I tensed. “Okay, now it kinda seems like you guys are about to jump me or something.”
“Attacks in the real world won’t come with a warning,” he said calmly as Skye let loose with a battle cry behind me.
What the hell?
I spun to see my friend wearing the look of a psychotic murderer. Her face was contorted into a determined grimace, her sword raised high over her head as she came at me.
“Skye!” I ripped my sword from my arm tattoo and yanked it up to defend myself. Just as she was bearing down on me, a cream colored paw batted the back of my knees and my legs crumpled, bringing me to the ground.
I growled as I fell at an awkward angle and my elbow jabbed into my side. Skye’s sword came down blindingly fast and I barely had a moment to lift my metal-cuffed arm and intercept her attack.
“Geez, Skye, this is practice!” I yelled at her as I stared in horror at the dent she put in my armor.
“I agree,” Aurum’s voice came from behind me. “Skye, you’re at a ten and I need you at a six.”
That was rich coming from the dude who’d just sideswiped my legs.
Skye sulked but nodded. “Sorry, I got excited.”
I got up and brushed off my pants, turning to glare at my guardian. “I thought you were on my side? What’s with the leg swipe?”
I’d remember that.
He grinned, this time displaying all of his teeth. “Your father won’t go easy on you, so neither will I.”
I exhaled deeply, trying to get my emotions in check. “How often are we doing these little practices?” I crouched and readied myself for another attack.
Aurum crouched as well, mirroring my stance. “Daily, twice daily if needed.”
My eyes felt like they might bug out of my head. Twice daily? I was going to die with that amount of training, but there was no time to complain, because I saw a barely visible shockwave burst from Aurum’s forehead. I dropped to the floor, lying flat against the grass as the attack sailed over my head.
“Hah!” I started to celebrate and then a yelp ripped from Skye behind me as she got knocked over by the shockwave I’d dodged. I didn’t even try to hide my smile as I shoved back to my feet.
It seemed like these little surprise attacks went on for hours, but in reality was probably only twenty minutes or so. I was shockwave slammed, attacked with fire, nearly stabbed, and knocked down at least a dozen times. My skin was littered with bruises and minor cuts. I was filthy and sweaty and panting for air when Aurum called a halt to this part of my training.
“Let’s move to another, more important training.” He gestured for Skye to step over to him.
I tensed, ready for them to both try to kill or maim me in some way or another.
“You can relax now,” Aurum said.
“Hah! Nice try.” I gripped my sword, feeling my blood pressure rise.
I was cagey. No one would get the drop on me.
Skye lowered her weapon and then set it on the grass. “No, seriously, this is soul magic practice now.”
I relaxed, but only a little. “Soul magic?”
Aurum sat on his back legs, giving his wings a little shake as he settled, and peered at me. “Every living thing has an energy, and that energy is condensed into a unique signature called a soul.”
I knew what a soul was. Or at least the concept of it.
“Except for like trees and plants and stuff,” Skye added.
Aurum tipped his head in agreement. “Although there is a sort of group soul magic involved in those, but yes, Skye, good point.”
The guardian lifted a paw, indicating Skye. “Skye’s soul is in Avalon where it belongs, which is why she is solid here. If you were to really concentrate right now, using the same magic you use to make portals, you could connect with Skye’s soul energy.”
