Control. That was the goal again. When Aurelion heard his name, his eyes briefly flickered to Nazgûl. The Orc stood further back in the group, his eyes on the ground, casting anxious glances around.
A faint, cold smile appeared on Aurelion's lips. "Yes," he thought. "He'll think twice before picking on someone again. Fear… an effective teacher."
When the warm up exercises and individual endurance drills like yesterday's were completed, the trainers moved on to a new topic. Wrestling and close quarters combat.
Harkan, demonstrated techniques for grappling an opponent, unbalancing them, taking them down, and most importantly, defending oneself and escaping difficult situations.
Aurelion paid close attention. This was one of the things he had felt the lack of most in his shadow training. No matter how good his striking technique was, being able to fight at close range or on the ground was vital.
He committed every hold, every leverage point, every escape maneuver to memory. "If I can't finish it standing… I must dominate on the ground. I must strengthen my weak point."
Then it was time for pairings again. Harkan's voice echoed across the courtyard. "Aurelion!" The Chief Instructor's eyes were fixed on him "Today, you'll try your luck with this whelp. Theron! Step forward!"
Theron visibly flinched when he heard his name. The Eluvian child's face was pale as he hesitantly stepped forward. The other children around also held their breath. The bloody fight days ago was still fresh in their minds, and yesterday he had engaged in a tactical battle with Lyra. Now he was paired with Theron, who had pathetically pinned Elara in the courtyard.
Everyone, especially Harkan, who had clearly made this pairing intentionally, was curious to see what Aurelion would do.
For Aurelion, however, this pairing was no coincidence. It was a test. Harkan was testing his control, his discipline. Would he explode as he had with Nazgûl, or would he maintain yesterday's controlled demeanor?
But this was also an opportunity. That humiliating move against Elara, that victorious, smirking face... The anger Aurelion had suppressed that day had now turned into a cold desire for revenge.
"Yes, a test. But also… time to put him in his place."
When they faced each other, he saw Theron's obvious nervousness. And that mocking, dark side within him couldn't hold back. A slow, deliberate smirk appeared on his face.
Harkan noticed this expression, and though his brow furrowed, he didn't intervene. He just gave a sharp "Begin!" command.
Theron immediately adopted a defensive stance, his eyes fearfully tracking Aurelion's every move.
Aurelion, however, didn't rush. Instead of exploding like before, he calmly took his guard and walked towards Theron with measured steps. He adjusted the distance.
Then, he lightly raised his left fist forward. He waited. A silence that lasted a few heartbeats. Then, suddenly, he lunged forward with his raised left hand and threw a sharp jab.
The blow struck Theron's guard. "Not bad," Aurelion said, his smirk widening. He resumed his stance. This time he lightly raised his right hand. Another short pause. And then a fast, full power right straight.
Theron dodged the blow by ducking to the side. "You're fast," Aurelion murmured. He was telegraphing his attacks. He was showing his opponent what he was going to do but still hitting with full force and his best technique.
This was a humiliating game. Both a physical and a mental battle. "Yes, tell him I'm coming. Let him know I'm coming. But let him still be unable to stop it. That is true helplessness."
Theron's face turned red. Both from anger and from surprise at this strange tactic. He didn't want to be provoked. He had seen how dangerous Aurelion could be. But standing there and taking a beating like this was also humiliating. If he lost like this...
He gritted his teeth, pushed aside his fear, and decided to attack as well. Just then, Linnea, accompanied by a few other trainers, had taken her place at the edge of the courtyard.
When she saw Aurelion's strange tactic, that unnerving smirk, she frowned slightly. "What is this boy trying to do?" she thought, but continued to take notes. Control was there, yes, but this form of control…
When Theron attacked, Aurelion's smirk widened even further. Here it began. Theron's moves were balanced but lacked the fluidity and unpredictability of the techniques Aurelion had practiced, proving insufficient.
Aurelion expertly dodged every blow, making unnerving comments after each block like, "Oh dear, almost..." and "You should have been a little faster." Once, when he caused Theron to lose his balance and stumble to the side, Aurelion stopped and theatrically applauded. "A perfect stumble! Can I get a repeat?"
Theron was now moving purely on anger. He attacked like a madman, while Aurelion practically danced with him. Dodging, blocking, redirecting, and taking every opportunity to try out the wrestling techniques he had just learned. Once he managed to grab Theron and briefly tried to twist a joint, but Theron cried out in pain and broke free. Another time he attempted to pull him to the ground, but Theron managed to keep his balance at the last second.
