Chapter 22. Progress Made.
They spent the next few days going over the basics with Gavin and Tessa on how to use their mana and magic. Tessa quickly developed a taste for sneak attack spells and pranks using the darkness and shadow elemental magic. While Gavin was struggling to mentally grasp the concepts of all six elemental magics.
Without the help of Veronica, Gavin was certain that he wouldn't have made as much progress as he had during this training. He leaned back against the picnic table, his chest heaving from the exertion as he took the offered bottle of water from Tessa.
"Thanks." Gavin opened it and drank half the bottle instantly before he set it down next to him on the table. His chest burned and his limbs felt heavy. When I agreed to this training camp, I never expected Erza to push things quite so hard. He looked at Tessa and saw her cocky grin on her face.
"Seems like you're having some trouble there." Her voice was filled with mirth as she stood in front of him with her hands on her hips.
Easy for her to say. She only had to understand the concept of one type of magic.
"I'd love to see how well you'd do learning all six of these magics in a few days." He responded drolly as Erza walked over to him.
"I told you this wasn't going to be a walk in the park." She looked at him and there was a hint of concern in her eyes. Maybe I've been pushing him a little too hard, but he needs to understand the concepts before he goes to the academy.
Gavin waved a hand dismissively as his breath started coming easier. "It's fine. I knew you were going to push me hard." Gavin took a deep breath and held it for a moment before he released it. He could feel his heartbeat was slowly returning to a normal pace as he pushed off from the bench and stood up. He glanced down and noticed that his shadow waved at him.
"Tessa!" Gavin growled out as he glared at his friend. She giggled and dropped her spell.
"Just getting in more practice like Red wants." Tessa danced out of Gavin's reach as he tried to swipe at her with his hand.
"Right, lets get back to it." He closed his eyes and checked with Veronica. How much mana do I have left?
You currently have twenty-five points of mana remaining. Without use of mana or magic, you should replenish fully within two hours of rest time. Her response came soothingly through his mind, a gentle comfort among the rigorous training.
Gavin focused on his inner mana flow and willed the familiar change to come over him. His mana flared around him as it always did whenever he shifted. His bones cracked and limbs elongated as his body began its shift. Deep crimson hues of color filled the afternoon at the campsite.
Fur black as midnight manifested over his body as he opened his eyes and looked down. In his fully shifted form, he towered over the others in the clearing. His black fluffy tail wagged back and forth as he grinned down at the girls. "Boo." He teased them and laughed as Erza and Tessa just rolled their eyes.
"Show off." Tessa grumbled as she took a drink from her bottle. I'll never let him know how adorable he is when he acts like an actual puppy. Tessa thought. She'd already long gotten used to his fearsome shift and in a place, she would only admit to herself, thought he looked kind of…. Cute and fluffy.
Erza rolled her eyes at the comment from Gavin. "You're not as cute as you think you are." She suppressed a smile as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Now, get back to training."
Gavin nodded as he walked over the clearing that they'd been using so far. The goal today was to get used to using magic while shifted, combining control over both aspects of his abilities. So far Gavin had a good understanding of several elemental magics. Fire, earth and air magic came easily to him for some reason. No matter what, he struggled with water, light and dark magic.
He walked into the clearing and closed his eyes. Aria and Lyla watched with interest as he held out his arms from his sides. "Do you think he's gonna nail it this time?" Aria asked Lyla conspiratorially.
"Hmm. No way. I say he's gonna end up wet again." Lyla laughed as she considered his past attempts.
"You do know that I can hear you guys right?" Gavin's eye twitched as he glared over at them.
They both just laughed and waved him on. "Well, go on, prove us wrong then." Aria wiped a tear from her eye from laughing.
Gavin gritted his teeth as his gaze narrowed on them. "I'm starting to miss when you guys were too terrified of me to move, let alone gang up and harass me." His words only caused them to laugh harder, doubling over.
Erza walked over, her eyes light as she ruffled the fur on the top of his head between his ears. "Don't mind them. Focus on your training." Her words were gentle as she stepped in front of him.
I never expected him to grow so much so quickly. He's almost mastered shifting at will in such a short time. Erza watched Gavin's attempt to master the basic concepts of water magic as she took a seat on the stump.
Gavin furrowed his brow as he felt his mana flowing around him. He concentrated on the river nearby. If he couldn't summon water itself, like he could with fire, then maybe he could use the river as the source. He stretched his hand out towards the river and poured out his mana infused with his will.
Picture the intent and result. Gavin imagined drawing some of the river water and having it float around his body like a ring. It shouldn't be that hard, right?
He felt the drain on his mana as a trickle of water rose from the surface of the river. That's it, a little more. Gavin could feel the river responding to his will as more water rose from the surface and started flowing midair towards his outstretched hand.
Just as quickly as the feeling came, it was gone as the water splashed down on the grass. Gavin dropped his hands panting as he growled out. "Damn it!"
"Don't lose your anger. Water magic isn't like fire. You can't force it. You have to let it flow and almost guide you as you use it. Remember, too much or too little mana and the spell will backfire." Erza offered quiet instruction as she watched him struggle.
Alert. Mana reserves are quickly depleting. Either succeed on the next attempt or end up on the ground. Again. Veronica's stern warning entered Gavin's mind, and he shouted in frustration.
