Practical Training

Up until the age of six I continued to show such little talent for anything that my parents caved. But they wouldn't be the ones teaching me since I showed no signs of being a genius. No no. Instead I needed to start at the beginning. So in our little village, I'd be going to to village square everyday. There we would have a tutor teaching everyone together. Almost like school, but with fundamental differences.

I wasn't exactly excited about the idea. But I wanted these skills for myself, so I agreed.

Though I was given some instructions. And that was when asked what my name was. I would say only Alfyn Raigenfield. This worried me that one day, my full name would cause issues. But for now. I realized I had other problems.

Firstly is I finally saw my reflection, and while I can say I'm not to bad looking, it's hard to say how'd I look as I grew older. But my hair was mostly white like my mothers, except I had a few streaks of brown from my father mixed in there. My eyes were mismatched. The left was gray, while the right was yellow. When I noticed that I ran to Lioaria to tell her we're the same. She chuckled and patted me on the head at the remark.

Luke would be going with me to the village square everyday. I was happy about that, hes been an amazing brother these past six years. And he's taught me a lot. He wasn't allowed to teach me how to internalize mana, but he did teach me a bit of how to fight. Mostly redirection techniques. He used a halberd as his weapon of choice, and he loved using it to turn by stabbing it into the ground or a tree.

Walking through the village, many people would shoot me an odd look at first, then see Luke, back to me, then smile. I think he went with me to show who I was related to or something.

It wasn't a big village. There was maybe twenty buildings at most, which included the adventures tavern, the city hall, the farmhouse and the blacksmith. We were off the side of road deep in a forest, so adventures found us a convenient stop on long journeys.

When we finally got to the square I wasn't to surprised. Not many other people stopped by. There seemed to be three other kids, and a single adult there before us. After about an hour of waiting nobody else showed up.

"I guess if you're all that'll be coming, then this should be easier for all of us," the adult said as they stood up. They looked to be a beastfolk. The ears and tail that reminded me of a cat told me that instantly. "So five of ya total eh?"

"Actually it'll just be my little brother here, not me sir," Luke said. Seemed he did just come to watch over me.

"So four, simple enough. Let's get introductions out of the way. Names Ingo, I'm a beastfolk warrior, and a Lord level swordsman."

"Um sir!" I shouted while putting my hand up. Everyone seemed surprised I'd just interrupt.

"Alfyn wait till he's done talking," Luke hushed me.

"The boys fine, he took initiative, he's starting off well on my books. What's your question?" Ingo asked.

"You said you're a lord level swordsman, what are these levels? And what all do they apply to?" I asked. Seemed like a fair question.

He burst out laughing before answering. "You can be formal enough and wise enough to ask questions like this, but you're being taught mana basics here? You're a strange kid. But with your family I figured you'd already have known this."

Luke just chuckled and then sighed. Was that his job to teach me or something?

"Beasts, skills, and their users all come in tiers. These go beginner, intermediate, advanced, knight, lord, king, disaster, and god levels. Each tier has certain criteria one has to meet before being seen at that level. Therefor some people and beasts within the same tier could still have drastically different strengths. That make sense?"

"Yes sir!" I answered back enthusiastically.

"An annoying twerp ain't he," one of the other kids scoffed.

I ignored them at first. Then they came over to me and Luke.

"You. You're a crossbreed ain't ya? My parents saw to be wary of you."

"So be wary of me, that means don't approach," I answered back at them.

"Alfyn!" Like hollered as he smacked me on the head. "You're supposed to be trying to learn and make friends. Not sassing everyone like you do at home."

He wasn't wrong, I had embraced sassing my family growing up in this life. And I wouldn't wanna be friends with a sassy six year old.

"Fine. Starting tomorrow I'll start working on being friendlier," I said.

"Well why dont you introduce yourself now?" Ingo said tapping his foot.

"I suppose I can do that." I said as I stood up. My name is Alfyn Raigenfield, I'm half elf and half human, and I loon forward to learning with you all."

"Kid you have to be less formal," Ingo chuckled. "Next!"

The kid that he walked over to me introduced themselves next. "I am Falyon Vin Lightlake," this next part was very sassy, "a full elf!" She looked me square in the eyes as she said this. I could only sigh. She had sky blue eyes and hair to match. She would've ruined my past life and I would've let her.

The taller of the kids introduced himself next. "I am Tuk Frot, I'm half human and half dwarf." He had dark black hair and emerald green eyes.

Lastly was the quiet kid, he barely was louder than a whisper, " i am Piorie Mund, and I'm just human."

"See not so hard kids, now who's ready to learn?" He asked and smiled.