Chuck was startled awake when Bargo gave him a light kick. He groaned, not being used to the split sleeping.

"Time to get up kid, we got a long day ahead of us if we want to get to Lionoss before dark."

Chuck looked up at the darkly tanned shaven-headed man and gave him a dirty look. He guessed it wasn't all that intimidating as Bargo just chuckled. After he walked away Chuck crawled out of his blanket. Standing and stretching got most of the kinks out and helped him to wake up. Chuck decided to check on his skills before he wasted any more time.

Stealth: 2730/4000SP to level 3

He slapped his forehead, he had forgotten that stealth was training on the slower skill slot. Not a big deal. He still didn't need enhanced vision. He quickly checked to see how far along the others were.

Mana Manipulation: 6120/8000SP to level 4

Multitasking: 12750/80000SP to level 4

Nice, at this rate level four of mana manipulation would finish by lunch. He opened his eyes and exited his menu. The others were almost done packing up so he needed to hurry. Chuck rolled his bedroll tightly and attached it to his pack. He double-checked that all of his belongings were in his pack and that nothing had been lost in the mad rush to flee yesterday. Everything looked good, so he hoisted the pack on his back and set off after the others.

They were only thirty or so meters away and still visible. He got the message though, hustle or be left behind. He doubled that they would truly leave him behind. He had plenty of evidence to back up this notion. The speed that they packed was the first, the other being the sedate pace they walked until he actually caught up.

He didn't want to anger them or have them cast him out, so would endeavor to meet their expectations. Chuck didn't mind. It was good that someone was pushing him to be better. He could have seriously used these guys back in his old life. Perhaps then he wouldn't have turned into a doughy couch potato.

As soon as he caught up the group started jogging.

'Oh boy, guess it is going to be a long day if this is the pace.'

The group kept up the faster than average pace until they neared the road. They all hunkered down until Mellas scouted to see if it was clear. When he returned they jogged quickly to the road.

The morning went in shifts, twenty minutes of jogging followed by ten minutes of walking to recover stamina. Chuck was sweating. This had been the most exercise he had gotten since being reborn here. Not including his sword practice but that was more upper body.

After doing the repeated jogging and slowing down for four hours the group stopped for a ten-minute rest and food break.

Chuck was going to plop on the grass but Erwin stopped him.

"Don't sit down, it will only make it more difficult for you to get going again. Instead, slowly walk around to stretch your sore muscles. Like this."

Chuck was able to follow about eighty percent of his words. He watched Erwin's movements and copied them. He was right, the stretches and lunges helped loosen up his sore legs. Chuck ate a trail ration and downed some water while moving. He decided to add in a few exercises he remembered from Earth. An enhanced constitution and dexterity didn't make exercising fun but it sure made it much easier.

They got back on the road after the short rest. As it got closer to afternoon Chuck started seeing more people along the road. The group would slow to a walk anytime people were in sight. Chuck assumed it was so they didn't frighten the locals. How would he feel if an armed group of men was running at him? Actually, he already knew that answer when he saw the bandit scout. It terrified him.

He didn't want to have to kill a person but he suspected it would happen sooner or later.

None of the passing wagons offered to give the group a ride. The friendly country-folk trope didn't seem to apply to the people around this area. Most were guarded in their expressions, hard stares followed us as our group walked past.

Chuck noticed that most of the people were not well dressed. Most sporting natural colored clothing, or the occasional brown. The clothes they wore were also more practical. Not at all like the flamboyant clothing that his three travel companions wore. It also seemed to be formed of a rougher material, cotton, or something like it. Chuck was pretty sure that silk composed most of the clothing his companions wore.

Despite the glares and unhappy looks, Erwin, Mellas, and Bargo seemed happy. They were smiling and nodding at everyone we passed. Chuck asked him about this when nobody else was within hearing range. "Why you smile at passing people?"

Erwin quirked an eyebrow at me, "Your speech is getting better, keep working at it. As for your question... what does it hurt to be friendly to others?"

Chuck guessed it made sense. He started to smile as well. The distrustful looks were hard to bear but he stuck with it.

Mana manipulation finished up as they ate a walking lunch. The group no longer jogged as there were far too many travelers now. Roads crisscrossed the main one the group traveled on, it had grown to accommodate up to four carts.

Chuck decided not to add level five of mana manipulation to the queue for now. He wanted to train enhanced vision up using the full speed slot first. The first level would finish even before stealth did. He paused to glance at the changes he got from mana manipulation.

Mana Manipulation: Allows the user to manipulate the mana of epic spells allowing for additional spell effects. Mana cost of additional effect is based on the effect added. Reduced cost of lower-tiered spells. Also allows for the combining of spells. Can combine up to 1 spell of rank epic and 2 spells of rank rare.

Chuck was hoping the reduced cost was cumulative and that common spells would cost hardly anything when he modified them now. He would have to test it later, it wasn't like he could start shooting off spells in the middle of the road. He doubted that would go down well with the city or any guards they had.

