Mystical combat arts

A week had passed.

By the end of the week, everyone had finally managed to make an energy ball in some way or another. Professor McKinney announced that they would move on to the next part of the lesson on the next day.

Timmy still hadn't noticed a change in the size of his energy ball, disappointingly for him but he kept trying.

Besides that Timmy was progressing in his other subjects. Progress was slow in weaponry combat but Timmy was improving nonetheless.

In mysticism, Timmy had learned quite a bit about taming. It seemed like an interesting ability too Timmy but Professor Catherine didn't delve too much on the topic before she moved on.

Timmy felt what Jago said was disappointment but he didn't complain too much.

After the busy week,due to Jagos suggestion Timmy went to the library. He found plenty of interesting books but only chose the ones which Jago said would benefit him.

"Conjuring: basic things you should know,mystical energy in its advanced form, mystical combat arts: different types of combat." Timmy read out the names of the books he had selected. He decided to select a few extra ones for himself.

"Mystical beasts,how to be a taming master,mystical tips for beginners and mystical artifacts." Timmy carefully chose as he perused through the books in the shelves.

When Timmy was satisfied,he left from the library and headed straight to his room.

"What do I start with?" Timmy asked Jago.

"Mystical combat. Open that book." Jago commanded Timmy. Timmy complied and opened the thick book. The dust between the pages showed that it hadn't been used for a while.

Timmy read through the contents of the book and he read through quite a bit of pages before Jago spoke.

"Stop here." Jago said to him.

"What...why?" Timmy asked. The book had piqued his interest and he intended reading through the entire book. With his enhanced senses he felt he could complete the thick book in less than a day.

"This is what I've been looking for. It's a combat art that's simple but effective. It's very rarely used but it's what we need." Jago explained.

"If it's so effective,than why is it so unpopular?" Timmy asked Jago.

"Well,it's considered dull by most gifted." Jago said to Timmy.

"Dull?" Timmy asked.

"It was said to be too dull. The combat art consisted of a few simple techniques and it didn't suit the taste of many gifted. Of course I think it's a dumb opinion. A combat art or weapon can become dull depending on the user. Even this simple art can become attractive if it's mastered well by the user." Jago explained to Timmy.

"What is this combat art called?" Timmy asked Jago.

"The kite technique." Jago said to Timmy.

"It does sound quite bland." Timmy commented as he replayed the name in his head.

"That doesn't matter." Jago said to Timmy.

"Than,how do I begin?" Timmy asked Jago.

"Mystic Combat Arts are used when the mystic energy in the body are spread throughout the body in a certain way, causing the physical attacks to have enhanced effectiveness.

Combat Arts are quite simple and some people dedicate their lives to mastering it. Gifted who have very little magic energy would focus solely on mystical combat arts since it barely uses any energy.

But all gifted choose to learn combat arts at least as a side path. It's needed when engaging fiends in close combat," Jago explained to Timmy. Timmy listened to every word Jago said."Now,to do this follow my instructions."

"Yes." Timmy answered.

According to Jagos instructions,Timmy had to first sit down and control the energy particles in his body. Than he began to spread them along his body just as Jago explained. Timmy could control the energy particles in his body at this stage but it was controlling the power once it left his body that proved difficult for him.

By the end of the entire process,instead of feeling tired or exhausted,Timmy felt refreshed.

"When you want to engage in combat,you just need to repeat this process. The energy particles all over your body will help increase the effectiveness of your attacks." Jago explained.

"So, I've basically learned the combat art now?" Timmy asked, wondering if it was that easy.

"Hahaha,no. It's not that easy. You have merely completed the mystical part of it. Not the actual combat part. You need to take part in combat without the energy particles dispersing. Keeping the energy where they're supposed to be is the most difficult part. Otherwise, you're just going to waste your mystical energy." Jago continued explaining to Timmy.

"You know a lot for a fiend." Timmy said as he stretched his limbs.

