"Hahaha!"
We were back on the road after my disastrous rescue attempt, and I made the mistake of telling the girls about it.
"It's not funny Flora!"
She just kept laughing.
"Did you apologize?"
Eric asked me innocently.
Flora stopped laughing, and looked at her.
"Why would he? He did nothing wrong. Hydryns are notoriously ugly, and when they fuck up their transformations they're even uglier."
I face-palmed myself.
"Ah man, I should've apologized."
"Why? I thought you said you did nothing wrong."
"Yes, but when deciding whether something is evil or not, I just choose the opposite moral stance of Flora. It never fails me... Ow!"
Flora took her staff out just to hit me.
"Hey!"
She stuck her tongue out at me.
"That's enough!"
Jurea stood up and stood in front of me.
"What?"
"Your tale has told me one thing, if you're going to keep running off on your own, I need to train you."
"Hahaha! Good one."
"I'm serious."
"What? But you've already trained me, remember?"
She cocked an eyebrow.
"When?"
"You know, the entire month we fought with wooden weapons!"
They all gave me a look.
"You... you thought... that was training?!"
"Um... Yes."
"Yeah, no."
They were all looking at me like I'm crazy or some shit.
"Then, what was that?!"
"Getting you used to the feel of the weapon, so that you didn't accidentally kill your allies."
"Yeah, wouldn't want you killing me."
Flora had her patented shit eating grin plastered on her face.
"What about her?! She hasn't 'trained' either!"
I said pointing at Flora.
"Actually, she has."
"What?!"
"Haven't you ever noticed how much better her spells do when compared to yours?"
Yeah, how could I not, she basically is a one shot pro.
"That's just because she can put more umph behind it."
"Hahaha! That's what you think separates our magic? Idiot."
Jurea stared her down, then looked back to me.
"It's how she uses her magic."
I looked at Flora.
"It's why I use inertial carry then force bubble, or water ball then godly lightning strike.
Certain things complement each other.
Another thing I do is aim my spells somewhere advantageously, like the weakest part of a monster's body.
All of this, and much more separates good mages with..."
"Bad mages?"
"No, roadkill."
I mean I can think of at least two times more powerful magic would've been exceedingly helpful.
Both times we fought a bear-like monster.
I can hear the sarcasm in your voice.
Shut up Patty!
"If all this time I was doing so bad, why didn't either of you try to train me?!"
They both answered simultaneously.
"I didn't care."
"I thought we could protect you, and cover your shortcomings."
Flora stared at Jurea for a little while, then shook her head while she mumbled to herself.
Jurea outstretched her hand, and I took it.
"It's never too late to train though."
She said while pulling me to my feet.
"Here? Don't you think it's a little too small?"
The top of the wagon is only twenty by ten, enough to lounge around, but not enough to fight in.
"As warriors we do not always get to dictate where we fight, one day you'll have to fight in a cave smaller than this maybe."
I nodded my assent.
She looked at Lyra.
"Speed up please."
Lyra nodded, and whipped the reins.
The wagon - which was already bumpy - became like a rollercoaster.
I started to lose my balance, every bump would send us a couple of inches into the air.
"Come at me with all you got, don't worry I..."
"Won't go easy on me, I know."
If watching TV has taught me anything, it's that the master teaching the student always goes hard on the student.
So that he may become the master.
"No, I will hold back as much as possible."
Somehow that makes me feel worse.
Shut up Patty.
I got into position to pounce at her at full speed.
I know this is going to be a little dickish of me, but she did say go all out.
Now, just to wait for the right moment.
...
...
...
Now!
I sprung forward.
At the very instant I leapt into action the wagon jostled sending me careening towards Jurea.
She grabbed my arm, spun around, bent over, and tossed me over herself.
In less than a second I hit the wagon with an audible thud.
"Oooow!"
My poor back, what did you ever do to deserve this?!
"You use your speed as your greatest strength, but any strength can be your biggest weakness."
As she was talking, I noticed that even though she was getting jostled just as much me she had trouble stay upright.
"How are you able to keep your balance?"
"This is nothing! My master would put me on two blocks of wood in a raging river while he threw rocks at me."
She started smiling as if she were thinking of fond memories of the past.
"Weren't you like ten?"
"Yeah, so?"
"That sounds like child abuse."
"No, no! You got it all wrong. Weeks before that he'd beat me all over with the thickest branches he could find, to toughen my skin up."
"Definitely child abuse."
She pulled me up.
"Come, let's continue."
This time I paid close attention to my footing as I walked towards her.
I swung at her face.
She blocked with her elbow, while punching me in the face.
I kicked.
She dodged, while punching me in the kidney - or whatever organ a lizardman has there.
I swung around to hit her with my tail.
She tanked the hit, and grabbed my tail to pull me towards her, then she checked me forward with her body.
I tried swiping her legs out from under her.
She jumped and landed on my tail, then gently lifted her foot when I was tugging my tail so that my momentum carried me back until I hit my head.
I was a little livid by now.
