The door of Linnea's office closed behind Aurelion with a soft creak. The room was tidy as always. However, there was the silent anticipation of a chess game yet to be played in the air.
Aurelion stood in the middle of the room. His golden eyes were fixed on Linnea, who waited for him behind her desk. On his face, there was a faint smirk with slightly upturned lips.
Linnea leaned back in her chair, her fingertips lightly touching the surface of the desk as she watched him. This child had managed to surprise her once again.
"Sit, Aurelion," Linnea said "It seems we have things to talk about. Or perhaps... things you need to explain?"
Aurelion sat on the chair opposite the desk. His smirk widened slightly.
"Is there something I need to explain, Lady Linnea? Or do you just... want to share your observations?"
Linnea chuckled softly. "My observations... Yes, I've had some quite interesting observations. For instance, you just displayed a rather... unexpected coaching performance in the courtyard. What was the meaning of that little "lesson" with Lyra, Kael, and Elara?"
Aurelion shrugged "I was just carrying out the other training you assigned me," he said innocently. "If you recall, you said I needed to improve my social skills. Interacting with others, helping them, albeit in my own way... Isn't that a kind of social skill?" He paused, his eyes glinting slyly. "Besides, I found a very good way to deal with Lyra. Channeling her endless energy and curiosity in a direction that serves all of our development... Quite logical, isn't it?"
Linnea remained silent for a moment. "It might be logical," she said slowly. "But also dangerous. There's a reason we use experienced trainers to train you, Aurelion. They know the limits, they understand when to stop, how much to push someone. You, on the other hand..." Her gaze lingered on the wounds on Aurelion's face. "...you can't even fully control your own limits yet."
Aurelion nodded. "Yes, you're right. The knowledge and control of experienced trainers are indisputable. And of course, the consequences of any accident could be severe. That's why we'll be careful." He leaned forward slightly "But Lady Linnea, this is just practice. As long as we're careful among ourselves, I don't think there will be a problem. Especially since there won't be any real competition between us... We'll just learn from each other's mistakes and push each other to be better. We'll practice calmly."
Linnea looked at him suspiciously. "Practicing calmly"... Those words didn't sound very convincing coming from Aurelion. Especially when she thought about his fight with Theron that morning.
"Still," she said. "It seems strange to me that you suddenly want to get so involved with these children. Until yesterday, you were avoiding them like the plague. What's your real goal, Aurelion? What lies beneath this sudden "helpfulness"?"
Aurelion leaned back, his expression serious. "My real goal is simple and clear, Lady Linnea. These children, Lyra, Kael, and Elara... they'll be nine next year. They'll participate in those Talent Tests. If they don't improve themselves at least a little now, you can probably guess what will happen in those tests." He paused, then pointed to himself. "I, on the other hand, have two more years until those exams. But that doesn't mean I'll be idle. I need strong partners to improve myself. Their development will indirectly serve my development as well. I have no hidden agenda. This situation, simply, benefits all of us."
Linnea sighed softly. The boy's logic was sound again. And yes, those tests were approaching. Perhaps Aurelion's method could actually work. Despite his unpleasant, demeaning behavior towards Theron that morning, Aurelion's control against Lyra and his logical explanations today...
"Alright," she said finally. "Despite your actions this morning that I didn't like, I saw that you maintained your control and could think logically. Therefore... I'm giving you permission for this "training"."
"But! On one condition: There will be no serious accidents. No injuring each other. If I hear or see things getting out of control, this ends immediately. Understood?"
"Of course, Lady Linnea," Aurelion said immediately. "We will be careful. Our safety is always our priority."
Linnea wanted to roll her eyes at this sudden compliance but restrained herself. Then Linnea's gaze seemed to drift off as if remembering something new, then returned to Aurelion. "Well... I understand about Lyra and Kael. They're strong, they have potential. But Elara?" Her brow furrowed slightly. "Why did you include her in this little training group? Let's admit, this girl is physically a bit... weak compared to the other children. And she doesn't seem to enjoy fighting much. She doesn't quite fit your need for "strong partners," does she? Why did you choose her when there are other more talented children?"
Aurelion hesitated for a moment at this question. Surprise showed on his face, and his facial muscles began to tense slightly. "Her?" he said. "She... she has to get stronger too. Like everyone else."
