Aether Beasts Chapter 7 - 7

Chapter 7 - 7

I ended up sleeping on one of the two couches while Zirani moved back into her core. Apparently, she no longer needed to sleep and she could communicate with while in her core so it was the best option though I did wonder what sleeping next to her would feel like.

I fell asleep with that thought in my head and dreamt of Zirani. The next day started early as Zirani believed in waking with the sun.

Apparently, she didn't need my permission to leave her core and already had a few of the grey packets ready for and a plan for the day worked out.

I'll be honest, it was nice waking up to her and knowing that yesterday hadn't been so sort of dream, though thoughts of the wolves and my friends plagued . I hoped that they'd made it out ok.

After a quick al of at porridge or slop as I thought of it, we headed back to the small clearing for more training as Zirani, except this ti it wasn't just technique practice.

I'd thought that I was a skilled fighter and in comparison to the others in my class I was, but Zirani was on a completely different level. A hundred years of practice showed as I felt more like a child trying to fight an adult rather than an arcanist.

She moved with more skill than I'd ever seen and had more experience than . It beca very clear very quickly that I wasn't going to beat her or even match her. She outclassed in pretty much every way. She'd been fighting for longer, fought more, and knew her affinity better than I did.

But, that just ant I learned more and at a faster rate.

"Good but you need to be faster," she said after she'd trounced once more. "So attacks flow into the next and if you don't get them off quick enough the entire set becos useless, leaving you open for a counterattack."

I nodded, panting heavily. While she didn't get tired as long as I kept absorbing pure aether into her core, I didn't have that sa benefit. While I did recover sowhat and could last longer than I could have when I was a human, I just didn't possess the stamina to go against her multiple tis in a row. Not to ntion a lot of the pure aether I absorbed went into her core and only so went into rejuvenating my stamina. That was a caveat to the manifestation thing. As I was now I couldn't function at my current peak when she was out, but for now, that was fine as I wasn't in a real fight and her teaching was well worth the drawback.

I stood and got back into a fighting stance, my arms raised and ready.

She smiled, jumping up and down in place. She didn't bother getting into a stance. I'd quickly co to the conclusion she was holding back and the one ti I'd asked her to go full force she'd laid out in less than two seconds, I counted.

I moved, rushing forward then strafing left as I got close. Her eyes followed easily and she blocked my first jab and moved in close going for a knee to my stomach. I raised my right knee to block and struck at her face with a left hook. Unfortunately for , she dodged and followed up with a jab of her own which I blocked, but I wasn't focusing on her legs and missed the sweep she sent at .

I fell to the ground and looked up just in ti to see a fist flying at . It stopped an inch away from my nose and I let out a breath.

"Your win, again."

I sighed. As helpful as this was, it was tiring, getting laid out ti and ti again.

"Let's take a break," she said, then we can move on to using your techniques alongside your regular fighting and weaving the two together."

I only nodded, too tired to reply and too busy focusing on absorbing pure aether.

She sat beside and I glanced up to see her staring down at . "what do you think of ?"

That ca out of nowhere. I racked my brain for an answer. "Ermm, I think you an amazing aether beast, very talented and–"

I hesitated.

"And?" she prompted.

"And very beautiful."

I looked away, not wanting to see her reaction, but jumped slightly when I felt a warm sensation on my cheek. I turned back just in ti to see her move away and stand up.

"Co on back to training. I wanna finish so we can plan our exodus from this place."

I just stared, rubbing the spot where she'd kissed .

That had not been the reaction I was expecting. Was that good? I an she'd kissed , so it had to be good, right? I wasn't an expert of aether beast, not like her so for now I'd just take it as sothing good and not overthink things.

The rest of the basic combat training passed quickly and by the end, I was getting the hang of what she teaching , and while I wasn't winning, I was lasting much longer and forcing her to work harder to lay out on my back.

However, it got ten tis more complicated and harder when she introduced techniques into the mix. Even though she was only limiting herself to three out of the possible dozens she knew, I still lasted even less than I had with the basic combat. The way she wove her regular attacks with her techniques wasn't sothing I could match and the first few tis, I almost gave up, but a few words from Zirani and moires of the wolves pulled back up.

"Techniques shouldn't always be these huge attacks which you stop everything to do as I've seen so many lower core arcanists do, and please don't shout it out."

She shook her head, and there was a confused look on her face. "I don't know why so of you humans are insistent on shouting out your techniques as though you're in so sort of performance. Why would you give your opponent a warning?"

There was a lot more stuff like that, tidbits of information that seed obvious, but I would have probably missed a lot of it if not for her. When I tried to tell her shouting it out helped the technique form she stared at for a good minute before laughing.

"Why would you ever practice it that way in the first place? Why not set the correct foundation from the beginning?"

I had to admit she had a very good point, and why was I even trying to argue the point. Even I'd sotis wondered why arcanists shouted out moves, though Zirani did inform it was usually only the lesser arcanists that did so.

A few hours later, after dozens of beatings, I was able to last a good fifteen seconds, although that was when she held back. If I thought she was dangerous with just her fists, then with her techniques, there was no hope I was beating her anyti soon, but I was ok with that, for now. We were attached and her teaching would help imnsely, not that I only saw her as a resource, no, even though we'd only known each other for two days, I felt close to her.

"So, are we leaving tomorrow?" I asked, finishing up a packet of at porridge, and wishing for so water. We'd moved back into the room with the comfy couches and Zirani was leaning back on one, her chest pushed out.

I tried to stay focused on her face, but it was hard. The clothes that barely covered her, didn't help and I swear I caught her smirking at every ti my eyes wandered down. Oddly enough, she didn't seem offended or angry which set at ease.

"Yes, we can't stay here forever, and I'm sure you want to get back to your town."

"I want to get back before the caravans arrive," I replied.

She rolled her eyes. "We don't need them, I can lead us through the wilds with ease."

I told her my plan for when we got back to the town. I wanted to speak with my aunt before I left with caravans to Orton. If I wanted to grow as an arcanist, I had to leave West Vale.

"There's still a risk in that, and arriving with the caravans will make things easier."

She sighed but acquiesced. "Fine."

The conversation died down slowly after that, and I waited for Zirani to move back into my core so I could sleep.

"I think I'll sleep out here today."

"Ok," I said, laying down on the couch.

I closed my eyes, and yawned, but snapped them back open when I felt a body press into ..

"Ermm, Ziranai, theres two couches."

"I know."

I opened my mouth then shut it. Why was I complaining? I had a beautiful woman sleeping next to , and I'd be a liar if I said it didn't feel good. Her skin was silky smooth and she slled like berries and fresh air, not to ntion she provide warmth, although I had to focus on sleeping and nothing else, less my lower area react.

"Goodnight, Zirani."

"Goodnight, Aiden, sleep well."

I hesitantly raised an arm and placed it around her. She tensed for a second and I prepared for her to jump away or attack, but then she sighed and relaxed, moving closer to .. With a sigh of relief and a smile, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.