Chapter 40 - First Game

Heading to the training ground, the place was full of people scattered around doing their own individual training. Caelum was fascinated by their action and noticed how most players made a lot of mistakes in their footwork. He had [ Highest Possible Talent ] and [ Higher Comprehension] gave him insight in everything from their talent and potentials. Furthermore, it gave him a monsterous talent in teaching individuals when training. 

Caelum talent doesn't only affect him but those around him as well. He noticed how they were moving too stiff and struggling to give full of their body while also using weapons inappropriate for their built and potential. They were likely doing the easiest and coolest, which was using a sword since now was not popular among them. 

Liliena's eyes brighten upon seeing the people training and playing the game. It truly brought her to a new world where she could become more than just herself. She held the spear tightly and was eager to try it. 

"Come with me, let's find a training dummy."

Dalia took them to an unoccupied training dummy that seemed to be made out of stones. It was a Golem created from magic and other enchantment that Caelum easily peered through its functions. The training dummy seems to have difficulty level for new players. It was vaguely humanoid with gaps on its limbs that stand around 3 meters. 

"Alright, Let's start in easy mode first. Don't worry about breaking the dummy since it's made from Adamantite. "

"Adamantite?"

"That's right, it's the one of the strongest metals in this server in terms of durability."

"Relax, Liliena. You don't have to worry since you're just starting out."

"Okay, I'm done. Step into line and get ready."

Liliena nodded then stepped inside the line causing the training dummy to start moving in a rather slow manner and merely let her have a feeling fighting someone. Caelum could see the improper movement that his sister was doing not utilizing her foot to increase her thrust. The people seem to have started to watch her struggling in handling the golem. 

"Liliena, take a deep breath and relax. Concentrate on feeling your whole body and don't think about anything else but you and your opponent."

Caelum shouted, instructing his sister while Dalia and Annie pondered whether he suddenly taught her how to use a spear properly. Liliena did as her brother told and relaxed herself while concentrating trying to get a proper grasp of her body. She felt her mind was more clear than before clenching her hand into her spear while evading the golems attack.

"Once you've collected yourself, find the weakness of your opponent."

He continued while Liliena analyzed to see if there was anything that could show weakness against golem and instinctually saw the gap between its limbs. Caelum saw her progress and gave a light now to her.

"Good once you've located their weakness, use it!! Firmly plant your feet into the ground and step forward while thrusting your spear. Use the momentum of your movement in increasing your attack."

Liliena seems to cause the pavement to crack utilizing her whole body showing her potential using a spare and strike the gaps for the golems that cause to lost control over its limbs. Those who were watching were baffled at how a newbie was able to handle herself with the golem dummy. Even if it was on easy mode it did not mean it was 'easy'. 

"I never knew she would be able to actually defeat it. "

"So cool!! I never knew you knew how to use a spear, Caelum?"

"I just saw it from a manga I read.  Whoever said it was a waste of time is an idiot."

After a while, Liliena finishes off the golem while restly breathing while they move closer checking if she was alright beside some muscle strain and bruises.

"How do you feel, Liliena?"

"It was exhilarating!! I never felt like before as if everything slowed down when I listened to my brother's instruction. His words guided me and made me understand more on how to wield a spear."

"Yeah, it wasn't exactly the movement of a newbie."

"Just wait until you can grasp Mana. I'll teach you how to unlock it later once Caelum finishes trying the dummy." 

Caelum nodded and headed left to try fighting the training dummy and setting it himself, placing the difficult to easy mode in hope that he could hide his secret for the time being. He knew it was still not the right moment to show his true power and would likely ruin his peaceful time. 

He moved several meters before unsheathing the two damascus swords that were rather high quality. Caelum took a deep breath before taking a stance clenching the weapon tightly. He uses his Aether to cast strengthening knowing that no one would notice the magical energy when it's too dense.  

Only those who have high level control of magical energy would notice the disturbances or those with similar core but he doubts they'll be in the game. The golem frighteningly stood up then vanished from his sight surprising everyone but Caelum was able to block it then deflect the other incoming striking. 

He took a step back before parrying every attack that shocked everyone from his movement that did not belong to a newbie. Caelum then slice through gaps that immortalized its movement before slicing its head. 

"Take note, Liliena, when fighting it best to immobilize your enemy before finishing the blow."

"Woah!? How did you move like that!? I know you're level 1 but that's insane!?"

"I know right!? Caelum, have you lied about the first time playing the Eternum?"

"No, this is my first time but I'm not too sure about myself. I was just copying the things I've seen in anime."

