Enzo awoke the next morning, sore all over. Working at the forge all night left him with little time to sleep. Gunnar pounding on his door before dawn didn’t help matters.

“Come on, rise and shine buttercup,” the captain barked as Enzo slowly pulled on his shirt. “Best time to run is before dawn. I want five laps around the village before sun up, or it’ll be five more laps on top of that.”

Enzo groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Tobias kept me at the forge all night last night, can’t we slow down a bit?”

“Not a chance,” Gunnar sharply replied. “Six laps now, best get moving!”

With another groan, Enzo slipped on his shoes and began to jog around the outer wall of the village. At first, the chill of the morning just made things worse, but as he began to warm up, he was thankful to be running before sunrise.

This would be brutal during the summer. I hope to God I’m not still doing this by then.

Few other members of the village were up this early, and the peaceful quiet of the morning gave Enzo some time to practice his mana control. He cycled his body heat, concentrating it in different parts of his body. Periodically, he’d let loose a jet of heat from a random spot, testing out his ability to release mana from unexpected locations.

Tobias did say I’d become predictable if I use my Affinity too much. Being able to fire off from any angle will help a lot in one-on-one situations. Makes it impossible to pin me, too.

Enzo scanned the trees near the village as he made his laps. Most of the trees this close in were pretty young, but every now and then he spied a healthy oak. Have to keep my eyes peeled for something that would make a good handle for the hammer.

The sun began to rise just as he turned into the gate on his last lap around the village. He hadn’t found any branches that would work as he needed, but he had come up with another idea to solve that problem. I’ll stop by Cornelia’s house and see if she has anything lying around.

Winded, but effectively warmed up, Enzo looked around for Gunnar. The captain was seated by the barracks, drinking deeply from a jug. Gunnar looked up and noticed Enzo as he approached.

“Have to say, I’m a bit surprised,” he said to Enzo, and motioned for the young man to join him on the bench. “Most new recruits can’t make it that many times around the village in a day, let alone before daybreak.”

“Eh, I spent a lot of time running around in the woods, hunting,” Enzo replied, still a bit out of breath.

“Yeah, I’m sure you did. Flynn told me all about you chasing arrows around the forest,” Gunnar responded. He handed Enzo the flask as the young man grumbled. “Drink up, got a full day ahead of you.”

As Enzo drank, Gunnar outlined the plan for the day. Basic stances and flexibility training, then breakfast, followed by some strength training and finishing up at the archery range before lunch.

Enzo was quickly exhausted as he moved through the rigorous training program. Only the thought of his prowess on the battlefield at the end of all this helped push him through the training. As his last shot of the day thudded against the wood of the target, Enzo collapsed into the grass.

They’re going to kill me. I can’t do this and then work at the forge every day.

Gunnar stood over Enzo and grinned. “Not bad, not bad,” the sadistic captain chuckled. “‘Course we took it pretty easy on your first day, just wait until tomorrow.”

“Thank you, sir,” Enzo replied sarcastically. “I look forward to it, sir.”

“That attitude got you another lap tomorrow morning,” Gunnar replied, frowning. “Training is for your own good. If it was easy, it wouldn’t improve you. Take that to heart.”

The young man nodded earnestly in response. “I know, just have to dish it out when I can,”

Enzo said as he stood back up. “Tobias would kill me if I kicked him with any sarcasm.”

“Oh, and I won’t?” Gunnar replied. “Get going before you dig your hole any deeper.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” said Enzo as he quickly left the shooting range.

Instead of heading to the workshop, Enzo made a beeline for the enchanted garden that surrounded Cornelia’s house. As always, he was met with a warm summer breeze as he entered the garden.

“You again,” came Cornelia’s voice on the wind. “It’s too early for your vegetables, come back in two days.”

“I had a different question this time, actually. I was wondering if you knew where I could find some straight wood-” he began to ask, before being cut off.

“Do not come here asking for such nonsense, child. Begone.”

Alright, jeez, my bad.

Enzo turned and pushed through the bushes, straight into Lea. Fruit went flying from her basket as the diminutive woman sprawled to the ground.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there,” Enzo apologized. He hadn’t seen the shopkeeper since his first excursion into the village weeks ago, and had forgotten about her entirely. Embarrassed, he helped her back to her feet and collected the fruit.

“It’s okay, you aren’t the first person to stumble out of Cornelia’s garden frustrated,” Lea replied, accepting the basket of fruit from Enzo.

“Yeah… I was just looking for a good branch to carve into the handle of a warhammer Tobias and I were working on and figured she could help,” Enzo explained.

Lea just chuckled. “You thought Cornelia would help with that? Not a chance. I’ve got some wood lying around though, come have a look.”

“You’re a lifesaver, thank you!” Enzo replied, and fell in beside Lea as they headed back to her shop.

Inside, the usual assortment of random goods were arranged across the walls and display tables throughout the shop. Lea led Enzo around the back of the shop, where a pile of assorted wood was stacked up.

“If you want something already carved, it’ll cost you,” said Lea. “Two copper for the oak, five for the mahogany. If you just want to do the work yourself, I’ll let you pick a log for free this time.” Enzo nodded and thanked Lea, before delving into the pile of wood.

Eventually, Enzo pulled a nice, thick chunk of oak from the pile. About as long as his arm, the wood seemed sturdy and thick enough to be whittled down and still retain its strength.

Not a chance Tobias will let me get away with something that’s already been carved. This should be pretty good to work with.

He showed his chosen piece to Lea, and left the shop for Tobias’s workshop.

At least carving won’t leave me sore tomorrow morning.