DAY 2:

Heading towards Tillett’s that morning I decided that even though I can use magic I’m going to wait.

After all I decided to play the fool.

Even though I won’t be using my magic I’m still going to utilize my time wisely. I’ll spend my time learning Tillett’s movements and if I’m lucky maybe I’ll see some kind of weakness. With this plan it gives me a couple days to learn proper swordsmen-ship without revealing the only surprise I can throw at him.

The issue though is if I use my magic I feel it isn’t strong enough to even truly surprise Tillett, after all he’s an official knight. Tillett has more than likely seen magic and probably has his ways to deal with it. I won’t be ignorant and expect surprising him to be enough. So besides from learning Tillett’s movements I’m also going to learn a new spell.

On top of that I decided that for the next 5 days I’m going to be using the support and protect incantation. However, I won’t be using these moves in battles until the last day. This is the only way I can get the power upgrade that I defiantly need.

So, every other time I’m not battling I will activate them. I know that if I chant the spell they become immensely stronger and more stable but the moment you do that it materializes.

That means Tillett will see it and if he has seen the spell used before he will know how to react.

Due to the fact I’m using the basic of the basic I’m sure he has seen it….

However, my solution is that I can use mind materialization which activate spells without the need to chant it out loud. Even though its weaker and not as stable, the advantage is I’m the only one that can see it.

I only know this because I am the one that created the “mind materialization” spell. Cool name huh?! Though I originally made it, so I could use magic without my mother knowing.

Who would of thought that my mother being a tyrant would help me now?!

The whole way to Tillett’s house I used mind materialization with support and protect. Once I arrived I still kept it activated, I know the longer I’m able to use these spells the stronger they will become.

However mentally it’s draining, the amount of focus needed in order to activate these spells and the fact I have two activated at the same time is an overload in itself. Combine that with the fact that after 30 minutes of mind materialization sweat starts condensing on my forehead and my ability to focus deteriorates.

Luckily Tillett seems to think the reason I’m sweating is for an entirely different reason.

With a smirk of victory before the battles have even begun “Seems to me someone is nervous for day 2? After yesterday’s defeat do you feel like you have no hope? If you are so hopeless I will permit you to give up right now, and if you do so I won’t tell the healer about your use of magic. However, you must never come here again.”

So yesterday Tillett scared me and today he is giving me a way out. Does he believe I haven’t noticed everything he says is to either provoke me or test my resolve?

With frustration from his comment and the exhaustion I was feeling from mind materialization I answered “Do you believe I am stupid? I have already told you I want to be your student, nothing you say will change that!”

Battling is the only time I can stop using mind materialization, I am actually wanting to jump in and get beaten right now!

With that thought in mind before Tillett could even respond from my outburst I got into the same stance he had used yesterday. Right foot slightly forward with my hips following the same position. My hands in the middle of my torso, the only noticeable difference was I required the use of both hands to hold my weapon.

Tillett didn’t miss a beat and followed my lead. There was a moment of silence and then we both lunged forward.

Instantly both of our wooden weapons clashed, the amount of strength Tillett had used surprised me and caused me to take a step back.

Of course, in that moment he tried to throw me off balance by attempting to kick me with his right foot.

He didn’t know then, but I was ready...

Only because after fighting all day yesterday with Tillett I had learned the basics of his fighting style.

I learned he was not the kind to miss an opportunity to defeat his opponent, even if it is risky. If there is the slightest opening, he will attack.

Though I know that’s not the most dangerous aspect of Tillett’s fighting style. What makes his fighting style deadly and unique is that even though he has a weapon he does not solely relied on it.

By the time it takes you to realize that though it’s already too late.

However, for someone like me who gets beaten by Tillett multiple times I have learned this VERY quickly.

After you realize this it causes you to be extremely fearful when Tillett is in close proximity, because you never know if he is going to slice you open or use his free hand to break your ribs. Basically, you have to fight Tillett as if he possesses two weapons, his sword and his fist.

The moment you don’t pay attention to one of these weapons you will regret it. Trust me.

The moment Tillett lifted his right foot to try and trip me I knew that was my chance.

I would have to use all my power to knock his weapon out of his hand.

Not having both feet planted makes it, so you can’t use as much power. Seeing how Tillett had lifted his foot in order to trip me had caused him to automatically lose half the power he initially had when our sticks clashed. Also, our weapons where still touching from the initial clash.

So, all I have to do is add some power.

