Unconventional Training

Kael, became Amukelo's mentor, he an excellent swordsman and a top student in the first-year cohort. While Kael had more experience at the academy, he recognized Amukelo's raw and natural affinity for swordplay almost immediately. They weren't of the same age, but in the Academy, age was secondary to skill and potential.

In their first sparring session with skills involved, the gap between them was evident. Kael's practiced movements, honed through his extra year of training and experience, allowed him to easily parry and evade Amukelo's attacks. Yet, Amukelo's raw talent and innate understanding of combat were unmistakable, and he improved at a breathtaking pace.

Kael, despite his competitive nature, took to his role as mentor earnestly. After their sparring sessions, he would walk Amukelo through each skill, explaining the theory behind every one of them. He admired Amukelo's ability to adapt and learn at an astonishing rate.

"Your instincts are remarkable," Kael commented one day after a particularly intense session. "But raw talent isn't enough. We need to refine your technique, make your movements more efficient, and incorporate skills to your sword style."

Together, they worked tirelessly. Amukelo learned to blend the traditional sword skills with his own unique style.

In time, Amukelo's progress was not only visible to Kael but to everyone who witnessed their sparring. His movements became more deliberate and precise, his attacks sharper and more powerful. He could read his opponents' moves better, allowing him to react with increasing speed and accuracy. After only two short months he was able to reach Kael's level.

One morning, as the sun cast golden hues over the training ground, Kael stepped back after a sparring session, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.

"That last move," he said, catching his breath, "it was perfect. You've blended the academy's skills with your own style seamlessly. I've taught you all I can at this level."

Amukelo, sweating but exhilarated, nodded in appreciation. The camaraderie between them had grown, built on mutual respect for each other's skill and dedication.

Despite his rapid progress, Amukelo remained humble and focused. Free days were rare for him; while others rested, he was often seen practicing alone, tirelessly repeating his forms and techniques until they were second nature.

His dedication was an inspiration to many, including Kael, who found himself pushing harder in his own training due to the silent but compelling competition between them. They were mentor and student, but also emerging as equals in skill and drive.

. . .

Eliss, on the other hand, was immediately introduced to her own specialized regimen. She was exempted from the basic magical training that new students usually underwent due to her extensive prior knowledge. Instead, she was placed under the tutelage of Master Seraphina, a seasoned mage and one of the academy's most esteemed instructors.

Seraphina was initially taken aback by the depth of Eliss's knowledge. Eliss had grown up under the wing of her parents ambitious, and her understanding of arcane principles was profound. She arrived at the academy with a treasure trove of spells already under her belt, which allowed her to leapfrog basic training and dive straight into the advanced curriculum.

"Your control over elemental magic is impressive," Seraphina observed during their first session together. "But combat magic is a different beast. It requires a sharper focus and quicker reflexes. In a real battle, every millisecond counts."

Eliss's training was thus tailored to augment her strengths and address her weaknesses. While she had more spells than most of her peers due to her early education, she lacked practical combat experience. Seraphina worked to transform her from a knowledgeable mage into a formidable battle sorceress.

Their days were rigorous but rewarding. Eliss would learn to harness her magical energy more efficiently, with Seraphina guiding her through intense drills that tested her ability to think and cast spells under pressure. They would practice intricate wand movements and incantations until Eliss could cast them flawlessly and almost instantaneously.

Eliss was a quick learner and her spellwork was meticulous. Unlike Amukelo, her style was not so much about raw power as it was about precision and strategy. In practice duels with other students, she exhibited a knack for using her spells creatively, often outmaneuvering her opponents with clever tactics rather than overwhelming force.

"You're not the most powerful mage in this academy," Seraphina told her one day after a particularly strategic victory in a sparring match, "but you are one of the smartest. You think three steps ahead, and that can be more valuable than brute strength."

After two months, Eliss earned a reputation as one of the top students in her year, but she still was far from learning all spells from her scrolls. She wasn't a prodigy in the same way Amukelo was, but she was undeniably talented and dedicated. Her peers, even those who initially doubted her because of her age, came to respect her deeply for her intellect, her grace under pressure, and her unwavering commitment to her craft.