When X arrived at the training area he found a single person training. It was just the person he was looking for. X grabbed a practice staff from the training rack and walked over to join Layla in her session.

“Good to see you,” she said as she continued to swing through her practice form. Not even missing a step in her transition. When she finished the form she showed it to X in detail.

After he did it a few more times he felt like he started to get the hang of it.

*System Alert*

Understanding the Blade has ranked up to Basic II

Sword-based skills have achieved a larger bonus

“Can we spar again? I want to check how much I have grown.” X asked, hoping to gauge his ability. If the ability evolved, maybe it meant his fighting prowess also grew.

“I’m game for it,” she said, raising her staff into a fighting position. “Don’t regret it when you lose.”

X stood still for a second and analyzed Layla’s Stance. A health bar appeared above Layla’s head. Some of her stats showed. Most of her physical stats were above X’s with the exception of Dur.

As he was analyzing, Layla took the opportunity to strike first. She thrust her staff right at his chest. When her staff made impact, it felt like she didn’t fully hit him, even though she obviously hit him head-on. She took a step back and prepared to thrust her staff again.

After the thrust hit X, it shook him out of his skill. ‘It really does only deal half damage. I guess she was just testing my guard.’ X knew that he needed to block this next strike, so he brought his staff forward and batted her second thrust away.

She took the momentum from his block and used it to swing her staff around to sweep his legs out from under him.

After hitting the ground X immediately rolled to get back to his feet. When he returned to his feet he responded with a flurry of attacks. The pressure X was able to put on Layla with these attacks were causing her to fall back.

This was exactly what Layla wanted. She took a few steps back to make X believe she was retreating. The moment he stepped forward to close the distance, she did exactly the same. When he made it to his intended destination, he was met by a staff in his ribcage.

This strike knocked the wind out of X. ‘Yep she definitely did not hit me as hard as she could with that very first one.’ He attempted to take a step back to buy some time, but before he could even plant his leg backward Layla was already moving forward. She grabbed him by the shoulder and swept both of his legs out with her’s. The ground and the sky switched as X met the ground.

As he watched the auburn sky’s clouds floating past his vision he knew this fight was another loss for him. As he raised his head he made eye contact with Layla.

“You are getting better kid,” She said as she offered him a hand up. “If you keep growing like this you may have enough skill to give me a good fight.”

X took her hand and dusted himself off after standing up. “You really think so?”

“That one hundred percent depends on you kid,” She said as she walked over to put her staff up.

“That means a lot. I need to get stronger so I can keep my friends alive on this journey.” He followed and put his staff back on the rack. “This training session reminds me. I have a job for you if you are willing to take it. It is pretty much doing what you already do, just for the system.”

“The system?” Layla asked. “You mean the thing that shows us the menu screens? Sure, what would I be doing?”

“Your job would be recruiting, training, and managing the fighting members of the guild. Every time someone trains with you, they gain some amazing exp for every hour of training.” X said as he summed up the job’s responsibilities.

“Wow, that pretty much is exactly what I do. I accept the position. Maybe this will allow our power to grow even further.” Layla said envisioning the future.

“I hope so. When I come back I will be sure to input everyone’s new stat points.” X said.

“I guess you all will be leaving soon, huh?” Layla asked as her mind snapped out of her fantasy of whipping the Patrol Team into a powerful fighting force.

“As soon as we can,” X said. “We have no information so far, and a long journey ahead of us.”

“Makes sense that you are in a rush then,” Layla said as she walked off. “Good luck X, I will see you around.”

With that, X was done with the last few tasks he had to do before his team would leave.

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“Their village is on the other side of this hill,” Zack said as he conferred with the elf. While they were traveling from the goblin nest he found out that she was called Varlushia. She was one of the elven explorers. They were usually sent out in teams of five to handle threats to their village. Normally they wouldn’t suffer casualties from something like goblins. This all happened due to their lack of a mage. Although all Elves can manipulate mana to communicate, not all of them can weave it into spells. In their culture mages are somewhat rare and hard to come by.

The group has traveled mostly in silence with Zack occasionally breaking the silence to give them updates on their pathing. Norman and Mike were tense and guarded due to the unknown. On top of that tenseness, there was very little in common between the three of them. For now, the silence seemed for the best.

As they were preparing to round the last bend Varlushia held up a hand motioning for them to halt. She passed more thoughts and expressions to Zack. After a second Zack gave a nod of approval.

“She is going to get a team to retrieve him and escort us into the village for a reward,” Zack said. “She wants us to wait here with her companion until then.”

“I don’t like the idea of being a sitting duck,” Mike said. “Since we came this far we may as well see it through.”

“This feels like it might be a bad idea,” Norman said. “ What if they try and kill us because we aren’t like them? You better be willing to fight at that point Doc. You did get us into this mess.”

“If it comes down to it, then I will do what it takes to help us get out alive. I don’t think being suspicious of someone with a common enemy is the right way to build a good connection. What if this connection allows us to benefit the camp in some way? Do you want to waste an opportunity like that?”

“I agree with you on this point Zack,” Mike said. “It never hurts to make friends when you are in a bad situation.”

With the deliberation finished, Zack passed the concept back to Varlushia. They would wait here and protect her companion until they return.

Varlushia nodded and ran towards the elf village.