„You did mention that knowledge is scarce. What do you mean exactly? "
„Sight, that other countries not only already have a lot more elements discovered but also in every other aspect are more advanced than this country. And before you can ask why, it's because of the king. He wants might and immortality, so everything is invested to that end. I heard soldiers say that. So, don't question me why I know it."
-Humans in this world have a life span of 120 years. But animals if they manage to evolve can achieve fake immortality. A mythical beast doesn't die of old age, it only dies of injuries or disease. But why is this evolving only possible for animals? –
[Ten minutes left.]
-Shit, I need to hurry. Zero find fastest rout. –
"I completely forgot to ask you your name. My name is Naomi, nice to meet you." I made a curtsey
"Don't think that I can act like some noble boy. My name is Luca. "
"No offence but you should learn it otherwise you'll have a hard time if you become a great mage."
He looks at me suspicious. "And where or how should I learn that?"
"I can teach you." I smiled at him.
"No thanks, I much prefer to get some magic knowledge from you."
-I don't like giving something for free but I get the feeling that he'll become someone great in the future. He is decisive, knows how to repay a favor and knows how-to pick-up knowledge. –
"Alright Luca, met me in a month and if you have interesting information, I'm willing to pay you with magic knowledge."
"Are you stupid or are you just pretending. I nearly told you everything I know, how is a street boy supposed to have knowledge that a rich girl doesn't?"
-Frikking seriously? There must be something. I want to spend more time with him, he is after all similar to me, and maybe I get a plausible explanation from him for my problem. Think, think, for sparing…. No, I already have Anthony… for magic training? That could work but I would need to teach him without anything in return. Oh, I know I'll use him as a guinea pig for my healing training. –
"I have a proposal." I looked at him mischievously
"I'm all ears"
"I want to become a healer, but I need to train for that."
"So, you want to train on me and in exchange you'll teach me?"
"Yep, but don't worry you won't get any permanent damage, probably."
"Probably, huh. I guess I won't get any better chance to learn magic. Sight, fine."
"Deal!" We shook hands
"See you in a month!" I shouted while I already run to my destination.
-If it works out, I could come more often but I still need to train with Anthony. Arg, I don't have enough time. I already neglect my magic and dagger training because I visit the village. Wait! I could use Charge instead of sleep? I should try that. If it works, I would gain 8 hours. For now, I probably need to sleep some, but I should be able to gain a few hours, hopefully. –
Zero found the fastest rout but it still takes 20 minutes, so I stopped and used fusion lighting magic. Lighting enhances my speed the most. Each element enhances one or two attributes but there is always on that is the best for an attribute.
[Countdown started
20, 19, 18, 17, 16, …]
-I can't I'm so done. But I can already see the stump and Nathalie just a bit more. –
[5, 4, 3, …]
"I'm here!" And promptly collapse on the ground and started using Charge.
"Are you alright?" Nathalie asked worried
I nodded and answered her after I regained enough stamina to talk normally.
"Yeah, I'm fine. We can start in a few minutes."
After a few minutes.
"I wanted to ask you, why didn't we just use your bag instead of that stump?"
At this question Nathalie blushed and answered sheepishly: "It's a memento form my parents and I don't want it do get damaged."
-Sight, she doesn't want me to use magic on it, but I bind it on the stump with magic, she didn't think it trough. –
Natalie sat on the stump and I bind the trolley on the stump and made us fly back to the village.
-I was really lucky to meet Luca. I think we could become good friends and I got him as a guinea pig. He should be able to transform into a dragon, then I can use his dragon scales for research too. I just hope that he doesn't turn out to be an a$$hole. –
After arriving at the village, I went straight home and looked for Anthony.
-He should be at the library at this time. I should ask him if we could train on a weekday too. After today I realized that I really need some more training. –
I entered the library and spotted Anthony.
"Anthony, I'm back"
He looked up and greeted me
I took the things I bought for him out. "I only got these. And that is the change."
He counted the change and inspected the goods. "You made a good deal and found half of what I wanted. This is a good outcome considering where you went. Here your pay." He gave me one silver.
"Thanks." I smiled at him. "Anthony, could you teach me on a weekday too?"
"You mean additionally to Sunday?"
"Yeah, I don't train as much as I used to because I visit the village. Because I don't have as much time, I thought maybe I could make it more efficient if you would teach me."
He looked at me and said: "Wednesday." Afterwards he continued reading.
"Yay, thanks." I took a book and started reading to.
***
The following week I headed to the village in the morning and hung out with Nathalie and Tim. I even gave him some hints for magic. On Wednesday I trained with Anthony and on the afternoons, I had my lessons with Mr. Cacklemi and afterwards I went to the library. I tried to sleep less and use charge but because I'm still not to used with it, I can only make up for four hours of sleep and that at the cost that it'll reduce the effect afterwards.
On Sunday on my way to my training's spot in the forest to meet with Anthony.
-I really need to get better with Charge. Why is this so frikking difficult? Seriously. I can function surprisingly well with four hours of sleep, probably because of Accumulation. So, I shorten my sleeping hours but, I don't use Charge as compensation, because if I need it, it won't refresh me like usual and that dampens its necessity. –
While contemplating I arrived, and Anthony was already there.
"Hello Anthony." I waved at him.
"Hello, you are already tall enough to stared learning swordsmanship. You need to decide what your main weapon will be, and if you even want to learn swordsmanship."
-Straight to business. –
"I want to learn swordsmanship, but I think that I want daggers to be my main weapon."
"Alright, I'll teach you the basics of swordsmanship and after you mastered them, we'll continue to polish your skills with daggers."
He took a wooden sword out of his spatial artifact and handed it to me and started to show me some basic moves.
"Wrong your feet need to be furthered apart."
[Wrong your feet need to be furthered apart.]
-Great now I have Zero and Anthony correct me. Anthony is always a bit faster than Zero, probably because he already anticipates my mistakes. –
…
[15 minutes till lunch.]
At this message I just collapse on the ground.
"Time to eat and to take a break."
"Naomi, you brought something for lunch."
"Yeah, the basked at the tree."
We made our way to the tree and started eating.
"Naomi, I already asked you that but why are you growing so fast?"
-There it is, and now my answer for which I contemplated so long."
"I don't know."
"You know that this could get you into serious trouble."
"Yeah."
"If the military finds out you'll get into trouble, especially because it is impossible for you to have eaten any divine medicine, you also don't have any animal features so you can't be blessed by a magical, evolved or mystical beast."
I nodded.
"There is a risky excuse and I'm not sure if it is better than that you don't know."
I looked at him interested.
"Your mother is an alchemist and spends all here time at her lab. The only time she wasn't there was in the week you were born. You should be aware that a woman gets upgraded after she gave birth to her first child. But the child doesn't need to be healthy or alive. It is said that the upgrade is better if the child is healthy but not everyone beliefs it, besides most mothers want a healthy child.
You could say that she did some experiments while she was pregnant with you, as explanation, I doubt it tough. Besides if she gets wind of it, she could call you out on your lie. If you us it than be careful."
-This is the most that Anthony ever talked without interruption. I guess he doesn't belief me that I don't know why, at least he doesn't try to get it out of me. That's why I like him so much. –
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Um you said my mother, but isn't she our mother?"
"No, we have different mothers."
"Is that the reason why father ignores me?"
"Yes."
"Anthony, pleas tell me what happened." I made my puppy eyes.
"That's a long story."
"We have the whole afternoon."
"Sight, alright. But if I notice that you lose interest, I'll stop."
I nodded and he started talking.