From the gloomy clouds above, a drizzle of rain fell on the Training Camp in a steady pitter-patter. The ferocity of the storm that covered the Immortal Reach was slowly but surely increasing.
Inside the Exercise square, toward the western edge, a group of figures stood, separated from a larger throng. Three of the figures - a stocky redhead, a scrawny teen, and a middle-aged woman - fussed over the fourth, and final figure.
"Seriously, Nico! Why did you do that?"
"Nico…"
"Honestly, young people. They're so rash these days."
Nico, subjected to all three voices hid a small smile. He found it amusing that the trio were trying to fuss over him.
'It's just a bruise. No big deal, right…?'
"No!" Henry suddenly said. Gazing at his friend, he had an inkling of what Nico was thinking internally. To the young farmer, it was as plain as day.
Receiving strange looks from Leon and Kendra - whom he sent a small glare in her direction, still not having forgiven her for what happened previously in the Infirmary - Henry, cleared his throat and spoke sternly, pointing in Nico's direction:
"Nico, over here. Thinks that just because all he received was a little bruise, that it's okay to shrug the matter off as no big deal, right?"
Nico suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, under the combined intensity of Henry and Kendra's gazes. He gulped, before attempting to put up a convincing smile, "N-No. I-It's just that all's well that ends well, right?"
A nervous chuckle escaped the brown-haired trainee's mouth, after seeing the green-eyed trainee and the healer remain unimpressed.
Henry facepalmed and muttered under his breath, "Fate, help me with this one."
He shifted his gaze to the wrathful firmament and sighed. It was almost as if Nico had a penchant for getting hurt. Contemplating on the future, Henry imagined his friend would probably continue to find himself surrounded by pain.
He chuckled to himself, amused by the thought.
Meanwhile, Kendra had made her patient sit down on one of the wooden chairs and began applying salve to his injured clavicle. As she exposed Nico's shoulders, the full of extent of his injury became apparent.
A large red welt formed at the point where the weapon had struck him. Streaks of blue and purple intertwined with the redness to provide a somewhat sickly sight.
The healer furrowed her brows and gently rubbed some salve on the bruise. She would not use mana to heal the injury.
Besides that it was better for the body to heal naturally, and that mana only provided the body with energy for it to heal on its own, she legally could not, unless Nico was on the verge of death.
The reason was that after countless studies and research into how the mythical energy interacted with the human body - and some discourse and consultation with the Elves - it was found that if a trainee, or any other human had a trace of mana – aside from their own - within their bodies when attempting to Awaken, then the chance of failure increased exponentially.
Many who were unfortunate to be tainted by said mana suffered as a result, finding that the change to their bodies was more drastic and harrowing. Unfortunately for most, that meant that their bodies couldn't handle undergoing a stronger and fiercer transformation.
Thus, they died.
That was why natural remedies and salves were the only tools she had at her disposal. Gazing at Nico, a wry smile appeared on Kendra's stern face. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to use any mana.
Although, knowing her current patient, that might just be too far-fetched a wish.
Leon, who was standing to the side, just shook his head with mirth. He had a feeling this was going to be a recurring sight in the future. One he would have to get used to quick.
Nico winced as he felt Kendra softly rub the salve over his injured clavicle. He smiled wryly thinking that behind her stern exterior, lay a caring and gentle soul.
'Really, it's just a small bruise. I don't know why they're overreacting.' Nico grumbled to himself. If he couldn't even withstand a tiny bruise, how could he even call himself a warrior in the future.
Warriors could cope with torn or severed limbs and still fight. A mere bruise was nothing compared to that.
Nico winced again as the middle-aged healer finally finished with her task. He shifted his gaze to the ongoing duels, the rumble of thunder accompanying his movement. By now, almost all the trainees had partaken in their first duel.
The second round of fights was now officially underway.
***
Time passed. Nico tried moving his shoulder and felt it to be a little stiff.
'Oh, well. It is what it is.'
Nico accidentally tried to shrug and immediately regretted it a moment later, a grimace of pain twisting his unassuming features.
While he was recovering, he had the thought of entering the meditative state. If his stay in the infirmary was any sign to live by, Nico wanted to dull the pain. And… focus on making sure he was ready for his second duel.
Besides, maybe meditation increased his recovery speed? Nico felt the idea had some merit, since his mind was clear and at harmony with his own body, which in theory should help.
He couldn't say for certain, though.
Another period passed uneventfully.
Some trainees sulked or patted their chest in relief while some others hugged their knees in disappointment. A cloud of depressed gloom hung suspended above their heads.
Suddenly a tap on his good shoulder broke Nico out of his meditative state. Lifting his gaze, he found Leon telling him he was next up in the duels, his opponent being Kayara.
The half-blood had a big grin on his face.
Nico quickly learned that his burly companion had triumphed in his second duel, defeating a girl called Ari, a green-haired noble who was a formidable fighter.
Leon, however, had used his raw strength to overwhelm her slowly as time went on, and eventually he emerged victorious.
Nico saw relief flood the half-blood's features.
Leon had successfully passed.
'Nice. I'm happy for him.' He thought with a smile.
Turning his head, Nico found Henry with a subdued expression on his face. The raven-haired trainee appeared deep in thought.
From the half-blood beside him, Nico learned Henry had drawn in this latest duel. He and his opponent were evenly matched.
Now, the young farmer left it to the final duel, where he would need to win to pass.
From the snippets of the surrounding conversations, Nico also learned of how Lucas had fared in his second battle… and his eyes couldn't help but narrow.
The noble was on a maddened quest for vengeance, or so it seemed.
According to the information, the other trainee stood no chance. The arrogant heir had even made sure his adversary stayed in the duel longer. The longer the one-sided fight dragged on, the more pain and misery Lucas's opponent had had to handle.
'Such cruelty.'
Nico sighed, groaned, and got up from his cross-legged position, spear in hand. He leisurely made his way over to the left boundary, where Leon's instructor, Nix, would oversee his fight against Kayara.
'I need to keep this up. I can't slack off just because I already have one foot toward passing.'
With the momentum from his victory in the earlier duel on his side, Nico was confident that he could win for a second time. He noted that the stiffness in his left shoulder had decreased a little, after he had tried to put some pressure on it.
Although not that satisfied with his state coming into the duel, it was just going to do.
With measured steps, Nico arrived at the location and got into his stance. Kayara did the same, and with that…
…His second duel began.