The moment I put all my body weight and effort into forcing the weapon out of Tillett’s hand was the moment he smiled.

well I’m happy to see him get excited about beating me… What is he a sadist?

The force I exuded on Tillett’s weapon causes him to retract his foot, because of this he couldn’t trip me or else he would lose his grip.

I know the moment Tillett has both feet planted I’m at a loss. The fact that he only needs one hand to keep me at bay while we clash weapons means he can easily use his right hand to literally knock me out. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was off balance I believe I already would be…

So, at the very moment he retracts his foot in order to overpower me, I instantly stop applying pressure against his weapon while simultaneously taking a step back. Tillett’s eyes seemed to grow bigger as he momentarily fell forward because of the force he was using against me.

HAHA..How do you like the taste of your own medicine!?

In that instance I use the same technique Tillett had used on me the day before.

While Tillett was trying to stop from falling forward I used his momentum against him, just like he had done to me.

I immediately got behind him using the side step he had implemented the other day and within an instance I struck his back with everything I had.

Unfortunately, the moment I struck Tillett’s back he had already used his weapon to strike my left side.

Like I said fights with an official knight never goes as planned…

The moment I had used the side step Tillett had placed his right hand on the ground in order to stop his fall forward and at the same time he used the other hand to strike the life out of me.

That strike hit my left ribcage causing me to be gasping for air and at the same time landing me in my most familiar place....the ground.

Regardless if that man had balance or not he was strong, and you felt it.

While I was laying on the ground clutching my left side, Tillett had stood up and extended a hand “let me help you up.”

As I was helped up I became extremely frustrated that Tillett didn’t even seem to be hurt by my attack. While I on the other hand was almost crippled by the attack he had given me.

What the hell was this guy made out of??

As if Tillett knew what I was thinking “Even if you feel like you caused no harm after hitting an opponent Neo all you can do is hit them again. Just because you don’t see damage doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

“Well I might be blind because I don’t see any damage…” I pouted.

“Huh….to explain it simply Neo when you are fighting someone it is more than just a physical fight there is a psychological fight going on as well. The moment you struck me even if I didn’t take immense damage, I might start to second guess all of my movements. If I feel like you know how I’m going to react I can become desperate. These are all things that you can do in order to exhaust your opponent in battle. This is even more true when you are battling someone who thinks they can’t be defeated. Even though you didn’t critically hurt them you were still able to hit them, pride gets in the way and anger blinds opponent’s. So yes, Neo you didn’t cause damage physically, but you can significantly rattle your opponent psychologically.”

As I soaked in everything Tillett said I knew he was right, battling someone isn’t just about strength. Experience, knowledge and mental state play a huge role.

But just because I understood didn’t mean I was ready to admit that he was right…

While looking down still upset over the way I reacted earlier “Still there is no denying that power plays a huge role, I have more to be fearful of because I know that with one hit you can potentially end the battle.” I finished while frowning.

With a smile creeping on his face “Your fear makes you crafty, and as you saw it is to your benefit. Today Neo you were able to hit me, you were also able to do the technique I used the day before. Even though you didn’t win you have improved significantly and you should take pride in that.”

“.... Hmmm, I suppose it is a big accomplishment to hit an official knight, are you sure you weren’t holding back?!” with a sly smile growing on my face.

We continued like that for the rest of the day. Even though we had more time compared to yesterday our battles lasted much longer. With us only being able to do 20 battles, no surprise I lost all of them though I was able to hold my own significantly more than yesterday. Tillett let me go home a little earlier and I had no objections. The fatigue I was feeling was not something I was accustomed to. On top of that I am supposed to use mind materialization on the way home.

By the time I had finally reached my home….it all went dark.

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I woke up to my mother’s warm healing white light, it illuminated my room which was now dark.

Grumbling from still being half asleep “Hmm...sorry mom did I pass out?”

She smiled sweetly “Yes, Zillah found you first, but it took her about 15 minutes before she could stop laughing in order to tell me where you were exactly. I also wanted you to rest a little bit Neo before I started healing you.”

I swear I’m going to kill Zillah once this week is over!

Well mother letting me rest explains why my room is dark, I must have been out for a while.

“Thank you, I must of went a little over board today.” as I gave a sleepy smile.

"Just try to be a little more careful Neo." she said with a slightly worried look.

I just gave a simple nod in acknowledgement.

Surprisingly mother didn’t ask about the bruises. She probably thought it was for the same reason as yesterday.

After she was done healing me the illuminating white light no longer lit the room, while drifting back to sleep I decided I would deal with making a spell tomorrow.