68 The Training (1)

I tried my very best not to die the past six days from the harsh training from the Dragon Lord. It was brutal, as I'd expected, but I still wasn't ready for it. Fiona was put to sleep over all of this. I worried that all the injuries I suffer who have scared her and trigger a relapse in the Snow Queen's heart.

Cuts, bruises and broken bones. I kind of got used to the pain by the third day. The Dragon Lord continuously attacked me with his tail, his claws, his breath and even his eyes. Everything would kill me in one hit. Dangerous, but it tapped into my innate potential that brought the most out of me.

The Dragon Lord didn't hold back and at times he'd go too far with his 'light exercise.' He was savage but at the end of the day, I felt it was all worth it. Day after day, after each and every breakthrough he would let me get a moment;s rest and absorb spiritual crystals that decorated his cave dwelling. Their spiritual qi's the richest and purest I've ever seen, and they played a big part in my recovery.

Train, breakthrough, crystals, then repeat.

I drew a deep breath and recalled everything that I went thorough these past days. The pain and agony of when I was struck. The fatigue that clouded my brain. But through it all was the motivation brought by Fiona.

Who was I here for? Who I was fighting for? What was I living for?

Her.

Today's was the result of my training. The Dragon Lord had a challenge for me, and he'd observed me to see if I passed or not. Apparently, Lura would be in the Elven Springs holding a jug of the elve's special healing medicine that I was to retrieve, but I had to do so by tagging everyone I met on the way. That was to include the village, and the sleeping Fiona without them noticing my presence.

The sun was blazing overheard and when it casted the first shadows behind the tree, I was to start. There were no more than a few minutes left, and I made a quick mental list of my achievements so far.

The most notable was my movement technique that I developed along with inspiration from Wille's, called Shadow Step. By doing so, one would erase his presence almost instantaneously whilst dashing behind the enemy. The their eyes, it was as if they disappeared into thin air and reappeared behind them from the shadows; the trademark of every assassin, which was a good signature move to know.

The second was my soul and willpower. The Dragon Lord and I both agreed that the Frost Devil Arts were to dangerous. We both didn't want to take the chance and bear the consequences so we decided for the better that I was to train them both, via the Dragon's continuous roars. I had to bear with the roars that rendered the very depths of my soul and endure the harsh pressure that he exerted. Compared to his, my killing intent seemed more of a mosquito buzzing for blood than kill.

Speaking of which, I was a bit heart-broken that the dense killing intent that I had cultivator for so long for and was so proud of was 'barely passable.' And as per now? I could make the Dragon Lord flinch for half a second, which he considered to be very good. I wasn't sure how I'd face against other humans though.

I glanced down at my body and my tattered clothes that were now too small for me. After the rigorous body tempering routine he put me through, my muscles were now very developed. They were hard; full of vitality and strength which could make a normal man think that I had been weightlifting since little, but I knew how tough it was for my scrawny self to live back then. Anyhow, apart from the cuts and scars, I was satisfied with how healthy and fit I looked. They say that woman like to rest their heads on men's chest. Would it be more comfortable now for Fiona now that I'm muscular?

I shook my head. 'Getting distracted. I'm stronger. I'm faster. I can protect you now, Fiona. I won't let you die.' The clouds blocked the sun ray's before finally, the shadow of the tree crossed it's mark and I disappeared in a flash.

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"Mom, somebody touched my tail."

"No, my dear, I felt something too, but it must be the wind. There's nobody around us." The beast-men mother and son hugged each other, feeling stifled by the ghost-like occurrences.

Similar concerns raised all about the town square of the alliance. Dwares were startled when their fires suddenly grew out of their control, almost as if somebody had ran by. But they too could only grudgingly blame the wind.

In the outskirts of the village, an elf grabbed her ears as she was red from head to toe. "Sister, she whispered to her twin. Somebody just touched my ears just now. Does that mean I have to get married?"

Her mouth was agape. "Somebody touched my ears now just too... it wasn't you?" They glanced around but there was no one. "Who are we married to then...?"

Their words made me freeze in place. I didn't know the elves had this kind of tradition... doesn't this mean that I have taken advantage of them?