Book 3: Chapter 8 — Training Hall


    After spending a rtively restless night in his new bed, Noah arrived at the training hall as the light from the first dawn began to pierce through the skies earlier than he had anticipated. It really was strange to be living on something that was flying through the clouds for such extended periods of time. As Noah entered the chamber, he noticed Kan already present within the chamber. Erwest was there as well.


    Noah stepped inside, finding the chamber to be nothing like he had anticipated. He had been expecting a sparring room like he had seen in the Windrests Guild, with a giant open area marked with lines and protected by wards. Yet instead, the chamber was small, with seats present inside as if to watch something, with a ss wall directly opposite the seats, separating a different area which contained multiple magic circles and runes covering it from top to bottom.


    Is this the right ce? Noah asked as he stepped inside. His eyes went to the ss wall, and he noticed different screens disying the visage of a forest.


    It is. I assume you have never seen a projected battleground before, Kan asked.


    Nope. I have not, Noah replied.


    Its basically what it sounds like; this thing can make projections of you and re-create all kinds of environments and training grounds that look and feel no different from reality when youre inside. It allows people to train as if they were doing the real thing, which can create a substantial difference in the nature of the training and the result it bears. And as a bonus, you dont have to worry about killing the other person and can go all out, Kan said, before the draconian nced sideways with his reptilian eyes and gave Noah a toothy grin. Neat, right?


    Yeah. Quite a bit. I''m not sure I understand how it works, to be honest, Noah said, looking at the screens.


    Just watch, Kan said.


    Noah looked at the ss wall. The images moved around before jumping to Seraphina. Noah saw the woman walking around as different runes filled the air around her, forming all kinds of patterns faster than he could read them.


    A creature sat on her shoulders, some kind of mix between a cat and a fox with long ears that stood up and scanned her environment. On a nearby screen, Noah saw Valeria moving through the forest stealthily, circling around Seraphinas location. The womans hand was tight around her war axe, her eyes set on her target as she moved with nearly no sound.


    He could almost hear their breaths, along with the sound of the insects crawling throughout the forest. As Valeria closed in, the creature on Seraphinas shoulder turned, letting out a warning screech. The Valkyrie jumped, quickly intercepted by a razor-sharp pressurized de of water. Twisting mid-air, Valeria dodged the attack that nearly cut her in half as her war axe mmed into the ground, tearing up the earth and shaking it.


    Seraphina jumped off, wind runes appearing around her feet as she took to the skies,bining her wind runes with fire runes as lightning struck from her fingers. Valeria blocked the bolt with her axe, a red and golden aura swirling around her as the woman roared, her presence intensifying. Leaping up into the air, she threw her axe at Seraphina, who created a barrier blocking the attack, but the weapon shattered it and went past it, cutting through her shoulder and drawing blood. Seraphina did not stop, and neither did she pay attention to the wound, her fingers already casting another spell. mes burst from her fingers towards Valeria, who charged through the attack, flying at the airborne woman. Seraphina pushed herself backward, further into the skies, as Valeria fell back to the ground, her war axe flying back into her hand.


    mming her axe into a nearby tree, she used the leverage to kick off back into the skies for another attack. She swung her weapon, a beam projecting from it as it struck Seraphinas barrier, shattering it and breaking her spellcasting as she fell to the ground. Valeria leapt, her fist striking the womans gut where it was blocked by a boulder rising from the ground as Seraphina grimaced, blood flowing from her mouth.


    The earth beneath Valerias feet exploded, the ground caving in beneath her. The Valkyrie roared, rushing out as Seraphina continued to cast rapidly, water runes mixed with earth as the pitfall trap quickly turned into quicksand, dragging the Valkyrie in.


    Golden wings erupted from the womans back, as she jumped out shaking off the mud, but Seraphina continued. Vines rose from the ground, grabbing at her feet and arms, trying to drag her back into the muddy trap.


    Fire spilled from Valerias arms, burning the vines as she rushed closer. Her fist, charged with golden red energy, struck at Seraphina, who shrieked, raising her hands in the air. Noah did not hear any sound but read the womans lips as the words tranted themselves automatically.


    <em>I surrender!</em>


    Both figures vanished in a sh of blue light, reappearing in the chamber where Noah stood. Neither had any injuries present on them, nor did they bear any kind of armor that he had seen them wearing during the battle.


    You are so mean, Val! Seraphina eximed, folding her arms as she pouted. The critter on her shoulders let out a chittering noise, as Seraphina fed it a mana crystal, before it vanished into blue light.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the vition.


    You need to be prepared for traps to go wrong. And you give up immediately the second you get hurt. No matter how good of a mage you are, Seph, if you give up that easily, youre not going tost, Valeria said.


    Good match, girls. Dont be so hard on her, Val. She took one of your attacks directly and did not give up even when she started to bleed. Just a few months ago, that alone would have been enough to make her quit for good, Kan said, patting both women on their shoulders.


