Chapter 6: Vulture's Forest Training

  Leo headed towards Gothia's southern gate, his mind preoccupied with a multitude of concerns. He urgently needed money; he was eager to improve his swordsmanship, and he couldn't stop thinking about the girl who knew his name. How could someone like him, lacking in strength, possibly survive in such a harsh world? At the moment, Leo's mind was a chaotic jumble.

  "Halt there, citizen! State your purpose for leaving," one of the gate guards called out, bringing him back to the present.

  "Equalizer, Iron Rank," Leo presented his GHMC.

  "Ah, my apologies, Mr. Neumond. You may proceed," the soldier's demeanor instantly changed upon seeing his Equalizer identification.

  Citizens were generally not allowed to leave Gothia without official permission, travel with a caravan, or sign a waiver acknowledging the risks involved. The world outside the city walls was simply too dangerous.

  Leo nodded to the guards and inquired, "Could you tell me the direction to Vulture Forest?"

  One guard exchanged a look with the other, both hesitant to respond. Finally, one of them spoke up.

  "Vulture Forest lies north along this road. It's about an hour's walk."

  "Thank y—"

  "However, sir," the guard interjected, "I wouldn't go there if I were you. I mean, no disrespect, but we noticed you're Iron Rank."

  "Yes, so?"

  "Sir, it's called Vulture Forest for a reason. It's close to Gothia, and many inexperienced Equalizers go there... and don't return. Perhaps they're too lazy to find a safer location, or perhaps they're simply uninformed," the soldier concluded, a note of pity in his voice.

  "Vultures, is it?" Leo mused.

  "It's a silver-rank zone, sir. Please exercise extreme caution," the guard concluded.

  "Thank you; I will," Leo replied.

  Leo had faith in Roland, so he wasn't overly concerned about the danger. However, the prospect of walking alone to their meeting point for over an hour did make him uneasy. Bandits and the occasional Leirion were known to prey on lone travelers, and Leo was still quite weak.

  After a considerable walk, Leo reached a fork in the road with a small sign that read, "Beware! Lothar Village." Choosing the path that led away from the village, he soon noticed a dense wall of trees in the distance, marking the forest's edge. It was a point of no return; once inside, there was no guarantee he would find his way back out.

  Leo took a deep breath and stepped into the forest. After walking about 15 meters, a hushed voice called out to him.

  "And where do you think you're going? That confident, are we?" Roland said, stepping out from behind a tree.

  "I thought you wanted me to enter...".

  "Alone? That's a good way to get yourself killed." Roland shrugged. "You didn't even realize I was standing right here. You need to be more alert." Roland frowned.

  Leo lowered his head, chastised. They both proceeded into the forest. It was an incredibly dense woodland, with the sounds of animals and Leirions constantly echoing in the background. Roland instructed him to make as little noise as possible to avoid being ambushed. Vulture Forest was unforgiving; one mistake in this labyrinth of trees could be fatal. They needed to find a clearing where they could train in peace.

  "How do you know the way back, Mr. Roland?" Leo inquired, his tone barely above a whisper.

  "I have a magic compass. It always points towards Gothia."

  Magic compasses were exceptionally valuable items due to their complexity and the rarity of the materials required to create them. Only a select few possessed such a device. While ordinary compasses existed, having one that always pointed to a specific location, rather than simply north, was an incredibly useful and rare tool.

  After traversing the thick undergrowth for some time, they encountered a large pile of rocks with a flawless, enormous amethyst crystal embedded at its peak. Leo was amazed by the sight and briefly considered how much money he could make from it. He glanced at Roland, a question forming on his lips, but their eyes met, and Roland gave a subtle shake of his head, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He then placed a finger to his lips, silencing any further questions, and gestured for Leo to crouch down. He then followed suit.

  The two remained silent and hidden amongst the undergrowth, approximately 40 meters away from the mesmerizing crystal. Thirty seconds passed, and Leo was growing restless and confused. Just as he was about to ask Roland what was happening, a tremor shook the ground. Leo's eyes widened in surprise, and he nearly gasped. Then, they witnessed the crystal slowly rise from the ground, gaining height until it towered 12 meters above them. A monstrous creature made of stone, branches, and moss slowly emerged, still sleepy from its slumber. It had a gorilla-like physique, radiating strength and power.

  It was a Rock Fractus, a unique species of troll that used its alluring crystal to attract unsuspecting humans for its next meal. It wasn't inherently hostile, but it was territorial and easily provoked. As long as they kept their distance, they would be safe.

  The monster glanced at some branches near its awakening spot, plunged its hand into the ground, and excavated everything it could grasp. It then opened its massive maw and shoveled the debris inside. Two common hares could be seen amidst the mud, branches, and leaves, swallowed whole by the Fractus as a mere appetizer.

