57 - Fae Training (1)

57 - Fae Training (1)
“Good morning, Lord Alre.” Xavier greeted the older man as he stepped into the training grounds.
He was still a little tired, Lav waking them at the crack of dawn for training. Xavier had been a little annoyed at being awakened at such an early hour but quickly sobered up when Lav explained Alre and Frey were trying to work their training around their Sword responsibilities.
Which meant Xavier would have to train with Alre during his morning workout sessions. Clare, meanwhile would have magic training lessons with Frey and Lav.
They would study everything about Fae in the afternoon, Lav watching over them with Frey popping in to check that everything was running properly.
Alre placed his sword down and turned to face Xaiver. “Good to see you on time. Make sure you’re here at this time every day. I despise tardiness and refuse to teach anyone who can’t keep up with time.”
“I understand.” Xavier bowed his head respectfully, silently thankful for Lav waking them so early.
“Good.” Alre nodded. “Do fifty laps around the training grounds to warm up. We’ll spar afterwards so I can determine your combat abilities.”
Xavier nodded I understanding, his wolf a little excited at the thought of sparring with another. It had been a while since he had sparred with someone this powerful that was not his father.
Alre turned back to his sword practice and Xavier jogged over to the edge of the training grounds. Running fifty laps wasn’t going to be too bad, Xaiver being a werewolf and also because he had been running laps as training warms ups for years under his father’s training.
The thought brought up flashbacks of his family, Xavier’s heart panging a little. He missed them greatly but now was not the time.
They knew he and Clare were safe and Xavier needed to stay away in case the Unseelie King went after his family. His mother was going to kill him for becoming mates without a proper ceremony and it kind of eased up the pain of homesickness.
But not by much.
Thus, Xavier put this full concentration on running, pushing a little harder than usual to get rid of the lingering thoughts.
As he ran, Xavier watched Alre train with his sword, impressed with the other man’s skills. He sliced through the stone dummies like they were butter, Xavier missing some of his movements.
Still Alre made it seem easy, slicing the dummies until they were dust before using magic to reconstruct them again. Over and over, Alre did this as Xavier ran laps around him.
Once Xavier was done with fifty laps, he jogged over to Alre, panting a little with some sweat forming on his brow. It had been a while since he had worked out like this but it made him feel good, especially with how it got his blood pumping.
Alre continued to practice his swordsmanship as Xavier stood there watching, when he said, “You’re slower than the weaker warriors in the Fae army but your good genes have given you the ability to grow stronger. As long as you follow what I say, not matter how hard it is, you’ll grow into a decent fighter.”
“Yes!” Xavier declared. “I’m committed to training harder.”
Alre nodded, coming to a stop. He held out his hand to Xaiver, a silver-colored sword with runic marks on the hilt appearing in his hands. Xavier looked at it wearily.
“It’s a platinum sword so you won’t be injured with it.” Alre explained, noticing his discomfort. “Most Fae use platinum since it’s stronger. Only border patrols use silver.”
Xaiver took the sword, it feeling heavy in his hands. “Thank you.”
He had never held a sword in his life and Xavier was unsure how to use it. The closest thing he had used were daggers but Xavier knew wielding a sword and daggers were two different things.
“All Fae warriors receive a sword when they start training. This will be yours from today onwards and will only work in your hands once you infuse it with your magic.” Alre stated. “However, you ae not yet ready for this sword.”
Xavier wanted to ask why Alre would give it to him then but remained silent. Something told him, Alre wasn’t one for someone interrupting him with questions.
“Instead, we’ll spar bare-handed until you gain the honor to use your sword.” Alre continued. “I give it to you now so you may be reminded of what you’re working towards. The quicker you become stronger, the quicker you can learn and master the sword.”
Xavier silently nodded his head in understanding.
“Good.” Alre stated. “Now go place the sword down on that bench so we can spar.”
Xavier swiftly did as he was told, walking back over to Alre once he had placed his new sword down to find the place had been cleared with Alre standing inside a red circle painted on the sandy floor.
Once he stepped inside the circle, Alre spoke once more, “The rules of this spar are simple. You are to either land a hit on me or get me to step out the circle. You have five minutes to do so and I shall wear a blindfold as a handicap to make things fair.”
“Understood.” Xaiver said, getting into a boxing stance.
Alre gazed at his form and nodded in approval. “I see you have some understanding of martial arts. It’s good you’re not completely useless.”
Xavier felt his eyebrow twitch and wolf howl in anger but said nothing, taking a deep breath as he watched Alre place a blindfold on that he had pulled out from his pocket. Xavier knew the older man was trying to get under his skin and had to stay calm.
If he lost to his emotions, he would lose the fight before it began. That was the first lesson his father had ever taught him.
Instead, he needed to analysis Alre and look for any weak points. One hit was all he needed but that didn’t mean he was going to underestimate Alre.
The man was obviously stronger…
“Begin!” Alre called out.
Xavier raised his arms a little higher, jumping on his heels to edge closer to Alre when the man suddenly appeared an inch away from him and threw out a punch.
Xavier tried to block but next thing he knew, he was laying on the sandy ground, his head spinning. He quickly got up, groaning as he did to find Alre standing above him.
“There is much work needed to be done but you’re not completely useless. You have a solid foundation.” Alre mused. “As such, I’ll be glad to have you as my student. You may call me Master Alre from now onwards.”
Xavier felt a small amount of pride fill him despite his lost. He quickly got up from the ground and bowed respectfully before Alre.
“Yes Master Alre.”