- Bulleyes, you are amazing as always Malina.

- It's nothing much, really.

Malina is now practicing archery at Training Center of Nottingham. Each time she draw her bow in a calm manner as if there is nothing can disturb her at all and hit the target at almost 100% accuracy.

The trainers in training center of Nottingham all look at her in awe. Elf favor the bow, even if they are warrior or wizard they still respect to anyone that good at using a bow. Malina is no different, and her lack of expression make her face look as cold as it is on an Elf face. Elf normally don't show much emotion and rarely speak, only player belong to elf race show much emotion and talkative.

She become an idol in the city of both the NPC and the player. NPC respect her because she barely use any skill at the training center but using technique instead to hit the practice targets, in short she have talent to adapt with using bow. The players idolize her and call her "The Ice Queen" due to her beautiful and cold nature.

A lot of male players did try to make a move on her but she ignored all of them. At first a few guys think she is rude but as time go by everyone get use to it and love her even more. The only one who could really talk with her is her only friend in real life, Natalia.

- shhh, you know what everyday there are more fans of you. I am getting jealous here.

- Don't say that. You are a beauty yourself. It's just that those guys don't have the eye.

- I wish that's true but doesn't seem so, even in real life guys ask you out a lot but I rarely get any.

- But I didn't accept any confession.

- Yeah, me too, that's make us become two loner woman. But at this rate they may think me and you are lesbians

- ....

- Just kidding.

- Uhmmm, so how is your magic study Na....

As quickly as she can Natalia cover Malina's mouth with her palm.

- How many times did I told you to not call me by my real name here. In game I am Rina. And what the hell with two unfair racks here? you are even bigger than me.

- I didn't change my appearance.

- Okay one more reason for me to envy you.

- You didn't answer the question. How is your mage training?

- Did you forget somethings? This game don't have class. Anything you do help you advance in skill and skill help you fight, how you fight is depend on you.

- I know but at least you should have some spells right?

- Yeah yeah, I have. But it cost so much mana. I can attack only 1 or 2 times then I have to wait for my mana recover. My stats isn't bad but it look like this going to be a pain. I will have to look for more info about how to play this style.

- Maybe you can ask Nguyen, he doesn't show it but somehow I feel like he is similar to those gaming nerd in my class back in high-school who play games all day. He always find a few ways to answer the question.

- I am not so sure. I don't think he is a nerd given that we are friends for 3 years and we barely see him play any game. But it's true that he do have more knowledge about gaming than we thought at first. Any game we play and stuck, once we ask for help he always find a way to deal with the problem.

- So now what will you do?

- I guess I will head to library, read more book about enchant and magic hoping to increase my skill a little.

- Then I will go out hunting once I am back I will go fetch you at the library then we can eat together.

- Sound good, I am honestly can get enough of you cooking. Even in game the taste and aroma is so real that my mouth watering just thinking about the food you gonna cook.

- I am just lucky to find a NPC that teach me a few good cooking recipe.

- Don't say like that. Even with the same recipe and same skill 2 person cook result in different taste and aroma. Yours is truly delicious.

****************

Meanwhile in the Heaven Kingdom

- I can't stand this anymore. I want to kill those infidels. I don't care about the Pope. He is just a fucking senile old man. He don't see the truth that it's our right to kill them.

- shhhhhhhhh my lord please lower your voice. No matter what you can't let people hear that. What you just said can be use against you in front of the Pope

- I don't care. I will carry out my plan next month. Once it success there will be nothing to stop me anymore.

- But we still need more time to prepare ...

- Shut up! I say it's enough. The god is behind me. No infidels can beat me. Now dismiss.

- Then I shall go check if things go right, milord.

Closed the door behind him, Vas turn around and look up the sky.

"I don't think what milord trying to do is right but I serve him so I can't stop him. God please let him succeed."

With a long "sigh" he walk away. Above him the dark sky now start to pour down heavy rain that rarely found in this part of land.

***************

I was back in the game. Looking around I see 4 villagers that escorting the cart. I ask.

- How long till we get to Minos?

- Ahh you are back. We should be arrive there soon. Hmmm, turn around and look I think you can already see the city from here.

As I turn around a long line appear in the far sight. The closer we are the bigger it be, in the end it appear as a long wall with tall towers here and there. In the middle of the wall where the road to toward there is a big gate which I can see people line up there.

- So we have to get in the line?

- No, we bring tributes so we get special pass but you need to get down of the cart and walk with us. Guards don't like to see we sit on the cart.

- Got it.

I jump out of the cart and walk along with the guys escorting the cart. As we get to the gate one of us speak with the guard. After exchange a few words he signal us to move the cart inside. We keep moving the cart to the governor's estate. Once we get there we ask for audience with the governor but he is ill so his second son speak with us instead.

- So basically your village was attacked by the wolf pack which lead to the delay of the tribute?

- Yes, we are really sorry.

- No, it's okay. It's good thing that you are able to clear the pack. How much men you lost?

- None sire, it's all thank to this man's plan that we able to wipe them all out without losing a single person.

He speak and point at me

- Let's me see your face. hmm you don't look like Pimado's natives. You even wear a Greeco sword. Are you a Greeco?

- No sir, I am a "stranger".

- I see. My name is Attalos second son of Doryssos. You seem to have a good head on your neck. Do you want to work for me? But if you want you need to have some training first. Do you have anything in your mind?

- My main aim when I come here is to train in Greeco swordsmanship. If possible please.

- I can arrange that for you.

Quest receivedAttalos want you to work for him but you need to learn how to fight first. Go to the training center and tell the trainers that Attalos sent you to receive training.Reward: Free training at training center and a job under Attalos

- Thank you for your kindness sir.

