Opening up their story proved to be a great thing, after all. Not only did that allow me to know about their story, I now have access to our technology. And openly, I tell you.

I also had a talk with Foulk about Zone Three. Apparently, it’s the biggest out of the three. It’s divided into three district; the north, south and west. Word was, it was the first Roq. The nearby river provided source of water from the former town and the mountain gave them a shelter from the natural disasters. The land was also good, so it was ideal for farming. It was said that the former town of Roq was as prosperous as the capital of Ergaos.

Sadly, it was razed and destroyed by the Witch, Shakna. Though I didn’t believe that, I did think it was her generals who disobeyed her. I mean, can a reverent and kind witch do that? An irrefutable no.

Anyway, Foulk said that Bladetree was often seen in the north district, so we planned to be in the south, just to be safe.

Our plan was simple. First was to find Bladetree and stalked on him. Well, it was only me because that was what I literally do but Bladetree can sense me even when I blend in with the dark, so it was hard to get close. But with the DSLR camera, I can use that to either video or take a picture in the distance. It was the ultimate tool of reconnaissance. As they said, information was crucial. We had to study our enemy to find their weakness and bring them down.

Secondly, we had to devise a trap for them. We can’t hope to defeat them in their own territory. We had to create our own environment in order for us to have the advantage. We needed the element of surprise.

Thirdly, we took a break from hunting kasaks because we had to acquire new abilities. Acquiring new ability took time and as for how long, it depended on the person on how quick he mastered the ability. The powerful and helpful the ability was, the more expensive it was.

We also made Merry become a Swordsman. She had the necessary requirements; quick and strong, just like Hashi. To be honest, I wanted Merry to pick another class because I didn't want another Swordsman in our party. If we had another, it would feel like we had replaced Hashi, just like I replaced him with being the new leader. I didn't like what it made me felt. It made me feel that I was leaving him behind. But still, we continued forward because it was necessary. We had to get stronger.

“What should I get…”

We were looking at a poster that was given to us by Chris where we can pick the abilities we want to learn according to our classes.

ABILITY MASTERY DESCRIPTION AMOUNT Lock Pick I I Can unlock basic chest. 50 Bronze Coins Disarm I I Allows Assassin to disarm their opponent. (The chance depends on the enemies and mastery of the ability) 2 Silver Coins Side Step Allows Assassin to dodge incoming attacks, to enter battle or to exit battle. 1 Silver Coin Smokescreen Allows Assassin to see when inside a smoke screen. (Must have smokescreen first) 75 Bronze Coins

What are the numbers for?

I asked Chris and he said, “Mastery is used to determine your level of mastery in that particular ability. It also indicates how strong and effective your ability will be as the level of mastery go higher. But for this to be successful, it depends on several factors such as; yourself, environment, opponent and how well you do your training. For example, you use Side Step, it doesn’t automatically mean you can do it but it depends on the factors I mentioned. Succinctly, Even if you master an ability, that doesn’t mean you can automatically pull it off; you have to do it step-by-step.” Chris winked at the end of his explanation.

That makes sense. That’s why training takes a lot of time; you have to start from the basics before mastering it. And I forgot how obnoxious this person was.

“Incidentally, the one that determined if you master that ability was your mentor or higher positions from the class’ association. It can also be me, so if you want me to approve it, you have to persuade me.” Chris licked his lips.

I decided to ignore him and thought about what I should get.

I wonder what ability I should get. I don’t really need lock pick right now. Disarm is too expensive but I’ll probably get that in the future. Side Step with Smokescreen seems to be the best option here. I didn’t know there’s a smokescreen. I’ll ask Marsha about that later.

“What ability do you want to learn, Terrin?” Fuyuki asked.

“I’ll get the Side Step and Smokescreen. It’s 1 Silver and 75 Bronze coins, so it’s within my budget of 3 silvers. How about you, Fuyuki?”

Fuyuki showed me her ability selection.

