Zevrad spent a bit of time explaining to Kor'vas that the [Excess Potion of Accelerated Learning] wasn't a drug with any negative side effects. Instead, he convinced her that it was similar to Tomes found in the stores that could allow them to learn [Abilities], then so too could the potions allow the development of their [Attributes] to be enhanced. After convincing her somehow, he headed to the training grounds on the third floor.
For some reason, Ariana hadn't shown up for a while, but he figured that it didn't really matter. Even if she wasn't around to supervise him, Zevrad still faithfully stuck to the diet and training regime she laid out.
After ending the physical training, he returned to his quarters and practiced [Demonic Application] while taking a break at the same time. Zevrad had limits, just like everyone else, so he found it easier and several dozen times more enjoyable to sit and meditate than do squats with barbells resting on his shoulders for hours on end.
As for [Demonic Application], the more he practiced, the faster the speed of the energy flow within him became. The sense of unfamiliarity also gradually lessened until it was gone for good. Since moving it from the get-go wasn't an issue, he instead focused on accepting this energy as a part of his own body as well as exerting finer control over its flow. It would be past noon when he finished with meditation.
Zevrad would head back down to the first floor, this time for the class-related training. This was the last training task for the day and he looked forward to it the most. Sometimes, when he swept and slashed with his warscythes, his mind became free from all distracting thoughts. He felt that the hours were figuratively flying away in a blink in this state.
He even went and bought his own personal pair of warscythes to use during training. It cost him a grand total of 580 silver coins.
The usual pair of warscythes were already provided for the class-related training missions, but he found it a tad too flimsy for his personal taste. Also, the fact that he couldn't bring it out of the missions played a key role in the decision to buy a pair of his own. If he were to continue using it at a later date, it seemed like a prudent thing to get used to the weapon as early as possible.
Zevrad focused on mastering three warscythe techniques: [Sweep], [Slash], and [Reap].
Although there were more techniques available, he chose to stick to these three only as he knew that the Zevrad of the dream managed to kill and destroy countless enemies with just these three techniques.
While partaking in the training missions, Zevrad always adhered to four rules.
First, as Ariana said, he never used his demonic energy. Not even once.
Second, if he wasn't satisfied with his posture, then that practice move wouldn't count, and he would redo the move again.
Third, he would perform the same basic move at least 1,250 times during the training missions.
And finally, even if he was in the middle of hard training, he would never neglect to eat a nutritious meal and partake in a proper rest.
Zevrad settled on the number 1,250 simply because of the special [Excess Potion of Accelerated Learning]. Since it gave 8 times the boost to the training's effects, wasn't it the same as him performing the move 10,000 times in a single day? By the time he was done with these training missions, the clock would display past midnight, signaling the end of the day's routine. He would return to his quarters completely drained, but his complexion remained bright. This continued on for several days and weeks. Of course, he had a good reason to smile all the time.
[System Message: Keep it up, Friend.]
[Character Window]
[1. General Information]
Name: Zevrad Stargazer (Alias)
Sex/Age: Male/??????????
Height/Weight: 237.8cm/150.1kg
Current Condition: Good
Class: Demon Hunter (Vengeance)
Race: ??????????
Title: No.1
Affiliations: N/A
[2. Traits]
1. Temperament:
- Competitiveness: A desire to win.
- Disciplined: Will endure and overcome pain and/or suffering.
2. Aptitude:
-Average. (Born normal in every way; possessed no particular talent.)
[3. Attributes]
-Strength: Intermediate
-Endurance: Intermediate
-Agility: Intermediate
-Stamina: High
-Pain: Intermediate
-Luck: High
-Soul: ??????????
Remaining Ability Points: 1
[4. Abilities]
1. Innate Abilities (2)
-Six Desires Illusory Arts (Grade Unknown)
-Soul (Grade Unknown)
2. Passive Abilities (2)
-Fast Analysis (High)
-Improved Vision (High)
3. Class-Related Abilities (0)
-Demonic Application (Intermediate)
-Basic Warscythe: Sweep (Intermediate), Slash (Intermediate), Reap (Intermediate)
4. Active Abilities (2)
-Spectral Sight (High)
[Green: Normal]
[Yellow: Attention]
[Orange: Do Not Approach]
[Red: Danger]
-Soul Inspection (Intermediate)
5. Skills (0)
-N/A
[5. Level of Cognition]
-Actions: Eccentric
-Emotions: Intense Desire
-Disposition: Disorder
[6. Interests]
1. Likes
-Sculpting
-Stargazing
-Training
-Gourmet Delicacies
2. Dislikes
-Demons
-Idle Chatter
[7. Bound Demon]
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.
