When the noble finally walked away, I turned to Tesline with a mix of fury and frustration. The curious looks from some students felt like a constant pressure, but at that moment, all I could think about was how foolish it had been to propose that bet.
"What the hell was that, Tesline?" I blurted out with a voice full of anger. "Do you have any idea how hard this is going to be to win?"
She merely watched me with an exasperating calm, as if she didn't understand why I was so upset. Then, as if my protest meant nothing to her, she grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me close until our faces were only inches apart.
"What are you so worried about, Rurik?" she said in a low voice, with an utterly confident expression. "You've got that giant magic armor that helped us with the orc. With it, you could win without a problem."
I sighed and pulled away from her grasp, rubbing the back of my neck. It was true that the armor was a considerable advantage, one that surely no one else had. But I couldn't just reveal it here. There were too many things at stake, and the risk of drawing attention to something so rare and powerful wasn't an option I was willing to take lightly.
"I can't just show the armor, Tesline," I said, trying to stay calm despite my growing frustration. "That thing would attract too much attention, and there would be many questions I can't answer. I don't want people to start snooping. Besides…" I hesitated, lowering my voice even more, "the armor took some damage in the last fight, and I've been working on repairing it since then."
"Come on, Rurik, don't make that face." She gave me a pat on the back, smiling. "Of all the people I know, you're the smartest. It's just a matter of using that intelligence of yours, and you'll come up with something to win."
I opened my mouth to protest, to tell her that physical training wasn't my strong suit, that I didn't have the brute strength or endurance of others, but I stopped.
Tesline was right. It wasn't just about strength, at least not for someone like me. This world, like the game it was based on, was full of enemies with well-defined attack patterns, with weak points I could exploit.
If this training included facing enemies, I knew their vulnerabilities, their attack sequences, and even the positions from which I could gain an advantage better than anyone else. I didn't have to be the strongest; I just had to be the smartest.
"I think you're right, Tesline," I said, giving her a slight smile. She smiled back and patted me on the shoulder.
But before I could say anything else, the professor called all of us to the center of the field, indicating that the training was about to start. I felt the murmurs among the students fade away as he walked forward with an upright posture and a focused gaze on us. From the moment I saw his serious expression, I knew this wasn't going to be easy or superficial.
"All right, class!" began the professor, in a tone that resonated across the field. "Today, we will test your endurance, agility, and, most importantly, your ability to analyze and strategize in combat."
"What will our training be?" asked a nearby student.
"A mage has prepared an artificial area where you'll face a magic-created enemy, and we'll measure the time it takes you to defeat the opponent."
Upon hearing "artificial opponents," my mind began to process all the information I had stored. If these enemies followed the basic combat patterns of the game, then I could maintain a significant advantage.
"To properly assign places, everyone will face the same enemy. In this case, it will be a demonic gray wolf."
That was just what I needed to hear. Now that I knew which enemy I was facing, I could start planning a strategy to defeat it.
I relaxed a bit, without letting my guard down, knowing I had to keep my senses sharp and my memories active.
When the professor began dividing the students into groups, Tesline and I stayed together, although I could tell she was eager to start. I looked at her with a determined gaze and caught her confidence.
"Ready to show them that brains are as valuable as brawn?" she whispered, nudging me with her elbow.
"I hope so," I replied, smiling back.
I quickly reviewed my skills and energy in my mind, focusing on the precise moves I'd need to execute to take down this enemy as quickly as possible.
Demonic wolves like this one were fast, but that also meant their attacks went straight for the target, and that worked in my favor.
My freezing spell would be crucial to buy time. With 1,500 health points and attacks dealing 50 damage per claw strike and 70 per bite, I'd have to avoid taking direct hits because even a couple of strikes could be fatal. My strategy was becoming clear in my mind.
First, I'd cast my freezing spell to gain a few seconds, immobilizing the wolf in place. Then, I'd use two mana shards from a medium distance, where it still couldn't reach me.
I would then approach, just in time for the freezing effect to start wearing off. I knew the wolf would try to pounce immediately, as usually happened after the freezing effect in the game.
This would be the key moment. I'd perform a precise parry the instant its bite or claw came at me. I knew there was a short window to do it, and I couldn't afford to miss.
After the parry, I'd take the opportunity to perform a visceral attack with my axe, aimed at its head and chest. This attack would completely break its stance and deal a significant amount of damage.
With its stance broken, it would be stunned long enough to take two more mana shards before it recovered, giving me a chance to finish it off before it got up for another attack.