Linnea was not satisfied. "Is that so? Or... do you remember how Theron treated Elara last year? And that special "attention" you showed towards Theron this morning... Perhaps the reason you included Elara in the group is some kind of... reciprocation for what was done to her? Or is it a protective instinct?"
Aurelion's eyes narrowed slightly. This implication, this "protective instinct" attribution, had annoyed him. "Nonsense!" he snapped. "That girl is constantly hanging around me. Her weakness draws attention, and this situation, indirectly, distracts my focus as well. Fools like Theron bothering her is also a distraction for me. I had to put him in his place because he was crossing his limits. This has nothing to do with Elara herself, I just did what needed to be done."
Linnea smiled faintly, but this time her smile was more like "I understand you,"
"I see. So you just did what needed to be done... An interesting perspective. But this still doesn't fully explain why you included Elara in this training group."
Aurelion sighed with annoyance. It was impossible to hide anything from this woman, and this questioning was starting to bother him.
"Alright!" he said. "I don't want a repeat of what happened with Theron. If she learns to defend herself even a little, maybe no one will bother her so easily again, and I won't have a headache either. And..." He paused, searching for the right word. "...she's also an Elf. Her staying weak... annoys me." He had mumbled the last part, as if wanting to hide this confession even from himself.
Linnea's smile widened. This was it. The answer she had been expecting, the one she had sensed even if she hadn't heard it exactly. Perhaps in this cold, calculating child, very deep down, there was some kind of belonging or at least an expectation of a standard. "It's nice of you to think of the well being of an innocent, sweet girl, Aurelion," she said in a sweet voice.
"It has nothing to do with that!" He quickly got up from the chair. "I'm just doing what's logical! A weak link endangers the entire chain!" He turned and walked towards the door.
"Of course," Linnea said after him, her voice still sounding amused.
As Aurelion opened the door and stepped out, he heard Linnea chuckle softly. He paused for a moment in the corridor after closing the door behind him.
A complex expression was on his face. He had won the game with Linnea, yes. He had gotten permission. But Elara... This situation bothered him. That Wood Elf's weakness had become a variable affecting his own control and goals.
"Nonsense," he hissed internally. "It was a completely logical decision. A weak link endangers everyone. That's all."
Though he tried to convince himself of this, Linnea's mischievous gazes and implications uncomfortably lingered in a corner of his mind. He quickly pushed these thoughts aside. There was no room for sentimentality. What mattered was the result. Permission had been granted. Now it was time for implementation.
He had to take this "training" business seriously. Both for himself, because this was an excellent opportunity to test his own techniques on different opponents and to learn while teaching, and also... yes, perhaps preventing those three incompetents from completely vanishing in the College Tests could create less of a headache for him in the long run.
Strong, predictable allies, or at least less troublesome pawns, were always better than weak and undisciplined ones.
When he entered the common hall, his eyes immediately searched for them. Lyra and Kael were talking in low voices in a corner. Elara was a bit further away, sitting by the window, looking outside.
Aurelion went straight to them. All three turned to him when they sensed his presence.
"I spoke with Mistress Linnea, She has given permission for this little "study group" of ours. Under certain conditions."
Lyra immediately interjected. "Conditions? What conditions? Besides, I still..."
Aurelion silenced her with a single glance. "The conditions are simple. No serious injuries. There is discipline. And most importantly," he paused, his gaze sweeping over each of them in turn, "what I say, goes."
"So you're going to decide?" Lyra grumbled.
"Yes," Aurelion said clearly. "Because I'm the only one among you who really knows what he's doing. And because this will be with my time and my energy. If anyone has an objection, they can say so now and return to their old, inadequate methods."
Kael shrugged calmly. "No problem for me. If there's something to learn, I'll learn it."
Elara nodded. Lyra gritted her teeth. Aurelion's arrogance annoyed her, but at the same time, those different techniques she had seen in the morning fight and even Kael accepting this situation... Her curiosity and competitiveness outweighed her annoyance. "Alright!" she said grumpily. "But if you start talking nonsense, I'll be the first to leave!"
"Agreed," Aurelion said with a faint smirk. "Then starting tomorrow morning, right after dawn, we meet in the corner of the courtyard. Before the normal drills, and no being late."
The promised chill of the next dawn arrived, and in the corner of the courtyard, four small figures moved in the cold.
