A peaceful journey(3)

(Author: Chapter with more than 3000 words. There will not be a new chapter on Tuesday.)

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Mark and Zoe were facing each other, ready for their first sparring session. The sun filtered through the leaves of the trees, creating patterns of light and shadow on the dusty ground of the makeshift arena.

Mark was imposing in his stance, with the long claymore firmly grasped in both hands. On the other side, Zoe presented herself with a lower guard, her feet firmly planted on the ground, ready to spring quickly and precisely.

"They say ladies first." -Mark joked.

"I'll gladly accept." -Zoe replied, her smile widening as her eyes sparkled with challenge.

With a fluid and precise movement, Zoe executed a thrust with her spear. The tip of the spear flashed forward, aimed at Mark's chest.

Mark reacted calmly, moving sideways to avoid the blow easily. He might not have much experience in direct combat with a person, but his reflexes and senses were beyond what a normal level 2 could possess.

Seeing that the first attack had failed, Zoe planted her foot firmly on the ground and, with a twist of her back, swung the spear like a whip.

Though surprised by Zoe's quick action, Mark managed to bring up his sword in time, blocking the strike with a metallic clang that echoed through the air.

"I'd say it's my turn now."

"!"

Caught off guard by Mark's confidence, Zoe quickly prepared to respond. In a moment of stalemate, Mark tightened his grip on the claymore and, with a decisive movement, pushed Zoe back forcefully. The strike made her stagger back several steps, forcing her to regain her balance with a quick step backward.

Now at a distance, the two locked eyes. Zoe could feel her hands numbing after the previous blow, her arm slightly shaken by the impact. But Zoe was certainly not the type to give up over something like this.

In contrast, Mark was starting to feel uneasy. Zoe was good, that was undeniable, but the physical strength gap made things lopsided, so he proposed something.

"Zoe, how about starting to use some magic? Obviously, nothing too extreme or that could set the forest on fire."

"Hoh? Are you saying it's too easy this way?" -She asked with a sharp tone.

"...I'd say yes." -Mark replied, feeling uncomfortable at her expression.

"Alright then. The first round goes to you, but it's time for me to get more serious."

Even though she was smiling, the twitch in her cheek was more than evident to Mark, who wondered if he had stepped on a hornet's nest.

Zoe was usually calm, but she had a high competitive spirit—no, an exaggerated competitive spirit. For someone who had never been defeated by a peer, Mark's words were an affront.

"Stone bind."

To Mark's surprise, his legs were bound by chains of rock that held him in place.

"Wind push!"

After casting another spell, Zoe was propelled forward, ready to strike Mark.

'She's crazy.' -Mark thought to himself, but he had to act quickly.

He managed to deflect the attack in time, and the impact was enough to shatter the rocks binding him.

"Stone bind!"

Zoe tried to immobilize Mark again, but this time he was more prepared. With a swing of his weapon, he broke the rock chains and charged at Zoe.

"Wind blast!"

A mass of compressed air hit his shoulder, unbalancing him, and Zoe seized the opportunity to launch more spells, one after the other.

"I thought magic required concentration and time to cast!" -Mark yelled in exasperation, trying to dodge all the spells Zoe was throwing at him.

"I told you there are exceptions!" -Zoe said cheerfully, watching Mark scramble to avoid her spells.

Seeing that he couldn't continue like this, Mark came up with an idea. Dodging the last spell, he ventured further into the forest, gaining additional cover from the trees.

Realizing that continuing to attack was a waste of mana, Zoe waited for Mark to come out. Suddenly, something flew at high speed and struck her leg.

"Hmpf!"

Zoe winced in pain, clutching her leg where a stone had hit her. But she soon sensed a presence behind her and attacked reflexively. However, the spear was stopped by Mark's hand, while the tip of the claymore was pointed at the girl's throat.

"I'd say I win." -Mark said with a smile.

"...Haaaa. Did you really throw a stone at me?" -Zoe asked, at a loss for words.