The taunting continued. "Are you tired already? The Wood Elf lasted longer than you." This last comment was the final blow that broke Theron's resistance. Despair and anger filled his eyes.
It was then that Aurelion suddenly stopped. The mocking smirk on his face vanished as if cut by a knife. His brow furrowed, his eyes locked onto Theron with an icy coldness.
He was tired of the game and felt the urge to hurt him much more, barely restraining the feeling within. Even that brief change was terrifying. He was no longer playing.
"You," Aurelion said, his voice calm but with a deadly undertone. "You are just a weakling." He took a step forward. "And weaklings... should know their place."
He lunged forward swiftly. Theron tried to raise his guard, but this time Aurelion hadn't telegraphed his move. He slipped past Theron's guard and landed a hard punch to his stomach with all his might. Then, without retreating, he hooked his foot behind his opponent's and pushed quickly.
Theron's breath hitched. He lost his balance and fell hard onto his back in the mud. He coughed, doubled over, unable to move.
Aurelion, without looking at his fallen opponent, turned his back without a word. He brushed off the mud stains on himself.
As he slowly walked towards the edge of the group, his eyes first went to Harkan, then to Linnea. Harkan's face was expressionless.
Control hadn't been lost, yes. But this cold, calculated humiliation and the ruthlessness of the final blow... It was clear the Chief Instructor didn't approve. He just nodded to the other trainers to pick Theron up.
Linnea, on the other hand, was looking at her parchment, but Aurelion saw her pen had stopped. A complex expression was on her face. This child was walking a dangerous balance.
The message among the other children, however, was clear. This Elf was not only savage but also intelligent and ruthless.
Lyra, watching Aurelion's finishing move from a distance, had a look of admiration and a little fear on her face. Their fight yesterday could have been much worse.
Elara, on the other hand, had closed her eyes when Theron fell, then, looking at Aurelion's back, a slight shiver rather than gratitude appeared in her eyes. This was different from the Nazgûl fight, but still... unsettling.
Aurelion moved to his place at the side. Revenge had been taken, the message delivered, and most importantly, control had not been lost. But that coldness in the final moment, that word "weak"...
He had seen another face of his own inner turmoil. And this face both satisfied and slightly disturbed him. Maintaining this balance would be harder than he thought.
After lunch, Aurelion had returned to the courtyard, leaning against a wall in a quieter corner. The feeling of victory within him was cold, yet there was a certain satisfaction. That control at the last moment and his opponent's helplessness... Yes, it had felt good, disturbingly good.
Just then, familiar footsteps approached. Elara "You... you overdid it again, didn't you?" she murmured.
Aurelion gave her a sideways glance. "Overdid it?" he said. "I just put him in his place. Besides, are you complaining? I defeated a loser who pinned you so easily. Shouldn't you be thanking me?" He shook his head slightly. "See? Even that loser was better against you."
Elara's cheeks flushed. This was an unfair accusation, and it hurt her. "That's not fair at all!" she said, her voice louder and angrier this time. "Stop picking on me! He caught me off guard that day, that's all! And you... you enjoy this, don't you? Making others suffer!"
Just as Aurelion was preparing reply "Well, well, well! Who's bothering the poor little woodpecker now?" Lyra, with Kael standing beside her like a silent shadow as usual, had approached them.
The fox girl had a bright, smirk on her face. She directly invaded Aurelion's personal space, ignoring the distance. "You put on quite a show again today. But somehow it wasn't as... impressive as yesterday."
Elara instantly became alert, this time she took a step forward, as if trying to position herself between Aurelion and Lyra. "Stay out of this, Lyra! We were talking."
Lyra let out a spoiled laugh. Elara's unexpected protectiveness both amused and slightly annoyed her. "Oh, has the little sprout gotten angry? What's wrong, did you get upset because I teased your protector a bit?"
Her gaze returned to Aurelion. "Though he destroyed Nazgûl last time, today he just... tickled the other one, didn't he? I guess I tired him out too much yesterday."
Elara's eyes narrowed, scanning Lyra from head to toe. "Maybe some people, unlike you who thoughtlessly jump and scratch at everything that comes your way, are smart enough to choose when and how to fight, Lyra, Making noise isn't the same as being strong. Just like a squirrel constantly scurrying around doesn't make it a wolf." This unexpected analogy and jab momentarily froze Lyra's smile.
