--- Roric

Now that he had a clearer idea about his own motivation, Roric trained day and night.

The frequent variations of the obstacle course bothered him less and less. Results which seemed impossible to achieve at the beginning were now well within his grasp, thanks to Barden's intuition and skill as an instructor. The boy's Elemental body strengthened, adapted and went beyond what it could do before, even surprising him at times.

Roric was now able to perform longer and higher jumps. He could run while carrying all his equipment for nearly a hour straight, and climb trees and fences with little to no effort. Moreover, his balance and agility had also improved. Recovering from the ground and not ending down there in the first place became like breathing to him.

What he was still unable to do, for now, was surpassing Barden with the sword. Between his reflexes and all the experience gathered in their duels, the young warrior could even keep up with his opponent when he wasn't being too serious. The problem was, he was always serious.

No matter how fast Roric thought to be, the man turned out to be faster. In order to win that confrontation, he had to exploit his nature to the fullest like he had been told to. Up to that point, he had only focused on his ability to shoot lightning. Now it was time to see what else an Elemental could do.

So, every evening, the boy started going in the forest and just sat there, the same way he did when Tolwin was the one teaching him. He listened to the surroundings for a hour or so, trying to perceive the sound of his spirit and draw its power out more smoothly. Despite his efforts, however, there was no degree of control over the speed at which the energy was unleashed. It erupted all at once, in a single moment, violently. Unable to slow it down, Roric was overwhelmed and hurt. And thus was the reason behind the usual drawbacks of his gift.

This isn't working... Ow. If only there was a method I could use, one that allowed me to direct it where I want...

The extent of his powers, so far, was creating discharges from his hands. The young warrior refused to accept that it was all. There had to be something else he could do with them.

***

It took him a couple more days to figure out the next step. It happened by chance, as he was completing his morning run of the course, right after failing again his duel with the old man.

Roric was focused on the sound of his own footsteps on the ground, or rather the slippery bed of leaves that lay above it. His recent defeat had inflicted another harsh blow to his pride, but his patience was the one most damaged by it.

There is little time left. I don't know how, but I can tell. I've been here for more than a month and Barden is still mopping the floor with me. I need to become faster, much faster than this, or I'll never beat Rickhart.

His mind went to Elise, his friend. Mountains and rivers separated them, but in every moment the boy felt the need to see her, to be sure she was safe. He didn't dare to think that the necromancer could have already defeated Cassidia, while he wasted weeks in that forest.

No... There's no way it happened. Not this soon...

One of the boulders he was supposed to jump onto appeared in the distance, but Roric was too absorbed in his thoughts to pay attention to it. He came to the realization when his feet were already in the air.

Uh?

Standing on the top of the obstacle, the young warrior stopped and reflected. Barden claimed that the Elementals possessed the ability of boosting their physical abilities, just as he did. Spiritual magic had much in common with the body, but was it really the same for someone like Roric?

There's no sense in... Shocking myself. It can't be that simple.

Yet, before his reason could hold him back, the boy jumped back on the ground and counted ten steps away from the rock.

It's just a test. I've been struck by lightning and survived, and my powers only make my head hurt if I use them with moderation... All I have to do is touching my legs before I make the leap. In theory.

It was kind of a long shot, but he had to try. Roric had never tried anything similar with his abilities. And now, he was curious. He sprinted towards the boulder, making the same movements as before, waiting to reach the appropriate distance. Then, his fingers grabbed his thighs.

Here goes nothing!

The energy was pulled out, as usual, but apart from some ringing in his ears the boy couldn't say his jump had become different. Still, something clearly felt different. For a fraction of a second, the time it took for the sparks to travel until Roric's feet, his muscles had reacted to them. It was similar to a itch, but the young warrior knew his body well enough to tell what it was. His skin had deflected his attack. All of it.

Damn it. Well, it's not that surprising, because of what I am. But that vibration inside... I'm not sure. Let's try again.

After thinking that, the boy leaped while shocking his lower limbs a second time, producing no immediate result. Yet, because of how he was focusing on it, he was able to perceive the twitch more clearly. It almost resonated with the energy flowing on the surface, inviting him to go further.

It really is the same as spiritual magic. As long as I am attuned with it, then...

Gulping, Roric returned to the initial position. He didn't have much strength left, considering the fact that he also needed to complete the course, but he had to try at least once more.

My body... I couldn't feel it well, yesterday, but after this I can't turn back. Not now that I'm so close to uncover the secret. When the sparks touched me... I saw the exact shape of my muscles. I'm not mistaken. If I ignore my hands and shoot a discharge directly into them, maybe...

The young warrior ran forward, without thinking too hard about it. Something told him his plan would have worked perfectly. That had to be his nature, the instinct Barden had invited him to embrace. Roric only had to trust it, and let his fear go.

Woah!

His legs powered up simultaneously when he left the ground, springing his weight up like it was nonexistent. The trees that lay on the background just a moment before came closer. The boy had no time to even wonder of what had happened, falling into a brush. When he came to his senses and looked in the opposite direction, a couple of seconds after that, Roric was amazed.

The boulder was at least five meters from where he sat, and hadn't moved in any way. It was him who had jumped that distance.

What? I... I did this? I... Ugh!

Unsurprisingly, the boy's legs were aching like crazy, but this time he didn't care. He stretched out, laughing, because of what he had discovered.

Finally... I got it, finally! Just wait until I'm able to move the rest of myself like this, Barden!

***

Only a little burst. Remember, you can't sustain it.

