Chapter 14: 14. A Fight In The Colosseum

Picking up the sword, Elyssia gives it a few swings, getting used to the weight of the blade. As she practices, a content smile can be seen spread across her face.

Noticing this, Hecate suddenly gets up and asks.

“Would you like me to create some illusionary targets for you to practice against? I have noticed that even while studying you seem to have a lot of pent-up energy, so spending some time sparring with your new sword may help you calm your restlessness.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you. I usually practice with the sword every day, so I do feel slightly restless.” Elyssia agreed, A broad grin on her face.

Hecate, seeing Elyssia’s enthusiasm was clearly impressed by how much energy she puts into everything she does.

“The Illusions will have a physical presence, so you can hit them, but be careful as it will hurt if they hit you. However its nothing I won’t be able to heal. Feel free to go all out!”

For Elyssia, this was the first time she could actually go all out on a target. Until now she had only been able to use blunt training swords but was still restricted from attacking certain areas to prevent injury to the other party.

Filled with excitement, Elyssia sunk into a basic longsword stance where the sword was raised to the left side of her head pointing to where the illusions were appearing from.

Elyssia slowly advanced towards the mist that Hecate had summoned, her feet finding a solid hold on the floor as it changed from stone to sand. The Illusions finished forming, appearing as ancient Greek soldiers with pure white skin. They were clad in full hoplite armour, that being metal grieves, bracers, chest plate and helmet.

‘It’s a shame they are wearing chest plates. Even in a fight I would not complain about some eye candy. Alas, no sweaty bare-chested Spartans for me.’ Elyssia thought while giggling to herself.

A total of 100 had appeared forming a semicircle in front of Elyssia.

“I shall start with one, increasing it until I know how many you can handle at your current proficiency.” Hecate called out, eyes filled with expectation.

“Ok, I’m ready to start” Elyssia replied back.

One of the hoplites approached with his shield raised and he spear pointed towards Elyssia head.

Suddenly launching himself forward, the hoplite lunged forward with his spear which Elyssia deftly guides away by slightly lowering her sword and guiding the spear tip past her head using the fuller of the sword.

Flicking the spear upwards Elyssia thrusts towards the exposed head of the hoplite. Expecting the hoplite to raise his shield, Elyssia uses her lunge as a faint as she changed the direction of her thrust to the arm of the hoplite which is now just retracting from his missed strike.

Cutting through the arm, the hoplite staggers as Elyssia takes this chance to swiftly step to the hoplites injured side and thrust the tip of the sword into the back of the hoplites exposed knee.

Turning her body around, Elyssia swings her sword around her body building up momentum and decapitates the now kneeling hoplite, causing it to disperse into mist.

Clap clap clap.

Elyssia glances behind her to see Hecate clapping with an impressed look on her face.

“That was very good Elyssia, I’m impressed” Hecate praised.

Looking forward again, Elyssia focuses back as two hoplites start to steadily approach like the first one. Cautious now that she has 2 spears to deal with, Elyssia takes the initiative to attack, instantly rushing towards the hoplite on her right.

Parrying the thrust from its spear down to the floor, Elyssia uses the shaft of the spear as a foothold to gain a little more height as she jumps up and thrusts her longsword straight into the gap of the hoplites helmet, causing it to melt into fog like the first one.

Immediately dropping down and rolling to her right, Elyssia dodges the strike from the spear of the second hoplite as she uses the momentum from the roll to rise to her feet.

Thrusting forward again, the hoplite attempts to skewer Elyssia who sidesteps and brings her sword down in the shaft of the spear, splitting it in half.

Quickly stepping back, the hoplite quickly drew the sword at his waist, parrying Elyssia’s next strike towards his head and thrusts his shield forward in an attempt to stun Elyssia.

Seeing what the Hoplite was attempting to do, Elyssia spun to the right, narrowly dodging the shield bash and thrusting her sword straight through the hoplites exposed neck.

The fight continued in a similar manner with Elyssia quickly cutting down the approaching hoplites, swiftly positioning her target between herself and the others to reduce the effectiveness of numbers as more started to attack in each wave. After multiple waves, Hecate needed to increase the total number of summoned hoplites, eventually reaching 22 at once before Elyssia received a hit.

