Trials of the Shield

Saad stopped to check his new skills but as he opened the character window, his gaze went to the experience points and he only needed 5 more points to level up to level 5. He knew he might get late but he couldn't let go off the greediness. So he ended up staying for ten minutes more and killed two more arachnids, getting ten experience points and levelling up with familiar silver wings appearing above his head. While he was dying to check his skill, he didn't want to be late for the class.

He couldn't believe that he would be so easily be able to kill the arachnids without even losing single HP. Thankfully his mysterious fate hadn't caused any problems- yet. He wanted to check his character window but suppressed the urge to run straight to the training building, climbing the stairs to the third floor and reaching the wide area allotted for the defense training. He was ready to gain his defense skill!

As Saad arrived, the instructor saw him and gestured him. Saad felt intimidated see the man in question. He was a tall man. He was sure that the instructor was at least 7feet tall and his body was built like a stone statue. He was rippling. Seeing him, all you could think of, was an iron wall. A wall that wouldn't break or bend. Saad felt nervous as he walked in closer. He was brimming with hope as he walked in closer and the man looked at him, from up to down. Kael was only 15 so him being short and a little scrawny wasn't strange but compared the Iron wall, Gram, he looked a little too miserable.

Saad saw many other training there with their shields as the blocks of strange alloys kept swinging. "Grab your shield and get beside an empty spot. Standing here won't do anything!" His voice matched his body. It was rough, heavy and commanding. Saad who was thinking of introducing himself, realized that the instructor Gram was not interested in small talk.

Saad hurriedly went to get the shield, feeling a heavy pressure on his shoulders. All he could hear were grunts and huffs of pain from others. He could see them just flying off and hit the floor or even the wall. It was Spartan training. He once more felt like the game was truly unfair. He grabbed the heavy shield and equipped it an soon he walking to the continuously swaying weight. It was surely metal, he could tell it by the glint of the material. And the message window popped up.

[A mysterious and ominous fate is at play.]

Saad took a deep breath and mentally readied himself. Something was going to go wrong. By now he knew that the message never popped up without ruining something for him. The grizzled instructor took a deep breath before addressing the trainees, his tone firm yet encouraging. "Alright, let's start with the basics of defense. As a guardian, your role is to protect yourself and your allies on the battlefield. The shield is your primary tool for this task. Now, I want you to grip the shield firmly with your dominant hand and keep your body relaxed but ready."

Instructor Gram demonstrated the proper grip and stance, showing them, how to hold the shield close to his body but not too tight. "The key is to maintain a balance between flexibility and stability. You need to be nimble enough to react swiftly, but also grounded to endure the impact of attacks."

Saad looked at the instructor and tried to mimic the instructor's posture. He was determined to excel in defense despite the nagging feeling that something was going to go wrong.

"Now, when an attack comes, don't try to block it head-on. Instead, angle the shield slightly to deflect the blow. Use the shield's surface to redirect the force away from you. Remember, it's not just about the strength of your arm; it's about using the shield as an extension of your body."

[Your understanding of Defense Tactics has increased.]

[Your stamina decreases rapidly.]

Saad was disturbed by the second message because, he was only just done the move twice. It had been hard to even stay on his feet. He had toppled off both of the time without being able to deflect the blow of the weight.

[Your HP has decreased by 1.]

Saad was feeling a little weirded out by how much his body was suffering by barely doing anything. While others did look like, they were suffering, nobody was in a bad condition like him. And then due to his lower stamina, he was hit by the metal weight and he fell hard and dramatically, and the message of him losing HP flashed multiple times. He felt like his arms had broken or at least dislocated and his whole body felt heavy. Instructor Gram seemed not to really care and just told other boys to put him on the bench and Saad groaned. He had lost more than half of his HP with that one strike landing on him.

He could see others working just find and yet here he was, lying on the bench to recover his stamina and HP. But now he realized that, he needed to increase his strength and stamina quickly. But more than that, he just felt pathetic. Why were the others fine? Maybe they all had higher levels than him? They most definitely did, right? So Saad decided to just check the character windows for the trainees and as he kept reading them, his eyebrows started to knit harder as he frowned.

Instructor Gram on the other hand continued his instructions, guiding the trainees through various defensive maneuvers. He taught them how to pivot and move their feet to maintain a steady stance while adjusting the shield's position. Saad also got up after a while, with his feet heavy and his gaze troubled. Saad did his best to follow the instructions, though he couldn't shake the feeling of dread settling in the pit of his stomach.

As the training progressed, Gram noticed Saad's lack of 'talent' becoming evident. He saw the strain on the young trainee's face after only a few practice rounds. Yet, he remained silent, unwilling to discourage his determination.

"Good effort," Gram praised, masking his concerns. "But remember, defense is not just about the shield. It's also about understanding your opponent, predicting their moves, and knowing when to dodge or parry. Your instincts and reflexes are just as crucial as your physical strength."

Saad pursed his lips and then decided to talk to the instructor about the pressing issue. "Sir, I... I think there's something wrong with my stats. I don't seem to have any Vitality."

The instructor glanced at him, seemingly unimpressed and even shocked. "No Vitality? That's a rare occurrence, lad. You sure you checked it right? Because I have never heard of such." The instructor clearly thought that it was a joke.

Saad almost sighed, feeling even more disheartened by the instructor's comment. "Yes, I'm certain. It's just not there."

The instructor hummed, shaking his head. "Well, I hate to break it to you, but without Vitality, learning defense is going to be a near-impossible task. Defense relies heavily on enduring hits and withstanding damage. Without Vitality, you won't last long in a real battle."

Saad's shoulders slumped, his dreams of gaining the defense skill crumbling before him. He couldn't help but wonder if his mysterious and ominous fate had anything to do with this missing stat. It seemed like his fate was determined to keep him from achieving his goals.

Saad's desperation grew, and he found himself pleading with Instructor Gram, pouring his heart out about his dream to become an adventurer and how his mother had made learning the defense skill a condition for allowing him to chase that dream. He explained how much it meant to him to prove himself and make his mother proud. But the missing Vitality stat seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle.

"Please, Instructor Gram, there must be something you can do. Is there any alternative way for me to learn defense? Maybe a different technique or strategy that doesn't rely solely on endurance?" Saad's voice quivered with emotion as he made his desperate plea.

Instructor Gram's stern expression softened slightly as he listened to Saad's heartfelt words. While he was known for his strictness, he wasn't heartless. He understood the boy's determination and saw the sincerity in his eyes.

"I commend your determination, lad," Gram said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "But Vitality is an essential attribute for any defender. It affects your health, resilience, and ability to withstand damage. Without it, you would be putting yourself in great danger."

Saad's heart sank further, but he refused to give up. "Isn't there anything I can do to compensate for the lack of Vitality? Any special techniques or skills that could help me endure hits?"

Instructor Gram paused for a moment, considering Saad's question seriously. He knew that the boy's determination was not to be underestimated, and he admired the passion and courage he had shown so far. However, the missing Vitality stat was indeed a significant hurdle to overcome.