The Tale of Xenosa

Training After Hours

Xenosa's POV:

Cresia and I quickly composed ourselves and opened the door. "We'll be right there, Emma. Go ahead and pick me some dinner will you?" I said as sweetly as possible. Emma just nodded and went on her way. I then turned towards Cresia, "I wasn't imagining things right? You heard the ruckus from outside?" I said sounding unsure of what had just happened. Cresia nodded at me and game me a small smile. "Eh maybe we're just too overly paranoid Xen. I'm sure it's nothing," she explained. I just nodded my head at her and reached for my the rack at the back of my door to get my jacket. I slipped it on and then headed to the dining hall. I saw Justin, Jazz and Gavin sitting together. I smiled once I saw Gavin waving his hand at us. "Oh look the others are over there!" I said as I tugged at Cresia's arm bringing her to the table. Jazz smiled once she saw us, "Where have you guys been? We've been listening to Justin's stories nonstop for about twenty minutes it's starting to get boring," she said slightly teasing Justin. "Xen come here. There's an empty seat beside me," Gavin said. I nodded my head and obliged. I sat beside him whole Cresia sat across from us. She gave me that meaningful smile of hers again. "Cresia and I got over indulged with our conversation earlier. We didn't notice that it was time for dinner already. Nothing too surprising about that we tend to get carried away when we have our conversations with each other." I explained. What's surprising is that Gavin is here with us, I don't recall introducing them to each other. I turned to Gavin and asked, "So Gav how did you end up with these guys here? I don't remember we've introduced you to them at lunch". "They saw me coming in the dining hall and offered for me to sit here with them," he answered. He then leaned closer to me and whispered, "I think they saw us talking in the training field earlier," he added. I slowly nodded my head and then felt three pairs of eyes stare at our direction. "Okay I didn't expect you guys were this close," Cresia said. A smile curved on her lips, great Gavin just gave her more teasing ideas. I just replies with a "tssss". Not a moment later Emma and the other helpers came and brought us our dinner. Dinner was anything but peaceful. The table was loud. I was glad Gavin had friends now but gosh these guys just get louder and louder and everyday. Geez. I think we were drawing too much attention to ourselves as. the kitchen staff would regularly give us annoying looks. It seemed like I was the only who noticed. The others were oblivious. After we ate we decided to just head back to our rooms and rest. Earlier that night I wanted nothing else but to be able to get some sleep and rest but right now I felt like I should be doing something else. I got dressed in a comfy training outfit and quietly headed to the training area. I quickly did my warm ups and began to train. I needed to be as quiet as possible. I'm not really aware if we were allowed to train without our trainers but I had no choice as of the moment. I really needed to do the energy ball technique if I want to learn in channeling my energy effectively. I closed my eyes and did the steps. This time I allowed all types of energy to flow. Even the negative ones. I was trying Gavin's suggestions. I don't know why I did, I just thought it wouldn't hurt to try. If I'm able to pull this off then I'll be able to do the control technique as well. Once I felt my feet separate from the ground I knew I needed to prepare myself for the coming mental images. And so I did. Positive memories brought by the positive energy gave me this glow. I felt like I was being tossed into the sky tenfold. And then the negatives came, once again frightening thoughts engulfed my head. I began to remember the nymphs and all their dead sisters, I concentrated and thought about how we were able to save hundreds of them more when we defeated the darlings. I then remembered the Aswangs chasing us in the maze but then I remembered that was how Cresia and I met. If it weren't for that I wouldn't be here by now. I thought of the Bakunawa, and how I felt the oozing regret, betrayal and vengefulness of its soul. But then I thought about how it was no longer tied to that horrible place. It was free. Then the memories stopped. No Sitan, no negativity had came. I did it! I opened my eyes and saw the energy ball I've made. It was so light in my hands, I could barely feel its weight. But I knew that the power it came with was no joke. Suddenly I heard a clap from behind me. I released the technique and brought myself down. I turned around and saw that it was Dagat. "Finally, you figured it out," she said. I quickly bowed my head at her and asked for forgiveness, "Lady Eas I'm sorry for training this late into the night, I just thought it would do me some good to train additinal hours," I quickly explained. She help my chin with her index finger to lift my face, "You did great! No need for those kind of things. Plus, it's after training hours alread Xen. Call me Dagat we are sisters after all," she said and gave me a smile. I stood up and gave her a smile as well. "I thought you were going to punish me or something," I said while scratching the back of my neck, still nervous about the whole situation. She grinned at me and said, "Yeah well this isn't really surprising. I know a certain demigod who also did this while in her training years, and don't worry this whole training after working hours thing is not really f*******n or wrong. A lot of the trainees prefer to rest at