The professor called on Darius, interrupting my thoughts about the strategy I'd devised for facing the demonic wolf.
The professor's voice echoed through the classroom as he explained that Darius had excelled in the warm-up and would be the first to face the trial. My eyes focused on him, watching how he prepared with a concentration that was almost palpable, like a predator about to pounce on its prey.
Darius positioned himself in front of a magical portal that had appeared before him. The professor placed a crystal in a strange magical device, and suddenly, a floating screen materialized in the air, showing the inside of the portal where Darius had entered.
The screen began a countdown, and the anticipation in the room grew. I counted the seconds in my mind, feeling the tension in the air until the timer reached zero.
With a determined leap, Darius lunged forward, crossing the portal's threshold and entering the training arena. The screen showed an image of a demonic gray wolf, already alert, waiting with its eyes fixed on him.
At that moment, my mind filled with questions. Could Darius overcome this enemy? Would his combat style be effective against the beast?
Darius wasted no time. In one fluid motion, he ran toward the wolf, using his speed.
The tactic was quick and bold; he lunged for a tackle that disoriented the wolf just enough to give him an advantage.
I watched as the sword glinted in his hands while he drove it into the creature's throat. But the wolf didn't go down easily. With surprising agility, it managed to pull back just in time, dodging the fatal blow that would have taken it out.
Now furious, the wolf countered with a devastating swipe. My eyes widened in surprise as I saw how Darius moved agilely to dodge the attack, barely managing to avoid the claws.
The tension in my chest increased; the fight felt like a dance of shadows and lights, each of Darius's moves measured and precise.
Then, in a moment that seemed suspended in time, Darius took the offensive again. With a quick spin, he lunged at the demon's stomach, plunging his blade in with force. The screen shone with each blow, reflecting the intensity of his attack.
But that wasn't all. Darius, like an experienced warrior, pulled out a knife he had hidden in his belt.
With incredible precision, he drove it into the wolf just before the creature could react, ending the fight almost instantly. The wolf fell, defeated, and the screen lit up with the glow of success.
I stood there, blank, astonished as I witnessed Darius's skill level. Every move he made was the result of years of training and experience, reflecting an absolute mastery in combat.
A feeling of insecurity took hold of me; I knew I had to be clever and tactical, but Darius's physical skill and speed were something I doubted I could ever match.
The room burst into applause as the professor jotted something down in a notebook. My thoughts spun between admiration for Darius and my need to improve.
I knew physical prowess wasn't my strength, but I couldn't let that hold me back. The next opportunity could be mine.
Darius stepped out of the portal with a triumphant smile, and the professor congratulated him in front of everyone. I watched as the look of pride escaped from Darius, as if everything had been easy for him.
The excitement in the air was intense; each one of us was eager to face our own challenge. The professor turned to the mage standing near the arena and instructed him to open more portals, allowing all of us to have our chance to test our skills against the demonic wolf.
With a sigh, I approached one of the portals, feeling a slight knot of doubt in my stomach. I knew I had a well-thought-out plan, but I was also aware that any mistake could cause everything to unravel quickly.
I took a deep breath, calming my mind and focusing on my strategy. No matter what happened, I had to stay calm and trust my abilities.
I entered the portal, and in an instant, I found myself in a forest surrounded by trees and with the ground covered in a slight layer of loose soil.
The atmosphere was oppressive, with a mist covering the battlefield and a tense silence echoing in my ears. There was no time to hesitate. I observed the countdown timer floating above the arena, marking the seconds until the start of the test.
The countdown began, and I felt my pulse quicken as adrenaline filled every corner of my body.
I counted down in my head, ensuring my breathing stayed slow and controlled, each inhale and exhale relaxing my muscles. "Once it starts, there's no margin for error," I reminded myself.
"Five, four, three, two... one." The timer hit zero, and I sprang into action.
My eyes immediately locked onto the gray demon wolf a few meters away. Its dark fur and glowing crimson eyes emitted a sense of hostility, its desire to attack palpable.
Without wasting time, I raised my staff and cast my freezing spell, aiming directly at the wolf. An icy flash shot from my staff, and in the blink of an eye, it covered the beast in a layer of crystalline ice.
I had only a few seconds before the wolf would start moving again, so I launched two mana shards, aiming directly at its paws and torso. The shards sliced through the air, smashing into the wolf with force, fracturing the ice but preventing the wolf from fully recovering.