    Hmph! Seraphina pouted, snorting as she walked back and sat down on one of the chairs with her arms crossed.


    Looks like our new friends have arrived, Valeria said, taking note of Noah.


    Noah nced back behind him, noticing Snow, Aurelia, and Zax all standing within the chamber, having arrived there while he had been busy watching the battle.


    Indeed. So lets not embarrass ourselves, Kan said, before turning to speak to Noah and the rest. Wee to the training hall! Its one of the best, if not the best part about this airship. But this will be what we will be using to spar. Unfortunately, this little thing can only handle two people at once, so we will have to do those in pairs, as the other chambers have been taken by different teams, Kan said.


    I still cant believe they have put one of these on an airship. I knew that higher-grade kingdoms and certain nobles had ess to simted battleground chambers. But I never thought I would see one avable on an airship, Aurelia said, gasping in reverence.


    Not just one, four. Its a great way to train for the trials, and given that this airship really only makes the trip twice a year back and forth between Drakonias, they deemed it worth the price, as many peoplee here simply to have a chance at using one of these," Kan said.


    Its an illusionary device, is it not? A sophisticated one. We do not think these had existed back when we had been around on the continent before. Quite the fascinating creation, Zax said.


    Precisely. Yes, its an illusionary device. The battle does not actually take ce, but instead, its a hallucination shared between two people. Though the experience is very much real and that is what matters as far as training is concerned. Its a great way to gain both experience and levels quickly, Kan said.


    Noah looked at the device in fascination. It reminded him of his training chamber within his astral space. But here, he could actually gain levels from the battles he participated in.


    Alright, so lets start with the basics. Right now, the three of you are like teenagers. You''d struggle to even stand in front of the king, Kan said, before looking at Noah. Well, you mightst for a minute.


    Noah grinned at the mans words. He <em>had </em>trained against the Dragon after all.


    Stop grinning, Noah, Zax said. You have your own problems. Your fast growth means all your skills aregging behind, both in levels and actual experience. You fight entirely on instincts, which is fine, but it''s not going tost against seasoned warriors.


    Kan nodded. I could tell as much just by looking at him. There was a distinctck of experience reflected in the way he stood and moved, but hes got very good natural instincts, which is probably why hes made it this far.


    Noah thought of his battle against Raesar, who had almost beaten him while using just a single ability and sheer raw power.


    Before we begin the training, do the three of you know the trials and what happens within them? Kan asked.


    All of them shook their heads.


    Alright. The battlefield is different every time, so is the exact challenge. But there are three: the Dragons Breath, the Dragons Will, and the Dragons Might. The first one, you have to go through a chamber with dragon mes, rushing across before the chambers close while fighting anything that attacks. After that, there''s a path to traverse where you will have to face the aura of a Dragon bearing down upon you. Each step you take, the intensity of it will grow stronger and stronger, and the path you must walk more treacherous. Youll have to maintain your calm and traverse through the arena to sessfully pass the trial. And then finally, those who remain will battle until the top five are chosen, and are awarded the title of Dragon Warrior. But the winner is the only one who gets to go further into thest chamber, and try the trial of the Dragons Heart.


    Did you take it? The Dragons Heart trial? Noah asked.


    I did, Kan said. I failed. Its been decades since anyone sessfully traversed the path.


    Noah stood silently for a few seconds, his mind going through the possibilities. He had already seen Kan, and how strong the man was. But he had also failed.


    He clenched his fists. <em>I need to get stronger.</em>


    All right. Since we already have pairs that were going with for today, I got us some sticks with numbers on them to decide who will go first, Kan said, extending three sticks that he grabbed in his hand. Each one of you picks one.


    Noah tried to use his abyssal awareness to peek through Kan''s closed fist but found his ability obstructed by the mans aura.


    Finding his attempts obstructed, Noah gave up and just grabbed a stick, before looking at the number.


    Three, Noah said, before shrugging to himself.


    Two, Erwest said a secondter.


    Noah turned to look at Aurelia.


    Guess Im first, she said, her gaze moving towards Seraphina.


    Aww, I was hoping my turn would best. I swear I have the worst luck, Seraphina said, getting up from her chair.


    Looks like its Aurelia and Seraphina first. Both of you, put your hand on the magic circles on the ss, please, Kan said.


    Seraphina walked up, cing her hand on the circle as she stood, tapping her foot impatiently. Aurelia walked up a bitter, slightly more hesitant, before cing her hand on it as well.


    Great. Now send a pulse of mana into the spell, and it will send you a message to activate it. Just select that and


    With a pulse of blue light, the two girls vanished, and a momentter, they appeared on the ss screen in front of the rest of them.


    Kan shook his head before focusing his gaze on the ss. Well, lets enjoy the show then.