After walking and having some small talk between Sarah, Anna and I, we arrived at the practice field, where Warrick sat on the grass cross-legged. I greeted him and he opened his eyes and proceeded to greet us as well. After the greetings were done, Warrick got down to business and explained how his class was going to work for Sarah and me.

  " Sarah, you already know how this will work, so I'll explain it to John."

  After saying that to Sarah, Warrick turned to me and began to speak to me directly.

  " Basically, the first two classes are for you to learn New Skills and Magic. After which, you will use them against me in a sparring session, trying to combine it all so you can find your style of fighting. After sparring 1 on 1 for a good amount of time, you and Sarah will team up against me to learn how to fight together."

  " Wait! Why do Sarah and I need to fight together though?"

  " Oh, well, she's already set her goal. In 3 months, she will fight alongside you against the Hero and his Party."

  I turn and look at Sarah. She has a look in her eyes like she will not be deterred. I still ask her.

  " Why, Sarah?"

  " My Fiancé's enemy, is my enemy of course! Also, I have some Promises to keep that I made to myself!"

  Seeing as how she will not back down on it. I decide to go over everything I've learned today with Warrick. He begins to speak to me with instructions.

  " Ok... The goal for today is to fight me. You must last 5 minutes to be considered passing! During the fight, you must keep Control and your Mana Blade active, besides that, just survive. If you land a hit on me, you automatically pass as well."

  " Understood!"

  After answering Warrick, I remember to tell him about Paula. After informing him of her, he cracked a smile and spoke to me.

  " Hmm... The first day and you already have a contract with a Fairykin, your Control has kept up to a good degree and you can use Mana Blade without affecting your Control. You have more talent than I thought, John!"

  " To be honest with you Warrick, it takes everything to maintain Control while using any Magic."

  " Of course, I said you had talent not Mastery! That's what my class is for! For now, let's focus on your own Skills without using Summoning. Once you are more used to Controlling and using your Mana, we can start using your Summons while we practice, so you get a feel for it in a live combat situation."

  " Alright!"

  After confirming everything, Warrick handed me a dulled training sword to match his own. Sarah and Anna sat on a picnic blanket that Anna pulled out of thin air like Aqua and her potion. Warrick and I got into position. While staring at each other, I decided to activate Holy Mana Blade. Warrick just watched me.

  * Kick!*

  / Woosh! Shing!/

  * Pain!*

  /Woosh!/

  " Ow..."

  I decided to kick the floor with all my strength and go for a thrusting attack, trying to land that hit to end the session. Warrick simply bent his body away from the blade and slashed my stomach with his sword. I was sent flying and landed about 10 feet from my starting position.

  / Stand.../

  The pain was so intense my concentration slipped, and I lost my hold on my Mana, and it came flying out of me. Warrick simply looked at me. After getting my Mana back under Control, I entered my stance again. After getting my Mana Blade active again, I decide to go for an overhead strike, which is again dodged, a slash that hits my stomach follows and knocks me away. This continues to repeat for some time, seemingly to the shock and horror of Sarah and Anna.

  * Jump!*

  / Shing! Woosh!/

  " Ye-"

  / Woosh! Shing!/

  * Pain!*

  After my fifth attempt, I start to get a feel for his speed. No doubt he's holding back of course. The fact I'm still conscious attests to that. I go for a thrust like my first attack, and he dodges but this time I kick the ground to move backwards to avoid the slash to my stomach. I felt proud of that... until a sword slashed my stomach anyways. That one made me throw up all of the contents of my stomach. Now I see why Sarah looked all dusty and bruised.

  * Stand...*

  I get back up and assume my stance. And I go for another strike. This time I don't put my all into the strike and when Warrick dodges the sword strike and repositions, I follow him and go to strike his stomach. He blocks with his sword, and I feel so accomplished.

  " Hell yeah! I did it! I made you blo....."

  / Thud!/

  * Pain!*

  Before I could finish my thought, I was struck in my stomach and flew back. I prop myself up on a knee and speak.

  " Fair enough, I did drop my guard."

  " You did."

  Warrick says, continuing to look at me while in his stance. This continues for 3 hours, and I was able to get my time up to 2 minutes. After being blasted away and feeling like literal death was approaching me. Warrick speaks.

  " You've done well John. Not bad at all for someone who only swung a sword today, but you're way too green. Crest and I will fix that in the oncoming months. For now, take a break and I'll spar with Sarah."

  At the news that my torture session was over, I spoke with some relief in my voice.

  " Thanks. Huff Huff.... I'll do that."

