Chapter Seven - Training Camp

Tyler joined Max and Ava; "Right guys, Elvie and I managed to create a focus between us that kept our flow. We managed to do that by clearing our minds." Max rudely pushed Tyler aside in an attempt to assert dominance.

"No, Ava and I were doing just fine. Go train on your own."

"Max, we couldn't even get past two touches because we were out of sync. Maybe we should listen to Tyler? I will be so you'd be on your own." Ava explained.

"No way. There is nothing wrong with what I'm doing. It must be you, Ava. I will train on my own and show you that it isn't me."

Before Ava and Tyler could get a word in edgeways, Tyler stormed off and began swinging the sticks against the air, shadow fighting his imagination.

"I'm so sorry about him, Tyler. I'll try to get him to come back." Ava began. Tyler grabbed her arm and pulled her back in front of her.

"He's not your problem to worry about. If he wants to act out of line, that's on him. How about you and I go a couple of rounds?" Tyler asked.

Ava nodded and held her sticks up high in a defensive position.

"Woah, getting a little ahead of yourself there, Ava. Before doing anything like that, I need you to focus on yourself. Otherwise, someone will get hurt, or we will end up doing the same as Max, and you were performing." Tyler explained, sitting down in a crossed-legged position. He indicated to Ava to join him.

"This is a trick I learned in many counselling sessions. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Focus on the inhale, and feel it course through your body, filling every part of your being." Ava did as instructed, breathing in, imagining the air flooding through her nose, down to her lungs and expelling through to every single limb.

"Now, stand up. With every strike, you need to breathe; otherwise, you'll get winded. We can use this to our advantage when training. See, every time you strike, you breathe in. Imagine that feeling of it filling your body every time, and you'll keep your focus. Want to give it a try?"

Ava nodded and stood up, taking a defensive position once again. Tyler slowly moved his stick towards Ava, who blocked it perfectly. " See? It worked!" He exclaimed, praising her for encouragement.

Picking up the pace, he started to strike Ava's sticks faster and faster, each one being blocked by her own. The pair began to stack up a rally until Ava missed one, sending her stick tumbling towards her body at quite a force. Before the stick could meet Ava, a hand-blocked the strike, taking the full blow quickly. Tyler turned to the side to see Roxy standing there looking at him with a proud mother-like expression on her face.

"Great job, you two! Tyler, that was some excellent teaching there, but maybe don't ramp up the speed too much just yet. Ava's a little scared still, so take it steady with her. Other than that, great work, you two." Roxy told, her voice filled with pride. As Roxy walked off, Tyler grabbed her arm and spun her around. He ensured they were out of earshot from the others.

"So? What was that all about?" He asked.

Roxy deflected the question, her expression turning raw with emotion;

"I'll tell you later on. Just don't go to bed before I see you."

Tyler's head began to fill with various explanations, but none were suitable.

'Is she being punished for her actions on the rooftop? That wasn't her fault, though! Surely they have to understand that!' He thought to himself. 'I guess I'll have to wait till later to find out.'

Later that night:

Tyler paced around his room, waiting for Roxy to come, panicked with every step. Then, finally, he noticed a door closing in the common room.

"That has to be her!" He said, relief filling his body. Then, surely enough, Roxy came quietly into his bedroom and grabbed him, pulling him close, pressing her lips close to his but not engaging in a kiss, teasing almost. She moved backwards while Tyler's body grew warm, his cheeks red like a fire.

"Before I do anything, I need to tell you something. The Grand Master called me in for a reason. And it's not good." She began, "What do you know about your parents? Your real parents?"

"Nothing. I never met my father, but my mother is a nurse. So I don't even know what happened to him because my mum shuts me down when I ask. And that's when she's home." Tyler explained.

"The Grand Master does. Well, he thinks he does. And before I say anything, I want you to know that I am here for you in any way you need me. This isn't going to be easy to explain, nor is it going to be easy for you to understand. The Grand Master explained that your father was once on the High Council Tyler. They were Hunters just like you are training to be. Unfortunately, I didn't get much information about what happened, as that's all confidential based on your performance tomorrow."

Tyler looked blankly at Roxy, struggling to comprehend what Roxy had just told him.

"I'm sorry, what?" He asked calmly.

"I know it's a lot to take in, and it probably doesn't make sense to you. Just take a minute to process it all."

"I'm going to need more than a minute. How does The Grand Master even know that they are my parents? For all he knows, I'm just no one!"

"This is where things get tricky. He doesn't know for sure. It's just a suspicion he got when he first saw you. That's where tomorrow comes in. The Grand Master has a target mission for me and wants me to take you with me. Before we go, he will give you something called a Poppy Root potion. Old Shaman magic will induce something called a 'bleeding effect.' Your old memories will push through as instincts, and if you are a descendant of the Hunters, their training will break through, and you'll put you through something called the Hunter Assessments. Please don't panic about it tonight. We will have all day to go through the plans of the buildings and everything tomorrow. If you need to talk, I'm right here with you. But I suggest you sleep because it will be a challenging day for the both of us."

"Tomorrow? But what about school?" Tyler asked with confusion.

"You're taking a day off!" Roxy replied bluntly. She turned to reach for the door when Tyler quietly asked;

"Rox, can you stay with me tonight?" He expected some reply along the lines it would break the rules,' but Roxy turned towards him, a smile brushing her lips before pouncing on him, kissing him deeply and gently.