novelraw CHAPTER 323: Training
CHAPTER 323: Training
While our classes were interesting, and important, a big part of learning was doing. So we regularly trained our magic to improve our skills. As we met in a training room I was pondering what I should work on today.
"You need to get more serious about your defences." Kaito stated.
"He is right." Helena agreed. "You keep saying you are going to work on them and then you get sidetracked."
"Helena picked the artillery classes and is still keeping up with her close range abilities in her free time." Hatsumi pointed out.
I sighed. "All right, I will work more on my defences. But I should be training more with Nyx to strengthen the guardian bond…"
"You can defend against Nyx." Kaito suggested.
I looked towards my faithful guardian. She had grown to her biggest size and was chasing Garm around the training room. Garm claimed it was training, however they were just playing around, in my opinion.
Yoru and Ivy were playfighting as well, while Kasai…
"Why is Kasai roasting something with her flame breath?" I asked.
"She is training her control over her fire breath." Hatsumi explained.
The undead cat sat in front of a grill grate which had sausages on them. Hatsumi had brought her camping gear to the training room it seemed. While the training room was underground, it was ventilated and designed to withstand some magic but I did wonder how many people had decided to grill down here.
"I guess she is using her abilities, so maybe it is training…" I was doubtful but at least we would get some nice food, hopefully.
"How about some necrotic infused water shields? You can try to use them to block Nyx' breath attack." Kaito suggested.
"Oh, I just remembered we wanted to gift Derrick an undead horse!" I said.
"Nice try, but you are still going to train defence." Helena said. "My brother can get his horse at the end of the year. We can gift it to him when he graduates, we won't have time to meet him before then anyway."
The door opened and Skadi and Cassie walked in. "Oh, Kasai is training her breath! Perfect!" Cassie said. "I need her to match the right temperatures to help me with alchemy."
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
"You need to train your magic." Skadi stated.
Cassie pouted. "But I like alchemy more…"
"Fire magic can explode things too." Skadi said.
Cassie shrugged. "Eh, it's not the same. But I heard you learned something about undead commands, Koyuki."
"Yes, why? I doubt they will help with alchemy." I replied.
"I have talked with Kaito, I think we can use them for the Iron Beaks!" She said.
I looked at Kaito.
"The Iron Beaks are dumb and meant to simply explode. However, we could potentially develop commands that are more complex. Like having them move to a position and explode under specific circumstances." Kaito explained. "Further, perhaps we can design commands that are voice activated, so that your friends can use them too."
"How would that work? The commands are sent through the link with mana." I wondered.
"Ah, have you already forgotten your own discovery?" Hatsumi teased.
I scratched my head. "How is the knowledge that undead are kind of a spell bound to a corpse help?"
"Because you can change the spell and include a command." Kaito said.
My eyes widened. "You think we can design a command and put it into the undead itself? And then trigger it with a spoken word?"
"I believe we should try." Kaito stated.
"I believe so as well!" Cassie added, with a grin.
Skadi crossed her arms. "I believe both of you are trying to avoid defence practice."
Kaito smiled. "Do not worry, I have volunteered to work on the commands which leaves Koyuki free to practise her shields."
"I can help you practice, Cassie." Helena suggested. "You defend and I attack."
"Fine…" Cassie mumbled.
"Perfect! Hatsumi, would you spar with me?" Skadi asked.
"Yes!" Hatsumi replied. Both of them being spellblades meant they were great training partners.
Meanwhile a giant half-fluffy ball rolled towards me. It stopped, then Nyx and Garm untangled themselves.
"This was fun!" Garm said. Nyx nodded.
"I am going to practice some magic now and let Nyx help you with your shields! The pack needs to be strong!" Garm announced, then he trotted towards the side while picking up a book with telekinesis.
I stared at Nyx. She smiled and opened her mouth.
"Wait! I need to cast the shield first!" I shouted.
She did not wait and I was engulfed in a white mist. It was cold and wet. While it did not hurt it was not exactly comfortable.
After that I got my shield up and we tried again. I noticed that the water barrier with necrotic mana was able to defend against the spell more easily, until Nyx added her own necrotic mana.
After water I tried ice, however that was a lot harder and less effective. Water allowed for more contact with the necrotic mana, it could sort of engulf the enemy spell and wither it. Ice was too rigid for that. What might work would be a necrotic ice spike for offense. Against physical attacks normal ice seemed the best and most cost-effective defence. Ice could be hardened well beyond its natural durability with more mana.
"Hm. So I want ice against physical attacks and necrotic water against magic attacks. What should I prioritise in a fight?" I wondered.
"Both." Kaito stated. He had been nearby writing down ideas for the Iron Beak command. "You should layer your defences. An outer layer of water. It will absorb and counter spells while any physical object will pierce it and impact the ice. Further, the water layer might dispel magical arrows, or other combinations of magic and physical attacks. Helena has a special affinity for ice it seems, hers will always be stronger than yours, but you can compensate by combining it with the necrotic water."
"That does sound great." I agreed. "But that means I need to focus on two different spells, and one of them requires an infusion of necrotic mana!"
"It will require practice, however it will be worth it." Kaito pointed out. "You are the center of our pack, as Garm would put it; your survival is important. And I am pretty sure Helena would be upset if you got yourself hurt again."
I sighed. I guess I had more training to do. It was not that I disliked it, I loved magic, but I would have preferred tinkering with my undead.