Going through the Motions

A bright light stabbed into Leo's eyes.

'I have to stop blacking out like this. It can't be good for me'

Standing up slowly, Leo squinted at the brightly lit meadow. Bracing himself against the tree, he slowly looked around him.

The meadow was filled with life. Grasses waved in the breeze, wild flowers blossomed. Even the rubble from his shack was gone.

"I guess I've fulfilled half my promise to Aurora." Touching his shoulder, Leo felt weakened.

-

Michael was in a fury. Smashing his furniture, throwing objects against the walls, he ranted and raved to release his frustration.

"Everything is wrong! That useless shit manages to survive, get to town, and become Blessed? He's not special. He's worthless!"

Michael growled under his breath, "He even managed to convince that Guardian Alexis to test him, and made me look bad in front of him. This could make things difficult when I leave for the capitol.

"I'll have to kill him as soon as I get the chance."

-

Alice sat alone in her room, looking at her stats. Her training period was over, and she was destined to head to the dungeon in the capitol. She needed to begin earning her keep, collecting the resources from the creatures inside.

Glancing at her sheet, she couldn't help but smile.

---

Stats

Rank - 1 (67.89%)

Strength - 19 (E)

Agility - 33 (D)

Dexterity - 15 (E)

Wisdom - 52 (C)

Intelligence - 49 (C)

Charisma - 19 (E)

Constitution - 18 (E)

Luck - 2

Blessings:

Script of Misha

Skills:

Healer's touch

Traits:

Holy Light Element

Mage's Insight

Quick Casting

---

In order to advance her rank, she needed to gain more experience, resetting her Stat ranks down to F.

"It's time."

-

Leo entered the temple grounds. With his stats and lack of training, he knew he was at the bottom rung of everyone within.

He knocked gently on the training hall door before entering. Alexis was at the back, going through his strange body motions silently. He did not acknowledge Leo, nor even open his eyes to glance his way.

Leo stared at his movements for a moment. With some hesitation, he stood opposite to Alexis and began attempting to mirror him. At first, each attempt seemed jerky, and he had troubles maintaining his balance. After a moment, Leo stumbled and fell to the side.

"Watch my feet." Without opening his eyes, Alexis continued his practice.

Leo, smiled, stood back up and began again, changing his stance slightly, and began again.

'I think I'll stay a little longer,' Alexis thought, smiling slightly.

-

Michael watched the two practice in the shadows. His eyes lit with fury at the thought of this nobody receiving training from a Guardian ranked Blessed.

"Alexis will leave soon, taking Alice and I with him. If that leech goes missing at the same time, no one will even realize that he didn't join us."

Michael smiled in the dark at the thought, and slipped away.

-

Leo's fate changed. Overnight he went from homeless orphan struggling to survive into a person of status. As a Blessed, he was instantly elevated from "useless orphan" into a person of worth. His unique ability with plants relegated him to menial tasks in the fields around town, yet he was highly praised for his work.

Having little to no aptitude for both the physical or mystical arts, his specialty granted him some measure of value to the temple. The ability to channel nature helped crops thrive, though Leo never again showed such drastic power as he had in the meadow.

His mornings were spent in the fields and orchards near town, his afternoons in the training hall.

"The only way to improve is to use your attributes," Alexis told him. Simple sounding, yet far more difficult, and often painful, than it sounded.

To grow his attributes, he needed to use them. That meant sparring, for his strength, agility and constitution, enduring or dodging blows, and striking at his sparring partner with a weapon. He had no skills in archery or melee weapons, constantly losing his bouts against Ren, never able to land a blow. After each session, he would leave the training grounds covered in welt and bruises, sore and limping.

For his mental attributes, Alice attempted to guide him in meditation and channeling of the magical elements of the world around him. He had yet to even feel mana, let alone channel it, during their sessions. Not to mention, every time he met her eyes, he would blush and look away, remembering her walking in on him when he first arrived.

Alice made no mention of the event, making Leo think she was being kind and pretending it didn't happen. In reality, Alice specialized in Light magic, and had been treating the wounded for the past two years. The sight of a naked patient was not new or startling to her, it was just another day.

The only training in which Leo showed any promise was that strange exercise with Alexis. Every evening, after his other training, covered in bruises, frustrated and mentally drained, Leo would enter the training hall and stand next to Alexis, and go through those strange and peaceful motions.

Alexis would wait for Leo, eyes closed, and they would practice for the hour before bed. He rarely spoke, save for a few comments correcting Leo's posture or stance. It was peaceful, and Leo began to look forward to this strange exercise.