Later in the evening I decided to get some more training in. Helena joined me, partly because she was concerned about another attack. But I suspected she also wanted to show off her own hard work. The cats and Chariot joined us as well. I left Frank at the door as a guard.

  Helena looked at me with an excited grin. “I am now capable of casting a full ice armour!”

  “Wow. Is it like a full plate armour?” I asked.

  “Yes, look!” Helena replied. Then she started concentrating. Water appeared around her feet. Slowly it flowed into the shape of boots and started freezing. Then followed the pants. One piece at a time she covered herself in armour. She looked like a knight! Well, she was missing a helmet.

  “This is sooo cool! Can you do a helmet as well? How is your mobility? How strong is it?” I asked excitedly.

  “I am still working on the helmet. What I have managed so far just hinders my sight too much. But I can move relatively well.” Helena did not have a weapon but she performed some basic moves, pretending to hold a spear. She was slower than normal but she could move reasonably well.

  “Could you make an ice spear too?” I asked.

  “Theoretically but it stretches my mana a lot. The armour itself uses quite a bit since I am not that efficient at casting it yet.” She replied.

  “Is it a continuous spell?” I asked.

  “No. The idea is that I can use this before combat and then use my mana for attacks during a fight. I am not going to be a spellblade. I want to focus more on magic in the long run. I want to conjure a blizzard at some point!” She replied.

  “I see. You know, that armour looks complex? Is that not an advanced spell?” I wondered.

  “Not quite. The more advanced version is. I have to cast multiple spells for this armour but I do not combine them, like in advanced magic. I just assemble it piece by piece, so I need some time before battle.” She replied.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  “Oh. Why focus so much on armor though? And not learn more attack spells?” I wondered.

  “I am pretty good with my ice daggers. I want some solid defense next, then I will work on area spells. I am hoping our joint casting will help me with that.” She replied.

  I pondered my own progress. I was capable of summoning an ice or water shield. But they required concentration. I was not sure if I wanted to invest in conjuring armour. It looked pretty cool though.

  “How durable is that? Especially compared to just summoning a shield?” I asked.

  “It depends a bit on how much mana I put into it. Once I truly master the spell it should be quite solid. Right now? I still have not fully tested it yet.” She answered.

  I grinned. “I have an idea for a test!”

  “You want to attack me with a practice sword?” She asked.

  “Oh no.” Then I looked at Nyx and the two cats. “Test the armour!” I commanded.

  Helena’s eyes widened as my cats pounced. Of course, I tried to mentally refine my orders to ensure Helena was not harmed.

  Helena tried, but failed, to stay upright as the cats impacted her torso. She went down with a shriek. Then they started scratching the ice.

  After the initial surprise was over Helena started laughing. The cats essentially used her armour like a scratching post. But they were making some good progress. Interestingly, they ceased their attacks without me giving an additional order. I suppose they had breached the armour at some points and stopped because of it. Then they just sat there, next to Helena. Except Nyx, who started kneading the armour while purring.

  “That was mean.” Helena said, but she was smiling.

  “I think it won't hold up to too many strikes.” I observed while trying to sound professional. I was smirking though.

  “You know, the cats were surprisingly coordinated with their first pounce. Has Nyx been training them?” Helena asked, while petting Nyx.

  “Nyx is spending a lot of time with them. I think she enjoys commanding minions.” I replied.

  Helena picked up Nyx and sat her on the floor, then she got up and started to inspect the damage.

  “Yeah, those claws are nasty. I would estimate a sword needs about three strikes or so to break through. Assuming they hit the same point.” Helena mused.

  “Does not every attack drain mana from the whole armour? No matter where they strike?” I asked.

  “True. But with it being multiple spells they would all collapse separately. But a big piece, like the torso, would be easy to take out. With a few hits. I definitely need to get better at it.” Helena concluded.

  “Still looks pretty cool.” I said.

  Helena grinned. “Yes it does.”

  Then both of us looked at the floor, because Nyx was now rolling around with the other cats. They were play fighting.

  “Is Nyx commanding them to play with her?” Helena asked.

  “Looks like it.” I replied. I guess it was training, in a way. And the cats seemed to understand the command. Then again, a tier two kept some of the instincts from the creature they were made of. If only Nyx would invest as much time in her magic training.