Interlude: End Of Phase-I

"My wounds are fine now," Michelle said out loud as she finished her workout. "Let's go settle our score with those bastards."

"I think you should discuss this when everyone is present." Byul couldn't help but sigh, hearing what Michelle said. Michelle was a bit overtaxed about what happened a couple of days ago. How they got robbed in broad daylight.

A couple of days ago, when they were fatigued after a tough battle, a group of fellows attacked them. Well, attack might not be the right term. The group just overwhelmed them in a corner and asked them to bend down.

For another matter, Byul recognised the group—it was the same fellows that she had fled from on the very first day of the Trial, leading by the gentle-looking man. The group of thugs gave them two paths: one was to join their ranks, and the other was to hand over everything apart from weapons that were necessary to the Trial. A civic group of thugs.

Byul was a bit wrong in guessing their leader in the first encounter. Yes, he's over-ambitious and didn't care much about the others, but he's not as cold-blooded, cruel as some she had seen in her seventeen years of lifespan.

But that didn't mean she wanted to list her name in that group. Michelle, on the other hand, was hell-bent on fighting them off. Even the poor guy, Jacob, was ready for a fight. At last, the group left with their rations and emergency meds. The big guy—Kevin hadn't even uttered a single phrase after that. Byul could tell he was fighting to overcome some inner conflicts. While the other guy—Jacob was resentful at the group of thugs, but he was powerless, couldn't do anything.

"I wouldn't care what they say. I'll settle my score with them," Michelle said. It may be a small thing for Byul, who had grown up in a slum, but it's entirely different for Michelle. The lost rations, meds didn't cause any damage to her but the inability to fight back did.

"Well, but can you make them pay," Byul replied slowly. "In a battle of one against over a dozen?"

"I might not be able to take down all, but I'm more than enough to make them pay."

"And in that process, you may have to pay a lot more than the payment you collect from them."

Michelle went silent hearing her last words. She wet her lips to say something, but closed her mouth again. Byul, at last, sighed in relief. 'Finally, she understands. Well, her mood finally becomes sunshine again.' Michelle might be hot-tempered at times, naive on most occasions, but she was a good friend. A friend—that she didn't want anything to happen.

A silence followed for a moment before Michelle opened her mouth again. "Are you not going to take part in the next phase?"

That was the question Byul was contemplating for a couple of days. Phase one ended this morning and now the sun was at the horizon about to set. Yet she wasn't able to decide on what to do. Her inviter had mentioned: she should only take part if she had a clear understanding of her strength and if could overwhelm an infector by herself.

Well, now she could have the upper hand in a fair fight with an Infector, and she could overwhelm it with an ambush.

"I still don't know." Byul shook her head. In her inner mind, she wanted to take part in it badly, but she feared it as much too.

"I think, you should be fine. You even have a new wand and equipment," Michelle said as she approached her. "It's just the Trial, not the actual Tower—where anything can happen."

Byul said nothing, gripped the new wand tighter. She bought a few pieces of equipment and essential things from the sales associate. Her inviter had left her with quite a hefty sum of credits, and she didn't fall to take advantage of them.

The sun was about to set, Kevin and Jacob should arrive soon. Kevin had brought Jacob to train in the new weapon he had bought from the salesman. A bow—the weapon he had the highest affinity with. The poor guy was like a nine-year kid getting his favourite toy.

"Let's talk about it when everyone's present." She got a few more hours to ponder about her decision.

By the time the other two of their group arrived, it was already quite dark. The insects didn't rest their crackle like every day, while the birds already left to their nests. The group of four left for the usual cave that they were living in for five days.

"So, how's your first hand at archery?" Michelle asked, seeing the new Archer of their party.

"Not bad," Jacob said, grinning all his teeth out. He lifted the bow and continued. "Not bad indeed; who would have thought I have such a talent for archery."

"So, are you going to stay for the next phase?"

The next phrase from Michelle silenced him in the instance. Jacob was the one who struggled the most in the Trial. Be it a terrible choice of weapons or inexperienced in the way of combat, both held him back. But he learned fast, though still not good enough.

"Are you backing out now?" Michelle asked again.

"No, not at all," Jacob denied outright. Boastfulness was one of his main quirks, even if he had little confidence about the matter.

"I think we should talk about phase two now." Kevin opened his mouth for the first time as he rested the spear against the wall.

"So you're going to participate?" Byul asked, though she could answer the question.

Kevin nodded in confirmation of her guess.

"I'll participate too," Michelle listed her name in. No surprises there.

Now Jacob and Byul, the two of them, left to decide.

"Byul, you would be fine. I'm telling you this, I've seen you fight. I know you would be great." Michelle held her hand and tried to persuade her. "Besides, you got that growth serum… it would be a tremendous help in your growth."

Byul still hesitated, yes she had everything. She was prepared enough, yet she couldn't help but hesitate.

"You know I could help you with some fundamentals of casting spells," Michelle still held on to her arms. "I may not be that good of a teacher or that great of a mage, but I can still teach you something of the basics…"

"Fine." Byul finally wavered. The sunshine from Michelle's personality finally broke the wall of contemplation.

"Really?"

Byul nodded, and Michelle gave her a long hug. They have become quite close in the few days of their difficulty.

"Ahh, guys?" Jacob, who seemed to be left out, asked, pointing at himself. "What about me?"

"I don't know about archery, so I can't help you with that." Michelle laughed.

"But."

"What but, you have an innate affinity with archery. You're the [Archer of Lore]. Do you still need someone's help in learning?"

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