He could use heal continuously though, and he had for the last hour or so. At first, the guys had looked at him oddly but they didn't stop him. From his experience so far his mana pool was like a muscle. The more you worked it the bigger it got. For that reason, he wanted to start using it whenever he could. He suspected there was an upper limit he would reach eventually, but for now, that didn't matter. As a bonus, the spell eased the aches and pains along with the lactic acid buildup in the muscles. It couldn't completely erase it but everyone seemed happy for the change.

When the first level of enhanced vision finished Chuck started the second level and then added the final level of mana manipulation to the queue.

The city was finally in view, if only as a dot in the distance. Perhaps another two hours of walking to get there. They had made good time, thanks to the jogging and Chuck's healing.

It was odd to Chuck, as they got closer to the city the people were less openly hostile. They were still standoffish though, mostly keeping to themselves. A few smiling faces interspersed themselves among the increasing traffic. All seemed to be wearing clothing similar to the three in Chuck's group.

"Erwin, what with clothes?"

"You mean the vupon's?"

Chuck's blank stare got a sigh and an explanation.

"That is the name given to the baggy clothing we wear. It is a symbol of sorts. It lets people know we are from the capital."

"Lionoss, not capital?" I asked in confusion.

"God's no," Erwin chuckled. The others snickered a bit as well.

"Lionoss is an outpost village, only the hardy, brave, stupid, or those needing to hide come out this close to the wildlands."

"That why people glare at us?"

"Mainly, the other reason is that we are from the city. Most wearing the clothes out here are mercenaries or adventurers. Dangerous folk, best left alone."

"Don't they also have skills?"

"I'm sure they do but they didn't have the luxury of being trained from birth like nobles, or earning rare skills fighting in the wilds. Most probably only have a handful of common or uncommon abilities. Skill books being far too expensive for the majority of them."

"How much skill book cost?"

"Depends on the skill, the rarity, the availability, and the location. Out here near the wilds, attack spells and skills will cost you more, since they are in demand. My single spell firebolt cost me three silver in Brightwater. In case you're wondering, that is the capital of the kingdom of Nur."

Chuck was tempted to spout off some nonsense about the knights who say nur, but he managed to stop himself. Erwin wouldn't get the joke anyway, and best not to offend.

"In Lionoss the same spell might cost you five silver, maybe more. It's hard to say."

"Is that why you only one spell?"

"Partially," Erwin replied, "The other reason is I am mainly a melee fighter. I didn't want to waste precious training time adding a bunch of spells. Not with my low mana pool."

Chuck turned to him, confused. "I see you cast many spell?"

"True, but uncommon spells cost little to cast. Even with years of casting, I can only manage twenty before I am tapped."

Erwin paused for a bit before adding, "I have watched you grow exceptionally quickly Chuck, perhaps you should enroll as a mage."

"Study magic? No, prefer adventure, not sitting in room all day with dusty old book."

The group laughed at that.

After Erwin stopped laughing he replied, "Yes, I'm sure that's part of it but most mages join adventuring teams or mercenary companies anyway. The study of the natural world helps them somehow. Ricardo never shared the reason, I'm not surprised, most mages tend to hoard their knowledge. The real reason most sign up to be called a mage is for the prestige. Mages are treated quite well in most cities."

The man left a lot for him to think about. If becoming a mage gave him an advantage it may help accomplish the task he was given. It was good timing as they walked up to the main entrance of Lionoss.

The walls were large interlocked stones cut and piled at least four meters high. Many guards could be seen patrolling the top of the wall. Chuck looked it all over as the group neared the front of the line into the city.

"Entry is two copper per person, three for a wagon. If you have a pass please make sure it is clearly visible or you will be asked to pay," a guard said as he walked down the line of people and carts waiting to enter.

Chuck watched Erwin and the others produce necklaces with a metal plate dangling from it. It looked to be steel but he was no expert. Chuck fished out two copper, ready to pay.

"Don't worry Chuck, we will get you sorted at the guildhall. That way you don't have to keep paying every time you enter."

Chuck noticed the man didn't offer to pay for him, not that he minded. Being self-sufficient was important for him. When it got to be his turn he dropped two copper coins into a bucket and was motioned through. He caught up with the others who were waiting off to the side past the inner wall.

He finally got his look at the first real city of this world. He wanted to say he was impressed or blown away by the amazing architecture or astounding buildings, but he couldn't. The Broken Knee had been more awe-inspiring. The houses along the wall were wooden and looked like they were barely livable. That didn't seem to stop numerous people from coming and going.

As they walked farther into the city, Chuck finally saw a few houses made from rough-hewn stone. At least partially. Most of the houses just looked to be more sturdy or well made. He supposed it made sense. One thing this area didn't lack was wood.

The farther they walked the nicer the house. Eventually, houses started taking on plastered walls. Occasionally they were even colored. To Chuck's eye, the houses were odd. A mix of third-world style, with a Spanish flair and sporting clay tile roofs. At least that's what the plastered housed reminded him of. There was no real overall theme in the city.