Four days after his experiment, Roric felt much better. With some effort, he had managed to develop a weaker version of his new ability and enhance the power of his arms as well as his legs'. Yet, he had to be very careful with it. When jumping the boulder, the boy had underestimated how much straining it would be to use his powers that way. A single leap had impaired his movements for nearly two hours. In a fight, he knew he couldn't do it more than once.

I haven't told Barden, but I'm sure he figured out that something's off. Today, I'll show him what I've learned. I hope it's enough. It has to be enough.

The old man was waiting for him in a place near the house. There must have been a flame in Roric's eyes, because he immediately went on the defensive and addressed him from afar.

"You've changed, kid."

"Really?" the young warrior replied. "Let's see if it's true, then!"

Their blades clashed, again and again, like many times in the previous weeks. The student had grown used to the sudden changes of direction his master would take, and the ways he managed the distance between their weapons. It was an elegant and complicated style, Roric had to admit, but after all his failures he had learned how to analyze it, how to dissect it.

It's almost like he's moving a bit slower than before.

Barden blurted out an order. "Stop."

The young warrior obeyed, but didn't put his sword away. Not while the elder still had his own out. It would have meant not understanding one of their first lessons.

Never lower your guard, Roric.

"Good," observed his master, with a nod. "You seem more confident. What happened?"

"Let's say I might have found what you told me about."

The man started laughing. "If you say so. You must be sure about it, since you are trying this hard. Then, I hope you won't mind if I go a little harder."

"No. Not at all."

Roric's voice sounded firm and full of determination. He was ready to withstand Flash of Steel Barden in all his glory, or at least the amount of glory his age allowed him. In the past, the boy had always been beaten by him when he decided to amplify his strength. This time, however, he would have been the one on the offensive.

Gripping the weapon with both hands, he faced his opponent and waited.

A single blow is all I need. It must be out of the blue, or he'll see through it and parry. At that point, I won't have enough energy left to press on and lose. This is the day I surpass him. I know he's old and weaker than how he used to be, but I don't care. Even be able to measure myself against a swordsman like him was an incredible experience.

Barden charged in his usual, calculated fashion. There wasn't any overflow in his technique, any wasted move. Not even an inch of his attacking pattern was wasted in useless embellishments. It was pure, effective skill, backed by a superhuman speed that made it nearly impossible to react to. Nearly.

Roric deflected the man's first, second and third strikes using what he had learned from him, jumping to the right to avoid an horizontal cut he always used as a backup to transition into another form. His powers weren't needed, for now, because of how much his muscles had been improved by the training.

All that running and climbing wasn't for nothing. Compared to one month ago, I feel as light as a feather.

"You are open!" yelled Barden.

"I'm not!" answered the young warrior, dodging his master's blade by a hair.

It's time. I have to show him that I deserve his respect. The next time he comes...

The elder shifted into a one-handed grip, one that even Roric had only seen a couple of times, but the boy had already figured out the trick. When he had first faced it, the sudden change had disoriented him, but now things were very different.

Their swords touched, and it wasn't going to happen again.

Now!

An instant later, the boy was pointing the edge of his weapon to the side of Barden's neck. The two stopped moving, exchanging a glance, then the master conceded. Roric fell in the grass, panting.

Wow... I did it. At last...

The man sat down in front of him. "You know, I've never wished to see the birth of another monster like me."

"So... It means I'm good?"

"I could only say it if I saw Rickhart in action, but..."

"But?"

Barden stood back up, and sheathed his blade.

"You passed my test," he admitted. "If someone can defeat him, that's you. Now the responsibility is in your hands."

Roric breathed of relief, and headed towards the house to retrieve his stuff and the horse. There seemed to be no need for pleasantries between him and his master. Just the fact that he had finally become as good as him was enough for both of them. And now, there wasn't any reason keeping him in that forsaken place.

Still... I don't want to leave and forget about him. He helped me so much. It was also a way to redeem himself, I've little doubt of that... But something changed in the moment I beat him.

"So," the boy said, packing his things up, "Are you sure I'm ready? Or is there some secret you'd like to entrust me before I go?"

"You are. There's nothing left I can teach you. Now you can stop bothering me for good."

Yet, Barden didn't sound convincing like before. His voice wasn't remotely as stern as usual. Just by hearing him, the boy understood what was going on, and let him be. He didn't want to force him to say it.

He is probably too stubborn to tell anyone, but he is happy for me.

They glared at each other for unending moments, without speaking. The man broke the silence abruptly, seemingly back to his old self, but a foreign note, much gentler and more human, pervaded his tone of warmth and pride.

"So... What are you doing?"

"Me?"

"Who else?" asked the elder. "Don't you have a kingdom to save?"

Roric simply smiled. "You are right."

He began walking, with his mount in tow, then he looked behind and stopped one last time.

"What about you, master? What are you going to do?"

Barden sighed, and in that sigh there was something more than an annoyed old man who wanted to be left alone. It was a sigh of frustration, a sigh belonging to a person who would have wanted to witness the end of that story, but couldn't.

"I have definitely lived for too long," he replied. "I did my part. I think I'll stay here, and I hope I'll never see you again."

"You know, master Barden, you are a really weird man."

"Say that to the one who wants to challenge Rickhart. Now move, Roric."

Holding a laugh, the young warrior went forth. Barden had just called him with his name. That was what he needed to know that he had finally earned his respect.

"Wish him good luck, master!" he yelled, cheerfully. "He is going to need it!"

Wait for me, everyone.