Aurelion stood in their midst, giving commands in a clear, sharp voice. He had woken them before dawn and had them do a quick warm up. He had emphasized the importance of warming up before straining muscles, that an accident would unnecessarily set them back.
Now they were focused on basic stances. "Knees bent, center of gravity low! Feet shoulder width apart, plant them firmly on the ground!" Aurelion demonstrated, the techniques he had worked on for years, and the sturdiness he had observed in the Northerners. "This stance provides both balance and allows for quick reactions. Repeat until flawless!"
Elara tried. She was intelligent, she understood what Aurelion wanted, but her body was still hesitant. When she lost her balance and stumbled slightly, Aurelion's voice was instantly beside her. "You'll stand on the entire sole of your foot, Elara, not on your heels! Don't take your eyes off the ground! Feel your stance! Take root!"
He saw this girl's potential, but her fear hindering it was annoying. "She needs to toughen up. This world doesn't forgive the weak."
Lyra, on the other hand, had put aside her initial grumbling. Her movements were still a bit rushed, relying too much on her natural agility, but at least she was trying. When Aurelion demonstrated a simple block, Lyra instinctively tried to involve her clawed hand.
"No!" Aurelion said sharply. "Just the block! Claws are a last resort or a special attack. Don't reveal your every move. Protect your guard." Just as Lyra seemed about to object, Aurelion made an fast move towards her, close enough to be threatening but not to hit.
Lyra instinctively jumped back, almost falling. "See? You're predictable. I was expecting that move because you don't hold your guard properly. Discipline, Lyra. Your instincts aren't enough." The fox girl gritted her teeth. She was cursing Aurelion internally, but she also knew he was right.
Kael, as usual, was silent and methodical. His movements were technically correct but slow. When Aurelion moved to the next block, Kael's reaction was correct but late. "Faster, Kael! The blow doesn't wait! Your body, your mind must react without thinking! Being that careful will get you killed! Life doesn't wait for you, Kael! When the blow comes, you won't have time to think about the "right moment." React!"
The wolf boy just nodded and tried again. He wasn't used to aggression, his defensive nature slowed him down, but Aurelion's logic was undeniable.
Aurelion made sharp comments on each of their mistakes and correct movements, instantly cutting off excuses or objections. "You are forbidden to answer me," he said at one point, his tone military. "Just do as I say. If you have questions, ask after you've demonstrated."
For him, this was a lesson not only for them but also for his own control. That mocking, critical voice within him, that impatience, had to be restrained. Yes, they were fools perhaps in his eyes, unable to grasp even such simple things immediately. But they were children. They wouldn't improve overnight. He couldn't let his impatience cloud his judgment.
After a while, he stopped. "Now watch me," he said. He began to transition fluidly between basic stances and blocks himself. "Look, how the center of balance shifts... How I redirect the blow instead of meeting it... Footwork is key..." He explained as he performed each movement, telling them the reason. While doing his own training, he was also teaching them.
"This method... is efficient," he thought. He could also see his own mistakes more clearly when explaining them to others. "Now you try."
When they started trying again, Aurelion approached them to test their basic blocks. With slow, touches and light pushes, he checked their guards.
As the first faint rays of the sun began to filter over the warehouse wall, Aurelion suddenly stopped. "That's enough for today."
"Your mistakes are countless," he said in his usual critical tone. But then he added "But you tried. And you're not stupid, just raw. It won't happen overnight. If you continue to listen to me, you will improve. Definitely."
Without looking at the expressions of the others, he turned his back. "Tomorrow, same time, same place. And be better."
After breakfast and a short rest, the familiar chaos had returned. Harkan's booming voice had about thirty children running on the muddy ground of the courtyard.
When Aurelion, Lyra, Kael, and Elara joined the others, they still felt the fatigue of the morning's training, but there was a difference.
Aurelion's harsh "lesson" had tired them physically but seemed to have awakened them mentally.
It was impossible for Harkan, with his usual sharp eyes scanning the group, not to notice the condition of these four.
Combined with the information Linnea had conveyed to him that morning about the "little study group," the Chief Instructor's brow furrowed slightly. So this Elf whelp wasn't just causing trouble, he was now trying to make his own rules.
After the normal warm up and basic drills, Harkan called Aurelion directly to his side.
"Aurelion! I hear you're following a special program for yourself in the mornings. So the training we offer isn't enough for you?"
