Chapter 11:

It has now been twenty one days since I came to this world, if you ask me whether I feel sad about leaving ‘Earth’, I will tell you no. I had no family, some people I guess you would call friends, and no real home. In this world, in Gaia, I have friends, and even if it is an inn, it still feels like more of a home than anything I have had before. There are new mountains to explore, and if it wasn’t for the danger, I would already be hiking them. But the danger, and my element have given me a truly exciting life. The chance to grow and improve myself, along with my new group, is something I never thought I would get to experience again.

The last week went by relatively smoothly, I would say Robin gained the most improvement. On the fourth day of our week of training she did something really impressive. She froze the entire pond, though she collapsed right after. Robin was so happy afterwards that she was humming for the next couple of days. She told me that her control increased a lot after that, and that she was able to absorb more water element.

Alex was as he said still in the beginning phases of his element. So instead of working on control, he mostly spent his time absorbing. I had to create a room for him to use because the sunlight hinders his ability to absorb. By the end of the week he started on creating his storage, and he can already fit an apple inside of it. While not a lot now, I have faith in him. We didn’t only work on our elements though, I taught both Robin and Alex how to read and write in english, and helped improve Alex’s speech. I also started Alex on a exercise course, goblins are already pretty weak, so there is a need to increase his base.

Lastly what happened to me during this week, my big improvements did not come in the form control, but my body. There was an overall improvement to my body, but mainly my defenses. To test is out I had Alex swing at me with a club. Similar to the hit I took in the cave, but this time it only left a small bruise, my ribs were fine and the pain only lasted a couple seconds. At this rate goblins won’t even be able to hurt me, even without any armor on. My control did improve also, I can now create the seven foot wall within three seconds. Not as good as the time in the cave, but a big improvement over my previous time. I can harden my shield and staff so that even an iron sword doesn’t chip away from it. Though the staff still gets sliced by it. I also found time to visit the library during the week, I read more about evolution, and how different races take varied amount of times to evolve. Such as a goblin with his element will take usually three years to evolve, but a lizard kin with their element can take twenty years to evolve. Anyways overall a great week of improvement, and it would have been even better if it wasn’t for what happened three days in.

On the third day, during the middle of our training, an elf showed up. He looked rather out of place, all around us is either farmland or grassland, and here is this man in expensive looking clothing. He arrived in a carriage and looked annoyed with the idea of walking on dirt. Had a smug expression on the whole time, and seemed to look down at us three. The conversation went like this, “Are you the new traveller?” A bit confused I answered honestly, “Yes I am, my name is John.” “My name Letic Les Verix, of the Verix family, and we are offering you the chance to join our family. You should be honored to receive this invitation.” At first I thought he is playing some pompous actor, but after a minute of waiting for the joke to stop, I realize that this elf actually is this arrogant. I truly thought that these kind of people were exaggerated ideas of authors, but here is one in the flesh. “Stunned I see, it truly is something most people could only dream of. You will starting as an errand boy, come to the Verix family estate today. Make sure you leave your lowly group behind.” Stunned is right, how does someone get like this? Bad parenting? Diamond encrusted gold spoon in their mouths? “Goodbye” I turn away from the elf, I really didn’t know what to say to him, so I just let him believe what he wanted.

Thinking I was done with the elf, I went back to training. “What are you doing, head to the estate this instant.” The arrogant elf is still here huh? “Mr. Letic I have no plans to join a family, and especially not one that seems so arrogant.” “You sad little boy, this is a privilege! The Verix family is the greatest family in Genus, and you refuse our invitation?” Little boy? I mean I am still relatively young at twenty five, but I wouldn’t consider me little. “Yes I am, now if you may excuse me, I want to get back to training with my friends.” “Fine” Oh he actually gave up, I kind of expected him to go into a rage and call me names. “Just remember we offered you a chance to be a part of the family, you will not get a second chance.” He left after saying those words, and I really hope that was the last I will see of him.