The wolf began to shake, trying to free itself from the ice, and I knew that now was the time to get close.
Without hesitation, I moved quickly forward, my axe ready in my hands. Just as the ice started to crack and the wolf began to stir, I knew it would attempt an immediate attack. I watched its enraged eyes and its muscles tensing, ready to lunge at me the moment it fully thawed.
And in that instant, as the wolf pounced with a claw swipe toward me, I acted without hesitation. I parried with precision, deflecting its attack with a flick of my wrist, breaking its stance. The impact of my shield against its claw echoed through the air, and the wolf was left destabilized, surprised by the unexpected counter.
I didn't let it recover its balance. In a fluid motion, I lifted my axe and performed a visceral attack, aiming at the wolf's side where its defenses were weakest.
My strike was precise, sinking deeply into its side and wrenching a howl of pain from the beast. Its stance was completely broken, and I knew it wouldn't have time to recover.
I stepped back and, taking advantage of its vulnerable state, launched two more mana shards. The shards struck directly at its chest, shattering the remaining resistance it had left.
The wolf let out one last whimper and collapsed to the ground, defeated. I stood in silence, breathing deeply as I watched its body slowly vanish, a sign that I had completed the training.
My mind was still processing the sequence of actions, the flow of each movement, and the tension finally began to fade. I had managed to defeat it without taking a single hit, just as I had planned.
I exited the portal, my heart still pounding from the battle, though it was already beginning to slow. With a sigh, I moved aside to wait for Tesline, who was already preparing for her turn. I felt somewhat satisfied with my performance, but I still couldn't let my guard down. At least I had a little time to see how she would do.
As I waited, I looked around and noticed Darius and Elaine watching me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable. Darius, with his usual look of superiority, scrutinized me as if trying to figure out how I had emerged unscathed from the portal.
Meanwhile, Elaine wore a thoughtful expression, as if evaluating my performance with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Not really sure what to do, I decided to ignore them and turned in another direction, trying to focus on anything other than the feeling of their eyes fixed on my back.
After a while, the portal lit up again, signaling that Tesline had finished her battle. I saw her walking toward me with that self-assured expression she always wore after a fight.
However, before she could reach me, Darius and Elaine intercepted her, talking about something I couldn't quite hear from where I stood. I frowned, a bit intrigued by what they might be saying to her. Was Darius trying to recruit her for his group? Or was Elaine hoping to involve her in some academic strategy?
To distract myself, I started making silly voices in my head, imagining the conversation. "Oh, look at my enormous head, I'm so great," I muttered under my breath, imitating what Darius would likely say.
Switching to a more melodious tone, one I imagined for Elaine, I murmured, "Come on, dear Tesline, look at his huge head; I bet his thoughts echo." I chuckled to myself, trying to lighten the mood, though a small prick of worry lingered.
My musings continued until I saw Tesline suddenly lose her patience. With a frustrated look, she pushed both Darius and Elaine aside, leaving them standing there, surprised and unsure of how to react as she made her way toward me, keeping an awkward distance from them.
Watching her approach, frowning and with firm steps, I murmured softly, "That didn't end well."
Tesline came up to me, her expression both stern and determined. Before I could say anything, she whispered, "Come on, Rurik. It's better if we go somewhere else." Her words had that unmistakable tone of "this isn't optional," so I nodded, knowing that arguing would only delay the inevitable.
As we walked, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder at Darius and Elaine, who were still following us at a certain distance.
The fury on Darius's face was evident, his eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched as though holding back a torrent of words he preferred to keep to himself.
Elaine, however, seemed scared. When our eyes met, she quickly looked away, trying to hide a mix of discomfort and fear. Does she still fear me?
"No problem," I told Tesline quietly. "But we should check how we did later, right?" She nodded, though her focus remained on the current situation, as if we were walking through a field full of traps.
As we advanced, I realized Darius and Elaine were still tailing us like annoying shadows. It was clear they wouldn't give up easily. I looked at Tesline, who seemed to notice this as well, but she kept her head high, ignoring them as if they were mere stones in the path.
"So… we're just going to ignore them?" I whispered. Tesline sighed in exasperation but didn't turn her gaze. "Yes, just ignore them," she responded in a firm tone, with an expression suggesting that, to her, the matter was closed.
I was about to say something else, maybe make a comment to lighten the mood, but something caught my attention. Right beside the path, I saw a tree full of bright red apples hanging from the branches as if waiting to be picked.