"I'm good at it." -Mark couldn't remember how many monsters he had killed by throwing stones at them, and his accuracy was no joke.

"Alright, you have two wins. Let's do it again." -Zoe said determinedly, not willing to finish without at least one victory.

"Absolutely not. It's already late, and the merchant caravan will be leaving soon." -Mark said firmly, forcing Zoe to accept the outcome.

'Just out of curiosity, can all mages cast spells that quickly?' -Mark asked the Guide.

[No.]

'I thought so.' -Mark thought understandingly.

If every mage had that kind of ability, it would be quite terrifying. Only then did Mark begin to understand how exceptional the girl he had just fought was.

"I noticed something; you seem to know more than three spells."

Mark could recall the fireball and the other three spells she had used during their sparring.

"Let's just say I have the option not to be limited by such factors." -Zoe explained ambiguously, and Mark decided not to ask further.

From what the Guide had explained, everyone who received a god's blessing and thus a status kept their information secret, and asking about the type of abilities one had was very rude.

When they returned, Astrea greeted them with a disapproving look.

"Do you have any idea of the commotion you were causing?"

"It's her fault; she's the one casting all the spells." -Mark replied with an innocent smile, trying to shift the blame onto Zoe.

Zoe looked at him with an expression of indignation, her eyes flashing with palpable frustration.

"Did you really sell me out so quickly?" -Zoe exclaimed, a mix of astonishment and offense in her voice.

"She's your mother, so it's normal for her to scold you." -Mark argued with a seemingly solid logic. -"On the other hand, I'm an outsider. Don't you think it would be strange if she scolded me?"

Mark's logic was undeniably convincing, but Zoe was not ready to give up so easily.

Seeing the two argue, Astrea couldn't stay serious and ended up laughing. Watching them shift blame to avoid being scolded was too funny even for her.

"Instead of laughing, you should take my side." -Zoe said sulkily.

"No, no, Zoe, what Mark said is right; in the end, you're the one casting the spells." -Astrea said, trying to hold back her laughter.

Seeing her mother laughing too, Zoe glared resentfully at Mark, for negatively influencing her mother.

After a few more exchanges, the merchant caravan resumed its journey. They had traveled far from Citadel 12, so monsters began appearing frequently, including level 2 monsters.

"GRUAAA!"

"How annoying."

A group of trolls had attacked the caravan. Zoe was handling those at the back, while Axel took responsibility for those in front.

The trolls approached in a group, massive and with their gray-green fur. Each step was a dull vibration shaking the ground, and their acrid smell filled the air.

Seeing such a large monster was definitely intimidating, but compared to the Cerberus and the silver golem he had seen in the canyon, it was nothing much.

When the first troll charged at him, Mark was ready. With a swift and fluid move, he dodged the monster's blow and, with a horizontal swing, cut off the monster's arm. But to his surprise, it began regenerating immediately.

"This is unfair."

Mark didn't waste time. With a decisive swing of his sword, he counterattacked with a diagonal cut that struck the troll's side. The blade sank into the tough flesh, and the troll bent with a grunt of pain. Now within reach, Mark drew his dagger and drove it into the monster's head.

Despite the success, Mark knew the battle was far from over. More trolls were already on the move, and their numbers were a constant threat. Mark dodged an attack from a second troll, rolling on the ground and getting back up with agility.

Mark could have used his "Overload" ability, but he was trying to avoid relying solely on that. While the ability significantly increased his strength, it consumed too much stamina, putting him at a disadvantage in prolonged fights. That's why he was mostly training to reduce the use of his ability unless necessary.

A third troll, larger and more menacing, charged with blind fury, wielding a huge boulder as if it were a weapon. Mark recognized the immediate threat and prepared to face it. With a sidestep, he avoided the heavy boulder strike and, seizing the opening, delivered a powerful blow to the troll's leg. The strike was precise, breaking the bone and causing the troll to stagger. Mark didn't miss the chance and, with a fluid motion, struck the beast's neck, bringing it down.