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'̷̢̛̼̻̩̄̈́̒̊͌̔͒̒̕A̸̳͕̱͗͘l̷̡̧̳͎̝̤̟͕̦̺̮̍̑̀̐͆͐̾̆͘̕͘͜͠ ̷̰͚̺̼̭͖͓̣̜̳͕̓͜͠ͅt̷̛̛̮̱͕̯͖̘̻̩̳̗̤͔̰͑̐̆̍̃̌́́̓̆̌̒͝h̷̛̰̝̲̩̻͚̼͇̉͌͋̏͗̕̕͜ͅţ̷̢͔̮̳̰̮̤̖͚̼̠̬̓̒̓ ̸̥͎͉̤̦̟̘̫̩̔̉͂́͜͝į̸̢̟̖̻̫͚̮͉́́͂̑͂̂̃͐̔͘̚͝s̵̡͖̠̎͐̅́͛͊̒̒̍̑̔̑̂̕ ̴͈̪̓̈̉̉̆̋̂̅̓̅̆̎̒̔͘Ṍ̶̖̞̙̝̘̺̖̦͍̗̅̋ȩ̶͖̜̤̅̿'̸̨͙̠̦͍͎̰̙̜̈́̈́̌͛̄̀̾̚ ̶̨̨̞̫̹̠͈̣̦̘̥̣͉̓͌̽̇̊̏̆̂̈͊͘̕͝͝ͅa̴̢̱̟̤̮̎̓̕̚c̸̤͎͛͜t̸̢̢͈͙̱̮̘̗̳̥͐̋̈́͊̾̒͊ ̷̨̥̠͍͓͕̻̣͙̖̐̃͒̇̓̋̓̄̕͜ḑ̷̡̨̛̙̟͖̺̣͚̱̱͇̌̆̀̆̓͒̆̀͒n̶̛̛͈̳͗̓̉̉͐̂̾̀̿̓̈̚͠ ̸̡͖̝͓͈̝͕̻͉̦̪͗̈́̈̂̐͌͜g̶̡̡̛̟̺̗̙̳̮̬̭̮̻̦̥̜̏́̋́͋̐̿̅̅̀̈́̚ö̷̢̹̫̖̦́́̎͛͛̈́͆͝͝.̶̨̧̖͙͖̠̞̪̘͈̥͗̈͆̅̍̈͒͆̍̓͘.̷͙͖̮̤̟͙̖͔̙̘͈̍̀̐̈͊́̔̈͜͝.̸̡̛̠̠̹̖̲̘̼̮̦̝̮͐̐͛̎̀̚͜
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.
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Zevrad's mood as he checked his [Character Window] was filled with self-satisfaction. None of his stats showed as [Low] and just by relying on physical exercises, he had achieved the exact same results as drinking 9 Elixirs.
"Ouch..."
While Zevrad was happily checking out his [Character Window], the stinging pain coming from his hands made him deeply frown. He didn't have to look to see why it hurt, his hands must've been bruised badly again. He began washing the aching hands with cold water, and his teeth began clattering all on their own.
'Damn it, I thought my hands are calloused enough by now...'
Although he was complaining inwardly, he still appreciated the progress he had made; the first day he practiced with a warscythe, the skin ruptured and he was bleeding all over the place. He was in so much pain that day, right up to the moment he face-planted onto his bed and passed out.
'Should I take a shower, or just go to sleep as I am?'
While Zevrad was wondering what to do next, he heard someone knock on his door.
"Who is it?"
Zevrad opened the door, only for his eyes to open wide in surprise.
Past the doorway stood a woman wearing an elven maid get-up, her hands demurely gathered in front; he could see her cold, strict eyes behind her blindfold and her slim, athletic figure as well her blue colored hair cleanly pulled up to a bun.
"Ariana?"
"It's been a while."
"What brings you here at this late hour?"
"There is something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Of course. Please, come in."
"Thank you," Ariana said in a polite manner and entered his room in a dignified stride.
"Oh yeah, Ariana."
Zevrad was guiding her into the room before turning in her direction as if he had remembered something just now.
"Yes?"
"How is your pink flower doing nowadays?"
*SMACK!*
Her lightning-fast fist landed squarely in the pit of his stomach. Zevrad toppled over and began wheezing in pain.
"Yeowch!"
"You and that stupid pink flower!!!"
Ariana cried out in anguish, which was quite unlike her, and her entire body began to shudder. Whereas Zevrad was gasping for air as he held onto his sides, wheezing and coughing his lungs out.
"I-I can't… hehe... I can't breathe..."
"By Elune!!! Do you have any idea what showed up in my [Character Window]?! Because of you?!"
"S-still… haha... my stomach..."
She must've been royally pissed off because she raised up her elbow very high in order to land an elbow drop on his back. However, she stopped after spotting something odd in the way he was clutching his stomach.
Zevrad wasn't using his palm but the edges of his hands to press onto the stomach. Only then did she notice his bruised and worn hands.
"Aren't you... going to heal your hands?"
He managed to raise his head somehow and uttered out a pained whimper. Ariana spat out a lengthy groan and shook her head.
"I see that you're still persistent with your foolish ways. It will be better if you at least get some kind of basic treatment on the injury."
Ariana dragged Zevrad and sat him down on the bed, then pulled out a bottle of antiseptic, healing salve, and some bandages from a closet nearby. Zevrad didn't even have a clue such things were there, so he was understandably stunned.
"Give me your hands."
Zevrad obediently presented his hands. She knelt down in front of him.