Aurelion calmly nodded. "I'm just working on my shortcomings, Chief Instructor."
Harkan grunted. "Is that so? Let's see how quickly you can overcome those shortcomings." He gestured to the middle of the courtyard. "Assume attack position!"
Then he called out to two different children. One was Zara, a Saharan girl known for her fast, agile movements, and the other was Mare, an Aquarion boy who drew attention with his snake like flexible body and unexpected holds.
"You two!" Harkan said to Zara and Mare. "Attack this Elf! The goal is to knock him down or make him submit! At the same time! Begin!"
Aurelion didn't hesitate for even a moment. He immediately assumed his most balanced defensive stance, his eyes quickly darting between the two opponents, trying to guess which one would attack first. Zara moved immediately, sliding low to attack Aurelion's legs. Simultaneously, Mare, with a flexible movement as if springing from the ground, lunged towards Aurelion's upper body.
Aurelion was in a difficult situation. He jumped back to avoid Zara's ankle attack, but this left him more exposed to Mare's grappling attempt. At the last moment, he ducked under Mare's arms.
He was constantly moving, trying not to turn his back on either of them, looking for an opening from the other while parrying one's attack. While dodging Zara's fast punches and kicks, he had to block Mare's grappling attempts coming from the ground or the side.
Harkan watched from the side. The boy was struggling, that much was clear. He was tired, taking hits. But he wasn't giving up. There was no pain on his face, only stubborn concentration.
After each attack, he corrected his stance, trying to control his breathing. He used all his balance and every defensive technique he had learned to its fullest extent to avoid falling.
On the sidelines, Lyra, Kael, and Elara watched with bated breath. They were seeing the kind of pressure the cold, analytical trainer who had instructed them that morning was now under.
After a few minutes of this relentless assault, Aurelion's speed had visibly decreased. Harkan shouted, "Enough!"
Zara and Mare immediately retreated. Aurelion stood where he was, doubled over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath. Parts of his tunic were torn, the bandages on his face had loosened, and new bruises were visible. But he was standing. He hadn't fallen.
Harkan approached him with heavy steps. He stood over him, looking him up and down. "Breathe, whelp," he grumbled.
Aurelion slowly straightened up, his eyes defiantly meeting Harkan's. "So you want to improve yourself, huh? Since the training we offer isn't enough for you, then there will be a price for this."
He leaned towards Aurelion. "You may have gotten permission from Mistress Linnea. But in this courtyard, I make the rules. And for my approval," he paused, "as long as that little "study group" of yours continues, you will do EXTRA endurance and punishment training after every drill. Until you or those novice friends of yours give up. If you really want to push yourself, here's your chance!"
Aurelion looked into Harkan's eyes. He understood the threat. This was as much a challenge as it was a punishment. The man wanted to see his limits.
Despite his fatigue and aching body, the corner of his lips curled upwards. "Fair enough," he whispered.
Evening had fallen, another exhausting day left behind. Aurelion was in the relatively quiet library corner of the orphanage, watching the twilight outside the window. Every muscle protested. Harkan had kept his word, making him run extra, crawl, and pushed him to the last drop of his endurance after the drills. His body was rebelling, but his mind... His mind was sharp.
The first "lesson" that morning... The novices' mistakes, his own impatience... But also those small sparks of improvement and his own shortcomings he noticed while teaching. Harkan's brutal test... He had survived, hadn't lost control. The new challenge... Extra training would be tough, but it would further strengthen his endurance and will.
Just then, familiar footsteps approached. When he turned his head, he saw Kael. The wolf boy stood beside him, calm as usual, but there was a new expression in his eyes. "Today... was hard," he said simply. "But tomorrow... as you said, I'll try to be faster." Without another word, he turned and left.
A few minutes later, Elara arrived. "Um... Aurelion? Thank you... I guess. I mean... for making me try?" Her voice was still broken, but there was hope in it.
Lyra, on the other hand, appeared at the end of the corridor. She didn't come directly to him but stopped, crossing her arms over her chest. "Tomorrow morning!" she called out, "Don't be late, pointy ears! You have a lot to show!" She turned and ran off.
Aurelion was surprised by these unexpected interactions. Maybe he wasn't as alone on this path as he thought. Or maybe their interests were just moving in the same direction. But whatever it was, this small group was shaping under his will.