Today we plan on taking a simple quest, to fulfill our quota. Probably just some rabbit or herb hunting for us this time. We did our morning routine, and made it to the guild nice and early. Looking over the available quest we found one for Uni-rabbits, it requests twenty Uni-rabbits, and can be completed solo or by group. It is perfect, since we have just about run out of the rabbit meat we use for lunches, and need to restock. Taking the quest up to the counter, I let Robin and Alex relax on a bench, seeing as the line was long because it was morning. It took about twenty minutes to reach the counter, the employee this time was the elf from the time me and Robin registered. He quickly and efficiently handle the quest sign up, and I was done before i knew it. As I was walking back towards Robin and Alex I noticed someone was talking to them. Once I got close enough I could tell it was a male harpy, the time I have really looked at one.

When I finally got close enough to hear the conversation, it sounded like he was hitting on Robin. I’m not really surprised she is really pretty, but I think how emotionless she appears drives away most people. Robin is still less than talkative around other, but I am starting to think that is just how she is and doesn’t have to do with how she was treated before. I also notice that Alex is trying to help Robin with the man, but is getting ignored by the harpy. “Hello sir, how can I help you?” The harpy turns around obviously not happy with me talking to him. “Hey buddy just trying to talk with this lady here. If you can move along then do so.” Seriously not once, but twice in a week we run into such cliche characters. “Robin, Alex, the quest is all signed up for so we should get a move on.” I motion for both of them to follow me, and to ignore the harpy. I could get angry at him, but what would that help? Start a fight to protect Robin’s honnor? No, I am not an idiot who can’t find another way than to fight. Anyways most people don’t know how to handle being ignored.

We have made it to the forest without any trouble. The harpy didn’t follow us or cause any trouble, and Robin thanked me after we left the guild. Our current setup is me, then Alex, then Robin. While Alex may be a front liner, he is currently weaker than Robin is. I didn’t really think about it when I picked the quest, but finding the rabbits is probably going to be pretty hard. Robina and I walked for two days, and only ran into three rabbits, how are we supposed to find twenty plus rabbits? “You guys know any special way to find rabbits?” Looking back at the two, I can immediately tell Robin won’t be any help. “I do boss! We had to hunt for food, while in the cave, and I got really good at finding Uni-rabbits.” “Nice, well then Alex lead the way.” “Will do boss!” With our first problem out of the way, we followed Alex around the forest. Within minutes we found our first rabbits, a whole den of them actually. I can only see five, but there seems to be a lot more inside their home. “How do you guys think we should do this?” Robin raises her hand, “Let me” She seems pretty confident, “it's all you then” Me and Alex move to the side so she can do her thing.

Robin closes her eyes, and start concentrating. Soon ice shards started to form in the air around Robin. A total of five shards are hovering in the air, as they slowly start turning in different directions. Right as Robin opens her eyes, all five shards shoot towards their target, five uni-rabbits are killed instantly. I was about to praise Robin, when I remembered that there was still the burrow that needed to be taken care of. I dash out and quickly raise the ground to close off the exit to the burrow. I take a minute to find and close any other openings to the burrow. Feeling the ground I slowly collapse the burrow forcing all the rabbits inside to one area. Once the area is small enough I open a hole for Robin to pour her water into. Drowning them was the most humane way I could think of killing them all rather quickly. After a minute I open the ground to find twelve rabbits dead.

Our current Uni-rabbit count is seventeen. Alex is currently searching for another burrow of them, I am hoping we find it fast, and can get back with time to train left. Alex starts to pick up the pace a bit and soon we see another three Uni-rabbits outside of a burrow. This time it was my turn to try something. While my control did not increase too much during this last week, I did start trying something new. I was testing the distance I can move the earth around me. The further away the less control, and my limit currently is about a radius of five yards. The rabbits are a bit further than that, but I think I can push it. Putting my hand to the ground I stretch my control over the earth as much as I can. The strain is growing, but I can feel the ground beneath the rabbits, with exertion of my control I force the ground to encase the feet of the rabbits. Unfortunately I couldn’t get the ground to completely cover them, so the rabbits started to let out screeches. The Uni-rabbits inside the burrow started to scatter, but Alex and Robin were on it. I finish off the three I caught with a quick blade the spine. Robin and Alex come back from their rabbit chase, and each have five rabbits in hand. “Sorry guy I thought I could completely incase them, but it was a bit too much.” “Need more practice.” “It's ok boss we got most of them!”