night rather than train, since of course they trained the whole day. You're allowed to make use of your powers when you're in here so no worries," she casually said while wiggling her eyebrows at me and taking a seat on the grass. So I wasn't the first one to do this and it was actually allowed. Huh. Makes sense. She mentioned she knew someone who did this as well, was it someone from my team? Does Gavin train secretly at night? Or is he just naturally good? "The demigod who you saw trained, is it by any chance Gavin?" I asked. Dagat shook her head to the side, huh so Gavin was really just naturally talented. "So if it isn't Gavin then who else?" I asked. Maybe it was from the other's I haven't spoken to yet, I thought. I think my facial expressions must have mirrored the jumbled thoughts I have at the moment. I might've looked like as confused as I felt becuase as if on cuse Dagat spoke, "The demigod who used to train late was me Xen. I used to train late while I was at your age too," she said. I was shocked. Well actually being shock is an understatement. I don't know but I didn't expect her to be a late bloomer or anything like that. I thought she was of those really gifted kids who had no problem learning tricks and techniques. "That's a shocker," I thought out loud. Which of course isn't intentional, pure accidental. I quickly covered my mouth and my eyes widened as I realized what I just said. "U-uhm I-i didn't mean to-" "It's fine okay?" she said and laughed. I sat down beside her and just stayed silent. Great not only was I caught by my trainer but I also made a fool out of myself. Me and my careless mouth. My chain of self pity and disappointment was caught off when I heard Dagat ask, "so how dod you figure it out?" "Figure what out?" I replied. "The secret to the technique silly," she answered. My cheeks burned at my slowness. "Oh uh my friend was actually the one who gave me the advice of transforming the negative to positive," I quietly said. "Yes, balance is the key to that technique. I had trouble when I first had to learn that you know? The same thing happened to me as well, with the whole Sitan situation. Only I didn't figure the technique much later when I needed it for battle. I learned it the hard way," she quietly said. "Anyway, I'm glad you figured that out. You'll learn the puppet technique tomorrow," she added. She got up from where she sat and offered her hand to me, "You better get some rest, tomorrow's another training day," she said. I nodded my head and took her hand. "Thanks for uh, being here Dagat." I said. I have no idea why I just said those things but it felt right. She smiled at me and replied, "Anytime". I didn't know what happened next but cold wind blew causing me to shiver, I looked at where Dagat just stood but she was already gone. She wasn't there anymore. She left as quickly as she came. I shivered as I felt the icy wind blew from the trees. Geez I needed to bundle up. I wanted to train some more but Dagat told me to get some rest already. I fear that my body won't be able to handle much more training if I continue tonight. I then proceeded to enter the castle again. I was walking through the halls when I saw Gavin running. What was he doing? He looks like he's looking for someone. "Hey Gav!" I yelled. I jogged up to where he was and asked him, "who are you running after?" I think my question caught him off guard. He wasn't able to answer directly, "I-i I thought someone was there but there wasn't," he said stuttering. Huh, that's weird. It was verysimilar to what just happened earlier to Cresia and I before dinner. "Hey there's no onw here, calm down," I said as I felt his chest heaved up and down drastically. Has he been running all this time? "I was here this entire time, I didn't notice anyone here," I explained to him. I offered him some of the water I brought and calmed him down. We stayed there for a few minutes just in silent company of each other. Gavin decided to break the silence by asking, "By the way Xen what are you doing here this late anyway?" I knew he was going to ask sooner or later. Gavin isn't really the type to just not ask questions, you know. "Oh I trained for a bit. Good news though. I was able to do the energy technique. Turns out your advice worked great! Thanks for that by the way," I answered him. Sounding cheerful and thankful for his help. In return he flashed me that adorable boyish smile of his and said, "I did that with my energy technique as well, thought it would help with yours, " he said. Just as everything was going well I heard a ruckus from outside the castle. Then footsteps from the castle guards followed. Fear instantly crept its way to me as I felt goosebumps form at my arms and at the back of my neck. Gavin was about to go and check it out but I stopped him. I held his arm as tight as I could and said, "I think we should get some rest Gav, It's getting pretty late". Though I too was curious about the sound, I knew the guards would be able to handle whatever it was. For tonight I'm just thankful I went inside earlier than I planned. Thankfully he ignored the sound and went with what I said, " Yeah I think we should" he said. He accompanied me til I got to my room. He says with a playful tone, "Just to make sure you don't wander off again". "Oh please like I still can. I need as much sleep as I can get," I replied with the same tone. I'm just glad we're able to ignore whatever just happened earlier, and just pretend it didn't happen at all. Sometimes, there are things and situations that are better to be left alone rather than meddling with it.