The last troll was more cunning. It tried to flank Mark, attempting to attack from a blind spot. Mark, sensing the movement, spun around and blocked a side strike with his sword. The impact made him stagger, but he managed to maintain control. With a series of quick and coordinated attacks, he brought the monster down, finishing it with a thrust to the head.

'Their regeneration was a nuisance. How do you think I fought?' -Mark asked with a hint of doubt.

[I'd say well, but at the same time, you lacked efficiency. Maybe due to your experiences, you're used to only two styles: one where you have the maximum advantage and another where you have to risk everything to win. Ironically, you don't know how to handle fights with an opponent of equal strength because you can't establish a rhythm.]

The Guide's words struck right at Mark's sense of discomfort. He had seen it during the fight with Zoe, but here it was more evident.

He found it difficult to gauge the force needed against enemies of the same level. If he had started with full strength, he would have wasted energy unnecessarily, but he couldn't afford to hold back too much either.

"I still need to work on that."

"Work on what?"

Startled from his thoughts, Zoe was looking at him curiously.

"Nothing much, did you manage things on your side?" -Mark asked.

"Yes, mages are the worst enemies for trolls." -Zoe replied.

Mark had to agree with her. Trolls weren't very fast, allowing a mage to cast spells calmly, which often had a strong effect against the trolls' regeneration.

Thanks to the two of them, no one was injured, and with a few hours of daylight left, the caravan decided to continue. The fewer days spent traveling, the fewer the chances of encountering unexpected problems.

They continued traveling until sunset, and the caravan camped in a safe area. All the workers disembarked to set up the camp, and before the sun had completely set, several campfires illuminated the surroundings.

As promised, Zoe and Mark gathered to discuss magic and alchemy, but something seemed off. While Zoe was explaining, Mark appeared distracted, staring at the burning fire as if lost in thought.

"Is something wrong, Mark?" -Zoe asked, confused.

"Nothing much. I'm not feeling my best, so I was a bit distracted." -Mark smiled reassuringly.

It had been seven days again, which meant it was time for the energy extraction process. Experiencing that kind of pain was never easy, and doing it in an open area like this only worsened his mood. He wanted to avoid a repeat of what had happened in the canyon.

"Really?" -Zoe asked, worried.

As a level 2, their endurance was significantly higher than a normal person's, so if he wasn't feeling well, it must have been a serious issue.

"If you tell me what's wrong, I can give you some potions; I always carry a few with me."

"Don't worry, I'll just go to bed early. I'm probably just tired." -Mark reassured her.

"...Alright. But let me know if you're feeling unwell tomorrow, okay?"

Seeing her concern, Mark smiled gratefully.

"Sure, good night."

"Good night." -Zoe replied.

Mark got up and headed towards his tent, meeting Astrea on the way, who looked surprised.

"Oh, Mark. Going to bed already? I thought you would stay up longer today." -Astrea smiled.

"I'm just more tired than usual, good night." -Mark said politely.

"I understand, see you tomorrow then."

After bidding Mark farewell, Astrea went to Zoe, who was watching the fire with a dejected expression.

"Sad about not being able to discuss magic and alchemy?" -Astrea joked.

"A bit... Do you think maybe he left early because he finds me boring?" -Zoe asked, feeling more depressed.

"Come on, don't say that. He's been a bit distracted today; he was just tired." -Her mother reassured her.

"But he sleeps a lot during the journey." -The daughter countered.

"As for that, I don't think he's actually sleeping."

"?" -Zoe looked at her mother in confusion.

"You know when a person sleeps, they have a steady and shallow breath, right?"

"Sure." -Zoe nodded.

"But he's different. The intensity, duration, and interval of each breath vary constantly, which would be impossible for someone asleep. But he doesn't seem fully awake either, quite curious." -Astrea pondered.