Dalia and Annie were in disbelief how he played the training dummy with ease. After a while the group trained a bit by fighting the training dummy while Caelum instructed Liliena on how to properly use a spear. He isn't a spear wielder yet had some knowledge on how to wield one. 

Once they're done, the group heads to open space in the forest where they would be taught on how to wield magic in the game. 

"You've taught her in training grounds, now it's my time to shine in teaching Liliena!"

"Sure, I guess you're going to my teacher today, Annie."

"You can count on me! It's rather easy to unlock magic but takes a lot of time to reach a certain level that could be applied in combat."

Caelum nodded while Annie instructed him on the bases of Mana and magic which would give a status bar on his reserve which would be useless when he has an infinite amount of Mana. Though she listen to her instruction growing intimate when Annie move closer.

"Close your eyes, feel the mana through your body then imagine something like fire or water. "

He had his eyes closed and hands outstretched listening to Annie's instruction while she had her hands moving through his arm. Caelum could hear her deep breath and knew that she was looking at his face intently.

'...He looks so handsome..god I wish I could just tell him but I don't want to ruin my relationship with Mary and Liliena.'

Annie was tempted to take his lips and be bold yet unable to when it could destroy her friendship with Liliena and Mary. Caelum noticed her open his eyes to see Annie up close that it was enough for their lips to collide. She took a few second until realizing that he was looking at her. 

"Uhmm….S-Sorry I was just…"

"No need to tell me, not yet at least."

"...D-Did you know?"

"Let's talk about this another time, Okay?"

Caelum thought it would be the right moment to confront her since it would far too dumb that he wouldn't notice her action. Annie nodded and recomposed herself while continuing to instruct him on grasping magic until casting an ice shard that blasted into the trees surprising everyone. 

"Nice work, Caelum! I didn't expect you to be able to cast magic that easily!"

"I had an amazing teacher."

He teasingly smiled causing Annie to blush from the remark then Liliena cast her magic producing a powerful gust of wind that cut the trees and leaving a mark into it. It was amazing to see her sister using magic with ease. 

"Great job, Liliena! You're faster than I did when I tried using magic."

"Thanks, Dalia but I somehow feel sluggish now."

"That's normal since Magical energy has a finite amount and would increase by constant use of it."

Annie tries her best to hide her thoughts regarding Caelum words trying to not reveal that he knew about her crush to him. 

"Think of it like muscle training when using Mana. You'll eventually gain more when the time comes."

Dalia explains as they continued training until deciding to head to the guild where missions are given and acquired the in-game currency. They were missions that had a typical ranking of F, E, D, C, B, A and S class. 

There are few npc that reach the S class rank with only two major empires within the server while players had not reached that state of power. Caelum and Liliena applied as adventurers starting from F class but having Dalia and Annie allowed them to gain E class quests. 

"I guess this is simple enough but are you sure you'll handle it? Fortunately this server doest have gore system and would normally cause the enemies to gain damage then turn to gray upon death afterwards would drop items."

Caelum can handle it since he had killed numerous enemies that their blood could easily fill a pool but for Liliena would take a toll in her psyche. He had a highly adaptable mind unlike his sister. 

"I can do this! Let's go!"

Liliena excitedly shouted heading to their mission which was to slay some goblins. The group didn't take long to arrive where a few small leather green skinny creatures with crude weapons and armor could be seen in the forest. Caelum spread his senses to see if there was any hiding and found nothing. 

"Go, try killing it."

He encouraged his sister who nodded while the rest watched her move towards the goblins who were alert by her appearances and quickly tried to kill her to be cleaved in half by her spear. The goblin couldn't wasn't able to do anything as Liliena retracted her spear then did a piercing motion and spun her weapon that sliced the remaining globlins. 

However, one of the goblins was able to leap above her and was about to get the jump on her and had been turned into ice. Everyone saw him outstretching his hand producing icy fog on his palm. 

"Liliena, try to keep yourself away from getting a surprise attack."

"You're really natural huh? Alright let's finish this before things get out of hand."

The group finished hunting the goblins, leaving a few items that could be shown in the adventurer guild as proof. They chatted along the way discussing how Liliena fought quite well for beginners while Caelum was reserve throughout. 

Once they return gaining around 30 eternum coins which is equal to 30 dollars. It was small because it was just like exterminating a pest when killing a goblin and doesn't amount to much. 

Everyone soon logs off having an exciting taste of their first gameplay and Caelum wakes up to see himself back to his room. He glanced at the window seeing that it was pouring heavy rain but the sound gave a beautiful atmosphere. 

`We've only been playing for 6 hours, which is 2 hours here? I guess I should prepare dinner while at it.'

Caelum stood up stretching his body before heading to the kitchen when Liliena, Dalia and Annie joined him downstairs.