ABILITIES MASTERY DESCRIPTION AMOUNT Ice Wall I When casted, an ice wall would appear to the designated area. (Needs Incantation) 2 Silver Coins Ice Trap I When casted, the ground will turn to an ice and anyone in the designated area will be temporarily slowed. (Needs Incantation) 2 Silver Coins Utilization Increases the spirit's energy. 1 Silver Coin Quick Chant Allows for quicker chant. 50 Bronze Coins Ice Shard II Allows the Mage to control and create more ice shards. 5 Silver Coins

“I’ll probably learn Ice Trap. Ice Shard is hard to use when the enemy is too fast. With Ice Trap, I can slow them down for me and for you guys. And it’s within my budget, so it’s all good.”

"But why are there two mastery levels for 'Ice Shard'?"

"I already had the first one during my training."

"She's right." Chris butted in. "You don't know it yet but a wanderers badge shows abilities you have learned and abilities that can be improve."

"If that's the case, Why doesn't my abilities, like Stab or Hide, appeared here?"

"There are abilities we called passive abilities. They only help you physically and/or mentally, depending on the ability. As for your Stab and Hide ability or those that doesn't have any mastery in it, they can only be learned once and the only way to make them improve is through battle experiences and instinct."

"All right. I think I understand. It's like as I learn about them, the easier I can use them, as if they becomes a part of me, right?"

"Ping pong. Now, where's my pat in the head?" Chris pleaded like a child but I don't even want to deeply describe it. I ignored him again.

I was wondering about something but this time, I asked Fuyuki about it. "What is spirit's energy?" It was in the description of Utilization.

"Oh yeah," she smacked her head with her hand. "You guys can't see them but I have a little spirit with me. I was wondering why nobody asked me about it and I forgot you can't see them."

"So, what are spirits?"

"Spirits are like, how do I explain this, they're like the embodiment of our mind. Well, at least the part that believes in magic. When you have completed the part where they make you "believe' in magic", a spirit will appear beside you. It won't move or talk and it doesn't disappear whenever you sleep. Whenever I chant and write a specific ability, the spirit will take energy within me and then converts it into ice, or in other's cases, their respective magic. So, spirits are the ones that creates the magic while I'm the one that decides which magic to be used and control where it goes." Fuyuki explained.

I don't understand it but sometimes, rarely, actually, Fuyuki says some smart stuff.

Takana and I were like monkeys to a grown up man. In other words, we looked dumb.

“Anyway, just don’t put it on us. We’ll be slowed down, too, if it hits us.” Takana said.

“I know that. What are you getting Takana?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“You’re like an old man, you know? So stingy.” Fuyuki said.

“Fine, look at my ability selection.” Takana uncharacteristically surrendered.

Seriously? One insult and you collapse? Come on, Takana, what happened?

ABILITIES MASTERY DESCRIPTION AMOUNT Toughen II Makes the Warrior tougher and formidable. 1 Silver Coin Bash I Allows the Warrior to use his shield to stun the enemies. (The amount of time depends on the enemy and the strength of the Bash) 2 Silver Coins Whirlwind Slash I Allows the Warrior to slash his sword with tremendous speed. 1 Silver and 50 Bronze Coins Intimidate I Causes Confusion and Fear to the enemy. 2 Silver Coins

“I want to get Bash. I want to Bash that huge kasak we fought before and swing down my sword on that ugly face.” An angry expression appeared on Takana’s face. He was serious about taking down Bladetree. Not only him but all of us shared the same sentiment. “But damn it’s expensive! I could probably buy a lot of food with that two silver!”

He was right. It was indeed expensive. But it was necessary, so we had no choice. We needed to get stronger. Besides, Takana didn’t have enough money, so we had to use Hashi’s savings.

“It’s not your money, anyway. We’re not gonna use Hashi’s money just to fill your belly up.” Fuyuki said.

“Then how about the remaining silver? Can I use that?” Takana was pleading.

“No, you idiot.”

“Why not!?”

While the two were bantering, I looked at Kihana. Out of all of us, she was probably the most serious on what ability she should get. Her intent gaze towards the poster was proof.

I looked at the poster for her ability selection.

