“Hahaha!” Siraye bursted out laughing. “That sounds very much like a mathemagician if you ask me.” She commented after Mahon and Jorik finished narrating their day.

Siraye was teaching them how to cook some of the local products as they were completely ignorant of it. When they first arrived in Finem, they only ate poisoned fruits, and after that the caravan took care of everything. Now that they had the opportunity to learn how to be a bit more independent in Finem, they wouldn’t say no.

The blacksmith woman said she would need a whole week before opening her shop, and that she would alternate between forging and selling. She even asked Jorik if she could borrow his sword for a bit. Having such a perfect specimen at hand and back at her forge, she only wanted to further analyze the weapons. Who knew? Maybe she would be able to get some insights and create the next batch of premium weapons every expert would want.

At the end of the day, Mahon and Jorik met back in Nightmare where they discussed extensively everything that had happened since the morning. First their admission in the Protectors Circle, and more than that actually, if they were required to organize specialized lessons for the instructors. Then how they had secured a way to train with fire magic. Although they had to reveal a bit of their own magic, they felt confident they would be able to learn more about how to deal with fire than the opposite.

The Flow was an all-encompassing magic, and even though it was heavily disrupted by fire magic, it was only because they still lacked knowledge about it. Once he would get used to it, Mahon felt he wouldn’t need to fear the fire anymore, while he would be able to put pressure on anyone wielding fire magic.

Maybe it’s the same with earth magic, actually? But since it’s never used in fights as it’s too slow we’ve never experienced it directly.

After exchanging a bit about it, they came to the conclusion they had to find an isolated place where they could practice their magic without impunity, and they both hoped the Protector Circle would help them with this.

Next came their disappointment at the library. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do. They had asked Siraye, but becoming a noble couldn’t be done unless someone got adopted by a noble family or accomplished a feat grand enough the King would grant them the title.

But nobility wasn’t even the end of their journey as they had to become a Count if they wanted to get access to the Immortal Kings book. From their point of view, that lead was as close as a dead end now.

Mathemagicians weren’t far off either given the cryptic and nonsensical discourse they obtained in the afternoon while trying to talk with one. At first, Mahon had believed they would be a bit crazy on the edges given they were some kind of prophets or hermits, but not as much as that.

Their last lead for now was the Ill Immortals, the supposed creation of the Immortal Kings. Given their lack of understanding of sorcerers and fire magic, Mahon and Jorik agreed to spend some time within the Protectors Circle to remedy the situation before even trying to look for them. In the meantime, they could familiarize themselves with Finem and train with some of the best fighters in the kingdom. Two birds in one stone.

Three, even, considering they would be able to grind for a high star rank that would open them even more doors from their status. Unfortunately, even a seven-stars wasn’t considered a noble in the eyes of the law, and they couldn’t have access to the library with it. But they would be able to build a reputation among the nobility, and with the right contact they might be able to work something out. That was for the long term, though. Their priority right now was something Mahon had come to like more than almost anything in his life. Training.

Pulling Jorik along, Mahon made them wake very early the next day, and they ran all the distance between Siraye’s house and the Protectors Circle. Given the hour, not many people were wandering the streets, and they had almost the city for themselves as they sprinted towards the bodyguard center.

What had taken them half an hour walking yesterday only took them a little more than five minutes running today. Not satisfied with the length of the exercise, Mahon made them run in the neighborhood for another ten minutes before they entered the Protectors Circle.

The two guards at the entrance quickly opened the doors for them even though the sun was barely rising when they saw their honorary instructor badges.

Denying their help and following the path they had taken the day before, they easily reached the arena where the same group of trainees they had seen previously was already running in circles around the sandy arena. Ailluin didn’t miss their arrival, and he approached them immediately while keeping an eye on his group.

“Welcome back!” He said as he shook their hands. “I didn’t expect you that early.”

“It’s the early bird that catches the worm.” Mahon answered with a shrug.

“How old are you again?” Ailluin teased him, but seeing Mahon’s discomfort he quickly switched the topic. “So, basically, we’re only training the newcomers at this time of day. Each year we take a batch of the most promising ones and train them for a year. After that, they’re free to train on their own, and there are no mandatory sessions anymore. Most keep training daily, however. They don’t get up that early, though.” He laughed.

Giving them a quick tour of the arena and the available equipment he continued his explanation.

“More often, you will find other people here in the afternoon. Duels are held at first light, and so the morning is usually free time before most Protectors come back to train with each other. Aside from these newbies who got to train all morning under my supervision and then again in the afternoon in specialized classes with the other instructors.”

Mahon acquiesced at the explanations. “And in which group are we exactly?”

“Excellent question.” Ailluin smiled. “Your case is unique and so we had to come with something new. First, let me ask you this. Although you’re both very strong, there is quite a difference between the two of you, and it would be… detrimental to your own progression to share everything. I’d advise for different plans, but that’s actually up to you.”

Mahon and Jorik exchanged a quick look. “We don’t mind.” The latter answered.

