“Focus,” Mahku repeated as Curt once again stumbled onto the ground.

“I’m trying,” Curt said through gritted teeth as he pushed himself up. Every muscle in his body was starting to feel sore, and it wasn’t even noon yet. The sweat coating his palms threatened to make his revolvers slip out of his grasp.

The moment Curt was back on his feet, Mahku tossed another pebble. Curt barely managed to lift one of the pistols to block the faintly glowing stone before the impact knocked him off his feet. Both he and the pebble crashed down on the dirt, the pebble losing its magical luster in the process.

“You have to concentrate your mana into the exact spot before impact,” Mahku lectured, readying another pebble. The smooth rock softly began to glow with magical energy as Mahku poured his mana into it.

“I know,” Curt said. His knees wobbled as he tried to stand up. He lost count of how many pebbles Mahku had thrown, but the fact that he was struggling to block pebbles of all things was defeating.

“Let us break for lunch,” Mahku said, letting the pebble in his hand drop back to the ground. Mahku seemed to sense that Curt was at his limit. He might not be able to see Curt’s legs shake and the sweat staining his shirt, but Mahku sometimes seemed more perceptive than a sighted person.

Either way, Curt didn’t care what reason Mahku had. He was beat. He let himself collapse onto the dirt, breathing hard. The morning was barely over and he was already exhausted. Letting Bauph take his place in the duel seemed more attractive than going through another day of being smacked by pebbles.

No. Curt brushed the thought away. If he gave up here, that meant it was over. Fighting was the only thing he was ever good at in the Dusts, and he didn’t intend to lose that talent down in Sanora.

He glanced down at the hand-me-down guns from Otto. The sleek, electric green barrels gave off the illusion that they were glowing in the sunlight. Whatever Kirina did to craft these, she did a damn good job. According to Mahku, the fact that the guns were so well made was one of the reasons why he was even able to use them.

“The ability to channel magic into a weapon is a two part affair,” Mahku had explained that morning. “Familiarity with the weapon and its craftsmanship both contribute to how much one’s mana actually manifests. The fact that you are able to shoot using those speaks to your affinity to the weapons and their make.”

Hence, the grueling training of learning how to block with them. Magic-augmented strikes apparently just pass through mundane defenses like a bullet through a piece of paper. People with normal mana centers, according to Mahku, naturally have some defense against magic. Except in Curt’s case, he was deficient in magic. The only way for him to defend against magical attacks was a proactive approach.

“The only way you’ll be able to even compete against magic-users,” Mahku had said. “Is by learning how to utilize what little mana you have to maximum efficacy. You don’t have the luxury of just covering yourself with magic; instead, you’ll have to learn how to use the minimum amount of mana with pinpoint precision.”

Blocking with his revolvers wasn’t exactly a new technique to Curt, but focusing his mana into one spot was. He hadn’t been directly struck with any pebbles yet, but he hasn’t been able to deflect any either. So far, each pebble has knocked him onto the ground.

Curt picked himself back off the ground. Lunch sounded pretty good actually. Now that he had time to take a breather, he became acutely aware of his rumbling stomach. He made his way to the center of camp, where Mahku had already sat down and begun eating. Jesse was nowhere to be seen; he left in the morning with the excuse of running some errands in Endyre.

But Curt figured Jesse was trying to avoid him. He didn’t really want to see the guy anyways — he had his training to focus on instead. Curt could apologize later.

“Quite a spread,” Curt remarked as he took a seat and began eating. The amount of food laid out was more than enough for the two of them. Maybe Mahku accidentally prepared Jesse’s share too?

“I made sure to make enough for our guests,” Mahku replied.

Just as Curt was about to ask what guests Mahku was talking about, two familiar faces emerged from the tree line.

“I see you’ve been training hard, Curt,” Xujen said as he walked up to them, Bauph right behind him. “I wish you had told us that you were going to train under Mahku. Our time in Sahnju may have been cut short, but here we have the opportunity to learn directly from a dojo master.”

Seeing Curt’s look of surprise, Bauph explained, “Tera told us you were training under Mahku. Once Xujen heard that, there was no stopping him.”

“I get why Xujen’s here,” Curt said. He wondered whether Tera told them about the state of his mana center. He didn’t think she would, but then again, there was no reason why she’d withhold that information. Especially when it might affect the duel tomorrow. “But why are you?”

“Tera said I could help with your training,” Bauph answered.

“Indeed you might be able to,” Mahku said. He gestured for them to join in lunch, and Xujen eagerly complied. “You were a Holy Order member, were you not? With the duel within a day, your restorative arts will come in handy in Curt’s training. Time is a luxury we don’t have.”

“I don’t mind,” Bauph said. “As long as I’m not included in the training.”

“Excellent. Then after lunch, let’s immediately resume the training. Xujen, you can train with Curt.”

“Of course,” Xujen nodded seriously.

