7: Preparing To Leave

{20 minutes after the incident, still inside the stadium}

Everything hurt. My body, my pride, my ego, everything just hurt.

I was currently getting bandaged by the rabbits, and Rou was too. His scar was from his left shoulder down to his waist in the shape of claw marks. Mine wasn't as sweet, he tore of a lot of my facial skin off leaving my face in a pile of shit.

I couldn't walk around like that so the rabbits rapped white cloth around the bottom of my face.

"So is this how life will be like with you? Getting unhealable scars and fighting gods." With Rou saying all that it would be justifiable for him to leave, who am I to tell him no.

"I'm in." I was clearly surprised, I wasn't expecting that. "I still don't know your name though."

"Azuriah, it's nice to meet you." "Rou, and likewise."

Now that introductions are done it's time for a few things to be set straight. "Give me one sec Rou."

With that I left Rou who I could tell still had a lot of questions, *I assume you want to ask what now.* "You know I hate when you do that. But yes, where do we go from here."

* We have around 30 more minutes till the stadium closes. Training now will do you no good, I suggest you take a look at your status window. Then from there go back to Rou and discuss where to go to now. I'm sure that he knows another village or two.*

As soon as Aries said that I checked my status window to see that one more skill had been added.

[NAME: AZURIAH]

[LEVEL 9]

[STRENGTH: 25]

[SPEED: 24]

[DURABILITY: 24]

[HEALTH: 120/120]

[MANA: 2]

[SKILLS: ASSIMILATE, MULTI STEP, WATER OF LIFE, LIGHT MANIPULATION]

[SOUL WAVELENGTH: BLOCKED]

After seeing it's name I immediately knew where this was from. It was from the pond, it became a skill and not just that, I finally got Lance's skill too.

"So what can it do?" *It gives you the ability of healing, your also capable of making a similar pond in the stadium. But its ability can only be used once a day at its current level so using it now to heal your wounds isn't the best idea.* Good point, but I'm not healing the wound until I kill Gloxinia.

"So it's like multi step on how if I absorb more of the source that it can level up. So where do I find it." * Well I have a theory that the water comes from the tree, so you can look for similar ponds in the fairy land or absorb the amount needed from the waters source.*

Definitely a lot to think about, but before I even dream of coming back here I need to get stronger. Even stronger than before, like hell I'll let Gloxinia live after all he's done.

So I made my way back to Rou and we decided it'd be best to stay as far away from the Holy War as possible. He said there was a growing kingdom about a months journey away from here, regrouping there would be the best bet.

After discussing alternative options we decided that going to the kingdom was the best bet.

So I dispelled the stadium and there was definitely a scene left behind. The whole place looked barren like there hasn't been life here in the last couple of years.

This was all caused by Gloxinia's rage. As me and Rou looked around trying to see if there was anybody around, we decided it was best to just leave. So Rou guided us out the forest.

{About 1 Hour Later}

After we managed to escape fairy land it started to get late, and since me and Rou had nothing but tattered clothes and scars we decided to lay up on some trees. Rou had gone to sleep so it was really just me and the stars left awake, looking up I really came to the realization of where I am. It really just sunk in that I'm at a real risk of dying.

But before I started t have anymore dumb thoughts I crashed out for the night.

And as soon as I closed my eyes it was morning, we had a long trip ahead of us.

"Az, want something to eat?" Since when was my name Az. "Sure why not." After Rou went to go catch breakfast I finally had a talk with Aries on how I can make Rou stronger. I planned on us training a lot throughout our journey. *Form a party with him. That way he can gain SP for what ever he kills.* "I can do that? And even if I could how would he distribute his SP." *It would divide equally, and the more he levels up the more skills he can awaken.*

"Okay then know it all how do I invite him." *Simply ask him to join your party. Shouldn't be to hard for you right?* I really needed to calm down before I punch my self.

After he came back I asked him whether he would join my party to which he agreed. That's when I saw his status window.

[ROU]

[LEVEL 7]

[STRENGTH: 16]

[SPEED: 14]

[DURABILTY: 16]

[HEALTH: 95/95]

[MANA: 18]

[ABILITIES: SNEAK, SHADOW MOVEMENT]

[SOULWAVELENGTH: BAN]

He honestly had good stats, I really didn't expect them to be this high.

And to see he had quite a bit of mana was good too since that means he could teach me.

"Okay then we are officially comrades, and comrades always help each other out."

"What do you need?"

"Well I've been wanting to learn swordsmanship as well as how to properly control my mana. So I'd like to ask you to teach me."

There was a brief pause as Rou just stared at me with a dumbfounded face, presuming that I already knew all these things.

"Why not, that's what comrades are for I suppose."

"And don't worry, where definitely gonna get back at Gloxinia. I could tell from the time that we where in my stadium." "Yeah no question about that."

"And don't go easy on me just cause I asked to train. I'm still technically stronger that you."

"Yeah we'll see about that."

And just like that we had a brief sparring session on just hand to hand combat which I won.

Then after using my skill of light manipulation to make swords, he proceeded to embarrass me in every shape and form.

From their he started to tech me how to use my mana. Since I didn't have a lot of mana I couldn't use spells, not that he knew any. He mostly just taught me how to use it to enhance my body.

Then just like that it was night again and we hadn't moved a single inch.