“What’s wrong with it,” I asked, “Is it not up to par?”

“Uh...no it’s fine,” Mr. Tann stuttered, “I’m gonna go lay down for a bit. Uh, we can talk later.” Rubbing his forehead he walked away into another room. After shutting the door I heard a long sigh and then the creek of the bed.

Scratching my head I wondered what was so bad about my magic. Maybe he’s a purest but that thought just made me chuckle.

Taking a minute to breathe I looked around and started putting everything in its proper place. All the materials went away into their boxes and the desk was organized top-down.

Everything looking organized I smiled dusting my hands off and walking out into the kitchen.

I breathed in that nice air from the open windows and sat down opening up my status screen.

[Name- Duke Boones Gender- Male Race- Human Level- 3 (80%)

Shown Title: None

Titles: None

Perks: Minor Metamorphosis of Affinity

Primary Class: None

Secondary Class: None

Production Class: None

Stamina 50/50

Mana 19/20

Strength- 4 Dexterity- 6 Constitution- 5 Affinity- 21

Attunement- 2 Control-4

Skills-

Monster Taming Level 2/10 Mana Meditation Level 1/10

Mana Control Level 3/10 Mana Weaving- Level 1/10

Weaving- Level 1/10 Minor Enhancement- Level 1/10

Basic Leatherworking- Level 1/10

Blessings-

Blessing or Rick the God Of Nature and Life- +10 Affinity]

Even though I don’t have too many skills they’re still adding up. There should be a way to organize these things.

Then a ding.

[-Organizing skills according to host knowledge]

“Oh shit, this can do some things actually,” I grinned. Then a few moments later a changed screen popped up.

[Skills-

Growth- Monster Taming Level 2/10 Mana Meditation Level 1/10

Mana Control Level 3/10

Combat- None

Production- Mana Weaving- Level 1/10 Weaving- Level 1/10

Minor Enhancement- Level 1/10 Basic Leatherworking- Level 1/10]

Ok, this can actually be pretty handy. What if I think about minor enchantment.

Then a small ding.

[-Minor Enhancement is a skill of imbuing mana into an object and changing its base properties to be better. An example for the host would be the increasing toughness of the leather tunic.]

“Ok, that makes sense, the same as when I increased the life of my flower crown,” I mumbled as I reached for my head unconsciously. There was nothing, making me pat my head a few more times before everything clicked.

“WHERE IS IT?!?!?”

I started panicking for a second before I just let my forehead hit the table. Realizing it probably fell off during my sprint from the forest, I just laid there sighing.

“My crown, my poor innocent crown,” I sobbed into the table, promising myself to make another one soon.

Taking a moment to regain my composure I finally got up looking out the window. I remembered it being said that training for all able-bodied people should be happening today at noon and it looked pretty soon to noon to me.

“Bye Mr. Tann,” I yelled as I walked out of the house, starting my journey to the center of the village.

As I was getting closer to the village hall I spotted a group of people. It was maybe 20 with people of varying ages, mid-teens to late 20’s all clumped together in the open space.

Walking closer I spotted the man in charge, a tall, straight-backed man with long blonde hair that blew in the wind. His uniform was the same as Faron’s but he had a few stripes over his left chest. His sword hung at his side hidden by a sheath. He stood in the center constantly looking around as if examining his surroundings watching everyone.

I noted his presence before merging into the group. I wasn’t talking to anyone as they were all preoccupied with their own conversations so I just played with Tiny as time passed.

Time slowly ticked by until the sun hit the highest point as the man in charge walked to the front of the group.

Clapping his hands once gathering all eyes on him, who I assumed was Captain Hermes, yelled, “Everyone welcome! We are here today because an enemy might be threatening our village! I will teach you the ways of fighting so that you can defend your home! Now everyone get in ranks and grab a practice sword from this pile.”

As if they heard the words of a king everyone rushed to grab a sword and get in messy ranks.

The swords were similar to the ones Faron and I used, wooden a meter long, single-edged.

In loose rows of four and columns of six, we stood in front of the Captain. I stood right in front of the Captain locking eyes with him and shooting him my signature smile.

Glaring at me he yelled, “We have a traveler with us, he plans on helping us in our fight so let's treat him well.” The last few words were laced with a venom aiming to make me the outcast.

Everyone shouted, “Yes Sir!” in unison except me as I tried to work out why he was targeting me from the start.

