Chapter 4 Training Day

Ignis POV

I'm currently standing in front of the dorm where I'm going to be staying. Mom has already left. Once we got out here and retrieved the key and my luggage she received a message and mentioned she had to leave, but made sure to remind me to meet her at the training field in the morning... Now that she's gone I'm left to explore the dorm by myself. I haven't been inside yet, but the outside looks nice enough. The building seems relatively new anyway. It's five floors high and looks to be at least 10 rooms wide.... May as well go on in...

As I enter, I immediately notice a small living area to the left, and immediately to the right is a small kitchen. Just past the living area and kitchen was a small hallway with a room on either end, forming a T. Prior to the end of the hallway are two more doors on either side. I quickly discover that the closest door on the left leads to the bathroom and the door on the right leads to the laundry. Going to the back I discover that the two doors at the end lead to two bedrooms. So it seems I'll have a roommate then. Hopefully it's someone I can get along with... A quick inspection of the bedrooms reveals that they each have a bed, obviously, and a desk, most likely to be used for studying. Overall, I'd say the dorms are nice enough. Nothing groundbreaking, but you could definitely live comfortably. I guess they need somewhat nice accommodations for the future protectors of society right? Well I guess the only thing left to do now is unpack. I carry my luggage into the bedroom on the left and begin unpacking, replaying the day's events in my head...

Some time passes and I hear the main door open. I walk out of my chosen bedroom and see a boy standing there. He's roughly the same height as me but at least 20-30 pounds lighter. He has longer hair, past shoulder length. His hair is black with what appear to be purple streaks throughout, and I notice his eyes are royal purple. I decide to introduce myself first...

-Ignis: Hey there, my name's Ignis, nice to meet you!

-Boy: Hi. I'm Zareos. I guess we'll be roommates from here on.

Zareos huh? This guy has the same name as the Emperor of the Tenebris Empire? Guy's parents must've had high hopes for him when they named him...

-Ignis: Seems that way, I hope that we'll get along!

-Zareos: Likewise.

After a short awkward silence Zareos carries his things into the bedroom on the right and closes the door... Guess he doesn't feel like talking... Oh well, it is getting to be later in the evening, so I can understand. I finish unpacking my things and then get ready for bed. It's still a little early for sleep, but hey it's been a wild day! I also have to train with Mom in the morning, and I want to be rested for that! As I lay down I keep thinking about how crazy some of the things from today were, until I drift off into sleep...

I wake up early the next morning feeling rested and prepared for my hard day of training with Mom! I quickly throw on some training gear and head out to the nearby training field... Mom had showed me where it was on our way here yesterday... Once I arrive I quickly spot her thanks to her magenta hair and the red tracksuit she's wearing. But there's someone else standing next to her! A girl with blonde hair and glasses, wearing a light blue tank top and some darker blue shorts. It's Krista, the Student Council President! I walk up to the two of them and decide to greet Krista first...

-Ignis: Oh, hi Krista, I wasn't expecting to see you here!

-Krista: Good morning Ignis! Ms. Minori contacted me last night and asked if I was interested in training with the two of you today! Of course, there was no way I would say no!

Hmmm, so Mom invited Krista to train with us. Not that I have a problem with that, I'm just not sure why...

-Ignis: So, Mom, what's your plan for today then?

-Minori: The plan is that the two of you will be teaming up to fight against me!

Krista and I are both a little surprised at this....

-Ignis: Alright then, Krista I don't mind teaming up with you. You don't mind do you?

-Krista: Not at all!

-Minori: Alright you two let's not waste any time! I'll step away for a couple minutes and give you two time to come up with a plan.

In a real fight, such luxuries wouldn't be given to you... You'd already have to have a plan going into the fight and be able to adjust it on the fly! But then again Krista and I didn't exactly meet this morning and come up with a plan on the way here, so I suppose this makes sense... Mom takes several steps away...

-Ignis: Alright Krista, you're going into your third year, so I assume you're already familiar with my Mom's abilities?

-Krista: Oh yes! I know all about Ms. Minori's reinforcement power! She can "reinforce" the physical strength and durability of certain body parts, or her entire body if she wants! Of course, if she focuses on just one area of her body the effect is much stronger than if she were to spread it all through her body!

Krista is spot on. Mom has impressive physical strength without her reinforcement power, but it IS the reinforcement that makes her so crazy strong! The race of people she belongs to have all gone extinct, so she's the only one in the universe with this power. Not even I inherited it....