  This was the first time Leo had witnessed a Leirion in its natural habitat in such close proximity. Previously, he had only encountered deceased Leirions and the infamous Lycanthropes that had assaulted Besen village. He felt a surge of adrenaline and, for the first time, truly grasped what it meant to be a Neumond. Instead of fear, he felt a profound sense of distress; instead of terror, he felt an urge to press onward.

  They remained silent, observing the monster as it lumbered away, deeper into the forest. Each step the Fractus took caused the ground to tremble. Its colossal arms aided its gorilla-like gait, but it toppled trees and obliterated everything in its path. It was so gargantuan that within seconds, it had traversed a significant distance. Once it was far enough away, Roland rose to his feet.

  "Damn, lad, that was a Fractus. Be careful with those; one slap and you'll be nothing but a memory," Roland quipped.

  "It was huge..." Leo was still frightened, his heart pounding in his chest.

  "That beautiful crystal you saw is worth a small fortune. The problem is getting your hands on it. It's clearly a lure," Roland raised an eyebrow.

  Roland explained that it typically required a team of three or four Silver-rank Equalizers to hunt one down. Fractus were not to be trifled with. They were incredibly lucky to have seen one and escaped unharmed.

  Leo felt a surge of excitement. It was as if he was born for this life. He yearned to grow stronger, to fight every Leirion he encountered. He had found his purpose.

  After walking for another 15 minutes, they came across a clearing where they could finally train undisturbed. Equalizers sometimes appeared in clearings, drawn by the open space, making it easier to set up camp and defend against threats.

  Leo stretched a bit in preparation. Roland simply stood in the center of the clearing, bent down, picked up a handful of earth, smelled it, and seemed lost in thought.

  "Come on, lad, let's have a conversation with swords," Roland said, grabbing a long wooden training sword and tossing two shorter ones to Leo.

  "Yes, sir," Leo replied, catching the swords, their familiar weight grounding him.

  They sparred for hours, but the outcome was always the same. Within four to six moves, Roland would disarm him. Leo's body ached, but Roland didn't hesitate, his blows striking with genuine force. "No pain, no gain" was his motto and his excuse.

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  Leo collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. Roland leaned on his wooden sword, regarding Leo with a look of disappointment.

  "Enough... I can't... I just can't." Leo said, his voice thick with exhaustion.

  "This is your limit? Is this all you've got?" Roland taunted.

  "No matter how hard I try to focus, I can't..." Leo trailed off, frustration evident in his voice.

  "Of course you can't. You're overthinking. You're thinking about the monsters in this forest, about tripping over a loose stone, my armor, and how much force to put into each swing. You're simply overthinking."

  Leo hung his head, trying to make sense of Roland's words.

  "Listen, lad, stop thinking. We've practiced the basic moves a thousand times. Empty your mind. Embrace the silence of your inner self; be one with your sword. Don't think!"

  "It is hard not to think when your life is at stake." Leo retorted.

  Roland walked over and sat down on a nearby log.

  "Boy, why do you fight? For me? For your mother? For someone special? What's the purpose of your swordsmanship? Have you ever thought about that?"

  Leo remained silent but listened intently.

  "It doesn't matter if you've suffered, if you've fallen, if you've loved or been abandoned. It doesn't matter what others think of you or what you think of them. You know what matters, lad? It's what you carry inside you, what you take home at the end of the day. Conviction."

  Roland continued, "You have to believe you've given your best, not for anyone else, but for yourself. Be proud to be alive and to do your best every single day, and have the conviction that even if you failed, you did your best."

  "Conviction, huh..." Leo murmured, the word echoing in his mind.

  "You know, lad, I believe you are your own worst enemy. Every time you pick up your sword to fight, you're fighting against yourself. And by doing that, you're constantly pushing yourself to be better. I believe that's true in swordsmanship and life." Roland clapped Leo on the shoulder, a rare gesture of encouragement.

  "Once you get that, you'll be ready to take on any sword, claw, or fang without even thinking. Alright, enough with the pep talk. Time to get back to work, lad." Roland said with a grin.

  Leo grasped the profound meaning behind Roland's words. He understood the importance of self-worth, of living a meaningful life, and of loving himself. Roland had touched his heart, and with each passing day, Leo felt closer to him, like family.

  "Let's use real swords," Leo suggested, a new determination hardening his voice.

  "Oh ho, someone's getting serious," Roland remarked with a playful tone.

  "If we're going to do this, let's do it for real," Leo explained.

  Leo felt the weight of his sword in his hand—the hilt, the pommel, the guard. He gazed at the blade and saw the reflection of his own blue-gray eyes. "Conviction... okay," he thought to himself, a newfound resolve settling within him.

