Axel replied simply, "Thanks to training."
Kevin shook his head and said, "Impossible! Even with practice, you moved so fast that it was like you teleported."
Axel wasn't a very patient person, and he didn't particularly like talking to people, but this young man had managed to pique his curiosity. He asked him, "What's your name?"
Kevin took the dagger back from him and replied, "Kevin."
Axel then noticed the badge on Kevin's sweater and asked him doubtfully, "Are you a mage?"
Kevin followed his gaze and saw the badge he had put on his sweater in case anyone asked why he was there practicing. He replied, perplexed, "I just signed up, and I needed to relax a little. Aren't mages allowed to use the training ground?"
After all, it was a possibility he hadn't considered; maybe mages and fighters didn't mix.
Axel shook his head and replied with a hint of a smile, "Of course you can use the training ground. It's just very unusual for a mage to know how to fight."
Axel added, "Your technique with the stick was amazing; it was very impressive, but your lack of stamina is quite a shame."
Kevin wanted to say, "No kidding!" but he restrained himself in time and decided to compliment Axel too: "Actually, I came back here to observe your sword technique. It was the first time I have seen such a technique. I hope I will have the opportunity to see you train again."
Although Kevin was tall, he still had to lift his head to look Axel in the eye. Axel said to him, "So it was you who were with Alan... My name is Axel, and I don't think you will have a lot of time to come and watch us train. The mages and fighters are in separate buildings, but maybe we will be able to see each other on our day off. I would like to see your technique again too. But first of all, you should focus on your mage training. If you enjoy fighting, then keep it as a way to relax like you are now. Once classes start, you won't have much free time after that."
Kevin said politely, "Thanks for your advice, Axel. I hope we meet again. If you let me observe your technique, I will teach you mine. But the stick technique was nothing; my specialty is wielding daggers."
Kevin smiled at him and waved his hand before leaving. He put the daggers and broomstick back in place and left the training ground without looking back.
Axel was completely astonished by this last revelation. A smile appeared on his face; finally, someone had succeeded in catching his attention. He would definitely try to keep in contact with this guy.
Once outside the main square, Kevin walked to a store that bought and sold a bit of everything. He was sure he could sell the jewelry and sword here without any risk.
Once inside the store, he wasted no time looking at the shelves and went straight to the manager, whom he had met many times in the past.
The exchange went quickly and smoothly, and since the manager knew Kevin well, he made no attempt to cheat him. With this sale, Kevin obtained 80 more gold coins.
After chatting a bit with the manager, he left the store and headed for a cheap inn. He booked a room for two nights, and with meals included, it only cost him 1 gold coin.
Once in his room, he took out the magic bag that Uncle Douglas had given him and the book he had inherited from "his parents." He decided to start with the magic bag.
Inside, he found a cauldron, some books about alchemy, and a book to learn spells from levels 1 to 5. There was also a large box that contained vials of different colors; on the box, it was written, "Materials needed to make low-grade potions."
There were also three boxes containing five different kinds of magical herbs. He decided to take out the books to study them and leave the rest in the magic bag for the moment.
Before examining the book Kevin's parents had left for him, he pulled out the two daggers from his magic bag and tested them. He winced when he realized that they weren't well balanced; the handle was too heavy and the blade too light. He would have to practice a lot to ensure he could control them properly.
After that, he decided to do some stretching. He absolutely needed to loosen up this body, which was as stiff as a stake. Finally, he did some workouts to strengthen the parts of his body that needed it most.
When he was satisfied and exhausted from his workouts, he went to take a shower before going downstairs to eat. Fortunately, even though technology seemed totally absent from this world, there was still a minimum of comfort, and showers were part of it.
Once he was clean, he went downstairs and before sitting down at a table, he kindly asked the inn's receptionist if he could borrow a pencil and some paper.
The man graciously provided him with them, asking him to return the pencil once he was done, and Kevin nodded, smiling at him.
His dinner was quickly served, and as Kevin ate, he began to make a list of what he would need to buy before leaving Dawn City.
He thought carefully; he would need a stone to sharpen his daggers and some weights for training. He could surely find all of these when he was at the Sun Sect.
What he needed first were new clothes. A good assassin always had plenty of different outfits to disguise himself for his various missions. Well, he wasn't an assassin anymore, but this kind of habit was hard to forget, and he still needed some for training and fighting.
He also wanted outfits that would allow him to disappear in a crowded place, and conversely, others that would enhance his appearance; he might need to seduce someone, and he couldn't neglect that possibility.
He would also visit an armory; two daggers weren't enough to make him feel safe. In his past life, he always hid at least six blades on him.
He added to his list bandages, disinfectant—or at worst, alcohol—along with threads and needles, everything needed to make a first aid kit.
He used to care for his injuries himself, and he wasn't planning on going to Alan for help or visiting the infirmary of the Sun Sect every time he got hurt.