"What?!" Lyra snapped. Did she just call her a squirrel? "I'm not thoughtless! I act on my instincts! And what do you know about fighting anyway? You're just a coward who flinches at every blow and hides in a corner!"
"I'm not a coward!" Elara's voice was more resolute this time. "I'm just not stupid. As you can see, who has more wounds? The one who attacks without thinking, or... the one who uses their head?" Her eyes meaningfully shifted on Lyra, then to herself, then back to Lyra.
A silent but intense staring contest ensued between the two girls. Neither was backing down. Aurelion watched this intellectual cat and mouse game with mild interest, even secretly enjoying the squabble between the two girls beside him. Elara's unexpected outburst had surprised even him.
Aurelion's eyes fell on Kael. The wolf boy was watching the two girls' argument with a slight sigh but complete indifference.
His posture was calm, his eyes scanned the surroundings, but there was no sign of emotion on his face.
"This is it," Aurelion thought. "Having to deal with this ball of energy every day... Of course, he'd be passive. This girl is like a storm, crushing everything in her path. Kael, on the other hand, is like a rock waiting for the storm to pass. Their fighting styles are a mirror of their characters."
Just as Lyra was about to give a sharper retort, she gave up and suddenly shifted her focus to Aurelion. "Hey! We're arguing here because of you! Let's get to the point! You still haven't answered me!"
"What answer?" Aurelion said wearily.
"How do you move so fast? Those strange blocks... Where do you know them from?" Lyra leaned over him inquisitively.
Aurelion thought for a moment. He could use this opportunity. "Speed?" he said, then turned to Lyra. "How are you so agile? Those sudden changes in direction, it's like gravity doesn't apply to you. How do you do that?"
"Oh, that?" she said, proudly puffing out her chest. "It's in our blood! Fox instincts! My feet just know where to step, my eyes spot an opening instantly! I'm fast because I was born that way!" It was a simple, instinctive explanation, but it was important for Aurelion
It meant some abilities were indeed innate. Aurelion nodded, then turned to Kael. "And you, Wolf? You look ferocious, but your fighting... is no different from a turtle's. Why don't you attack?"
His eyes slowly turned to Aurelion. "Every hunter has a different method," he said in a deep, calm voice. "Some tire their prey by chasing, some lie in ambush. I just... wait for the right moment. I don't waste my strength. Patience is a sharp weapon."
Lyra immediately jumped in. "See? See? We told you our secret! Now it's your turn! Spill it! What's your secret?"
Aurelion remained silent for a while. He looked at the three different Elves and Beastkin around him. They were all trying to survive in their own ways. The idea in his mind took shape.
He smiled faintly. "My secret?" he said slowly, his voice now deeper, more thoughtful. "My secret is simple, actually." He leaned forward, his voice dropping. The three children leaned in curiously.
"I just... watch."
There was a moment of silence. Lyra frowned. "Watching? Is that it?"
"Yes," Aurelion said. "I watch you, Lyra. I see how you recklessly charge forward, how you lower your guard relying on your speed. I watch Kael. I see how he sometimes waits too long while waiting for the right moment, how he misses opportunities that open up. I watch Elara. I understand how her fear holds her captive despite her potential." His gaze traveled over them in turn.
"I don't just train," he continued. "I constantly watch you, the trainers, every stone in the courtyard, every gust of wind. I try to understand how you move, why you move that way, where you make mistakes. I have my own techniques, yes. But my real strength... comes from knowing your weaknesses."
He lifted his head. "I learn from your mistakes. That's my secret. Now... will you do the same?" This unexpected answer and challenge left Lyra, Kael, and Elara stunned.
Aurelion might not have given away his secret, but he had given them something much more valuable, much more unsettling. A mirror to their own flaws and a confession of how he used those flaws.
The surprise on Lyra's face slowly gave way to a kind of realization and suppressed anger. Elara averted her eyes in shame. But the first to speak was the most unexpected one.
"But why?"
The voice belonged to Kael. A rare spark of curiosity had appeared on the wolf boy's usually expressionless face.
"Why are you revealing your advantage to us? This information… was your edge." Aurelion was slightly surprised by Kael's sudden question.
Revealing his own secret was a risk, yes, but a calculated one. He looked at Kael with smiling eyes. "Advantage? When I have opponents who don't bother to improve themselves, who keep repeating the same mistakes? If there's no one to challenge me, to test me, what's the point of these training sessions, Wolf?"