I sprang up, and put my back into my next swing.
Which she dodged, then ducked.
I was about to be spiteful and hit her while she was down, when I felt something coming my way.
I looked up just in time to be hit in the face by a low-hanging branch.
I hit the floor - hard.
Jurea stood over me.
"You have senses, use them."
"I know, but how did you know it was coming? It was behind you!"
"Early on when we were fighting I saw it, and maneuvered myself so that my body would blind you."
"You noticed it while we were fighting?!"
"You must always be aware of your surroundings! What if an enemy attacks you from behind? Or a loose wooden plank trips you up? You can't ignore your senses up until you need them, you should train them until you can react without thinking."
I slowly got in a crouching position, I did so without her noticing.
"I guess so. So, are we still sparing?"
"Ye..."
I was in motion before she finished saying a word.
Unfortunately, so was she.
She kicked the inside of my thigh, so hard it forced me onto one leg in pain.
"Sorry."
"You should be! That hurt, a lot!"
"Not for that, for this."
She did a rapid roundhouse kick to my head.
I was out before my head hit the floor.
________________
"Do you not know the meaning of going easy on someone?!"
It was hours later, and we had stopped for the night.
Now that we're out of the goblin woods we can take it easier, and stop every night to rest.
I was talking to Jurea after we had set-up camp.
Eric and Lyra left to hunt game.
Flora's reading her scroll again, and I am leaning against a tree nursing my still throbbing head.
"I'm sorry, again. I wouldn't have done it, but my master always taught me that you never learn without pain. After I knocked you out, I'll bet you'll try a different tactic the next time we spar."
Jurea was leaning over me.
"Next time? I ain't doing that shit again, I'm not a glutton for punishment!"
You're supposed to hide the word behind coughing idiot.
Shut up Patty!
"Don't worry, you'll do better next time. Besides, training takes more than one spar session. But again, I'm sorry."
Ever since I've woken up she's been apologizing, and Flora has been giving us weird looks.
What the fucks up with her?
"No, I guess you're right. I got my ass handed to me because I thought I was badass, when I'm not. I'm grateful that you're helping me."
Is it just me, or is she blushing?
Yeah, you're right.
Shut up Patty!
"So, you're going to train me in fighting, and Flora is going to train me in magic?"
Flora looked up from what she was doing again.
"The fuck I am."
Jurea gave her a dirty look.
"He could make you!"
"He ain't gonna do shit, he's still trying to be a 'good person'. Or are you going to make me?"
"No."
"Thought so."
"But why aren't you going to train me?"
"Why would I? There's nothing in it for me. You could pay me, but I'd charge a lot."
"Why you..."
I held up my hand, signaling Jurea to just drop it.
No point in wasting our time arguing.
I could be on fire, and I'm pretty sure she'd charge to pee on me.
I stood up and took a stance.
"Before they return, do you want to go a few more rounds?"
A smile appeared on her face.
"Sure! I'll go easy on you again."
"Hehehe, don't bother. I'm on steady ground this time, I think you'll find it much harder to... Ow!"
A fist smashed into my face, just as my senses told me it was coming.
"Oh, were you not ready?"
How the fuck is she avoiding my spi... my super powerful senses!
_____________________
A day and a half later, we rolled up to a farm.
Before we set out on this journey, we knew money would be an issue, so we went to the guild to collect quests along our route.
This would both give us money, and hopefully level us up.
This particular quest is about a monster coming at the dead of night killing their livestock and helpers.
No one knows what it is, but it can't be higher than a Low-rank because it can't break into the wall separating the house from everything else.
"Remember, if we can't kill this thing in two days, we cut and run. We got a schedule to keep, and they're only paying a measly forty silver for this job."
Flora needlessly reminded all of us.
Lyra and Eric stayed back while the rest of us got off the wagon and went up to the wall.
"Hello, who are y'all?"
A man that looked like he is in his thirties came out to greet us.
His brown hair was speckled with grey, and he had the start of a beer belly, but otherwise looked healthy.
He's holding a rusty pitchfork for defense, and if that isn't enough, the big dog by his side should get the message across.
Jurea stepped forward holding the metal plate the adventurers guild gives to the leader of a party.
"We're guild members, we've come to see if we can help you with your problem."
The man leaned forward and squinted his eyes while looking at the plate, leaning back once he was satisfied.
"Apologies, you can't be too trusting out here."
He lowered his pitchfork.
"I understand, you can call off the archer in those bushes."
Jurea was pointing at the row of bushes lining the wall.
"Heh, guess you can't fool a professional."
Actually, I told them about the archer as we were walking up.
Bushes can hide you from sight, not heat vision.
A person came out of the bushes holding a hunting bow.
It's a kid, no taller than four feet, and has mousey brown hair with grey tips.
Definitely the farmer's kid.
The kid's at the age where you can't even tell the gender, no older than eleven.
I'd assume boy though, after all, he is helping his dad fend off possible bandits.
"I would like all of you to meet my daughter, Allie."
Shut up Patty.