“Great. So, I got that you’re not really from around here so we’ll both put you up to date about what is expected of a bodyguard at the Protectors Circle beside fighting. Once you’re ready, you’ll be able to follow the specialized lesson on the topic along with this batch of trainees.”

The duo nodded when they saw the old instructor was waiting for their agreement before pursuing.

“As for your training, we can provide you with an almost endless flux of people ranked five-star or even six-star. They would be very adamant to train with you, but you might find it a bit lacking, maybe? As for seven-star, we have a few beside the instructors, but they are usually very independent. I’ll introduce you to some of them this afternoon, but it’s up to them if they want to train with you. Given both of your strength, though, I’ve no doubt you’ll find a training partner very easily. Worst case, us instructors will always be ready to spar with you at any time. Just ask.”

“Regarding fitness,” the instructor continued, “although I may not be up to your game, I’ve still many decades of training behind me, and it would not be the first time I train people stronger than me. I don’t want to boast, but I’d advise at least a session with me a week just to maintain you at peak condition. Two would be best. About your own teaching, sir Mahon.”

“Mahon is fine.” Mahon interrupted.

“Alright.” Ailluin nodded. “So, for your teaching, we would like to prepare a class of seven-stars after you proved your worth to everyone in a few afternoon training sessions, and hold a meeting once a week. You don’t need to do much, but if you manage to impart even a tenth of your fighting ability to a few of us, we’ll be more than thankful.”

Mahon agreed easily. Teaching the best warriors of the Protectors Circle once a week wouldn’t take much of his time, but it would be plenty enough to get to know them better and exchange pointers.

“And finally,” Ailluin pursued, “about your spar with Rania, she would like to do the first session this afternoon and you’ll see with her directly on how to proceed with the following lessons. Do you have any questions?”

“If I followed you well,” Mahon tried to resume, “we can come here early in the mornings to train on our own, then get a fitness session under your supervision. In the afternoon we have to follow the class about bodyguard’s basics, then we can either spar with Rania or the other people available. Finally, once a week, I get to train seven-stars. Did I forget something?”

“No, that's it.” Ailluin acquiesced. “Although, you don’t have to do all that in a day, don’t worry! Usually seven-star goes with one rest day, one duel day, one fitness day and then three practice days sparing each other. Would you like to follow the same schedule?”

“Not really.” Mahon answered while he exchanged a smile with Jorik.

When they had trained within the Pine Hill Officer Institute, they had trained six days out of seven, and by the end they had even started to believe it wasn’t that hardcore anymore. With the eagerness of testing the other Protectors, learning new tricks and sparring against a sorcerer, they were willing to train even more.

“We’ll see how it goes, but we’ve not really anything else planned, so… Everyday training is a fine start.”

Ailluin chuckled. “If you knew how many people said that to me and regretted it the next day… But know that beside the bodyguard’s lesson they aren’t anything you’re forced to do so you can go back on your words at any time.”

“Yeah, I know. Never underestimate the coach’s workout. But try us. I’m actually eager to see what my limits have become.” Mahon said.

Since he had beaten his second Amentiae’s general, Mahon had unlocked something with his Flow. It wasn’t just the thirteenth Steps, but more like a general feeling that he was closer to his Flow. The different fights including fire magic had also opened a new door that helped him reach a deeper comprehension of his Flow. He wasn’t lying in saying he wanted to test his new limits.

“You asked for it.” Ailluin flashed a sadistic smile. “Go and warm your body up while I crush the newbies quickly, then. I'll come for you afterwards.”

The morning was spent in the same atmosphere Mahon had gotten used to back in Ratho. Except this time, there wasn’t any stupid nobles trying to undermine him. And Jorik was training at his side.

Other than that, it wasn’t very different from the training sessions with Slander. Ailluin was a bit less imaginative with his insults, but his flow had nothing to envy Pine Hill Officer Institute’s head instructor.

The exercises piled up one after another under Ailluin’s incessant orders. As a first session, the seven-star instructor unfolded all his range of workouts to get a better sense of the duo’s capabilities. He quickly found himself surprised by how much the two men were able to endure, and numerous of the Protectors Circle’s records were broken by a large margin under his stupefied eyes.

Nonetheless, training was still training no matter the reps, and once he had found his mark for the two monstrous newcomers, he beat them into submission. Mahon cheated more than once by using his Flow to guide his body into the perfect postures, as Slander had taught him during the running lesson in what seemed more than a decade ago.

Despite his unfair advantage, he was still lagging a bit behind Jorik whose physique was still a good step higher than him. Even though the noble wasn’t as experienced as him with the Flow, his incredible endurance was more than enough to outpace him at every exercise.

A bit rusty after so many months without proper training, Mahon still found back his rhythm pretty quickly and immersed himself in the lesson with a sigh of satisfaction. He let go of any thoughts about the Immortal Kings and everything else and simply enjoyed the sensation of his muscles burning under the strain of the exercises.

His mad, happy smile accompanied him for a good part of the training, and Ailluin couldn’t help but shake his head many times at how crazy and insane his two new recruits were.