He rubbed his face and shook his body, trying to shake off the day's failures for this final attempt.
Alright. I have to focus, let the mana flow through me and the water. Let it flow towards me freely. Gavin closed his eyes and tried again. He extended his hand and pictured a steady flow of river water to rise from the river. He imagined the sound of the water flowing over the field and encircling his body, moving like a serpent.
Gavin noticed the different sensation with using water magic like this compared to earth or fire. The water that rippled around him felt like a moving force of life or will. He extended his hands and let his fingers glide through the water as it continued around him. Much like the river it came from, the water around his body was nice and cool to the touch as his fingers glided through it.
I can't believe I finally did it! Gavin's chest heaved as his arms began to shake. Damn it. It's not even noon and I'm already almost at my limit. I'm no good like this, I must keep growing!
A soft smile spread across Erza's lips, her eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
For the first time, Gavin was able to pull a steady stream of water from the river and using his arms to control the movement, wrapped it around himself like a ring.
She jumped up, clapped her hands and he squealed in delight. "You did it!" I knew you would. You never fail when you put your mind to it baby.
Gavin opened his eyes and grinned. "Took long enough." His voice was weaker than before as he struggled to maintain both the shift and his spell. "I still can't summon water from nowhere yet. But hey, it's a start."
Tessa laughed as she walked over. Her eyes wide with excitement despite her teasing. "About time that you did something right." She teased him as she watched the water flowing around his body in a thin circle. It sounded like a small creek flowing over a narrow bed as it flowed around Gavin's body in one smooth yet moving ring.
Gavin faced Tessa. "Told you I could do it." A broad smile appeared on his face as he remembered all the shadow tricks that she had plagued them with for the past few days. The way she would pop out of someone's shadow randomly, or make their shadows dance and move on their own. He stretched out his hand and sent the summoned water flowing rapidly towards Tessa and hovered just above her head, shimmering like a blue halo.
She looked up in confusion, then anger filled her features. "Don't you dar--"She didn't get the chance to finish as Gavin ended the spell and the bubble of water crashed down around her, soaking her clothes as she stood there. Her shoulders visibly shook as she digested what just happened.
Lyla and Aria started to laugh at the sight. "That only serves you right." Aria grinned as they walked over to join the three of them.
Erza covered her mouth as she stifled a laugh and shook her head. "So glad you seem to have so much energy to spare Gavin." She admonished him as her shoulders silently rocked. So much for staying serious.But I hope you never lose this side of you. Please stay the goofball I fell in love with.
"Ten credits say she murders him in his sleep." Aria nudged Lyla while they walked.
"No way, twenty credits say she tortures him first, then murders him." Lyla shook her head. Lyla laughed as she shook on the bet with Aria. From what Lyla had witnessed, these two had a close bond and were both extremely hot headed. This day just got very entertaining.
Tessa stood there, soaked to the bone. I can't believe he actually just did that. Shadows began to darken around her as black mana flared out in the campsite. Her eyes glowed a dark yellow as she glared at Gavin. "Oh, it's on now pup." The shadows in the campsite seemed to flow towards Tessa, stretching out across the ground. Even Gavin's own shadow was lengthening towards her.
Gavin turned from Erza as he felt a cold chill run up his spine. At the same time his shift ended, and he reverted to his normal self. Mana is now depleted. It will require several hours to replenish. Good luck, hostile intention has been detected from the one known as Tessa.
Gavin gulped as he faced Tessa's wrath. Perhaps I went a little too far? He took a step backwards towards Erza as he noticed the murderous intent in Tessa's glowing eyes. She stood there in a white tank top and jeans as she took a step towards Gavin, a deep red darkening her cheeks.
Gavin paled as he realized the horror of what he did. "Oh shit." Tessa stormed forward, her white tank top drenched and clinging to her petite frame and revealed a lot more of his best friend than he ever wanted to know.
He quickly back pedaled towards Erza. She would be his safety. Surely, she would protect him, right?
"Oh no, don't come running over here boy. You made your bed, now you're gonna lie in it. Enjoy the doghouse." Erza's voice was filled with mirth as she walked over to stand with Lyla and Aria. It's what you get for going too far dude.
Gavin looked in horror as his girl, his partner, his rock, just abandoned him to face Tessa alone. "Oh, come on! I didn't think about that. Relax Tessa it was just a harmless prank." Gavin tried to apologize as he back pedaled. He stopped when he realized he'd backed himself against the edge of the riverbank. Oh this isn't good.
Aria cupped her hands around her face. "And Tessa is going in for the kill, place your bets folks. Stand back, you're in the splash zone!" Lyla and Erza laughed as they cheered Tessa on.
Shadow tendrils writhed beneath Tessa's feet with every step. Her body shook with barely controlled rage. How dare he… he… in a white tank top! Her thoughts were a incoherent mess as she fumed. Her mana grew thicker around her, the shadows growing bolder and thicker at her feet. They pulled back towards her for a moment like a coiled spring.
"Gavin, you jerk!" Tessa screamed in embarrassment and anger as she threw her hands out and spikes of shadows erupted from the ground and pushed Gavin off the bank and into the river with a resounding splash.