ABILITIES MASTERY DESCRIPTION AMOUNT Expulse I Removes or nullifies negative ailments from an ally. (Needs Incantation) 2 Silver Coins Faith I Strengthen the faith of the Priest, allowing the Priest to use more of its abilities. 1 Silver Coin Support I Gives physical and mental buffs to allies. 2 Silver and 50 Bronze Coins Self-Defense Allows the Priest to use its staff for self-defense. 1 Silver Coin

“What ability do you want to get, Kihana?” I asked.

“I-I’m getting the one you told me and this one…” she pointed at one of the ability in the poster.

Expulse and Self-Defense, huh?

“…You said I should get Expulse and I wanted to learn Self-Defense, so I could protect myself and Merry could focus more on other things...”

"But isn't that overall 3 silvers? How are you going to pay for your expense?"

"I-It's okay, Fuyuki said she got me covered. Besides," Kihana looked down and gripped her staff tightly. “I…I don’t want to feel that anymore. That feeling of uselessness. That feeling of not being able to save someone because of my incompetence.”

How can I be so dumb? Of course, she would feel like that. it was her role to keep support us and keep us alive and yet, she failed to do so. Of course, it would make her think of that.

I don’t exactly know how to alleviate what she felt, so instead, I said “It’s not only you that let him down, Kihana. We all did. So let’s do our best, so that it won’t happen again.” I patted her head. I remembered how calmed it made me feel when Fuyuki did it to me.

“…Yes…” As I looked at her, her face turned to red and her head started to swirl. I realized my mistake but I was too late. I forgot how flustered it made me. But before I could remove my hand, Takana removed it angrily.

“What are you doing, Terrin!? Are you trying to steal Kihana!?” Takana put up his fist and started to jab at me.

“Hey, that’s dangerous!”

“Ouch!” Takana shouted. It seemed Fuyuki smacked her in the head. “You idiot. Kihana is only mine. Go cry somewhere as you remember what I just said.” she then hugged and rubbed her face on Kihana.

"Hey, that's not fair! I want to do it, too!"

"That just makes you a pervert, Takana."

We were weak and we fully know that. We can’t hope to defeat Bladetree with our strengths alone. We had to rely on ourselves and the things we had. Just like what Hashi said, we had to stick together. We can’t hope to be like Shiro and Ryuu; those people were born with talents. We’re just ordinary people, trying to survive this harsh and cruel world.

*

We went to our respective association. I went to my association and then went to the dark base. I can see everything now at this point and finding that room Marsha was in was like taking out a Zone One kasak. It was easy enough even for me.

"Yo, kiddo."

"That's not how you talk." I said. She was still the same as ever. She was in the middle of the room, smoking cigarettes.

"I trying to blend in more with the kids. They say this was one of the things they usually say. Is it working?" Her quiet voice was loud enough in this dark and almost empty room.

"No. and why do I feel like you were expecting me?"

"We're all bound to return where we started."

"What the heck does that even mean?"

"It means," she stood up and as fast as the wind, she was suddenly behind me. "Nothing."

Though I did caught a glimpse of it, it was still fast enough that my eyes couldn't kept up with it.

"Hmmm..." She examined me from bottom all the way to the top. "Of course it would changed you."

"Huh?" I was totally clueless. "What are you talking about?"

"I heard someone in your party died."

"Oh," I lowered my eyes. "Yeah, and it was because of us."

She suddenly snapped her finger at my forehead. "Ouch, What was that for?"

"If he really was your friend, he would have done the same thing as I did, maybe even worse."

I'm lucky to have this mentor.

"How did you know, anyway?"

"A great mentor like me always keeps their eyes on their students, especially the ones they like."

"Alright, alright, I'm here to learn new abilties."

"You're just going to ignore that, huh?" She threw her cigarette on the floor and stepped on it. I didn't even know if she cleaned them up. "Of course, I'll teach you. What do you want to learn?"

"I want to learn Side Step and Smokescreen. What's smokescreen, anyway?"

She took out a small black ball from one of her pouches on her waist. "This is a Smoke Bomb. It contains smoke inside and when you throw it, it pops and lets out the smoke. Here, I'll show you." She threw it in my face.

I thought our bonding as a mentor and student would change her attitude towards me but I was wrong.

I sighed. Another two weeks of beating again.