"This room will aid you greatly in recovering your vitality, but has only a minimal effect on healing injuries. At least, if you were to take baths with the special ointments I've recommended, then..."
While opening the bottle of the antiseptic, she continued to talk to him. Watching her expertly clean his wounds, apply the salve, and bandage them in one go, a thin smile crept up on Zevrad's lips. He felt rather happy at the moment. Actually, it had been a rather long time since he felt this way. He enjoyed this new life of his, where he got to spend the whole day engrossed in the things that interested him and to have someone to take care of him. It felt... comforting.
Even his personality was changing for the better. When Zevrad was still addicted to his self-indulgence in gambling and alcohol, he was constantly on edge. The victim mentality took center stage in his heart and caused him to choke up over nothing important. Oftentimes he'd get defensive and angry if he was ever pointed out to be in the wrong. However, he was gradually changing the longer he stayed in the Basic Realm.
Perhaps it might be correct to say that his former personality was returning?
Whatever the case may have been, a new problem had arisen along the way, his mischievous side came back. Ariana focused solely on wrapping the bandages around Zevrad's hands, allowing him to stare at the top of her head for a while. He then asked her a question out of the blue.
"I'm curious Ariana, why are you here? Attending to me?"
As she was almost done with the treatment, Ariana focused on that and didn't pay attention when she answered him.
"That's because I find you quite fascinating."
"Oh? I fascinate you then?"
"Yes."
"I'm very flattered, really."
A frown quickly formed quickly on Ariana's face. She was quite clearly taken off guard. She stared at Zevrad with a pair of eyes that seemed to imply, 'Where are you going with this now?'
Actually, the question was as unfamiliar as it could possibly be for her.
"Umm..."
Zevrad intentionally scratched his cheek in an awkward expression.
"It's nothing, really. It's just that, it's nice to hear that. Especially coming from someone as attractive as you.."
"Let's talsk traeeming..."
Ariana hurriedly spat out some incomprehensible words before she quickly covered her mouth with an expression that screamed, 'Oh, no.'
"Talsk traeeming?"
"Forgive me. I bit my tongue. I was talking about your training."
Ariana cleared her throat with a fake cough and spoke properly this time.
"Ah. My training, is it?"
At the mere mention of training, Zevrad's eyes began gleaming brightly. Seeing this, Ariana inwardly felt relieved. She didn't know why she felt that way, though.
She succeeded in changing the subject, but she still kind of resented Zevrad as her thoughts had been complicated for a little while now, yet he just had to say something totally unnecessary and make her feel even more conflicted than before. A short while later, Ariana opened her mouth to speak, "I've carefully considered this matter for a while."
Ariana never stopped caring about Zevrad's daily training. On the contrary, she couldn't appear before him precisely because there was nothing further she could do for him at this stage.
"Is it time for the new type of training?"
Initially, there was no reason for her to be this meticulous on someone else's training. However, her pride as Zevrad's teacher played 30% of the decision, while 20% belonged to Mother Malevolence's expectation.
"Well, I wonder… you could say this is indeed a new type of training."
As for the rest, that was the fault of Ariana's own desires. A wish, a desire, that any Night Elf in this place would harbor at least once in their lifetime. Perhaps, she was seeking to find fulfillment through a substitute, for instance, 'only if I did things like this when I first arrived in the Basic Realm', or 'only if I did things that way, then I'd have…'
Ariana was pouring out her own desire and placing them through someone else in hopes that he could carry her wish. Of pursuing the ideal perfection of self, the one she had failed to achieve so that they could change the world. That was her answer and why she found Zevrad fascinating.
As Zevrad walked the path that few could tread.
"In a way… you say?"
For the period of one month since Zevrad got his spec, she watched him train by himself. Seeing him get better and better all alone, she felt envious, and...
"Yes..."
….and also, grateful.
She was grateful that he gave her the opportunity, she was grateful that he was patient enough to not partake in any other missions, she was grateful that he didn't give up halfway through, she was grateful that he didn't complain... much... and followed her advice without doubting it.
The man sitting in front of her would not only embody her desires, but his achievements would also satisfy her greed and pride as a teacher. Perhaps that was why she no longer felt the need to compare Zevrad to others. He is his own character and so too were they, each of them with their own roles to play.
In other words, the present Zevrad, the one she knew now, is a survivor who had 'properly' tread on the steps of the Basic Realm. One step at a time. That was who he was, and finally, the ends of those steps were within sight. Foreshadowing the possibility of the story ahead.
"...I believe you have performed enough training by now."
The role Ariana had performed was nearly at its end. Now, it was time to hand the control back to the owner.
"You've done truly well."
His determination showed it...
"You've endured wonderfully until now."
...the calluses and bruises proved it...
"I am being honest. But, from now on, it's time to increase your combat experience."
...and finally, with this sentence, her role had come to an end.
Zevrad erased the smile off his face.
"You mean..."
His voice was soft, almost inaudible as if an ache in his heart forced it so. Ariana adjusted her posture and looked at him with a satisfied expression The only thing remaining to do…
"The journey for Vengeance begins."
...is to set him free.