After a grueling month, the first part of my training was complete.

I even learned how to ride a horse. More or less.

We returned to the first camp and consigned back our equipment in exchange for a more casual military clothing. We would take a leave for a few days before the next assignment.

For those of us who had had prior magic training, the drill sergeant ordered to report at the Arcane Academy first thing first, to receive further instructions.

We walked back home with the other recruits. This time when I got back I wasn't aching all over. Actually, I was pretty fit thanks to all the exercise.

I went straight to the Academy even though I wanted to greet my friends, but orders are orders. I guess.

The other mages waiting for the magical military training were there as well.

The soldiers noticed our uniforms and as we stated our orders, one of them went inside to warn his superiors of our arrival.

So, magic training. I can safely assume it's going to be much less physical. I sighed in relief at the thought. I felt a smile creep across my lips.

After a few minutes, we heard a booming laugh coming from the entrance. No, it can't be. We turned towards the source.

Vallachio.

My smile died in an instant.

「Vallachio: I see! The magic able recruits have come to receive the advanced military training! Very well!」

He noticed me.

「Vallachio: And I see one of my humble students among them. Most excellent! Hahaha!」

No. No no no.

The others stole glances at me. I stare blankly into space.

The equation of Vallachio plus training was not looking so good.

I thought that after all the abuse, the bad smells, and the suffering, the magic part would be a cakewalk. I was no longer so sure.

No, I felt an overwhelming sense of dread looming over me.

Well, shit.

So I had three days before I would leave again for an endurance, brutal, military magic training with Vallachio Restgart.

Just kill me now and spare me the suffering. Please.

Since it was closer, I stopped first at the inn where Elaida was staying. Today was the equivalent of a Sunday, so I expected to find her there.

I knocked at her door and she opened.

「Elaida: Allen! Long time no see. Are you staying?」

She smiled, inviting me inside.

「Allen: Only for three days, then I'll have to resume the training.」

I said shaking my head.

Lena was there too. She peeked from the other room.

「Lena: Uncle Allen!」

She started running.

「Allen: But, I'm not your uncl-」

I was too slow to avoid the hug. she barely reached my waist.

What do I do? What do I do?! I'm no good with kids. I glanced at Elaida but she was grinning. Useless.

I thought about what options I had to entertain a little kid.

Biceps. With the armor, the shield and the weapons my muscles had been forced to keep up.

「Allen: Look, I've leveled up my biceps.」

I showed off my new improved biceps and she hung on them giggling while I lifted her from the floor.

「Lena: Teheeh!」

I swung her slowly around for a while.

Okay, kid entertained. Mission accomplished.

I looked at Elaida again for help. I really didn't feel like lugging the girl around on my biceps any longer than necessary.

She rolled her eyes.

「Elaida: Come on Lena! Let Allen go and do your exercises.」

「Lena: Nuuh.」

Lena pouted and looked at Elaida with imploring eyes.

「Elaida: If you're good maybe Allen will tell you one of his stories.」

「Lena: Yay!」

She let herself fall back to the ground and scampered to the other room.

I looked at Elaida.

「Allen: But my stories are full of bad stuff...」

I complained.

「Elaida: Well, Ellin told me about that time you-」

She forced me to remember something I had worked hard to forget.

「Elaida: ... I think it's was a funny story!」

「Allen: That never happened... I'll have to forget it again.」

I pretended to scowl. Damn it, Ellin. Keep your mouth shut!

We moved to a more serious conversation. Elaida told me the girl was still crying at night calling out to her dead parents.

Poor girl. But she was doing well with the teaching lessons and was making friends among the other children.

I said goodbye, reminding them I would be around only for a few days and I set off to search for the trio.

I found them at the Adventurer's Guild. They were sitting at a table chatting among themselves.

I waved at them making my triumphal temporary return.

「Allen: Heya guys!」

I said loudly to catch their attention.

「Ellin: Allen!」

They turned around to greet me.

「Namrick: You look stronger.」

Namrick slapped my shoulder.

「Grastel: Have you been working out?」

「Allen: Military training.」

I said making my best impression of a bodybuilder pose.

That got them laughing.

I sat down on the free chair.

「Allen: Well, it's not over... I'll have to leave in three days for the magical part of the training.」

I said regretfully.

「Ellin: Eh, so soon?」

She looked disappointed.

「Allen: And guess who'll be the instructor. A hint, he's muscled and laughs a lot.」

I pressed my lips in a thin line.

「Grastel: Vallachio Restgart!」

Grastel said with his usual smirk. I nodded.

「Namrick: To be trained by one of the archmages himself, it must be an honor.」

As usual, Namrick spoke without knowing what things entailed.

「Allen: I don't doubt his strength but... he... his ways... you know...」

I didn't know how to put my thoughts into words.

I imagined for a second how he could waltz into the battlefield dismembering the foe barehanded. All that while keeping that smile stamped on his face. And that outrageous red mustache. Yep, he's pretty scary.