  I look at Sarah and Anna. Sarah looks like she's going to war, while shooting an intense gaze at Warrick. Anna is looking at me with worry as she reaches into a window she conjures. Bringing out what seems like a first aid kit to me. I speak to Sarah.

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  " Sorry for showing such a sight to you, Sarah. Thank you for the sparring with me, Warrick. Anna, I'm alright, Warrick held back."

  An apology, A thank you and a reassurance flew out of my tired mouth. the first to respond to me was Sarah.

  " It is fine John, I had a very similar experience this morning. But now I have some extra motivation!"

  Sarah looked pretty cool to me in that moment. Anna spoke after with concern coming from her voice.

  " Master! Even with His Highness Warrick holding back, we must treat your wounds immediately!"

  While walking to Anna, Warrick spoke to me.

  " Once Anna finishes your treatment, observe Sarah and I. Try to keep track of us.

  "Understood!"

  After addressing Warrick, I took my shirt off, so Anna could treat the giant purple bruise that has formed across my stomach. After finishing the treatment, I noticed Anna seemed embarrassed about my shirt being off. I remembered the whole fiasco with Aqua giving me the Mana Jolt. So, I apologized to her.

  " Sorry Anna! Diablos is a more conservative country than I'm used to. I'll try to be more careful about you seeing me, either fully or half naked from now on."

  Anna, who was in a daze, snapped out of it when she heard my apology. She became flustered and started to speak quickly.

  " No! No! Master, it's fine to show me your skin.... !!! Because I am your Exclusive Maid! There is no issue showing me your skin! Do you understand!"

  Anna grew seemingly more desperate as she continued to talk. Stopped for a split second before continuing her explanation. I thought for a moment and spoke to her.

  " Well, if it's alright with you. Then I'll be in your care for treating my injuries."

  " Speaking of which Master, why don't you use your Healing Spell. Now that I think about it... Can't you just heal your wounds?"

  " Yeah, I could. But since this is training, I want to keep my bumps and bruises as motivation to get better."

  " How noble of you, Master!"

  " I'm not so sure it's noble. Afterall, I want to pay Warrick back for all these bruises at some point."

  " So, there's a bit of childness in you as well, Master. How cute!"

  I scratch my head, a little embarrassed at being called cute. At that moment, I hear Warrick yelling to Sarah.

  " Pay attention in a fight! If you don't the opponent will take advantage of your lapse in attention!"

  I see a figure fall from the sky... It's Sarah! But instead of looking at Warrick she looks at me... And her eyes are watering. I guess she's jealous of me conversating with Anna. I look at her apologetic and yell to her.

  " Do your best, Sarah! I'll be watching you fight from now on!"

  Sarah hears me and with a look of determination, she takes her stance and stares at her father who finally lands to the ground. Warrick speaks.

  " I understand your feelings, Sarah. But focus on the battle. I don't want to accidentally hurt you."

  " It is fine Father! Now I have even better motivation."

  She looks at me and smiles. Then turns back to Warrick and attacks. After five minutes of battle that went all over the field and even the sky. Sarah was able to land a hit with her training spear. Warrick fell back to the ground and I thought to myself. " I must be more diligent!" as Sarah landed on the ground as well. Sarah mixed her Magic and Physical Skills to land a successful hit on Warrick. Warrick, after landing, congratulated Sarah. Then he began to fight Sarah with a bit more aggression and speed. Sarah never landed another hit on Warrick for the rest of their sparring session. After 2 hours, Sarah was on the ground, like I was and she was as beaten as I was. Warrick began to speak after I saw Sarah take 2 big breaths.

  " Ok. I thought we would do the 2 on 1 sparring, but since we are below par for now, I feel like you 2 will do more harm than good right now."

  I agreed with Warrick, but Sarah did not.

  " No, Father! We should do the 2 on 1 sparring! We need to work on our Teamwork as soon as possible!"

  Warrick placed his hand on his chin and thought for a moment. He spoke to me after.

  " John, if you are up to it, will you team up with my Daughter and spar me?"

  As Warrick looked at me, I saw Sarah looking at me with hope in her eyes. Feeling as if I'm in a rock and a hard place, I decide to go with Sarah's wish.

  " I'll spar with Sarah and you."

  Warrick proceeded to enter his stance. And I arrived next to Sarah, ready to appease her wish.

  Warrick simply waited for me and Sarah looked like she was ready to cry of happiness. Her fondness for me was making it hard for me to focus on the fight. After we both got into position, I waited for Sarah's word.

