The wooden training dummies— they’re surprisingly more sturdier than they look.
I’ve been hitting them for the past six hours with all my strength— every single one of them in the training grounds. But I haven’t even left so much as a dent on any of them.
After doing my training routine— running, pushups, ditation and mana gathering, and spell formula recalling— I started this nonsense.
My robe’s on the ground, not too far from my bag. And my mask’s on my face.
I’m shirtless, only wearing black pants, and my black boots are off my legs too.
I wish I had a training partner or sothing. It’s getting depressing just kicking and punching a training dummy on my own all day.
The beads of sweat on my forehead keep sliding trickling my eyes.
But I continue hitting the dummy— even as the sun sets, and even as the hot air keeps getting more and more cool, and refreshing. I keep punching, and kicking the dummy.
That scene— that scene of Spade releasing his pressure.. it keeps flashing through my mind.
I shake my head, snapping myself from those thoughts.
"Focus Blank! Focus!" I keep yelling to myself.
But what am I even doing? what purpose would I achieve by hitting these training dummies? Would it make any stronger? Is this training? They all think I’m a third circle mage, but really, I’m only just a first circle. To advance to the second circle— I need to gain enlightennt, I also need training, and I need my mana circle to fill up.
"Haaaah." I sigh as I sit down on the ground, looking up to the sky. The sun’s quietly fading away, making way for the night.
And then I rember sothing.
It passes through my ears like a gentle breeze— like sweet whispers.
Only, it’s not sweet. It’s a manly, and gruff voice...
—"If you ever find yourself stumped, and you don’t know what to do.. then do what you must do." it echoes through my mind, and a faint, bitter smile plays on my lips.
It’s what Klaus told back in the Flaworths Duchy.
Honestly, it sounds like utter bullshit. What the hell does he an by ’do what you must do.’? I don’t know what to do! How the hell am I going to train, or get the enlightennt needed to get my second circle?
Because if my first circle fills up due to the amount of mana I’ve gathered... then I won’t be able to create my second circle until I’ve trained enough, and gotten enlightened.. but what is ’enough’? Would I die if I suddenly try again enough mana, and allow my second circle to form now?
How long do I have to train?
When would I be able to defeat soone like Spade? Is it impossible for ?
When would I get powerful enough to..
To..
My chest is heavy— rising and falling with each beat. And I realize, that I’m breathing too fast.. my heart’s pumping blood at an unhealthy speed.
And I take a deep breathe, and hold it.
Then I breathe it out.
"I understand it now... I can only do what I can do. It’s better not to think too much of it. I’ll just keep training, and perhaps a way would co." I mutter under my breath, and I take another look at the training dummies.
My heart stirs as I rember that quote.. her favorite quote; "where there’s a will there’s a way. You’re not wrong Marcelle."
A small smile stretches on my lips as I stand up from the ground— my fiery gaze piercing at the dummies.
If I keep training diligently, then I’ll grow stronger.. there’s no two ways about it. I knew that this journey would be a long and arduous one. Don’t chicken out now, Edward.
I leap— dashing toward the dummy closest to with unasured speed.
My fists tighten— and I collide it with the rib section of the dummy.
–Boom!–
But there’s no dent.
I keep punching. My two fists doing numbers to the face, belly, abdon, and ribs of the dummy.
I recall it.. the second technique of the martial arts of the Flaworths— Fiery Discord.
A technique that requires careful disfiguring of the body’s most important organs. The head, heart, eyes, ribs, crotch, you na it all. And with just fists.
This is just the first level.
–Boom! Boom!–
And then I jump high— twirling in the air as I wrap flas around my legs— impacting a roundhouse kick on the head of the dummy.
–Bam!–
"–Huff– –Huff– .. fina.. finally.. I left a dent!" I exclaim as I catch my breath.
The fla kick impacted on the head of the dummy— it caused a small dent.
Maybe.. maybe the heat weakened it. But no matter, it’s just a dent. That I made. After several tries.
"Hoooo."
And then I look up again— the cleaved moon’s starting to make it’s appearance. Night is coming.
"I guess it’s ti to go complete that E rank task." I say as I stand up, walking to the direction of my robe, boots, and bag containing my artifacts.
And I cast one more glance at the training dummy before I wear my robe, boots, and hang my bag.
I knew I could do it.
I nod as I stride towards the lobby.
"Mm hm, never doubted myself. Not even once."
***
"A strong person is one with the ability to bend probability to their will." I mutter to myself.. rembering my words.
"Yeah. What bullshit.. like Spade ever needed probability to crush ." I scoff, my quick pace never slowing down as the night’s wind blesses my skin, and I run with imnse speed.
The sounds of crickets are all I hear, and the light painted by the hanging cleaved moon’s the only reason I can see just enough to run without falling.
And as I move toward the place where my chosen task is to be carried out.. my heart beats erratically.
It’ll be a good chance to gain more experience, and maybe enlighten— nah, that’s too far stretched.
I’m headed to the main building of the ’Snake Fang’ gang. A local gang of criminals that carry out illegal activities, and bring harm to the innocent citizens of the outer districts of Ludia.
My job is to disband them, and make them unable to operate anymore. And my reward is just 50 bronze coins.
Honestly, I’m not even doing this for the money. Every other rcenary rejected it because they claid it was too troubleso and wasn’t worth the effort for that low amount of money.
But it’s perfect for . A real combat experience! I can’t miss it for anything! The other tasks on the Task board were just nonsense for E ranks like . Like finding objects, hunting F-rank monsters under the sewage system of the city, and other soft bullshits.
This task is C-rank, well above my rank. But honestly, I don’t think I’d lose to a gang that consists of swordsn that haven’t felt mana yet. It’s perfect, maybe after I finish this task that’s above my rank, I would up ranks to D-rank? Who knows.
And it’s the perfect ti for an ambush— night ti. When I could barely be seen.
And I arrive.
"Finally.. the Snake Fang hideout."
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