- Good, you can go to training center now. - turn back to the villagers he continue- And you guys can go back to the village. Tell the elder that it's okay, Minos will continue it's protection over Pimado.

I walk out of the door together with the guys from village. After bidding farewell to them I start to walk around the city.

Minos is a small city of Greeco Alliance which is close to the sea. It doesn't take me long to find the training center without need to ask anyone. As I walk it I see a lot of people practicing all type of fighting style. Some fight look like a brawn, some fight with sword, javelin throw and archery is here too. It's look like they don't have a horse training here but I guess it can be somewhere else due to large space need for horse to run.

Suddenly a big old man stop me in my track.

- Boy this isn't a playground. If you don't want to get hurt go home.

I kindda pissed but hold myself back and calmly answer him.

- I am sorry but I am new in this city. Attalos second son of Doryssos tell me that he cover my training here so I can come and ask for training.

- Attalos did? hmm his men did send a message but I didn't expect a young and green boy. Well since I am bored, I will teach you. But before learn Greeco swordsmanship you will need to learn "Pankration" first.

- What is that?

- Basically it's a form of fighting bare hand. I will teach you directly, come over here.

We start walking over a large clearing that a few people are fighting bare hand, they punching, kicking and even use choking and lock technique.

- Why I have to learn Pankration if I am going to fight with weapons? - I ask.

- Kid, think like this, a normal soldier go into battle bring a spear and a sword with a shield. In the middle of battle you spear can break right?

- Yes, but I can still use my sword?

- What if the battle in chaos and you don't have time to draw your sword?

- ....

- Good, look like you understand why you need to learn it. Let's get it going right away. First is how to throw punch, small kick and throw. Look at me and then do the same.

As he show me the form and how should I do, I follow and copy after a few hours I was able to learn the basic of Pankration. But I still haven't got the skill yet.

- Today that's enough, tomorrow I will teach you the arm lock and chocking in the morning and in the afternoon we will do a test fight to see how much you have learnt. I won't go on detail since I believe that practice make perfect but the basic still need to be drill into you before you can practice.

- Master?

- huh?

- You haven't tell me your name yet, master.

- I didn't? Must be my old age get the better of me. My name is Phalces. But you should keep call me master, I like that.

- Yes, master.

- Good kid, you really know how to please people. Hahaha. Come with me, you don't have a place to stay, right? Attalos will provide you a place to live but that's after he employ you. For now you can live with me and my wife until you training complete.

- I am a "stranger" so I don't really need a place to live. And I can't trouble you that much in the first day we meet.

- Stranger or not you are my discipline now so as your master, I ordered you to follow me.

- ... then I will do as you say.

As I follow my new master to his house we pass by the governor's house. Attalos is at the front door and when he saw us he waving his hand.

- Hi Phalces and you too Eumenes. Oh my oh my, don't tell me Phalces take you as his discipline?

- Yeah I took this boy as my new discipline.

- But you never train anyone personally? Even back when my father asked you still refuse to teach me or my bro.

- You and your bro are normal people. He? A secret. Not mention he is a stranger so he can become better than you think.

Suddenly a voice rang behind my head.

???: Is that so? he is weak yet you expect him so much?

Attalos: brother, you have come back.

??? Yes yes, I am back and I found out that you gonna employ another dumbass. It's a waste of money, once we settle the mock combat and I win it, I will make sure you will not gonna waste our family's fortune in stupid employment. I will personally wipe out all barbarian villages around Minos and re-population them with Greeco after that. No need to have those trash around us.

Phalces: You'll never change, won't you, Photius?

Photius: Why I need to change? Your era is over old man, my father may consider you as a hero and great friend but once I taken over you and all the trash will be fired. And you, my dear brother, you will live in the store house instead. HAHAHA.

With all that said he turn over me.

- And you should better get the fuck out of my "soon to be" city before I order the guard to chase you out once I am the governor.

Then he walk away and disappear into the house.

Attalos: I am so sorry both of you. Even through he is my brother I can't do anything. My father's steward siding with him and I am powerless. My only chance is the mock combat coming next month to decide who is gonna be the successor of my father but all strongest fighter is on his side while I only have normal and weak one. I guess with this I can't even employ you Eumenes.

Phalces: Don't think too much over it. He is just a trash in my eyes.

Me: Just one question. I hope I heard it wrong but did he said he gonna wipe out all barbarian villages around Minos?

Attalos: ... you are new here so you may not know but everyone in the city know that my bro hate barbarian. He also hate stranger so maybe he notice you are a stranger which make him show hostile toward you.

Me: I don't ask about he hate who but I ask about will he invade the villages ?

Phalces: It's not what we should talk about at here, kid. Come with me to my house, I will tell you the details.

And thank you for receiving us Attalos.

Without letting me speak anything else he drag me to his house. I can only wave my hand at Attalos who now show a sad smile on his face while wave back.

That night a political lesson of Minos get drill into my head. Phalces even taught me that each city in the Alliance have different type of government. Minos having a governor base on the power the man have inside the city while some city have a Parliament, some have King, some rule by Tyrant, some in the form of Republic. In the end all city each have a representative for their city in a Parliament which decide the movement of the Alliance by vote. Powerful city like Athens and such use their money and army to force others vote as they want. ect. ...

Phalces: There is nothing you can do now. Not while you are so weak. Go sleep, kid. you have a long day tomorrow to train.

It's true that as Phalces said. I am powerless right now so my only chance is complete the training and somehow find a way to help Attalos win the mock combat or we are done for, the villagers also won't be able to survive if Minos's army attack them. With that set as my current goal I went to sleep.