I ran toward the apple tree like a little kid discovering hidden treasure, and with a smile, I pointed toward the branches laden with ripe fruit.
"They're ready! Look, they're at the perfect point," I said, waving my hands at the apples. Tesline approached, and to my surprise, she even smiled a little. That expression rarely showed on her face, so I took advantage of it. "Want one?" I asked.
"Of course, what are you waiting for? Pass me one," she replied, crossing her arms with a playful smirk. I decided to climb the tree and surprise her by tossing an apple from above.
I tried to climb it, though climbing wasn't my strong suit, and after one failed attempt where I nearly fell backward, Tesline let out a mocking laugh.
"You're going to end up on the ground before you manage to get even one apple," she laughed. Her teasing laugh made me cling to the tree with more determination, and with a bit of effort, I finally managed to climb.
From the branch, I looked down, frowning at her, but she only raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by my efforts.
"Here you go!" I said, throwing an apple at her with a bit of force to make it a bit challenging to catch, but she caught it effortlessly. She took a bite and smiled, approving of the flavor. "Not bad," she said, glancing back.
I turned to see what had caught her attention; Darius and Elaine were still watching us from a cautious distance. Tesline frowned and crossed her arms.
"They're still here?" she said aloud, clearly annoyed that they wouldn't leave us alone.
I figured it was best to avoid another confrontation, so I gestured to Tesline to look up. "Hey, hey, before you scare them off with your fists, why don't you help me with this? I want to gather some apples to make an apple pie for dinner, and it'd be easier if you caught them. What do you say?"
The word pie made her eyes light up with genuine excitement, a rare sight. "An apple pie? For that, sure," she replied, shaking her hands as if ready to catch a rain of apples.
She smiled at me in an almost childlike way, as if she were sharing in my excitement, and got ready as if she were in the middle of training.
I began throwing apples one after another, and Tesline, quick and precise, caught each one mid-air, even the ones I threw with a bit of a curve just to see if she'd miss. Her reflexes were impressive; somehow, she managed to catch each one without missing a beat or losing her composure, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You're good at this, huh?" I called down from my spot on the branch as she gathered apples in her arms.
"You better respect me," she replied playfully, lifting one of the apples as if she was about to throw it at me. When she'd finally collected a good amount, I decided it was time to climb down carefully. I jumped the last few inches, and as I landed, I looked over our haul with satisfaction.
"I know an apple pie recipe I learned... well, at some point," I murmured, recalling old memories of my past life, where baking with my parents was one of the few things I truly enjoyed. "It's perfect. We'll need to get a bit of cinnamon and some butter, but it'll be amazing."
Tesline grinned. "So, we've got a mission before dinner—to head to the market and make sure we get those ingredients."
Elaine came over with an inquisitive, slightly annoyed expression. She looked at us directly, then bluntly asked her question.
"Rurik, if you have amnesia, how do you remember an apple pie recipe?" she asked, her tone filled with suspicion. My answer was ready; it was a question I'd expected, one that anyone observant might ask.
"It's like breathing... or math," I replied, shrugging as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "It's something rooted deep in my subconscious. Sure, I know the recipe, but... I have no idea who taught it to me or when."
As I said this, something clicked in my mind. An uncomfortable, nagging thought. It was true—I really had no idea who'd taught me that recipe. And I didn't remember simple things that should be right there, within reach of my memory. My old name, my parents' faces... all those important, familiar details were fading like a mirage.
The words left my lips in almost a whisper, more for myself than for the others. "I don't remember... I don't remember what they looked like."
A silence fell over the group, and I felt a sting of vulnerability. The reality of the situation, the weight of those lost memories, hit me like a wave, and before I knew it, something warm began running down my cheeks.
"Are you... okay? You're crying," Tesline asked, stepping closer and looking at me with a mix of concern and tenderness she rarely showed.
Surprised, I brought my hands to my face, feeling the dampness of tears on my fingers. It was a strange, almost surreal moment, realizing that my memories were blocked without me even noticing.
"Yeah... I'm fine," I said in a half-hearted attempt to convince myself, quickly wiping away the tears. I didn't want to appear so vulnerable in front of them, especially when I knew Elaine still doubted me.
Elaine, who hadn't stopped watching me, now seemed visibly surprised and somewhat disgusted, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Though there was a hint of doubt in her gaze, there was also something else—a spark of understanding that she probably wasn't ready to admit.
