall you are scheduled to attend Instructor Hugh's class this morning. You may want to hurry, Hugh is not one to forgive tardiness."

"Thank you for the reminder, Master Liam." The noble replied, before stalking off with barely concealed anger, dragging his female companion in his wake. The bodyguard gave Brenden one more apologetic shrug as he moved to follow.

"Thank you for stopping my friend, Master Liam," Sera gestured towards Brenden, "It almost ended poorly for everyone involved."

The old man laughed at that. "Not to insult the young man, he seems to be an accomplished warrior in his own right, but I took action to stop your other friend. Unless I missed my guess, your quiet elven companion was about to eviscerate all three of them in a hail of magic. I've rarely seen such a potent rage so well contained."

Brenden looked over at Tal, and saw the woman visible forcing herself to relax. He noticed a trickle of blood from her palm, where her nails had cut into the skin.

Liam turned to face Sera fully, "I must say, miss, I'm impressed. Not only do you have the will and determination to improve yourself, but you carry yourself with both wisdom and humility. It is rare to see such a combination in one your age."

Sera gave another bow. "Thank you for your compliment, Master Liam."

The old man stroke his beard once more. "Would you be interested in a few pointers from an old man? I used to be a fair archer back in the old days."