-Ignis: Yeah that pretty much sums it up! However, we have to keep in mind the level of control she has over that power! She can focus it down to just the tip of a finger if she wants! She can also rapidly change which parts she's reinforcing! Because of this, if we want to make any meaningful attacks we'll have to move quick!

-Krista: Oh, I don't think you need to worry about that part!

-Ignis: What do you mean?

-Krista: This is where my magical power comes in! I have super speed!

-Ignis: Well that's convenient. So, should we both rush her or-

-Minori: TIME'S UP KIDS!!

Out of nowhere Mom comes in and smashes the ground! Krista and I are barely able to dodge!

-Ignis: Alright, so I guess we're just gonna wing it?!

Without responding to me, small bits of lightning begin to crackle all over Krista's body, and she takes off towards Mom! I guess we're winging it...

Krista is running circles around Mom! I can barely keep track of her, but Mom just stands there in a defensive posture... There's no doubt in my mind that she can follow Krista with her eyes and will be ready to defend against any attack! After a few seconds, Krista finally stops circling and charges in from behind, hoping to catch her blind spot! Just as I had predicted, she dodges Krista's blow and follows up with a right jab! Luckily, Krista is able to block this, though the impact sends her back several feet! I finally charge in myself, hoping to catch her by surprise with a punch from my left hand! She dodges and then counters with a knee strike to the midsection! Fortunately, I'm able to get my right hand in to block her knee...She seems to be impressed by this, but then she follows up with a punch aimed at my face! I'm able to get my left arm back up just in time to block, but I'm also sent back several feet from the force of the impact! I'm getting excited! It's been so long since she and I trained together, and I'm beginning to feel the rush of battle!

I decide to rush in once more, this time lunging towards her right side! I can see what appears to be a disappointed look on her face as she jumps backwards! As she jumps back, I see that Krista and myself are on a collision course with each other! I'm airborne and there's no way I'll be able to change direction! Luckily for the two of us, Krista is still on her feet! She changes direction using her enhanced speed and bolts towards Mom once again! As she does this I ended up flopping into the ground looking like an absolute fool... Nice job Ignis... I turn back towards the other two just in time to see Krista come flying towards me! She had no doubt been knocked away by one of Mom's attacks. I'm able to catch her but the impact knocks me back down to the ground!

-Ignis: OOF!!

-Krista: Ugh, sorry about that Ignis! Nice catch though!

-Ignis: Yeah, don't mention it...

Krista quickly jumps back to her feet and helps me up...

-Krista: Come on we have to keep going!

-Ignis: She basically just schooled both us! I don't think she's ever used this much power trainin with me before!

-Krista: The only way we'll accomplish anything is if we work together! I'll go left and you-

Before Krista can say anything else, Mom comes flying in and drops her foot down to the ground between us, creating a devastating impact!

-Ignis: AARGHH!!

The force of the ground breaking apart sends me back a few feet, and I look up just in time to see Mom come closing in!

-Krista: Ignis! Get away from her! I have a plan-

-Ignis: There's no point!!

I manage to gather myself and charge in to intercept Mom! As we get close, I see that look of disappointment on her face again... What's with that?

We exchange a few blows before she finds an opening and delivers an upwards kick directly to my chin!

-Ignis: GAAHH!!!

My head snaps back and I think I even get a few inches off the ground! She had connected cleanly and man does it hurt like hell! Krista comes rushing in, trying to give us some semblance of an offense, but before I can recover, Mom picks Krista up by her legs and uses her as a weapon to send me flying a few dozen feet away! Just as I come crashing to the ground, I hear Krista screaming as she lands right next to me!

-Minori: I'm disappointed in you. Ignis, the whole point of having Krista here was to see how well you would work together with someone else! I gave you two time to plan and it didn't seem like you came up with anything! I even heard Krista try to coordinate with you at one point and you just ignored her and rushed in! If you pulled something like that in the real world you'd end up dead! And even worse, you'd end up getting others killed...

Mom's words hit me hard... Had I really been so reckless? Was I so focused on attacking her myself that I had caused my teammate to suffer? Krista seems to notice the heavy atmosphere...

-Krista: Umm, Ms. Minori please give us another chance! Ignis, I'm sure if we come up with a plan this time we can do it!

Krista is so nice! Here I am wallowing in self-pity and she's trying to encourage me to give it another shot! I guess that's why she's the Student Council President... I look at Mom and she seems to be considering Krista's request...

-Minori: Very well, the two of you can plan and come at me again. However, as your punishment, I will be using more power this time!