"You're not the first human I've tried taking control of. Naturally I have my experiences." Jago snorted as he replied.

"Oh,how old are you?" Timmy asked Jago.

"Around a few hundred years or something. I'm quite young." The fiend said to Timmy.

"You're very old." Timmy straightforwardly said to Jago.

"That's what a simple human like you would think," Jago muttered, sounding rather annoyed."you should drag yourself to the training room and train instead of disrespecting me."

"Okay than." Timmy answered as he got up to go train.

"Wow,you're actually going." Jago muttered,this time to nobody in particular.

Timmy arrived at the training room to find it empty. The room was large,it was at least the size of a football pitch.

"Now repeat the process as I told you and throw a punch." Jago said to Timmy.

Timmy repeated the earlier process like Jago told him and spread the energy particles around his body,mostly concentrating the energy in his arm. Than he threw a punch. As soon as he moved,the energy in his arm dissipated and by the time he completed his punch, there was hardly any energy left.

"I told you it wasn't easy," Jago said to him with a slight laugh."this is going to be the most difficult thing you're ever going to do in your entire life."

Jagos words proved to be right. No matter how Timmy tried he couldn't keep the energy in his arm. Timmy tried and tried but he just couldn't.

"Right now,each time you lunch,only about 7% stays in your body. In order to make sure above 80% stay in your body, you're going to have to train for about 2 hours a day for the next 3 months. Maybe than you'll be ready to use mystical arts in combat. But to use this combat art most effectively you'll have to make sure you keep at least around 99% in in your body. Nothing below that range." Jago said to Timmy.

"I'll practice, than." Timmy simply said,as he began to spread the energy in his body,once again.

By the time Timmy was done with training,Jago informed him that he had improved by a single percent.

"This is difficult." Timmy thought to himself as he left the training room.

As he walked out he bumped into someone.

"Ah... Timmy?" A familiar voice called out.

Timmy realised who the person in front of him was.

"Oh Leah." Timmy said as he watched the girl stare at him in surprise.

"I never expected to meet you here. Were you training?" Leah asked as she observing Timmy and noticed his sweaty appearance.

"Yeah." Timmy said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"You're always training nowadays! Don't you take it easy?" Leah asked while staring right at Timmy.

"I can't take it easy," Timmy said,his face straight as always as he broke eye contact and turned to leave.

"Wait up!" Leah said to Timmy as he walked away."where are you headed?"

"To take a shower." Timmy replied.

"And than?" Leah asked him.

"I will be reading." Timmy replied.

"Reading,is that a hobby you recently picked up?" Leah asked, genuinely curious.

"Not a hobby,but it helps." Timmy said to her as they walked through the academy corridors.

"You're really focused on improving." Leah commented.

"Yes." Timmy said.

"You really need to loosen up. Get freshened up and than meet me outside. We'll go for a walk." Leah said punching Timmy's arm before walking out.

"She's becoming a lot more friendly." Timmy said to himself.

"That's true." Jago mumbled.

"Do I go with her?" Timmy asked Jago. Timmy wasn't sure if he had the time to enjoy himself.

"Of course. You're a human being so too much training will negatively impact you. So go ahead." Jago said to him.

"You're quite persistent in making sure I get powerful." Timmy commented as he entered his room.

"I'm going to have to stay with you from now on so I don't want to be with someone whose weak. Furthermore, you've got a lot of potential so it will be fun training you." Jago explained.

Timmy nodded at Jagos explanation before he looked around his small room,"now,what do I wear?"

***

"..."

There was an awkward silence between Leah and Timmy. The two of them sat at the opposite ends of a round table.

"How many magical items do you have at the moment?" Leah asked, breaking the silence.

"Nothing." Timmy replied honestly. Although he was simply just a student gifted,if he had to be compared to others, Timmy was basically dirt poor.

"Well, it's only natural,I guess. You're a recently awakened gifted after all." Leah muttered with a slight sigh.