Zoe listened attentively, her face reflecting curiosity. -"That's strange. I've never noticed that before. What do you think it might mean?"

"Honestly, I have no idea." -Astrea said, embarrassed. She could know many things, but she also had her limits. -"Anyway, if you're worried about him, you can always check on him."

"Wouldn't that be intrusive?" -Zoe asked uncertainly.

"I didn't say you had to enter his tent; you can just approach to see if everything is okay. Anyway, I'm going to bed now, don't stay out too late." -Astrea made sure.

"Alright, good night."

Astrea smiled at her and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before leaving, allowing Zoe to watch the flames while she contemplated. After spending some time sitting, she made a decision and headed towards Mark's tent.

Mark's tent was in a more secluded spot compared to the others, almost as if he wanted some privacy. Zoe approached cautiously, observing closely. From the outside, there didn't seem to be anything unusual.

'What am I doing?' -She wondered to herself, shaking her head.

However, as she was about to turn away, a muffled groan filtered through the walls of the tent, immediately catching her attention. Zoe's heart raced as she pressed her ear to the tent. The groans were intermittent but clearly filled with pain. Concern drove her to call out.

"Mark, are you okay?" -She asked softly, hoping for a response. But the only signal she received was an eerie silence, followed by a sudden shiver running through the tent.

"Mark, I'm coming in!" - Without waiting for a response, Zoe crawled inside the tent, only to find a scene that made her blanch in horror.

Mark was lying on the ground, his body twisted into an unnatural position, violently convulsing. His face was contorted in an expression of unbearable pain, and his hands were flailing frantically in an attempt to push away the agony. Blood was scattered around him, creating dark stains on the ground and his clothes. Zoe froze for a moment, paralyzed by the macabre sight.

"I-I need to call Astrea!" - She thought in a panic, but as she tried to exit, Mark's hand gripped her garment with a desperate strength.

"N-Nobody else—ARGHHHA!" - Mark's scream was agonizing, and his hand, which had grabbed Zoe's garment, relaxed abruptly as he was hit by another wave of pain.

Zoe looked outside the tent and at the suffering Mark before deciding to comply with his request. She closed the tent and, after a deep breath, focused entirely on him.

She quickly opened the bag she had with her and pulled out a healing potion. The potion was one of her most potent preparations, designed to accelerate healing and soothe pain. Without hesitation, she sprayed it on Mark's wounds, hoping to relieve his torment. However, as the potion was applied, Mark continued to thrash and self-harm, making the healing effect difficult to achieve.

Zoe tried to stay calm as she attempted to restrain Mark's movements, grabbing his arms to prevent further injury. However, it was too difficult for her to hold him down with her strength alone, and she didn't want to force him too much, risking injuring him even more.

"Mark, you need to calm down!" - Zoe pleaded, but Mark couldn't manage it.

Perhaps because of the previous time, the effects seemed much stronger than usual.

Seeing that they weren't making progress, Zoe changed her approach. She positioned herself behind Mark, resting his head on her chest while using her legs to restrain his arms so he couldn't hurt himself further.

"HMMF!" - Zoe emitted a groan of pain this time.

During his outburst, Mark moved a lot, and his nails often dug into Zoe's legs, causing her painful wounds. But she never let go of her hold, knowing that Mark was suffering the most at that moment.

"It's okay, Mark, breathe calmly." - Zoe said softly, trying to suppress the pain she was feeling.

"That's it, keep breathing in and out. Keep going."

She kept talking to him the whole time, so Mark knew he wasn't alone and that she was with him, trying to calm him down.

Mark's screams continued for hours, causing Zoe pain in the process, as she wondered what Mark had done to deserve such suffering. She held his head tightly in her embrace to comfort him, silently enduring his outbursts.

After hours of suffering, Mark finally calmed down, but he collapsed immediately onto Zoe, exhausted.

"You can finally rest, Mark."

Those gentle words echoed in Mark's mind as his consciousness faded, and he lost complete awareness.