Curt imagined Xujen would be bored of throwing magic-infused pebbles at him, but then again, Xujen found scrubbing dojo floors to be invigorating training. Still, that meant he had to get the hang of blocking the pebbles soon. He didn’t want Xujen or Bauph to see how pathetic he was by getting floored by a piece of rock.

Training indeed resumed right after lunch. Mahku ordered Xujen to do the pebble tossing, as Curt expected. Bauph cast something on Curt that gave him an energy boost, and he was almost feeling like he did before the training. The soreness of his muscles might’ve been a dream.

Until they returned just an hour of pebble training later. His muscles were once again crying in agony with every movement, and revolvers in his hands felt like lead weights. He wasn’t getting knocked over with every throw anymore, but he was also tiring out faster.

“Stop,” Mahku commanded. Xujen let go of the pebble he was about the throw, and Curt let himself relax finally.

Xujen was staring curiously at Curt. He figured Xujen didn’t understand why deflecting a simple rock was so hard — even if it was magic-infused. So Tera didn’t tell them anything about his mana center after all. Bauph was also staring at Curt, but with an expression of concern.

“I don’t understand what this training is about,” Xujen said, turning toward Mahku. “Did you put some sort of restraint on Curt’s magic to help him train?”

Mahku remained silent, but faced Curt instead. Then he realized what Mahku was waiting for.

“Tell them,” Curt said. He lost the energy to care a long time ago. “They’re bound to find out anyways.”

Mahku nodded. While the ex-dojo master explained Curt’s condition, Curt decided to take a break in the shade of the trees. He didn’t want to hear the explanation again — once was enough. Yesterday, Jesse and Tera. Today, Xujen and Bauph. He wondered how many people he disillusioned since coming to Sanora. But, they’re the ones who overestimated him in the first place.

Just as he felt some of his energy returning, Mahku called him back. Curt reluctantly returned to the clearing that served as a makeshift training ground.

“I had no idea,” Xujen began.

“Neither did I,” Curt interrupted.

Xujen was shaking his head. “I’ve never heard of something like a fragmented mana center before. If it’s true, you fighting in the duel is too dangerous.”

“I agree with Xujen,” Bauph said. The large priest gave Mahku a pointed look. “I’m surprised Mahku didn’t mention to you the dangers yet.”

“Dangers?” Curt looked at Mahku whose expression was blank. “Wasn’t it just that I can’t block magic-attacks normally?”

“There is more,” Mahku said. “But I didn’t want to distract you from your training. I would have told you afterwards, and then you could make your final decision in participating in the duel.”“I thought I made my final decision already. What aren’t you telling me?”

Bauph was the one to answer. “You noticed those enchanted pebbles hit pretty hard right? Well, magic typically does that. Enhanced strength, elemental effects, and so on. If you were hit square on without a normal mana center to protect you, you’d die. Or at the very least, mortally wounded.”

“I’m used to fighting with my life on the line, with the outcome hinging on a single hit,” Curt said. “That’s kind of how gun duels work.”

Bauph narrowed his eyes, but remained silent.

“To still want to train and fight in the duel with a broken mana center is an admirable goal,” Xujen said. “But I agree with Bauph, even if the rules of the duel tomorrow include no killing, with no defense against magic you may be accidentally killed.”

“Isn’t that what I’m training for today? To guard against magic?”

“That’s not all,” Bauph said. “If blocking is draining you so much, how do you expect to have enough energy to even attack? You probably can only fire a few shots in a fight, and if none of those land, you’re out of options.”Curt hadn’t considered that, but maybe he should have. After all, the bullets he fired drew from the same reservoir of mana. He wished he had normal, straightforward guns that used actual bullets. But down in Sanora, he doubt they sold ammo.

“I can take your place,” Bauph said. “I don’t mind that much. Besides, if I go last, I’m sure Xujen and Tera will win and then I wouldn’t have to fight anyways.”

“I’m going to fight.” Curt had made up his mind yesterday. If he was going to die in a duel because he couldn’t master magic, then so be it. It was a stroke of luck that his life didn’t end earlier. “The day’s not over yet anyways. I can still improve.”

“If that is your decision, then it is not our place to deny you,” Xujen said.

Bauph sighed, but Curt could tell he wasn’t going to oppose his decision anymore. “Fine. Let’s get you topped off then.”

An hour of being pelted followed by a reenergizing cast became the routine for the rest of the day. Dinner was devoured within minutes so training could be resumed right away, and before Curt knew it, night had fallen.

Panting, Curt turned towards Mahku, and asked, “What do you think?”

“I think... you can fight in the duel,” Mahku finally answered. “But you must promise me one thing, if you feel like you won’t be able to block the next attack, you must surrender.”

Xujen and Bauph were nodding, agreeing with Mahku’s term. Curt hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but he was too relieved to finally hear some good news to worry about possibly surrendering. Maybe there was some hope for him in Sanora. If he won that duel tomorrow, against an A-rank guild member, that meant he still might be worth something down here.