The Lost Prodigy

22. Training

We formed five rows with eight members each. Napunta ako sa ikalimang hilera at katabi ko rin si Ella dahil kami ang pinakahuling dumating sa Quadrangle. There were only seven Novitiates in our row because we were thirty nine trainees in total.

Nalungkot naman ako dahil naalala ko naman si Raiden. I owe him for giving his blood ruby to me. At kung nakakuha lang sana ako ng isa pang diyamante, dalawa sana kaming nakaligtas. He could have completed us. Katabi ko pa sana siya ngayon.

Naramdaman ko ang mahinang tapik sa akin ni Ella kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. I saw a glint of concern in her eyes when she looked at me with a worried face.

"Okay ka lang?" nag-aalala niyang tanong sa akin na sinagot ko lang ng ngiti. I was happy because she remained sweet and caring even though she forgot about me.

"By the way, sorry for not introducing myself to you. Kanina pa kita kinakausap pero hindi mo pa alam ang pangalan ko. I'm Ella Sherriden and I came from the Capriz Province in the Orient," pagpapakilala niya sa kanyang sarili habang nakalahad ang kanyang kamay sa aking harapan.

If only she knew that I already met her.

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya bago magsalita. "It's my pleasure, Ella. I'm Blaire Everett and I came from Ximeos Town of the Boreal Region," wika ko naman sa kanya. Mukhang may itatanong pa siya sa akin pero naudlot iyon dahil nagsalita na ulit si Sir Callum.

Ibinaling na rin namin ang aming tingin sa harap para makinig sa kanyang mga sasabihin.

"The first training you will be taking this whole month is the Physical Aspect. We all know that having a physically fit body is very essential to us, magicaes. For our flair relies on the ability and strength of our body too."

Napasang-ayon naman ako sa sinabi ni Sir Callum dahil kailangan nga talaga naming magkaroon ng maayos na pangangatawan dahil nakasalalay sa pisikal na anyo namin ang aming mga kapangyarihan. Kahit malakas ang kapangyarihan mo pero mahina naman ang katawan mo, tiyak na hindi ka makakatagal sa isang laban.

"The body is the source of your spiritus, the energy that sustains your magical abilities. Ito ang nakapagbibigay sa atin ng stamina para kontrolin ng maayos ang ating mga kapangyarihan. At nakasalalay ang lakas nito sa ating katawan. And in order to have a good amount of it, you should train and practice well in this aspect. It will not only benefit your flair but also your physical resistance and skills as well."

Napapatango na lang kami habang nakikinig kay Sir Callum. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may tawag pala sa enerhiyang nararamdaman ko kapag ginagamit ko ang aking abilidad. Masaya rin ako dahil mas dumami ang aking natutunan simula nang pumasok ako sa Stronghold.

Habang patuloy siya sa pagsasalita ay ginala ko rin ang aking paningin sa buong Quadrangle. The place is so spacious and I think that it is much bigger than our town. The gigantic white columns supporting the ancient roof are made from durable marble and I can see swirls and leaf-like designs sculpted on top of them. The cemented ivory floor is beaming as well. And when I looked up, I discovered that there's no ceiling that's why I can see the clear blue sky. It looks like a temple but it is a training area for us Novitiates.

"But before we proceed to the actual training, we will be having the warm up exercises first," wika ni Sir Callum habang nakatingin sa amin.

We started to perform several exercises afterwards. We made different static stretches using our legs, arms and back. We all executed arm circles and began twisting our body from side to side. We also performed several squat exercises.

Kahit warm up pa lang ang nagagawa namin ay pinagpapawisan na agad ako. Hindi naman masyadong mainit pero patuloy pa rin ang pagtulo ng pawis mula sa aking katawan. Minsan ay tumitigil ako pansamantala para ibalik sa normal ang aking paghinga.