Training with Livia

"So. Could you guys help me with training and checking out a couple more things I came up with? I promise, I will also try to help you in return," I asked them with a polite smile.

The idea was rather simple. I wanted to make connections within the academy and if I could get close to students in the higher classes, then why not?

It wasn't necessarily a bad idea since I wanted to relax the first few months and understand more about the world before looking for the medallion in particular.

They both looked at each other for a brief moment before turning at me and speaking,

"We would be more than happy to do it."

"Sure."

I smiled at them before speaking,"Okay. Then how about we begin immediately? If you don't mind, that is."

"Right now? Well. I don't have a problem with that, but how are we going to train?" Daphne asked, a bit confused. As for Livia, she seemed to have the same query as Daphne.

"Well, how about we go for a quick fight? That way we can gauge each other's abilities," I put out a proposal and after giving a brief thought, both of them agreed to it.

"Then I will be fighting you first. Since I have a good grasp of my ice abilities, I can help you out without hurting you. How does that sound?" Livia spoke up, and I nodded at her.

"I wish I could fight but I might run out of control so… sorry about that…" Daphne apologized, and I shook my head at her words,

"It's fine. Just give me some pointers. That would be more than enough."

She gave a kind smile, and then all three of us took our positions.

"You both ready?" Daphne asked, being the referee of the match.

"Yes." I answered.

"Yes." Livia answered.

'Let's start with 10%,' I mumbled as I limited the amount of mana I was using.

Circulating it within my body, especially around the joints and the muscles that I would be using, I then increased the oxygen capacity of those areas.

This way, I won't be tired even after going for a fast close combat.

"Are you coming-" she shouted from a distance as she created three ice shards in the air above her.

-Whoosh!

And immediately, I rushed towards her, with the maximum speed that my body could pull right now.

It wasn't super fast, but since I didn't feel even the slightest bit of exhaustion, I could maintain a superhuman speed for as long as I had mana.

And within a few seconds, I covered half the distance between us, making Livia alert a little.

"[Ice Shards!]" Livia chanted as those three shards came at me, one by one.

'Easy,' I smiled as I waited for the first one to reach close to me. It almost reached my forehead before I swiftly dodged it.

The second one was easier since it was aimed at my shoulder.

Dodging it, I then saw the last one coming at my face, which I barely dodged by rolling to the side.

'Okay. I could have done that one better,' I thought before getting into proper posture and continuing my run towards her.

"[Ice Shards!]" Livia chanted again, creating 6 shards this time. Coming two at a time this time.

'This weak body,' I cursed under my breath before I increased the amount of mana used to 25%.

Oh! Fun fact: at 100% mana used, I could last for about 5 minutes without getting tired. At my current mana capacity, that is.

-Whoosh!

I took a dash this time, making Livia take a couple of steps back while the first two shards almost reached me.

With increased mana, I jumped above the shards, dodging them before sliding down and narrowly slipping by the next two shards.

As for the last two, they were still in the air above Livia, while she was trying to create a distance between us.

But it was too late…

-Whoosh!

I dashed again using 50% of my mana and reached closer to her and using my fist aimed at her.

-Bump!

It wasn't a punch, but more like my fist touching her chest, before I moved back and looked at her dumbfounded expression.

"And I won," I smiled as I looked at her, standing in a daze.

Turning around, I saw Daphne with her mouth wide open, as she couldn't believe her eyes.

"Vincent. Just… who are you?" Livia asked with pure curiosity as she looked at me before adding," I don't think I would miss to know about anyone with your abilities."

"Why are you a gray robe?!! Did the people in the evaluation test make a mistake?" Daphne, who came out running towards me, asked with even more curiosity.

"Well. It may sound confusing, but I can't generate mana passively. I think it's related to my constitution. It was only by chance that I could discover that I could use mana present in the air." I gave a small smile.

There was not even a percent of lies in those sentences. Though they may sound different to the girls from what I actually want to say.

"Huh?" Daphne was confused, but Livia seemed to be in deep thought.

"You said that there was a theory you wanted to test… I… would like to hear more about that theory of yours," Livia asked as she looked at me before proposing,

"Vincent. Would you like to join me for tea this evening?"