Then his gaze swept over the three of them, lingering a little longer on Elara's still evasive green eyes. "And don't forget, there's a little less than a year left. That exam… The Talent Tests for the College. They won't just look at muscle strength there. And that exam will shape your future."
Kael interjected again. "We understand that. But still… why are you helping us?" This question was the key point. What was Aurelion's motivation?
Aurelion smiled faintly. "Simple. Because you all have potential, but you're also raw and full of mistakes. And I… need strong training partners."
He took a step forward, his voice now clearer, more commanding. "What the trainers here teach you is basic. Not enough. At least not for my standards. So, from now on, in addition to your normal training, you will also work with me."
"WHAT?!" Lyra recoiled in shock. "Work with you? Who do you think you are?! Where did you get that idea?!"
Aurelion slowly turned to Lyra. That annoying, all knowing smirk reappeared on his face. "I don't know," he said innocently. "But something tells me you'll all want to. Especially if you don't want to be humiliated by me again."
Just as Lyra was about to retort angrily, Kael spoke "Agreed." He gave Lyra a brief glance. "I speak for Lyra too."
"Hey!" Lyra shouted. "I haven't said yes yet!"
Aurelion ignored them and turned to Elara. The girl looked at him hesitantly. It was clear she was experiencing an internal conflict. After a few seconds of silence, she slowly nodded. "O-okay."
Aurelion clapped his hands. "Excellent. Two out of three, majority rules." The expression on his face instantly changed to that of a trainer getting down to business. "Since everyone has agreed, we start immediately."
"I didn't agree!" Lyra protested grumpily.
Aurelion pretended not to hear her. He gestured to Kael and Elara. "You two. Face each other."
"Elara, you're afraid to attack. Kael, you think too much before attacking. A perfect balance. Now," his voice hardened, "don't seriously hurt each other, but don't hold back either. Let's see your mistakes. Fight!"
Kael, without hesitation, calmly moved to the indicated spot and took a defensive stance. Elara, though looking nervous, took a deep breath and then faced Kael, also trying to adopt the basic stance Aurelion had taught her.
Aurelion and Lyra stepped aside. Lyra was still grumbling but also watching what would happen with curiosity. "Let's see what happens now, Mr. Know It All?" she muttered.
When the fight between Kael and Elara began, the dynamic that Aurelion had predicted emerged.
Elara instinctively retreated, and even when she saw opportunities to attack, she hesitated at the last moment.
Kael, on the other hand, struggled to find a clear opening for an attack or a counter attack due to Elara's passivity, generally remaining defensive and continuing to wait for the right moment.
Aurelion started shouting instructions from the sidelines. "Elara! Don't step back! Close your elbows when you raise your arms! Faster!"
"Kael! Your opponent has an opening! Why are you still waiting? You can't beat anyone with that passive defense, counter attack!"
Both of them tried to follow Aurelion's instructions. Elara took a few more courageous steps forward, and Kael tried to react more quickly to one of Elara's mistakes. But still, there was no clear result.
After a few minutes of this strange fight, Aurelion shouted, "Stop!" Both of them stopped, panting. Aurelion approached them.
"Elara, you're still too timid. You have potential, but your will is weak. If you hesitate to attack, you'll remain defensive forever and eventually be crushed." Then he turned to Kael. "And you're too cautious, Wolf. Patience is good, but when it turns into inaction, it's stupidity. If you hesitate when the right moment comes, you'll miss that moment forever."
After pointing out a few correct moves they had made, he added: "Still, you both tried to listen to me. This is a start."
Lyra impatiently interjected. "Alright, alright, is the lesson over? Now it's our turn, right?" Her eyes defiantly met Aurelion's.
Aurelion turned to her, and just as he was about to answer, his eyes caught sight of the arched entrance of the building at the other end of the courtyard. Linnea was there. She hadn't come too close, trying not to draw attention, but Aurelion felt her presence and that she was watching them.
He shook his head. "No."
Lyra was shocked. "No?! Why?! Are you scared or something?"
"No," Aurelion said calmly. He gave Lyra a short, meaningful look. "It's just that you... are too impatient."
Then he turned his back and, under the astonished gazes of the others, began to walk decisively towards where Linnea was.
Lyra was about to shout angrily after him, but Kael caught her by the shoulder. Elara, seeing Aurelion leave and Linnea's distant figure, seemed to understand the situation.
Aurelion wasn't just setting the rules of the game. He also knew when to play and when to retreat. And that, perhaps, had been the most unsettling lesson of all.