With thirty Uni-rabbits caught we have completed our quest, and then some. Since it was around lunch time I cooked up two of the rabbits. After lunch we headed back to the city. THe way back was uneventful, and we ended up deciding on me and Alex having a spar when we get back. He wanted to tests his strength compared to mine, while at the same time, learn how to fight. I myself have never been taught how to fight, but when you are alone on the mountains, with hours til it gets dark, you start to find ways to pass the time. One of those ways was to do shadow sword-fighting, pretty much shadow boxing, but with a carved wooden stick, that is shaped like a sword. In the end I really have no measurement of how good I am, but I definitely believe I can help Alex.

The quest completion was easily taken care of and we got our one gold reward. Instead of heading back to the inn, we headed to where we usually train. It is a nice open space, so me and Alex sparring there shouldn’t bother anyone. I take a minute to create practice swords for both me and Alex, considering Alex’s size I made his a couple inches shorter. Handing him his sword I walk a couple feet away from him and turn in a dramatic fashion, “Welcome everyone to the first sparring session, today we have the lovely judge and healer, Robin. She will be the one to decide who is the winner. The contestants, in the green corner, A goblin who has been called the strongest warrior, Alex! And in the blue corner, the human who is receiving stares of confusion, John!” Alex after the intro I gave him started to be even more excited for our spar. “Well then Alex are you ready to begin?” “Ya Boss let’s do this.” Robin raises her arm, and then strikes downwards, “Begin.” Really Robin you could have said it with a bit more enthusiasm.

Alex starts off running and tries to a sweeping strike towards my knees, I counter with a cut downwards. Once the swords collide I turn sideways and kick out towards his chest. Alex rolls backwards, and gains a bit of distance from me. I close the gap and swing diagonally downwards, and Alex responds with holding the sword out like a shield. I change the area where my strike will land to the top of his sword, and when they hit his sword is shoved backwards and hits him in the head. “Ow!” “Make sure you keep your wrists tight or your opponent can use leverage to turn your sword against you.” Alex shakes off the pain and readies his sword again. I repeat the same downward strike, and Alex brings his sword out to block. I change the area of my strike again to the top of his sword, but when the swords collide Alex’s sword barely moves. I move from the high strike to a low strike and aim for his hip area, Alex rotates the sword downwards just in time to catch my strike.

We continue to strike and counter for a bit, with me landing a weak blow to Alex every so often. I use each time to help him better his swordplay. After another five minutes of this Alex is dripping with sweat and I can tell the weight of the sword is wearing on him. “Let’s finish this with one more strike, ok?” “Sounds, good, Boss.” Both me and Alex ready ourselves, I act first and rush at him. Swinging diagonally downwards again I prepare myself to stop just before I hit, that way I don’t actually injure him. Looking at Alex I notice something weird about his sword, it is covered in a dark mist. Alex strikes to counter mine, and when our sword collide mine gets cleaved in two. Alex’s strike continues and hits me squarely in the chest, knocking me backwards a good couple of feet. The air is expelled from my chest and I think my ribs got broken this time.

“John!” “Boss!” “I’m fine, just a broken rib or two, but I could definitely use some healing.” Robin places her hands over my chest, and I feel the healing working. She finishes shorty, and the injuring is down to just a bruise. I look towards Robin, “So who won?” Robin stands up and raises her left arm pointing towards Alex, “Alex is the winner.” “Hehe, I beat Boss!” “Ya ya don’t get too excited, but hey Alex was that your darkness element? I didn’t know you could use it that well already.” “I didn’t know either I just..” RIght in the middle of Alex talking someone started clapping. Looking up I see an ugly looking man, “Well isn’t think nice guys, we came to teach these people a lesson, and here they are already beating themselves up for us.” I have a feeling these guys aren’t here just to watch the spar. “Hello, who may you be, and do you need something from us?” “You hear that guys, the traveller is trying to be nice to us.” The lead ugly man talks to the five other ugly men behind him. “Who I am is unimportant, and why I am here I already said, to teach you a lesson. You see you pissed off someone you shouldn’t, seems he didn’t like your attitude towards him, and now we are being paid to beat some manners into you. Quite simple really.”

Fuck its got to be Letic, I knew that he wasn’t going to let us off that easy. Shit I really don’t think we can handle these guys. Alex is already tired from sparring, and I am slightly hurt, Robin is still at full strength, but her alone isn’t enough. This is seriously a shitty situation.