Elyssia, feeling the pain from the spear that hit her thigh had quickly regained her posture and was ready to continue. However, after seeing that Elyssia was hit in the leg by a hoplite and had stumbled backwards, Hecate dispersed the remaining summoned hoplites into mist with a wave of her hand.

Seeing the hoplites had dispersed, Elyssia plunged the sword into the sand next to her and bent over with her hands on her knees, breathing heavily as swear dropped down her face.

Walking to Elyssia, Hecate spoke up.

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“I am honestly shocked. I knew that the Sadrestium family had great warriors, but I did not expect that you would be that skilled! For a young girl like yourself to be able to slaughter hoplites like it was nothing, I shudder to think what you might achieve in the future!”

Elyssia proudly smiled, her blush from the compliments hidden by her cheeks that were already flushed red from all the fighting.

Crouching slightly, Hecate let her hand hover over Elyssia’s thigh as she cast a basic healing spell to heal the bruise that had started to appear.

Looking down at her leg, Elyssia’s eyes opened in surprise.

‘I should probably stop becoming so surprised whenever Hecate uses new magic like this, but I have to admit that I wish I was able to heal bruises so quickly like that. It would have saved me so many uncomfortable days when I started training.’ Elyssia thought to herself, staring regretfully at where she had been hit.

Thanking Hecate for the healing, they both returned to their seats, Hecate with a rare look of excitement on her face while Elyssia looked content now that she had a chance to swing her sword.

“You know Elyssia, as well as casting magic, there are ways in which you can use magic to enhance your swordsmanship?”

“Really?!” Elyssia asked enthusiastically, excitement returning to her eyes again

Happy with Elyssia’s response, Hecate answered with a charming smile.

“There are a number of ways you can incorporate magic into your swordsmanship, such as enhancing your body with mana to increase your strength and speed, imbuing your weapon with magic to apply elements to the blade, using the sword as a medium to cast spells as well as direct enchantments onto the weapon itself.”

Taking a sip from her tea she continued.

“There are endless possibilities, after all magic is so diverse even I am still discovering new applications and uses for it.”

Resting her hand on her chin, Elyssia sinks into thought.

“Can you teach me how to enhance my body with magic? That should help both my body and mana pathway strengthen right?” Elyssia asked.

“Yes, of course. I will add more of this type of training into the schedule as it will allow you to release your excess energy.” Hecate replied while laughing.

 

****

 

In the following year Elyssia learned all kinds of magic from Hecate. The studies were intensive, Elyssia would spend most of the day in Hecate’s library studying topics set by the goddess and anything that interested her, while the rest of her time was spent on practical training with both magic and the sword.

In this time Elyssia had become proficient in many forms of magic, her photographic memory helping her to quickly absorb all the knowledge available to her. Discovering that her talent lay in magics based around lightning, Fire, ice and Light, Elyssia had begun to create her own unique magic in these areas.

She also found an interest in runic languages and spell circles, spending a lot of her time learning the fundamental principles behind them. Part of her studies looked into barriers and how to counter magic, driven by the desire to protect herself from the flaming rocks she had seen that even now sometimes appeared in her dreams.  

Elyssia and Hecate’s relationship had also grown closer over the few months. As the two had been alone together throughout the months, they had become close friends. For Elyssia who had been separated from her family, her social interactions with Hecate are what kept her sanity, especially when the goddess’s realm where she was staying was always dark and gloomy.

Elyssia had a strong trust in Hecate which the goddess reciprocated at every chance she could. A whole year had passed, and it was Elyssia’s birthday once again as she was turning 17.

Walking into the dining room Elyssia covered her mouth while yawning.

“Good morning Hec-“ Elyssia froze as she looked at the goddess who was currently sat at the head of the dining table, a wide smile plastered on her face.

What had caused Elyssia to freeze was the party hat on Hecate’s head. It was striped in multiple colours and had a fuzzy pink pompom on top wile written on the side was ‘Happy Birthday Elyssia’.

“Happy Birthday Lysia!” Hecate cheerfully called out.

Elyssia brought her hand to her forehead in an exasperated facepalm.

 

(A/N – The Fuller is the grove found down the centre of the blade)

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