The Hunter Mage

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"Okay, that would be all for today. Try to get enough rest today, we will continue the water ball shooting tomorrow." Cavin announced at the sound of the bell which signaled the end of the training.

"Okay," replied the students and they began to leave the courtyard.

Vernon chose this moment to rise to his feet and braced himself for what was about to come. He had to report to Captain Robbin. It was funny how he always felt uncomfortable and edgy whenever he had to do this even though Captain Robbin had never done anything mean to him.

"Where are you going to, Vernon?" Cabin words interrupted his mechanized movements.

He paused at her words and turned around to look at her before responding. "I usually have to report to Captain Robbin by the end of the training, to let her know my success, progress, and as usual failures." He sighed, wondering why he used 'usually' when he had only reported to Captain Robbin once.

"Oh, don't look so dejected," Cabin said as she tried to cheer him up. "I am sure something good would pop up."

"Yeah, probably." Her words weren't helpful and he would prefer to leave to get the meeting with Captain Robbin over with. He was already dreading telling her the bad news.

She looked as if to say something but then decided against it. "Well, um you may go."

Vernon watched Cavin literally flee, he sighed again and turned back. To Captain Robbin! He didn't run this time, he wanted to delay it as long as he could. He kicked a pebble that had somehow landed on his path. It went a few feet away, right on the path he was on just like he intended.

He walked faster to it, to kick it again. However, this time around it strayed from his path and he had no option but to let it be. Captain Robbin was literally a stone's throw away and he didn't need magic to tell she could see him approach.

He quickened his pace and stopped when he got to about seven feet from her. "Tell me you have good news this time, Vernon." She said before he could even say anything.

He shook his head, keeping his eyes to the ground. He heard her sigh, "Did you at least try?" She asked at his response.

He nodded but couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye as he had given up towards the end. He had not wanted to but he couldn't help but feel like this was a waste of time and the fact that he didn't exactly have many options wasn't exactly helping.

"Hmm, well you may go. Report early enough tomorrow as usual and we'll pick another group for you or better still, you'll pick yourself. Go on, now."

He nodded and ran off, fleeing the scene. Captain Robbin had taken it easier than he had thought she would and a part of him said a prayer of thanks. On his way back, he encountered another pebble and kicked this one until he got to the door of the dormitory.

The next morning, he was out of the cafeteria as soon as the bell rang. He ran all the way to Captain Robbins and as usual, she was already comfortably seated on her favorite chair with her trusted sidekick by her side.

He arrived gasping, she glanced in his direction but didn't say anything just watched him. "Good morning Captain Robbin," he spoke up first, breaking the silence.

"Back at you! How do you feel?"

He frowned at the question but answered accordingly. "Well, I could be better."

"I am sure," she replied. "So, have you decided what group to try next?"

"I thought you said you would pick another group." He muttered, staring with a lost look on his face.

"I gave two options with emphasis on you picking the next group yourself, what did you think?" She asked and leaned forward, scrutinizing the poor boy.

Vernon shrank into himself, facing Captain Robbin was never going to be easy. He didn't exactly have to think too much about it as the next option was pretty clear. Unmagic was out of the question, which only left the fire magic group and nature magic group.

Nature had Nevil and Vernon was sure he was ready to cross that bridge yet. They had both silently avoided each other and thankfully no situation had arisen where conversations were inevitable.

"Fire!"

"Nature!"

Vernon yelled fire just as Captain Robbin said nature. He paused, staring at her as the silence stretched. "I thought you said I could pick!" He muttered, breaking it.

"You were taking too long, besides we both know my option is better." She replied and relaxed her back against the seat. Her creepy smile was back in place.

Vernon didn't think so, he felt Captain Robbin just didn't like people going against her decisions. He sighed, it didn't look like he had a choice because she obviously wasn't going to budge, he could see that.

"Yes," he returned with a sneer. "I guess it is." He kept his face down so she wouldn't see but she wouldn't have cared if she had.

"Well, we are running out of options Vernon, and at a high speed. If you don't show promising results soon, I'm afraid I won't be able to make this exception for much longer and you know you don't have much of a choice here. However, I don't want to put too much pressure on you so I won't go into too much detail. Good luck and don't ruin this."

Vernon thought it was funny how she said she didn't want to put any pressure after she had done just that. He could only nod at her words and hoped there would be some kind of bright light at the end of the tunnel for him because he didn't think he could go through one more day of this, especially with the never-ending questions.