Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters - Bella Forrest Page 0,10
other. I’d probably be ribbing her about it until graduation.
She feigned shock. “You’re not a substitute! You’re the MVP. No one I’d rather spend a Saturday afternoon strolling with.” Her expression softened. “I mean that. Even if Nathan were to ask me out—which I’m not saying I want—it’ll always be sisters before misters.”
“Can I get that in writing?” I asked, smiling, before the memory of a stack of textbooks diverted my attention from her love woes. “I’ve got a paper to finish for Monster History, and a couple of anatomy sketches for Monster Biology. I also thought I might… uh… hit the gym, so I’ll have to see how much I get done before I agree to anything.”
Genie skidded to a halt and whirled me around. “Did you say ‘gym?’”
“I might have.” My cheeks flushed a little. “I thought I’d string a load of weights around my neck to thicken it up so Marcel can’t choke me out anymore.”
She chuckled. “You were awesome today, Pers. Everyone’s improving, and you’re no exception. I saw you land that sneaky kidney punch, and you hit him with a knee kick. I bet McCarthy is feeling it now. If he didn’t have those headlocks and legs like flipping steel girders, you’d have floored him ages ago.”
“I appreciate the pep talk, but I need to push harder in the physical classes. The rate I’m going, I might as well get my name inscribed on that broom. I’m way behind in Hunting Technique and Martial Arts, and I swear Johannes is actually going to use his bullwhip on me if I mess up the chimera simulation again.” I got us walking again, our footsteps echoing in the empty corridors. By now, everyone would be in the Banquet Hall or the rec room, relaxing after another killer week of training. A few would be getting bruises and cuts seen to in the Infirmary, or begging for a revitalization tonic from the medics, while those lucky few who’d struck up a romance would be meandering in the orchard, making the most of these last warm(ish) days of Irish summer. Honestly, I’d been surprised that Ireland even had a proper summer, and even one with enough sunshine to coax out the inkling of a tan.
Ah… bring back August. I’d had some incredible weekends down at the Institute’s private cove during the summer’s best days, along with the rest of our classmates. We’d dared each other to be the first to dive into the freezing sea and cooked up a storm on disposable barbecues, the coals lit by those with Fire abilities. Naturally, with a bunch of magicals, there’d been some Chaos displays, too. Genie, after a bit of coercion, had put on a stunning Water show as the sun went down, manipulating liquid formations of gamboling sea creatures, dancing mermaids, stampeding Kelpies, and a few sneaky scenes of the Atlantis cityscape.
Genie crinkled up her nose. “I think you’re being too hard on yourself. McCarthy said you were getting better, and he’s not one to blow smoke up anyone’s ass.”
“I have to be tougher on myself,” I replied firmly. “Sure, I’ve progressed by leaps and bounds when it comes to capturing my monsters, but there’s more to hunting than that. I need to be able to defend myself on missions, against anything—monster or otherwise—or I’ll always be the weakest link. And that starts with overhauling my fitness. That’s the foundation of my weakness.”
“You could come running with me to increase your stamina?” She grinned.
I groaned involuntarily at the mere thought. “Chaos, no. I’d rather bench press a rock golem.”
“Do both. I could set up a circuit for you.” She cackled. “Sprint 400 meters, twenty reps with a rock golem, jog a mile, thirty reps with a gargoyle trying to smooch you, then finish off with a bit of electric muscle toning by lying down on a raiju.”
“Have you been reading Johannes’s playbook of pain?” I envied that she could look forward to arena time, while I dreaded it with every fiber of my being. It was like a never-ending video game where I kept getting stuck on the same level. Fortunately for my ego, I wasn’t the only one who floundered during those sessions, and Johannes didn’t dole out penalties for the lowest scorer, but I knew I could do better. No, I had to do better, even if that meant… ugh, I could hardly bring myself to think it. Running.
Genie snorted. “Where do you think he gets his ideas