  / Thump! Woosh!/

  " !"

  / Clang!/

  She launched herself at great speed without letting me know anything. Warrick defended against Sarah without much effort.

  * Kick!*

  / Thump! Thud! Woosh!/

  " Barrier!"

  / Shing!/

  * Pain!*

  / Woosh!/

  I then kicked the ground and followed after Sarah. By the time I made it there, Warrick had already repelled Sarah. As she was flying, she looked like she was falling at a bad angle to me. Thinking fast, I cast Barrier on her so she could land safely. Warrick with a sharp look in his eyes turned his attention to me. A slash across the stomach later and I was on the floor next to Sarah. Warrick looked very angry at us. He began to speak to us with the tone of an angry teacher.

  " As I said Sarah! You both aren't ready! Your feelings may be strong, but John isn't able to keep up with your speed yet, nor read your movements and thoughts to be in sync with you as a partner. I understand you want to rush because of your insecurity, but John is a beginner and needs time to adapt to everything being thrown at him."

  Sarah could only nod her head, frustrated at the outcome of her attack. Then Warrick turned to me with anger in his eyes... What the hell did I do!? Warrick begins to scold me with an angry tone.

  " John, I am most angry with you!"

  " Wh.. Why?"

  Warrick took a deep breath as he noticed I was genuinely surprised at his anger at me. He began to speak after calming himself.

  " Whether it be agreeing to help us after we more or less kidnapped you! Or after healing Sarah, you cast Barrier on Sarah instead of yourself, when you felt an attack coming at both of you. Even now, doing it again in a live combat situation."

  Warrick looked in pain as he began to walk to me. I was too surprised by what he had said. I tried to get my thoughts together, but he arrived in front of me and put both of his hands on my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes.

  " You need to care about yourself, John! There are people like Sarah, like me, who will be hurt if you are hurt. Let alone if you're killed! I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you died because you protected one of us instead of yourself in a dangerous moment!"

  His words shocked me. I mean, I didn't notice it until now. I've always been putting others before myself. From Laura and her Family, now to Sarah, Warrick and Aqua. When did I start thinking like that? Was.. Was it the car crash? Yeah, ever since then. Because Dad... He looked away from the road, to talk to me and that's when the crash happened. If he didn't turn to see me, they would've lived... It was all my fault... I don't deserve to live while they are dead. I started to mumble under my breath as tears started to form.

  " Because dad and mom.. If dad didn't look at me... It should've been.... Hmph!"

  As I was mumbling, I was tackled to the ground by Sarah, before long, my hand was being held by Anna. With tears in both of their eyes the light from the sunset made them gleam purple and green. I tried to look away, but I felt Sarah's warm hands on my cheeks as she turned my head back to me. Anna gripping my hand tighter. Sarah spoke to me with a mournful voice.

  " That accident was not your fault, John! It was the drunk driver, he smashed into your Family! It was never your fault! Your Parent's LOVED you! I've seen it! They would never think it's your fault! Nor would they want to trade places with their son! Don't ever say that again! If you can't live for yourself then live for me! You must take responsibility for how you've made me feel!"

  I looked around, I noticed Warrick was barely holding it together and Anna was crying harder. As I settle my eyes on Sarah, I noticed that tears were running down both our faces. The tears in her eyes make her eyes sparkle in the light. As I was about to answer her, she sealed my lips with a kiss. This was different than the 2 kisses from before. This one felt sad, I heard her whimpering while kissing me. I place my free hand on the top of her head and pet her to help calm her down as I settled my own feelings.

  * Release... Release...*

  Once Sarah and Anna had let me go, I began to speak.

  " Sarah, Anna, Warrick. Is it truly alright for me to be selfish?"

  " YES!"

  In unison all 3 shouted " YES!". I continued speaking, while smiling knowing what I wanted now.

  " Alright then. From today onwards, I'll be more selfish."

  Looking at Warrick who still had glassy eyes, I spoke my true feelings.

  " Warrick, I understand where you're coming from. But no matter what, even though I can be trained to a degree. I won't just simply sit back while someone I care about is in danger!"

  Warrick looked at me, his eyes saying that he had failed in a mission. I continued to speak.

  " So, my teachers are going to have to train me even stricter so I can protect myself and the people important to me. That's my selfish wish for now."

  Warrick looked at me then sighed. Anna was crying while staring at me. And before I knew it, Sarah was back on top of me and sealing my lips again. I guess my life here is about to get really hectic, but for some reason. I don't think it's a bad thing.