"..." Timmy didn't say anything and simply watched her.

"Come on,you should get yourself a few essential stuff." Leah said to Timmy. They were currently in the small town which was next to the academy. They were sitting in a small restaurant having a small meal.

"I don't have money." Timmy said,not getting up yet. He had seen Leah use some sort of gold coin so Timmy realised that in the world of the gifted a different currency,which was different from normal society,was used.

"Don't worry about money. I have plenty." Leah said, brushing off his excuse. By the way she said it,she didn't seem to be bragging or joking.

"Okay." Timmy said, not willing to argue with Leah.

"Than,let's go." Leah called out to him as she left the restaurant. Timmy followed her out.

Leah walked through the dusty streets of the town before she stopped in front of an old shop. From her expression,it seemed she had found the place she was looking for.

"Come on,it's here we going." Leah said to Timmy, pushing open the old door of the shop to enter.

As soon as Timmy entered he felt a change in the atmosphere. He gave a slow look around the building and Jago whistled in surprise from inside his head.

"Spatial technique,quite impressive I must admit." Jago muttered in admiration.

"What's spatial technique?" Timmy asked Jago.

"The ability to manipulate and alter space." Jago explained to Timmy.

Timmy understood what Jago meant,the interior of the building was of a large, spacious shop which appeared to be small and cramped from the outside.

"Hello,how can I help you youngsters?" A voice suddenly said. An old man suddenly appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of Leah and Timmy.

Leah didn't seem to surprised but Timmy was a bit startled by the old man's sudden appearance.

"Well, I'd like to see the spatial rings first,than take me to the cloak section and the body armour section." Leah said to Timmy.

"Very well than." The old man said as he ran his fingers through his long white beard.

In an instant,the scenery around Timmy changed and Timmy and Leah were soon standing in front of a glass cabinet. Different types of rings were displayed on the cabinet.

"Here you are, please observe and find whatever you prefer." The old man said with a professional smile on his face.

"Thank you," Leah said to the old man before she turned to face Timmy."Choose from the rings here. They're all of good quality."

"What's the best choice for me?" Timmy asked,he was new to the world of mysticism,after all.

"I could explain the details to you,young sir. As long as you don't mind." The old man said to Timmy.

"Please do." Timmy simply said to him.

The man held out his hand and a ring appeared there,he began speaking."this particular ring is of quite magnificent quality. It was crafted by Grandmaster Silverado himself. Although it appears simple,it has the storage space of a whole cart."

The ring he held up was of silver colour,together with gold engravings on the surface.

The old man displayed a few more rings,each time he'd explain the maker,and state the amount of storage it had. The rings ranged from having the space of a single bag to the space of a small room.

In the end Timmy chose the first ring showed to him. The silver ring had taken his liking since out if all the rings,it was the most simple. It also seemed efficient enough to him.

"Now,to the cloaks." The old man said. As soon as he spoke,the scenery around him changed almost instantly.

"Here you are, Timmy. You can choose one." Leah said to Timmy.

Timmy made a decision quite rapidly with the cloaks. He chose a grey cloak with silver linings and a hood. According to the old man's explanation,it could defend almost against any strong attack since it was magically reinforced. It could also store energy from attacks and reuse them. Timmy didn't hesitate choosing it since even Jago encouraged him to choose it.

The last section they visited was the body armour. From the body armour displayed,a lot of them were fancy while others seemed so simple it was clear it had low quality.

"I can recommend an armour especially for this young sir," the old man said to Timmy. As he spoke,he walked over to an armour placed on display."this might fit young sirs needs. Since it's magically reinforced,it keeps out both cold and heat. It's made from the magical beast, Armoured dog so it has an extremely good defence which is difficult to break."

Timmy observed the suit while listening to the old man's explanation.

"Choose this one." A voice said in Timmy's head.

"This one,I like it." Timmy simply said, nodding to the shopkeeper.