18. Third Day Of Training!
Outside the shop, Lance started running down the street. He knew the rough area, but he had his special mate, Vixen, to help him go the quickest route. 'Turn right on the next street.' She eagerly guided him so he wouldn't be late. Gods only know the hell Lance would have to endure at the hands of Elandra if they were late by even a second.
Lance didn't have time to tie his new swords to his sides, nor to clean off the dry blood all over him. Heck, he didn't even have time to shower. That all mixed with the lack of sleep, he was kinda regretting being out so late last night.
The Suns haven't risen yet, so he was not gonna be late, but the sky was already getting brighter. Without a moment to spare, he reached the Training Grounds, and none other than Elandra was outside the gates waiting for him. "Barely made it newbie. Next time, Be early!" Lance was bent over trying to catch his breath as Elandra inspected him. "Why are you all bloody, and where did you get those?"
Lance stood up, still panting, as he looked down at his swords. "These... I... Had... Made..." Still trying to catch his breath he spoke brokenly.
"How could you afford a custom order? You haven't even become a guard yet!" She was kinda angry now. She felt he must be lying about something as it would take her several months of her pay to afford a single custom weapon. And he just walked up with two.
Lance let out a long breath, then took one deep breath. "I met a blacksmith and he asked me to get him some materials. I came back with better materials than he thought, so he made me these. Oh, and the blood is from the Saber Wolf Pack!" He held the swords out for her to take a look.
"Saber wolf, huh!" She took one of the swords, Eclipse, and with a single glance at its blade, her jaw hit the floor. "No way! who made these?!" she grabbed Lance by the scruff of his shirt and pulled him close.
"Old man Lokarn." Being lifted had startled him.
Elandra dropped Lance then sheathed the sword and handed it back to Lance, slamming it into his chest before letting it go. "Go hit the showers and get changed. Meet on the field." She turned and stomped off.
'Is she mad at me for something?' Lance scratched his head and headed towards the showers.
*
Lance washed up and headed to the barracks to get on his uniform. While getting dressed he decided to check his new Sub-Class and looked into spending his Experience.
*Trling*
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Blacksmith (1/10)
- Can craft and repair common gear with common-grade material.
+3 Strength
+2 Dexterity
+1 Luck
Experience to Next Level: 150
Next Level:
+3 Strength
+2 Dexterity
+1 Luck
____________________
He decided to leave that skill for now and quickly leveled up to 6.
Trling
____________________
Player: Lance (Rene Knight)
Level: 6
Experience to Next Level: 1250
Next Level:
+5 Attribute Points
+1 Potential Points
+5 Health Points
+3 Energy Points
+5 Stamina Points
____________________
He leveled up to 7.
Trling*
____________________
Player: Lance (Rene Knight)
Level: 7
Experience to Next Level: 1800
Next Level:
+5 Attribute Points
+1 Potential Points
+5 Health Points
+3 Energy Points
+5 Stamina Points
____________________
He decided to spend the rest of his experience in his class.
Trling
____________________
Class: Squire (7/20)
Experience to Next Level: 2100
Next Level:
+3 Strength
+2 Dexterity
+1 Potential Points
____________________
Lance got into his uniform, but before leaving he spent some Potential points and maxed out Quick Reflexes.
*Trling*
____________________
Quick Reflexes (5/5)
- Your finely tuned body and mind have granted you enhanced reflexes. +45% movement speed.
____________________
With Lance feeling stronger, he left the barracks and headed out into the field. He knew he couldn't match Elandra, nor would he dare try, but he did feel more at ease.
As he got closer to the meeting spot, he heard battle cries.
Elandra was in an empty space swinging her sword around. Intricately slicing through the air. Lance couldn't help by comparing her movements to a dance. Such smooth movements, each strike with purpose. She would swing downward, then quickly pivot and slice sideways, pivot again and stab straight at nothing, pivot once more, and cut upwards. Her body moved smoothly. He could see, even if all the guard trainees fought her all at once, not a single one of them would be standing.
'Can you stop getting turned on! You're making things uncomfortable.' Vixen was getting jealous. He was staring at Elandra, and Vixen only wanted his eyes on her.
'Shut up! I'm not getting turned on by her. I'm just admiring her battle prowess.' He wasn't lying, he couldn't help but see just how powerful she was. It's no wonder she's the guard captain.
Lance walked over slowly, in awe of how strong she looked. As he gets closer, Elandra rushes over in a blink of an eye. Without even thinking, Lance grabs the hilt of one of his swords 'Rush!' He rushes behind her and goes for a strike. But she was simply too fast, she turns before he even realized it and blocks his strike.
"Seems like real battle made you much stronger than basic training." She deflected Lance's sword and walks back a bit. "Seems like I made the right choice." She mused to herself as she chuckled.
"Why did you choose me over everyone in the first place?" Lance still didn't understand her reasoning. On his second day of training and his teacher choose to spar with him. The system Lance has makes him stronger, but there was no way Elandra would know about it. He also felt he didn't look strong, just a teen boy, nothing remarkable. So why would the captain of the guards choose him over any other candidate?
Elandar let out a sigh as she considered what to say. "It's not that I thought you would become strong or anything. Just look at yourself." She pointed up and down with the tip of her sword. "You're just a child, still weak and immature. But you're moldable, and that's what I need."
"That still doesn't explain anything. Why are you being cryptic?" Lance could pick up on the subtle remarks she was making and knew she was hiding something.
"Sigh, why do you have to be so observant? Fine, You wanna know, then you'll have to first be able to match me." She charged at him, moving so fast that a trail of dust was kicked up in her wake.
With less than a second to react, Lance quickly blocked Elandra's strike. But before he could celebrate, a fist hit him square on his cheek, sending him stumbling a few steps. Another strike coming the other way. He barely manages to block it again, but now a foot kicked him in his gut. He stumbles back again and nearly pukes. 'She's still holding back, but she's not pushing me back as far as yesterday'.
"Good, you're growing faster than your fellow recruits. But that's not gonna be enough Newbie!" She stomped the ground hard and a fissure started to form in front of her. Suddenly the ground rose and headed towards Lance.
'Earth magic!' The quake was closing in fast, 'Rush!' Lance ran right up and over it and leaped into the air, he switches his grip to hold the sword in reverse and slammed on the ground, digging the tips deep past the surface.
"Hahaha, Good. Keep it up Newbie!" without pause she charged again. She swings at Lance's head and he barely dodged by a hair. He counters and slices upward through the air. Without missing a beat Elandra deflects his sword and spins around to strike again. Lance used both his swords to block her attack, barely holding it back under her pressure. "Now this is what I'm talking about! Hahahaha"
'Is she actually smiling?' Lance was dumbfounded.