A Vallachio unrestrained from the safety standards of the Academy. What could go wrong? Yeah... a lot.

I quickly shook my head to banish the dark thoughts.

「Allen: Well, enough about me. What have you all been doing in the meanwhile?」

I asked, shifting the topic on less grim topics.

Namrick was the first to speak.

「Namrick: I've been practicing my swordsmanship with the previous Royal Sword, Fredrick Val Bernonte. He agreed to mentor me, but it wasn't easy to convince him.」

Namrick looked proud of his achievement. But I wasn't sure what the heck a Royal Sword was supposed to be. Some dude that swings a sword and looks cool? I didn't know what level of "oh woah" I was meant to show here, so I played it safe.

「Allen: Cool. So you've been learning all kinds of things, I see.」

I bluffed a knowing smile. He would tell me soon enough anyway.

As expected, Namrick started telling all of it, from the rumors surrounding the guy to the inane quests the old geezer gave him.

I bet the old dude was pulling his leg just to see how far Namrick would go. Heh. Well done Fredrick, gotta show these brats who's boss.

Then the attention shifted to Grastel. He shrugged.

「Grastel: What can I say, I've practiced with my bow and learned a fighting style with daggers for close combat situations... and ranged if I throw them.」

He turned to Ellin.

「Ellin: As for myself... I was attending a course at the Academy but last week they closed it off even for the students.」

She let out a sigh and tapped her fingers on the table.

「Ellin: I'll have to wait until next week for the next session. All I can do at the moment is practice. I've learned a skill to sense danger but I also worked on spells to confuse the foes and defend myself.」

Ellin nodded with a look of determination.

Detection and debuffing. Sounds good.

「Allen: You've all kept busy, that's good.」

I praised them and reclined myself in the chair.

「Allen: You'll see, next time we go on an adventure together, we're going to make minced meat out of our enemy.」

I waved my hand in a swiping motion to illustrate my point.

「Grastel: For sure!」

Grastel slammed a fist on the table.

「Grastel: They won't stand a chance!」

「Namrick: Speaking of which...」

Namrick gazed at me with his "I have a job for you" look.

Oh shit... come on man. I'm on leave, let me rest.

「Namrick: ...we do have a job. You might even like it.」

He grinned.

No, no. No. I just want to relax guys. Come on.

I slumped on the chair, a little, while I stared at the guys.

Grastel crossed his arms, a wicked smile painted on his face.

「Grastel: Yes, we'll be escorting a noble to a hot spring half a day from here, by horse.」

「Ellin: Come with us! It's going to be like a vacation!」

Like a vacation, I'll believe it when I see it. But...

Hot springs. Hmmm.

Well, it doesn't hurt to try. Does it?

I imagined myself relaxing in the lukewarm waters of a hot spring...

「Allen: Fine, I'll come!」

I gave in. It might even be relaxing.

「Allen Skullcrusher!」

I grimaced. Oh no, here they come, the spreaders of gossip.

「Did you really knee a verkling head to pieces?!」

Shit. News sure travel fast, I've just barely set foot in the city. How did they even hear about it? Give me a fucking break!

Namrick and Grastel stared at me with a smirk.

「Grastel: Oh-ho, there's a story to be told here!」

His smirk turned even more aggravating.

「Allen: Damn it.」

I lowered my head in defeat.

I had to tell the story, along with the whole military training experience.

Finally, I walked back to my restaurant. I wanted to enjoy a pizza. After a month of gruel, roasted four-tusked boars and random salvaged edible plants I deserved that much.

I waved at Corgas.

「Corgas: Allen! How was the training.」

「Allen: Hard.」

「Corgas: I too used to work in the military back in the days. Fighting brigand, hunting for game and the occasion monsters.」

Corgas assumed a distant look, obviously remembering the *olden days*.

「Corgas: It was thanks to that I earned enough money to open my own restaurant. Then we met each other.」

He slapped my shoulder and smiled.

「Allen: Did you ever fight in a war?」

I asked him.

「Corgas: No, it was rather peaceful during my time of service. There had been a couple of small-scale conflicts, but mostly we would patrol the roads and fight off bandits.」

He clapped his hands.

「Corgas: Ah! Elaida has invented a new pizza flavor. Would you like to try it out?」

A new flavor?

「Allen: Really? What does it have on it?」

He told me the names of unknown ingredients.

「Allen: Huh, sure let me try it.」

I was a little curious.

I got my pizza ten minutes later. My mouth watered at the smell. I took a bite.

The taste was good! Corgas can only copy like a monkey when it comes to food. He's terrible at coming up with new ideas, I guess it was a good idea to bring in Elaida. Some creativity in the cooking always helps.

I gave the thumbs up to Corgas, who smiled in return and I continued eating my meal.

I got to the inn, my old room was available so I booked it for three days.

Perhaps I should think to buy a house for myself. But then I'd have to do the cleaning myself, no more ready breakfast. Ughh. I'll just stick to inns for the meanwhile. It's not like they cost much anyway.

I just lazed around until the next day.