Cosmo was taken aback when she said this, a sceptical squint settling on his face.
"Uh…" He tried to laugh. "Are you...are you serious?"
Ester quickly nodded her head, trying not to draw attention to herself.
"But aren't you learning how to improve your body and Flo control with Instructor Burnad? And practical applications with Markos?" He leaned in. "...What do you need me for?"
Ester pursed her lips.
It was as if Cosmo didn't realise how talented fighter he had presented himself as when he fought against the other third years.
From his calm and collected attitude to the way he was able to turn the tides when the outcome looked unfavourable, Ester couldn't understand how he didn't see it himself. Even though he didn't win against Eli, Cosmo was able to get him to actually try against him. No wonder why Markos introduced him alongside the others as one of the strongest in the HoS. To the person she saw sitting at the library desk, the person who saw himself as someone not noteworthy, she saw a fountain of talent, held back by his own mindset.
She steeled her nerves and looked him in the eyes.
"...I just think you're really strong," she said. "And I want to learn from you."
Her words hit him hard, rendering him speechless whilst he scrambled to adjust his huge glasses.
"..I'm not that-"
"Yes you are," she interrupted him. "...Why are you denying it?"
She did her best not to waver from his gaze, trying to look as sincere as she could.
He fidgeted at the table.
"...Maybe I'm comparing myself to… other people." He mumbled.
"Like Elijah?"
He didn't say anything and it was then that Ester got the idea to let out a small snort.
"I'm sure Elijah works on himself," she said. "And you?"
He paused for a moment before matching her gaze.
"I'd...rather not fight."
"Why?"
"That's…"
He hesitated.
Ester felt herself getting more irritated with his answers. Perhaps she was jealous that he was born with gifts she didn't have. Perhaps he simply wasn't in her situation, where her life depended on how well she did in the Trials.
"Will you teach me?" She said. "...Please?"
They stared at each other before he was the first to look away.
"The Trials are still months away," he said. "Are you that far behind?"
She shook her head.
"So you just want to get an upper hand over your peers?"
Ester pursed her lips, nodding slowly. She didn't know how to tell him it was also for self defence. Her heart still skipped a beat whenever she remembered that she could be found out at any moment.
She refused to go back to that cell.
"Hm," he said, looking at her. "I didn't expect you care about something like that."
Before she could speak he threw his head back deep in thought.
"It would look good on my record…" He mumbled, stroking his chin. "But I've still got responsibilities as a third year student."
"I-I don't expect you to help me everyday! Just whenever you're available."
Cosmo gave a her a look before a smile broke out on his face.
"I'm going to have to tell Markos there's a Starless asking a third year student for help."
Ester's voice went quieter.
"...Isn't that allowed?"
"It is! It's just…Not very common."
"Oh...So does that mean...?"
He nodded.
"I should be able to help you around this time tomorrow, if that is okay with you?"
Ester's face lit up, unable to contain her smile.
"Yes, that's perfect!"
He smiled extending his hand and she reached to shake it, awkwardly using both her hands.
She wanted to say more but there was another student who had been standing behind Ester waiting to be served by Cosmo with an annoyed look on her face.
She excitedly said her goodbyes to him, promising to check out more books as thanks.
She decided to head back to the common room, finding Saphy, Zeek, Arthur Kris and Geire in a heated argument.
The room was filled with the usual noise of students. Dice rattled across the wooden tables, cards were slapped down in frustration, and the occasional bursts of laughter filled with the room.
Ester barely had time to take it all in before Saphy noticed her, waving and shouting her name as if she hadn't hear it the first time.
Saphy gave her a comforting arm squeeze, and she returned it with a sheepish smile.
"Where have you been?" Ezekiel nodded at her with a scowl.
"The library."
He waited for her to continue.
"...I was talking to Cosmo."
"About what?"
"I…"
Ester was unsure what to say.
"Let it go, Zeek." Kris sighed.
"...Hmph." Ezekiel crossed his arms.
"...Why do you want to know, Big bro?" Geire stared at Ezekiel.
"I-I was just curious." He snapped.
Saphy broke into laughter. It was good that Geire didn't seem to scare her any more. He was a loner child, sometimes disappearing and reappearing whenever he wanted. Like Se'raf. Ester wondered what could've happened to him to act the way he did when they first met.
Her stomach churned as she looked around at the faces of those around her. Just how many others were like her and had gone through the same kind of suffering?
When her eyes landed on Arthur, he was already looking at her. With eyes that oozed warmth and worry, he looked away not a moment later, trying to join the conversation between Kris, Ezekiel and Saphy.
Ester couldn't help but turn as well to the conversation, the crackling of the fireplace sounding almost like jeers.
Over the next few weeks, Cosmo would spar with her, helping her with her training whenever he could.
Being a Pure Synchrite attuned to a specific expression of Internal Manipulation, he could only teach Ester techniques when it came to enhancing the body with Flo.
But when it came to actual fighting, that was a different story.
As much as he didn't think it himself, Cosmo was a genius when it came to combat.
Whether it was hand-to-hand or weapons, he seemed to understand it all instinctively. His timing, his footwork, his ability to read an opponent and respond with almost calculated precision… something like that wasn't just taught.
She even felt kind of hurt when he looked completely unbothered while dodging her wild attempts at attacking him with her wooden sword with the most minimal of movement.
It was unnerving, seeing this side of him. Like he was a completely different person.
He showed her how she could enhance her perception, improving the way she saw an opponent's attacks.
And through her relentless training, combined with the lessons from the instructors, it was no wonder she began to edge away from her peers in her own way.
Whenever she wasn't in a lecture, she was either improving her Flo output through strain conditioning whilst surrounded by her friends, or she was with Cosmo, sparring with him as he taught her more.
It wasn't long before other Starless noticed how easily she would perform in Burnad's exercises every morning.
Whilst there were Starless who struggled with the repetition of days, she was used to it. Being brought up helping her father in the fields, and her days in a dungeon, this was nothing. In fact, she looked forward to it. She hated sleeping.
Her strengthening had progressed too.
She could lift heavier weights with Flo, while her speed and endurance had improved as well.
Even with Markos's training, her control over her rapier was better. Her movements were more precise, more deliberate.
To the others, who were still barely past amateurs, it was as if they were looking at a prodigy.
Even Markos had no choice but to be impressed with her.
He knew that she was being helped by Cosmo, and he was chuffed that a student would take such initiative on their own.
A part of her couldn't help but feel she was being pitied by him. She didn't know how to feel.
The others began to notice as well. She was reluctant to tell her friends that Cosmo was helping her with sparring, but she didn't want to seem distant from them.
Once Ezekiel heard this, he was the first to ask if he could spar with Cosmo as well. It was rare to see him so pleading. Ester had no choice but to ask him and he agreed to give pointers to everyone.
They began trying harder.
They trained more, even on the days where they had free periods, discussing Flo and their abilities whenever they had the chance.
She saw how angry the bald headed Gideon was whenever he saw her progressing. She tried to pay it no mind, however it did piss her off.
But she refused to slow down.
The Trials were getting closer.