Even more power than she had already used?! She had just gone harder against us than she ever had gone against me alone before! I know it's nowhere near her limit, but still...

-Krista: Yes ma'am! Come on Ignis, I have an idea!

I smile at Krista as she helps me up. This time I think it's worth listening to what she has to say...

Krista and I had come up with a solid plan, now we just have to execute it to perfection... If we both do our parts, then just maybe we'll get in a few solid hits! Our mock battle starts once again as I charge at Mom alone this time. The look of disappointment on her face turns to anger...

-Minori: You still don't get it do you!?!

She rears back ready to punch my head clean off, however I jump up and backwards into the air, getting about a dozen feet of clearance from the ground! At the same time I do this, she unleashes her punch. Fortunately, the only one to suffer is the air, but her attack has so much force behind it she actually creates a small gust of wind! Yikes! Glad I didn't take that one to the face! She seems shocked that I dodged her attack, and Krista immediately comes zipping in to unleash a flurry of punches and kicks! Her attacks don't have enough force behind them break though Mom's guard, but they're so fast that all she can do is block!

I land on the ground several feet away from the other two and prepare to execute my part of the plan! I throw both of my arms out in from of me and slam the bases of my hands together to form a big C. I point it towards the two of them and begin to focus my magical power! I feel the energy build up inside me, and as I direct it down my arms it creates a hot, tingling sensation... It reaches my hands and out bursts a stream of fire! The fire shoots toward Mom as Krista zips away! She looks even more surprised now as she's forced to dodge my flame attack! Krista's assault had kept her occupied, so she just barely manages to escape! She lands several feet away and Krista instantly appears behind her yet again to unleash another flurry of attacks! Now her back is to me and her attention is all on defending against Krista's attacks! It's time to make my move! I run towards her at full speed and launch myself, ready to deliver a punch to the back of her head with everything I've got! As I fly through the air I hear a scream and look to see Krista get launched! Mom still has her back to me though, so I decide to follow through with my punch...

My attack connects with an impact so strong a small air current is shot out and dust is kicked up! I'm unable to see through the dust but my hand is on fire...it feels like I just punched the hardest surface in the universe as hard as I could! Once the dust clears I see Mom there smiling at me, my fist in her hand... So, she knocked Krista away and then reinforced her arm to receive my attack... I back away angry at myself, and hold my fist as it throbs...

-Ignis: Damn it! I thought for sure our plan was gonna work!

-Krista: Oh man! And we were so close too!

-Minori: Oh no! You kids should be proud! You actually had me on my toes there for a second! A coordinated assault like that would've worked against most people, but remember you are fighting one of the strongest Sentinels in the Universe!

She has this huge grin across her face as she says this, but she's right. You can't go against someone on her level and expect to come out on top, especially given that we're both just students...

-Krista: But wow Ignis! That was amazing!

-Ignis: Huh? What do you mean?

-Krista: The fire! I mean I knew you had that ability because I read your profile, but to actually see it in person!

Ah that's right. Flame powers are incredibly rare throughout the universe... In fact, I'm the only person I know of who's magical power is fire related...

-Ignis: Oh, that was nothing!

I try and act cool. Mom just rolls her eyes, but Krista seems completely enamored...

-Krista: Ms. Minori doesn't have any power like that, so that means you must have inherited it from your father right?!

The mention of my father brings a look of concern to Mom's face... Before I can respond she interjects...

-Minori: A-Anyway kids, you did well on that round! Let's run through it again two or three more times!

With that we continue training for a couple more hours. Krista and I coming up with new plans of attack that utilize our number's advantage. By the end of our training session I've gotten a good feel for fighting with Her. I wouldn't mind fighting alongside her for real I think...but she's a third year. She'll graduate after this year, and by the time I become a full-fledged Sentinel she'll already be established and have her own team... This thought gets me down a little as I feel that Krista and I have good chemistry...

-Minori: Alright you two! Let's meet back up here again tomorrow, same time as today!

-Ignis: Sounds good! Today taught me that I still have a lot to learn!

-Minori: That's the spirit son! Well I have some things I need to take care of since school starts in just a couple days. See you two tomorrow!

She walks off the training field leaving just myself and Krista...

-Krista: Hey Ignis! You want to walk back to the dorms together?

This catches me totally off guard! She wants to walk back with me?! Does she like me?! Did she notice our good chemistry and want to take it a step further?!

