19. I Just Need A Second To Breathe!

Elandra wasn't letting up. Swiftly she would take advantage of every opening she could find. Luckily, Lance had the Quick Reflexes Skill, so he was just barely able to match her speed. Though that couldn't protect him much. She still landed quite a number of blows.

"Huff huff huff, Can't we take a breather?" Lance was losing Stamina quickly. He didn't have much time after his battle with the wolves to rest. And with his constant use of Rush and Flurry, he was nearly out of Stamina.

The Suns were just starting to clear the horizon, illuminating their battlefield. Elandra looked over to the rising suns, "We still have some time left." Elandra was enjoying herself a little too much to end the sparring match now. Lance wasn't able to do much damage to her, but he was still standing... Mostly.

"What do you mea...." Not even giving him a second, she lunged at him. With his Stamina critically low, he couldn't use rush for every counter or dodge. And with his health dropping steadily, he had to rely on his passive skills to help him. "Geezus woman!" He shouts out as he barely dodged her attack.

"Hahaha" Elandra was grinning cheek to cheek while laughing. Even though he was much weaker, he was still putting up a good fight. "Issues Newbie?"

Clink! Clank! Shink!

The two of them created sparks everywhere. They were quite lucky that there were no dry plants nearby, or not only would Lance have to deal with Elandra's endless barrage of attacks. But he would also have to worry about getting set on fire.

As the morning drew closer, some of the trainees started to show up. The few that arrived got to bare witness to the pair's fight. Everyone present was wide-eyed with their jaws on the ground.

"Okay, I think it's time to end this." With people showing up, she didn't want to make a spectacle. She rushed at Lance and aimed for his head. Unfortunately for her, Lance got used to her fighting style. He ducked and guarded against the incoming kick. He successfully blocked her kick but was still sent back a few feet. "Hahahaha!" She wiped her forehead and rubbed it while shaking her head. "I guess I am just that predictable." She then looks up at the Suns for a minute. "Okay Rene, You're dismissed. Now go shower again and fall in line with the rest of the recruits."

Lance was panting heavily, 'Did she just call me by my name?' He couldn't believe what he just heard.

Vixen was floating off to the side as usual. 'She's beginning to like you I think.' She was jealous. Elandra had Lance's attention. Plus she had to admit to herself, Elandra was pretty.

*Trling*

____________________

Hidden Quest Complete!

Private Training Session! Completed

Rewards:

Experience: 2500

UAC: 1200

+5 Elandra Favor

+5 Attribute Points

+2 Potential Points

New Skill Unlocked:

- Quick Recovery (1/5)

- When Stamina falls below 15% you can expend all your Energy to refill it by 50%.

____________________

'That was harder than I imagined.' Lance accepts his rewards and heads to the barracks to clean up.

Lance was thinking about using his new skill, but when he saw his Stamina was slowly climbing back up, he decided to save it for later.

Once he reached the barracks, he went into the shower, got undressed, and gets under the warm water. He stands under it for a while, unmoving, just relaxing while he slowly recovers. Between the battle with the wolves and his sparring match with Elandra, Lance was almost completely drained.

"Hey, Lance. I have a question." Vixen had a sad look on her face as she looked down, not wanting to meet his eyes.

"Yeah? What's up, Vix?"

"I just... I wanna... I need..." She was trying to find the words but couldn't. "Actually, never mind, I figured it out". She shot a smile at him and dropped the subject.

"Oh okay. Well, we are in this for the long haul, if you need something, let me know." Lance gave her a gentle smile before turning the water off.

*

Back outside in the field, Lance was doing his daily drills with the rest of the recruits. He was dead tired after over 24 hours without sleep, so the day seemed to drag on. He was able to recover the majority of his Stamina while he showered, but the drills were taking their toll.

"That's enough for today. We'll pick it up, bright and early tomorrow. Everyone rest and be ready!" Elandra dismissed everyone and walked over to Lance, pulling him aside. They walk away from the gates and she waits for all the recruits to leave. "Tomorrow is gonna be a different type of training, so I want you here bright and early. None of this right on time bullsh*t. Be here before everyone else. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am!" Lance wasn't sure if he should salute or bow, so instead, he stood still.

"Good, Dismissed" She took her leave and headed back to her office.

*Trling*

____________________

Quest Complete!

Third-Day Of Training!

Rewards:

Experience: 1200

UAC: 700

____________________

New Quest!

Fourth Day Of Training!

Description: Arrive on time for your fourth day. Be ready!

Experience: 2400

UAC: 1200

+1 Potential Points

____________________

New Hidden Quest!

Special Training Second Day!

Description: Elandra wants to train you specifically. She has ordered you to be the first to arrive. Listen to her words.

Rewards:

+5 Elandra Favor

+5 Attribute Points

+2 Potential Points

New Skill Unlock!

- Quake (1/10) Cost: 35 Energy

-Shake the ground to cause physical damage to your opponent. Damaged Based on 85% of the highest attack stat.

____________________

'A Magic Skill? But I don't even have the right setup for magic!' Lance wasn't upset, he just wasn't sure why a magic skill. 'Sigh, might as well head home and rest.'

*

Lance walks into his apartment and starts taking everything off. He just throws everything on the floor. After getting completely naked, Lance headed into the washroom and starts a hot bath. And just for giggles, he added bubbles.

After filling the tub, he hops in and lets out a sigh of relief. Laying back while looking up at the ceiling he watches Vixen floating around his view. He lets out a laugh as she has bubbles covering her and she's pretending to bathe with him. "Why do you do that Vix? I don't mind, I'm just curious."

Vix looks over at him and smiles, "To feel closer to you silly." She turns over onto her belly, rests her head on her hands, and looks at Lance while smiling.

"Well then, that makes sense." He looks at her and smiles back. He kept thinking how grateful he was that he had Vixen's help with the wolves. Without her, he felt he wouldn't last too long on this planet.