Jurea outstretched her hand, which was ignored.
"I told my dad not to waste the coin, we could trap and kill this thing ourselves."
"Allie, there's no shame in asking for help. I apologize, she ain't normally rude."
He nodded his head towards the house, telling her to go inside.
Which she did, after sizing all of us up.
"The death of my farmhand - Rob - was rough on her. She liked him, he was a good man."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yes, well, if there's anything you need, you can find me in the main house."
He and the dog left.
I turned to Jurea.
"What now?"
"Now, I'll go around and collect as much info as I can about what this monster is. You and Flora should try finding good vantage points."
____________
It is the dead of night.
Lyra, Ted, and Marey are in the barn.
The two horses, duh.
Shut up Patty! It's hard always coming up with names.
Anyway, the rest of us are spread out, Flora is in the bushes by the wall, Jurea is out in the open trying to tempt it to attack her, Eric is kneeling in the tall grass, and I'm up in a tree as a goblin.
Goblins have rough calloused hands with ridges to help with grip, night vision, and large bat ears to listen to any minute sound.
It has been three hours since we started waiting for it to show.
One thing being in a goblin body has taught me is that lizard hearing is shit.
When in my actual body I can hear sounds okay, but as a goblin I can hear a twig snap two hundred yards away!
Snap!
Speaking of which.
I turned my gaze towards the sound and saw... nothing?
That's... odd, even if it were a squirrel, something had to make the noise.
I stared intently at the suspect area.
Did the grass just move? Was it the wind? No, if it was, the rest of the grass would have been blown as well.
B-dump!
...
...
...
B-dump!
...
...
...
What is that sound?
It almost sounds like...
Oh, shit!
I jumped down from the tree.
"Jurea! Watch out!"
I yelled as soon as I transformed back.
The seconds it took me to transform, the monster ran to Jurea.
She must have heard its footfalls because she turned around and put her arm guard up, just in time for the sharp teeth filled mouth to close down on it.
The weight of it forced Jurea onto her back.
That's why the farmers could never spot it!
The damn thing's invisible!
Jurea smacked it with her hammer.
Yelping, it jumped off her.
It retreated dozens of feet, thinking it was safe because no one could see it.
Not!
I crashed into it, clawing at it.
It kicked off me, and stared at me.
That's right asshole, heat vision!
"{Force...} Arg!"
Before I could hurl my spell at it, it disappeared and slashed my back open.
The bastard is fast.
My back healed, and I swung around to slash it back.
Only for it to disappear again, and slash my leg open.
Every time I stood up healed, it would slash me again.
The wounds were piling up faster than I can heal them.
Jurea and Eric were running to help me, I absorbed them back into my gem.
They'd just get hurt fighting against an invisible monster, instead let it focus on me.
Besides, I've got a plan.
I start hurling acid in all directions with my left hand.
Shut up Patty!
Mini status.
------------------
Energy : 467/1,087
Health : 1,087 /1,200
Stamina : 307/706
Extra energy : 5,000
------------------
Come on already!
The beast was dodging my acid well, evident by all the dead grass spots.
I was starting to think I'd have to rethink my master plan, when I felt a tug on my right hand.
Yes! I never doubted myself!
Genius that I am, I was just using the acid as a diversion!
With my right hand I made a web in a spiral formation on the ground.
As a speedster myself I know that it's really hard to pay attention to more than one or two things.
And if Jurea kicking my ass these past couple of days have taught my anything, it's that your greatest strength can be your weakness.
I yanked the web, pulling it towards me.
Once it got to me I slugged it, sending it backwards.
Then, I did that again and again.
"Who's your daddy now, bitch!"
When I stopped to talk, it took off running.
Stupid beast doesn't realize that as long as my web is attached to it, it can't get away.
Before I could yank the web again, it turned and ran the other way.
Then, it turned again, and again, wrapping me up in my own web.
When I fell to the ground, it stopped and turned visible again by retracting the mana hairs all along its body.
It looks like a hairless weasel with only one big eye.
Slowly it starts to make its way to me.
It opened its jaws wide, and it got ready to pounce.
It leapt... and a giant ice spear impaled it.
The dead carcass landed on me.
Flora came up to me smiling.
"About time you left an opening for me."
"Cutting it close, don't you think?!"
"Stop bitching, anyway, the mana heart is mine."
"I fought him, you just stole the kill from me!"
"All I'm hearing is yada yada yada, it's mine."
"I did most of the work! You just sat back in the cut!"
"Yeah, it's called being smart, try it sometime."
"Are you calling me stupid, again?!"
"If the shoe fits..."
I used acid to burn through my webs, and jab my hand into the body.
Patty, absorb the heart.
Patty!
Ability 'Combat Camouflage' added.> Flora gave me a death glare. "Tell me you didn't do what I think you just did." I just smiled. "You said whoever kills the monster gets the spoils!" "I'm sorry, I guess I'm not smart enough to remember th... Ow! Ow, ow, ow!" Flora started beating me with her staff.