Ethan still felt that he was weak compared to the people that he loved within the village. But he also thought that if he continued walking this path, he would grow stronger and stronger. He wished he could one day stand with pride before the people he had grown up with and be as strong as they were.
They knew that he was the weakest in the Divine Nexus and was being looked over for that moron Grimmel. Ethan had hated feeling like that.
Ethan wanted to protect what he loved.
Ethan also knew he didn't love Wendy or Lucy at this stage; he had only met them a few days before.
Ethan could feel lust and aroused by them, but he knew that would fade in time as he got to know them. Everyone has bad habits that set people apart, especially in a relationship.
Ethan knew he would have to see if he could live with them or if they would drive him up a wall. Ethan would take it day by day and see what would happen as he looked down at the two girls by his side.
Ethan's heart started racing. And he could feel his palms felt sweaty.
Ethan rationalised that he was feeling lust and foolish. If he could become more robust, they would eventually love him. And they would be protected by him. But if he stayed weak as he was, they would never look up to him, and eventually, they would leave his side, and he would be all alone again.
Ethan remembered the days with Heather, which was fresh in his mind. They just defeated an invading force from another realm. The man she adored was a champion that day. He had done well in the battle. Everyone cheered him on as he stopped his dragon whelp mount before Heather. He had dismounted quickly. Heather looked around and said that they were going to celebrate the victory. They walked hand in hand towards her house.
Everyone joked about how busy they would be for the next two or three days.
In his heart, Ethan knew what they would do, but he did not want to acknowledge it to himself. Ethan knew he should not have kissed her. Ethan had made a massive mistake and would always regret it.
There was a commotion as the students pointed into the air. The instructor approached them from the air on his cloud mount, landed softly before them, and roared.
"Hey, recruits! I am your instructor, Captain Jones. You are here to become formidable, the top dogs of the adventure society. You will get four months of training and education in technology and magic to prepare you for adventure and its dangers. You will learn to work together as a team, follow the Law, and help people. You will face four situations and simulations: fighting monsters and dungeon bosses. You will be assessed on your skills, smarts, endurance, and character. You will be evaluated to your limits and beyond."
The recruits saluted and shouted in unison.
"Yes, sir!"
The recruits' voices echoed. Their eyes fixed on Captain Jones's imposing figure.
"I will be your instructor. I'm a veteran of thirty-two missions with a strict and demanding personality. I expect excellence from squad members."
They looked at Jones as he scanned the group of recruits blankly, ignoring their discomfort under the scorching sun. He was a tall, muscular man with short, dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a crisp white shirt, black trousers, and a shiny badge on his chest. He stood erect, his hands clasped behind his back, and spoke clearly. On this bright summer morning, the air was filled with the smell of freshly mown grass.
The recruits were diverse young men and women, each with unique abilities and backgrounds. They were eager and ready to prove themselves, while others seemed nervous or bored.
Among them were shifters, vampires, catkin, and tiger kin. They were like portraits of heroes from a bygone era, each with their own story.
Jones said.
"There are different people and beasts and strength levels. I will now check your levels and divide you into groups. You already have the training and have increased your levels through various methods."
"From level one hundred, you get boss-level monsters; beyond those levels, you get S and SS Classes. If you meet these, run like hell. Hundred-level S-class adventurers must Work in fifty to a hundred groups to defeat them."
The fact that. John said they should work in groups. To defeat enemies, worried Ethan. Ethan handed the girls papers to fill in.
"Hail, Lucy? I told him he should not feel bad about it and that many people could not read or write."
Together, they walked to the kiosk and handed in their papers.
Their stomachs growled. Ethan looked down at the girls. They were hungry again. They would spend many coins on food, especially if they wanted to acquire resources.
The three inspected the poster with an ad for the cafeteria. There were monster meat dishes and bread advertised. Let us go to the cafeteria.
"Alas, they know how to make monster meat. We should eat here as much as we can. The food here is a lot cheaper."
"Hail, I agree with Lucy. This adds delicious meals to the day. It will help with our meal costs. We can save on the silver coins we earn now."
"Alas, these meals can be a real lifesaver. They will save us from using too much coin for food, and then we will have enough to stay at the inn."
"Squee, we should keep sharing a room. This will bring down our living costs, and then we will have money for other things we might need."
"Hail, we will need camping gear and everything we'll need to survive in the dungeon."
"Alas, before we think about gear, we must decide what role you will play in our party. Think about it because we'll have to buy the gear that suits your role."
"Squee, you make a good point. I haven't thought about that. Spending our coin wisely will only benefit us in the future."
Ten students approached Ethan and his friends as they ate the lovely meal they had bought. They looked to be some kind of student body.
The leader of the group walked up to Ethan.