The morning sunlight bathed the courtyard in a soft golden glow, but the tense atmosphere between the three figures standing at its center made it anything but peaceful.
Aldric, their stern and imposing trainer, paced slowly in front of Ethan and Max, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Before we start," Aldric began, his deep voice cutting through the silence, "you'll need to understand the basics of your abilities. You're not normal recruits. Your arrival here has granted you access to powers far beyond the average soldier. Powers you'll need if you're to survive the war ahead."
Max glanced at Ethan and raised an eyebrow. "Powers, huh? I don't feel like I'm brimming with energy or anything."
Aldric shot him a sharp look, and Max immediately straightened up.
"To see your potential, say the word 'Skills,'" Aldric instructed. "Your status screens should already show your stats, but your skills are what will define how you fight. Try it now."
Ethan hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Skills."
A translucent screen appeared in front of him, faintly glowing and only visible to his eyes. It listed three abilities under the header Basic Skills.
⭐ ⭐
<Strike: A fundamental attack skill that focuses energy into a single, powerful blow.>
<Quick Step: Enhances movement speed for a short duration.>
⭐ ⭐
He stared at the list, taking it in. Nothing flashy or overwhelming, but each skill seemed useful in its own way.
"Whoa," Max said, a grin spreading across his face. "Check it out. I've got some skills too."
Ethan glanced at him as Max swiped his hand through the air, seemingly interacting with his own screen.
"What'd you get?" Ethan asked.
"Let's see…" Max squinted at the screen. "Basic stuff, I guess. I've got Slash, Quick Guard, and Taunt. Sounds like they're gearing me up to be the team tank or something."
Aldric nodded approvingly. "Good. Your first skills are always basic. They're meant to lay the foundation for your fighting style. As you grow stronger, you'll acquire more advanced abilities — Unique Skills and eventually Ultimate Skills, if you live long enough."
"Unique Skills?" Ethan asked.
"They're just what they sound like," Aldric replied. "Abilities tailored to your individual strengths. No one else will have the exact same skill. Ultimate Skills, on the other hand, are rare and powerful enough to turn the tide of entire battles. But don't waste time fantasizing about them. You've got a long way to go before you're ready for anything like that."
Max scratched his chin thoughtfully. "So, when do we start picking up those fancy skills?"
Aldric's lips twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile. "When you've earned them. For now, let's see what you can do with what you've got."
He motioned toward the weapon racks lining the courtyard.
Swords, spears, and axes glinted in the sunlight, each one polished to a mirror finish.
"Pick a weapon," Aldric said. "Let's see how you handle yourselves in combat."
Max's eyes lit up, and he strode over to the rack with exaggerated confidence. "Finally, something exciting. Let's see… this one looks good."
He grabbed a longsword, testing its weight with a few experimental swings. "Nice balance. I think I can work with this."
Aldric crossed his arms. "Now, strike me."
Max froze, blinking. "Wait, what? You want me to hit you?"
"You heard me." Aldric's expression didn't waver. "Don't hold back. Use whatever skills you want. Just hit me."
Max looked at Ethan, who shrugged helplessly. "Alright, but don't blame me if this hurts," Max said, stepping into the sparring ground.
Aldric didn't even flinch. "I won't. Now stop stalling and attack."
Max raised his sword, his grin returning. "Alright, old man. Don't say I didn't warn you."
He took a few steps back, pointing the blade at Aldric. "Here comes the Slash special!"
With a playful yell, he charged forward, sword raised overhead.
Ethan couldn't help but shake his head. Even in this surreal situation, Max was still… Max.
Max's feet pounded against the ground as he closed the distance.
He brought the sword down in a sweeping arc, putting all his strength into the blow.
Aldric moved faster than Ethan's eyes could follow.
One moment, he was standing still; the next, his hand was outstretched, catching the blade mid-swing.
The sword stopped dead in its tracks, the impact ringing out like a bell.
"What the — " Max yelped, his arms shaking as he tried to press the blade forward.
Aldric didn't even seem to exert effort as he pushed the sword aside, sending Max stumbling backward.
"Not bad," he said, his tone as calm as ever. "Your form's terrible, but at least you're not afraid to attack. That's more than I can say for most recruits."
Max rubbed his wrist, staring at Aldric in disbelief. "You caught that bare-handed. Is your skin made of steel or something?"
Aldric smirked. "No. But I've been training for longer than you've been alive. If you want to land a hit, you'll need to be faster, stronger, and smarter."
Max grumbled something under his breath, returning to Ethan's side. "I think he broke my confidence," he muttered.
"Don't worry," Ethan said, suppressing a grin. "You didn't have much to start with."
Max shot him a look but didn't argue.
Aldric turned his attention to Ethan. "Your turn. Choose a weapon and show me what you've got."
Ethan's stomach twisted, but he nodded and walked over to the rack. His hand hovered over the swords before settling on a smaller blade — a shortsword that felt more manageable in his grip.
He stepped into the sparring ground, taking a deep breath. His heart pounded as he raised the sword, trying to remember the handful of techniques he'd seen in movies.
"Focus," Aldric said, his voice steady. "Don't overthink it. Just move."
Ethan lunged forward, swinging the sword in a wide arc.
Aldric dodged effortlessly, stepping to the side with the grace of a dancer.
"Again," Aldric said.
Ethan gritted his teeth, trying a thrust this time.
The blade barely grazed Aldric's sleeve before the older man stepped back, completely unfazed.
"You're holding back," Aldric said, his tone sharp. "Stop hesitating. Attack with intent."
Ethan tightened his grip on the sword, frustration bubbling in his chest. He took another swing, putting more force into it this time.
Aldric blocked it with the flat of his hand, but for a brief moment, Ethan felt the impact resonate through his arm.
"Better," Aldric said. "Still sloppy, but better."
Ethan stepped back, panting. He felt like he'd run a mile in full gear.
"That's enough for now," Aldric said, lowering his arms.