-Ignis: Uh-uh-uh-I-I-I-

-Krista: Oh, if you don't want to its no big deal. It's just that my dorm isn't too far away from yours, so we'd be headed in the same direction, I just figured I'd ask.

Oh, well now I feel like an idiot... She was just trying to be nice and friendly. But it seems like I was right about her, she really is a nice girl...

-Ignis: Uh yeah sorry about that, let's go!

The two of us then head back in the direction of the dorms...

-Krista: Say Ignis...if you don't want to talk about this then you don't have to...

-Ignis: Huh? What is it?

-Krista: Did you notice that look that Ms. Minori had when I mentioned your father? It seemed like she was sad...or maybe more concerned...

-Ignis: I noticed. But she's always been like that at any mention of my father. She's never told me anything about him. Just that I inherited his abilities and that's pretty much it. I don't know where he was from. I don't know his name or if he's even still alive...

Krista looks a little down after I explain this...

-Krista: I'm sorry, I never should have brought it up...

-Ignis: Please don't worry about it! It doesn't bother me at all! Despite him not being around I think I turned out alright! Mom certainly got along just fine; I mean she's the Deputy Headmistress here isn't she?

-Krista: Yes, your mother is an amazing woman! She's the epitome of what a Sentinel should be! I remember when I first started here, several of the other girls and I were nervous to be learning under her! Looking back now I think we were just intimidated... Imagine on your first day of school being told you'll be trained by one of the greatest Sentinels who's ever lived! But we all look up to her... When we graduate we hope that one day we can be half the Sentinel she is! And you Ignis, I think you're stronger than you realize!

She sounds genuine. I don't believe she's just trying to make me feel good. I think she means it...

-Ignis: W-What do you mean?

She giggles a little...

-Krista: I mean you've been all over the universe and you're only 18! You never knew your father and you barely got to see your mother! Only when she was on breaks from school! You were constantly moving across planets and training with some of the toughest trainers imaginable! That must have been hard growing up... I imagine that most people wouldn't be able to hack it. They'd get tired and give up, but you kept giving it your all and now you're here! Even today, when you got knocked down and Ms. Minori scolded you, you got back up and kept pushing!

-Ignis: Well to be fair that last one was because of you! Honestly, her words hit me pretty hard... It was only because you encouraged me that I kept going!

-Krista: But you DID keep going. That's true strength, and I think it's amazing!

Krista thinks I'm amazing?!?! I mean, I know that's not what she said exactly, but she said my persistence is amazing! Therefore, via transitive property that must mean she thinks I'm amazing too right?! Before I have a chance to respond the path we've been walking on comes to a fork... My dorm is to the left and I assume Krista's is to the right...

-Krista: Well I had fun today Ignis, and I thought we worked really well together! See you tomorrow!

She runs off down the path to right, looks back and waves at me. I wave back at her...

-Ignis: Yeah, m-me to!

Krista then turns and continues down the path and I stand there lost in my own thoughts... What a wonderful person! She's so cute too! There's no way Krista isn't popular with the guys... Does she have a boyfriend? I have no idea, she hasn't mentioned it, but then again, I only met her yesterday... As I come back to reality I realize that I'm not alone on this path.... I see plenty of other guys and girls and they're all staring at me.... I try to figure out what's going on as I hear some of them grumbling to each other.

-Guy A: Was that guy just walking and talking with Ms. Krista?!

-Guy B: Yeah he was!! Who is he to her?!

-Girl A: He must be her boyfriend!

-Girl B: Ew no way! She'd never be with someone like him!

Someone like me?! What was that even supposed to mean?! People keep staring at me and whispering to each other. I can feel the hostility so it's probably best not to linger... I quickly make my way down the fork to the left and in just a couple of minutes I arrive at my dorm. I approach the door that leads into my and Zareos' room, but something feels...off. It feels like someone is watching me... I turn around and don't see anyone nearby... I decide it's just nothing and head on inside... Zareos' door is open and I don't see him in there... Guess he must have gone out. Oh well, might as well take a shower...

I take a quick shower and get dressed. It isn't quite lunch time yet and I'd honestly enjoy a little time to rest before I head back out for the day... I guess I'll just sit and relax in our living area for a bit... Just as my butt hits the couch I hear a knock on the door. Who could that be? Did Zareos lock himself out? I make my way over to the little monitor next to the door and turn on the camera to see who's there. Standing there at my door I see a girl, with two blood red eyes, and light brown hair with a green headband on... You gotta be freakin kidding me...

END CHAPTER 4