Wizard Runners

Chapter 5's

Aev held back the yawns as he walked.

He had just slept well the night before, instead

lying down while thinking about the many things that Master Joko said to her.

When he fell asleep, it was almost dawn, and according to his words, Mr. Joko

came knocking on his door just as dawn broke, again wearing

disguise ‘paman’ Emus, Aev.

Somewhere, the man obtained a large drawn wagon

by two horses, full of who knows what. Not long after the sun

rising, they leave, Mr. Joko drives the carriage while Aev walks in

beside him.

He glanced in annoyance at Mr. Joko. When he asked if

he could take the train instead of having to walk next to him, the man refused, he said,

tell him that physical exercise is very important to be a person

sorceress.

Apparently, it did not extend to Master Joko himself. With

comfortably sitting in the driver's seat of the train, he showed no signs of wanting to

switch places with Aev.

“How long before we rest to eat?” Aev

inquiring. It was nearing noon, and his empty stomach began

rumbles.

“Just one or two more miles,” said Mr. Joko. “Temporary

why not enjoy the countryside? Pretty beautiful, all year round,” Him

seems rather happy with the situation.

The environment is beautiful, it's true. The road cuts the way through

rolling green hills, strewn with trees and farms

or the occasional cottage. A landscape painter may be inspired by

that sight.

However, Aev is not a painter. Is he tired, and hungry. Moments

this, he would exchange all the beautiful scenery in the world for an hour's rest

and eat well.

Finally, they stopped next to a flat field on the side

small river.

“You water the horses,” said Mr. Joko. “I will

prepare something for us to eat,”

Aev complied, taking off the horses and carrying them to the

the river where they drink thirstily.

When he returns, he discovers that Mr. Joko has

put a blanket on the grass, on top of which put some chunks

bread and some dried meat. Without hesitation, Aev hungrily devoured.

After he finished eating, he lazily lay down, even more so

tired than before, his hunger was finally satisfied. He's a prankster

I wonder if there will be time to sleep.

Mr. Joko looked at him, then spoke. “If you're done

eat, I think it's time we start your practice.”

There were signs of forgotten fatigue, Aev instantly

sit. “You're going to teach me magic?”

“Magic?” Mr. Joko chuckled, then shook his head.

“You're almost not ready for it,”

he walked back to the cart and picked up a piece of cloth

small from which he took two wooden training swords, one of which he

leave it to Aev.

“Today, we fight,” said Mr. Joko with a smile.

“If you manage to hit me at least once, I'll let you

take the train for the rest of the day. “

Aev was disappointed that he had to wait longer to learn

magic, but he is eager to get into a dispute with Mr. Joko.

After growing up as the son of a guard, he naturally

confident with the sword. After the appearance of Mr. Joko in Black Angel, Aev

knew that he was almost impossible to defeat the man, but neither did he

will fool himself.

He raised the sword in front of him, gripping it with

both hands.

Master Joko stood up calmly, raising his sword

themselves too. Unlike Aev, he held it with one hand.

“Start,” said.

Aev struck out instantly, his sword darting forward deeply

a series of wild blows.

Mr. Joko barely moved, yet somehow, he

narrowly dodging every blow Aev struck.

Frustrated, Aev escalates his attacks, ignoring

his defense to concentrate only attacked the man in front of him.

Whack!

Master Joko's wooden sword hits Aev's right shoulder,

leaving painful rinses.

“Again,” says Mr. Joko. “And this time, don't drop

your defense,”

Aev takes a more cautious approach as he

attacking once again, spying repeatedly while keeping in order

the defense did not fall.

Several times he felt like he was about to hit his opponent,

but Mr. Joko is still fending off or dodging his every attack.

Whack!

Another painful pimple appeared, this time on Aev's left shoulder.

She's confused. Every time it looks like he's going to break through

master Joko's defense, but each time the man barely evades or

fending off Aev's attack.

Once again he attacked, paying attention to his opponent's movements

as he tried to understand his technique.

Whack!

Time and time again, Aev attacked, trying all sorts of styles and

attempts to attack his target failed, and each round ended with one

master Joko's sword.

“Why can't I hit you?!” Aev gasps, and

his body was covered in scars and bruises.

“Control,” said Mr. Joko in response. “For

controlling the sword, you must control your body. To control

magic, you must control your mind.”

“Take a good look,” said, then show Aev

some movement and technique.

　

　

Aev watched closely, amazed at what he

saw it.

Master Joko's techniques are very similar to those of Aev

learn from his father, but somehow it's faster and sharper.

It was as if every unnecessary movement had been trimmed, leaving only

the essence of every sword attack.

Suddenly, he understood. The techniques shown

the guy is about control. With every punch, and with every movement, with every,

Mr. Joko controls his body and sword perfectly.

Filled with determination, Aev begins to copy the new technique

just show Master Joko to him. Even without magic, studying only

a fraction of the man's skill with the sword would make it

a tough fighter.

He spent the next hour training furiously, though,

repeat each technique over time. Several times Mr. Joko

cut it to refine its form, but other than that, Aev swung

the sword is silent.

After an hour he was bathed in sweat, his muscles ached

because it repeated the same movements over and over again until his body felt

like it could collapse from exhaustion.

He tried to continue, but his hands trembled

exhausted as he raised the sword once more.

“It's enough for now,” said Mr. Joko. “Go wash

by oneself. After that, we'll go,”

Aev nodded. Tired like him, further training

it will be a little useful for him.

He washed himself in the river, cold water washed away the sweat

trainings. When he returns, he is relieved to find that Mr. Joko will

let him ride the train for the rest of the day.

———

The following weeks saw Aev training every day.

Sometimes he argued with Mr. Joko and sometimes he practiced

alone, but every day he made some progress, however small

that's.

At first, exercise is limited to the afternoon, after meals

their noon. After each training session, Aev spent the rest of the day

by boarding the carriage, treating his bruises and resting his body.

After a few days, Master Joko decides that they

will be training at night too, and Aev finds himself fainting due to

tired every night, only to start all over again with each day

new ones.

It still seems unsatisfied with Aev's progress, some

weeks later, Guru Joko further increases the frequency of training, making Aev

spend an hour in training every morning before they leave.

With three practice sessions a day Aev finds his skills

with the sword rising rapidly, but the grueling schedule left

a little time for something else. When he doesn't practice, he takes a break, and

when he doesn't rest he practices.

Absorbed in training, Aev barely notices

their journey. They traveled through the hills, then the fields, then

the forest, then the hill again, but the only thing that filled Aev's mind

it was his sword and his body that was sick.

Sometimes they stopped in towns and villages

to buy food, and in those days Aev got a reprieve

short of training. Too tired to explore the cities they live in

visit, Aev instead spends these days resting and

recuperate.

Soon, the week turned into the moon.

Under the supervision of Mr. Joko, Aev's skills

the sword increased rapidly. And not only that, he found that exercise

constantly strengthening his body as well. Even though he was strong even as a child

small, now his body grew slender and muscular.

Aev realizes with shock that now, he may have

can match the best fighters in Ghonas.

Constant improvement is like a cure for Aev. Because it wants

improving his skills and increasing his strength, he found himself

looking forward to their training sessions.

Sometimes, Aev will remember the Academy. Despite the moon

first he constantly looked over his shoulder, three months in

their journey still had no sign of anything from any of the Academy's magicians.

Quietly, he began to believe that maybe they succeeded

escapes.

Then, one morning, when they reached the top of the hill

another covered in trees, half a dozen men suddenly appeared on the street, and,

armed with swords and axes, and armored through the post.

When Aev saw them, his heart jumped in fear.

Did the Academy finally catch up to them?