  Leo hadn't given much thought to self-love, pride, or finding his own purpose in life. Until now, he had merely survived. He survived because his mother had asked him to. But now it was time to live, to live with pride, to live for his swordsmanship, to find his own purpose.

  He took his stance, chest open, swords held ready at his sides. He was determined to become a better person. As he charged towards Roland, the air filled with the sharp clang of steel, and that sound echoed through the clearing for the rest of the day.

  The subsequent days were filled with training and marked by steady improvement. Leo had the chance to see some Leirions from a distance and occasionally see Roland in action when confronted by particularly hostile creatures.

  Leo's money was all gone, and he was now relying on the food Roland provided. He felt a growing sense of urgency to get his own money, uncomfortable with his dependence on Roland. Ninety days had passed since his first training session with Roland. They had honed his swordsmanship, strength, agility, and concentration. When not sparring, he ran for kilometers and picked up heavy stones to build his endurance.

  Leo was now confident enough to go on missions independently. While his training with Roland hadn't transformed him into a master swordsman, he was no longer the clumsy and awkward guy he once was.

  They were nearing Gothia's gate when Leo decided to broach the subject.

  "Mr. Roland, I believe today was our last day," Leo stated.

  "Funny you should say that, lad. I have a journey to embark on in two days. I'm escorting the Duke of Gothia to the Royal Palace in the capital," Roland said with a sigh.

  "You don't seem particularly thrilled about it," Leo remarked.

  "It's complicated. The nobility can be quite difficult sometimes." Roland's expression was weary and heavy-hearted.

  "Thank you for everything, Mr. Roland. I will never forget all you've done for me," Leo said with gratitude, his voice thick with emotion.

  Roland gave him a thumbs up. "Your mother would be proud of you."

  "You say that as if you knew her," Leo said playfully.

  Roland turned to leave, replying with a soft, almost inaudible, "Who knows?"... a faint smile gracing his lips.

  Leo didn't hear Roland and just went to the Guild House.

  When Leo arrived, he decided to update his stat card and took a new test.

  "Hello, Sílica." Leo greeted, a hint of familiarity in his tone.

  "Hello, Mr. Leonard. What can I do for you today?"

  "I'd like to update my stat card, but I need this handled discreetly."

  "I remember your unique situation. We'll keep it confidential, as per the owner's request. Even I won't have access to the information. Please come with me. I must remind you that you're allowed one update every three months.”

  “And Mr. Leonard, did you decide your battle class?”

  “Not yet; I'm just a swordsman.” Leo replied, a touch of self-deprecating humor in his voice.

  Stat-reading devices were costly and consumed a mana crystal with each use, necessitating recharging after each use, a complex and time-consuming process for the Magic Tower.

  Profile Stats / Guild House Membership Card

  Name: Leonard

  Surname: Winston

  Rank: Iron

  Strength: 4+4 (8)

  Agility: 6+7 (13)

  Cognition: 5+6 (11)

  Constitution: 5+4 (9)

  Mentality: 6+6 (12)

  Characteristic: Divergent.

  -Unable to track battle traces-

  -Affinity synthesis error detected-

  Leo was pissed. "What the heck is this? I busted my ass training for 90 days, and this is all I get? This is crap! What good is this pentagram potential anyway?" He slammed the card on the counter, his frustration evident.

  Silica looked at Leo's new results, and her heart skipped a beat. Her fingers trembled; she'd caught a glimpse of something surreal.

  Leonard asked her what the problem was, but Silica was too stunned to explain. She simply shook her head, as if to say it was nothing, but deep down she was thinking:

  "He managed to raise his stats by 6 or 7 points in 90 days? What kind of monster is this guy? Normally it takes a year to get 1 stat point when they're really low. If he keeps up at this rate..." She shook her head strongly and told Leonard, "Be careful, Mr. Leonard..." Her eyes were clouded with worried thoughts.

  As Leonard walked away, she stared at his back with her mouth open in total disbelief.

  He marched over to the mission counter, still feeling annoyed, he thought Silica was incredulous about his poor stats again, but it was the opposite.

  He looked at some of the beginner missions and picked one.

  Iron Rank Mission

  Collect medicinal flowers on the Golden Green Plains:

  225g of Uhenda Malakesia

  Reward 3 gold coins.

  "This should be enough to pay my rent and keep me going for a bit. Doesn't seem like a tough mission." He checked to make sure the Golden Green Plains were safe enough for someone with his low stats and put away the directions and the picture of the flower he was supposed to find.

  Leo thanked the lady at the counter and turned to leave without looking where he was going. He almost ran right into a girl.

  "Am I invisible or something?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

  "I'm so sor... Evelyn?" He said, his eyes getting wide.

  "Le-o-nard," she said slowly, smiling and poking him in the chest with her finger. A playful glint in her eyes.