**** Ajax POV ****
"I can't take this." I said as I simply sealed the box and gave it back to him.
He sighed and said "Yes, you can." while pushing the box back towards me.
"I won't be able to repay you for this."
"You don't have to, that's kind of how a gift works." he said sarcastically.
"Besides, it's literally me repaying you for saving my LIFE, if anything this isn't enough." he added.
Not enough? This was far more than I deserved, I knew the Kane family had various Combat Arts that they give to their guild members but to just hand them over like this was insanity. Opening the box, I saw two green colored books which gave a soft glow and caused system windows to pop up when I looked at them.
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Edna Kane's Unarmed Combat Techniques (★★★) (Copy)
Unarmed combat Techniques relying on agility and flexibility to outmaneuver and disable opponent.
Compatibility: All elements.
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Basic Dagger Arts (★) (Copy)
Combat art covering the basics of fighting with a dagger and little else.
Compatibility: All elements.
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This was too much, even the copy of a one-star manual as common as Basic Dagger Arts in good condition went for 20,000 Credits which was the currency of this country. The three-star manual was exclusive to Kane guild members of high ranking and was priceless but would most likely sell for well over a million Credits.
"Look, I couldn't get you into the academy and I don't have the time or knowledge to tutor you, so this is the least I can do." He said with a grin.
I knew it was stupid to refuse but it was difficult for me to believe that he was giving this to me without expecting anything in return. I wanted to get stronger, and this would help greatly but still accepting it was difficult.
"Hey, I'm not taking them back, so either sell them or use them, which will it be?" Adam chimed in.
Looking up at him, he seemed adamant about these statements as he stared at me intently, before he realized something and spoke.
"Oh actually, you can't sell that one, it's kind of a Kane family exclusive so you gotta use it."
Sighing, I took one of the manuals out of the box to which Adam basically jumped in excitement. Opening the one-star novel, it flipped through all of its pages before dissipating into light.
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Learnt Basic Dagger Arts (★)
Added to Combat Arts
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I saw the system window pop up, which was followed by a momentary headache which caused me to pinch my forehead.
"Oh yeah, that's a side effect of using one for the first time, I forgot to tell ya." Adam said.
I now had a mental image of the basics of wielding a dagger in combat, but I lacked the physical ability to execute it. To put it in a simpler way, it was essentially like a very effective tutorial of which I could recall every detail.
Opening my Combat Arts system window, I saw.
======Combat Arts ==========
Basic Dagger Arts (★) - Beginner
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Right, if I was able to physically execute every movement I saw in the manual, I would reach peak mastery, but I start at beginner. This would help me to gain some proficiency with weapons without a tutor. I intended to use a different dagger art, and this would be replaced soon but-
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Learnt Edna Kane's Unarmed Combat Techniques (★★★)
Added to Combat Arts
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This would last much longer, as learning to fight without a weapon would improve my lethality with one as well and prove useful in dire situations. This was different, the physical manual was thicker with more pages, and I couldn't view all its contents as I had to finish a certain portion of it before it was revealed to me. Reaching any level of mastery with this would be significantly more difficult.
"Thank you." I said to Adam after using the two manuals.
"No problem, I was kinda worried that if I gave these to you it would seem like I'm forcing you to live as a mercenary or hero, but it seems like you intended to do that anyway. Still, I want to make it clear, you can still live a normal life with a normal job, you owe the world nothing." He spoke seriously.
"I doubt I could find a job elsewhere." I said.
Adam paused for a moment, before tapping on his space ring and producing a mirror and pointing it at me.
"Look at this and tell me you 'can't find a job elsewhere.' "
I was pretty confused by what he meant as I stared at the mirror before looking back up at him, causing him to sigh and store the mirror again.
"You're hopeless."
"...?"
"Anyway, I just wanted to give you this before I headed out to go back to Copperfront myself. I'll come visit you at the camp once every now and then and if you ever need anything." He gave me a business card with his name and personal number on it.
"Don't hesitate to call." He said while leaving the tent, satisfied with his exit.
I wondered if I should tell him that I didn't have a phone to call him on but decided against it.
Returning to preparing for my departure I put the knife in a cloth sheathe inside the bag, I could use this to practice later, and I also put the notebook I had used to write down future events inside before closing it.
After which I cleaned up the room, tidying up the bed sheets and got breakfast at the cafeteria and waited to be called and after just a few minutes of waiting I heard a call at the door.
"Mr. Ajax?"
I heard a voice call and opened the entrance.
"The transport is ready." said an individual dressed in mage robes.
Nodding, I exited the tent and followed him way past the bounds of the encampment and soon I reached an area that seemed like a checkpoint with multiple heroes stationed and many vehicles resembling SUVs.
After a brief interaction with one of the guards I was guided to a vehicle resembling a compact smart car and was requested to get inside. The car was small but had comfortable leather seats and there was an elder man in brown woolen clothes in the driver's seat.
He talked with the guides for some time before turning back and saying with a smile.
"Please make yourself comfortable, we'll be at Copperfront by this afternoon."