"Maybe... maybe you really did lose your memory," she murmured, barely audible, as if it was more of a thought spoken aloud than a statement. It was clear she was still conflicted, torn between doubt and the growing possibility that I was telling the truth.
The air felt heavier. Though it wasn't a violent confrontation, there was an undeniable tension between us, an invisible barrier that my amnesia had only made taller and more solid.
Tesline stepped forward, placing herself between Elaine and me with a determined look. She didn't need to say anything, but her presence was enough to make Elaine take a small step back.
Elaine seemed uncomfortable, as if she was trapped between doubt and a sliver of compassion, something she probably didn't want to admit in front of Darius.
As we walked away from the apple tree, I noticed Tesline didn't look entirely comfortable. Tilting my head slightly, I asked her quietly, "Are you alright? You seem a bit tense."
She let out a sigh, then looked at me with a somewhat forced smile. "Oh, I'm fine. I can handle a lot more than this. Besides... I'm really looking forward to seeing how that apple pie turns out for dinner tonight." Her tone held that blend of sincerity and teasing that only Tesline could pull off.
Suddenly, Elaine, who had been walking a few steps behind with Darius, stepped forward and, with a slightly uncomfortable smile, commented, "You two seem pretty close. How did you meet?"
A chill of unease ran down my spine. I knew exactly where this was going. Elaine was clearly gathering information, probably to relay it back to Darius, who was now looking at us with a mixture of jealousy and disdain. Not wanting to complicate things, I decided to keep it simple and neutral.
"We met on a mission," I said in a casual tone, trying to keep things from being misunderstood. "We had to work together and—"
Tesline cut me off enthusiastically, completely changing the tone of the conversation. "Rurik saved my life from an orc!" she exclaimed, putting extra emphasis on every word. I froze, knowing this was going in a dangerous direction.
"That's a bit of an exaggeration, don't you think, Tesline?" I tried to interject before she could continue, but it was too late.
With a satisfied look and a mischievous grin that sent shivers down my spine, Tesline turned to Darius, who already looked visibly uncomfortable. "Oh, it was totally gallant," she went on, her tone mocking. "He faced the orc bravely. It was almost romantic, wasn't it, Rurik?"
I felt my cheeks heat up as I tried to respond, but Tesline covered my mouth with her hand, stopping me from speaking. "And as a thank-you," she continued, completely ignoring my attempts to free myself, "I decided to help him build his house in the hill. You know, something cozy and snug—just perfect for him."
I managed to push her hand away for a moment and tried to clarify. "She was kind, and we helped each other out. That's it," I said, looking at her with a mix of exasperation and pleading, hoping she'd stop.
But Tesline had no intention of stopping. She covered my mouth again, smiling with the same twisted grin, and added, "If it weren't for me, Rurik would still be living in a hollow, dark, damp hill." Her tone was so convincing that even I almost believed it.
To make matters worse, Tesline continued her story as if it were a fairy tale. "And when I ran out of money to stay at the inn, I asked if I could live with him, and he, being so sweet and grateful, didn't hesitate to say yes." Her voice held that sickly-sweet, charming tone she only used to tease, making me burn with embarrassment.
Finally, I managed to pull her hand from my mouth, and with a mix of irritation and resignation, I said, "That's not how it happened, and you know it!" I tried to free myself, but Tesline was quick and caught me again with ease.
"Oh, come on, Rurik," she teased with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You're just so sweet. I don't know what I'd do without you." Her exaggerated tone was so over-the-top that I almost laughed, but a sense of growing frustration bubbled up inside me.
By then, Darius had reached his limit. With a scowl and clenched fists, he jumped up, releasing a snort of pent-up anger. "I don't have to listen to this anymore," he muttered, before turning and striding away quickly. Elaine glanced after him, with a mix of sympathy and surprise, then hurried to follow.
Once they were out of sight, Tesline released me, shaking her hands as if she'd finished a tiring task. Her victorious smile lingered, and she looked at me with that playful expression she loved to wear when she scored a small victory.
"Thanks for being so... cooperative," she said, patting me on the shoulder. I only looked at her, somewhere between annoyed and resigned.
"There goes my chance of making sure that guy doesn't hate me," I grumbled, crossing my arms. But she just shrugged, showing not an ounce of remorse.
"Well, he brought it on himself," Tesline replied in a carefree tone. "If he weren't so insufferably controlling, he wouldn't have to hear things he dislikes."
I sighed, admitting that she was somewhat right. Besides, there was something oddly amusing about how much she enjoyed her little joke.