Captain Hermes seemed satisfied with his new recruits taking out his sword. Holding up the new steel sword that looked like it has never seen battle he started demonstrating and explaining how to hold the sword.

It was only the basic do’s and don’ts but it was all the same as Faron so I started zoning out. As he went on and on I started to vaguely pay attention but I looked down for a moment to move Tiny from my right to my left hand.

As Tiny got to my other wrist I watched as a small glint sped towards me. Right in front of my eyes, the Captain’s sword held steady threateningly.

“Pay attention or you’ll die,” He hissed with a fire in his eyes that wasn’t in any way friendly.

“Yes Sir,” I yelled back!

The Captain glared again before continuing on with his lecture, slowly moving through the movements of attacking from basic angles. He taught us how to attack but not how to block the strike which I found quite weird but an hour passed before he stopped us.

“Pair up and spar,” he demanded.

I stood alone at the front as everyone else started pairing up and sparring.

“Hey, stranger wanna be my partner,” A boy that looked slightly younger than me with dirty clothes and blond hair came running up to me.

He looked excited and had an innocent light in his eyes that made me unable to say no. Giving a big nod in his direction I positioned myself to spar.

Excitedly shuffling closer and closer he positioned himself just a few paces in front of me. As he wound up for a strike the innocent light vanished and left behind a dangerous sharpness. Before I could understand he struck down with a basic overhead swing.

Almost on instinct, I raised my sword at an angle making his ride down the side before I flicked it off.

Looking surprised he didn’t quite get I blocked his strike so he went for a stab this time.

This stab was much slower than Faron’s so I just calmly watched as it moved closer before swiveling to the right letting his blade travel across my chest. I returned his kindness with a stab of my own.

The boy didn’t react as if he wasn’t expecting me to fight back. So my sword hit him square in the chest letting out a loud thump as he fell backward.

With eyes filled with a similar fire as the Captain’s, he growled, “Did you just hit me?”

“As it’s an even spar I very much did,” I smirked in response at this Brat’s reaction.

“No. One. Hits. ME!” He stood up and without using any technique or form he swung his sword from the side.

“Woah there friend,” I laughed as I was jumping back getting out of range.

His sword went flying past me, and with a ‘Hmph’ twisted his wrist swiping back towards me.

He missed again as he didn’t even consider the distance change but I was getting annoyed with his tantrum. Being wide open I struck his wrist hard with the wooden sword.

There was a very crisp smack sound and a thump as his sword fell.

Rubbing his wrist he yelled, “What the hell you bastard!”

Everyone had long ago stopped sparring and watched us. Looking around now I saw some stifling a laugh and some smirked.

Captain Hermes came storming over yelling, “WHAT’S HAPPENING OVER HERE!”

The boy whimpered, “Dad this bastard hit me way too hard for a spar.”

“You were doing the same thing,” I scoffed.

“I don’t care,” Captain Hermes hissed, “Leave Now!”

“I came here to learn how to fight so that’s what I’m gonna do.”

“Fine,” Captain Hermes smiled evilly, “But you’re gonna be sparring me then.”

I held my sword out with confidence but in my head, I was cursing worried to all hell.

“Good,” He chuckled, picking up the fallen practice sword, striking down faster and harder than Faron

I could barely lift the sword up in time to catch him but I almost immediately lost that stalemate.

Pushing me back not letting me catch my footing he went for a simple stab.

It was way too fast for me to dodge so I just took it straight pushing me back even farther.

The Captain’s body shook before growing a size bigger. Taking a heavy step forward he slashed at me from the side.

My sword barely moved to my side in time. It didn’t even matter because his sword broke through mine in one strike sending half my sword flying. His sword continued its course smacking me in the ribs hard.

Practically flying to the side I landed on the ground. Laying there in a ball as I held my ribs.

With blurry eyes, I looked around trying to see everyone else. Some were looking worried and sad, others were laughing at my misfortune, Hermes’ son was snickering.

Gritting my teeth I slowly stood back up. Leaning on my knees for a minute slowly I straightened my back holding the bottom half of the broken sword out. I was sure as hell not giving up until I hit him once.

The Captain’s body went back down to normal size as he looked in disbelief but it quickly got covered with a smile. Stepping out again he sent another swipe from the side.

Dropping down onto all fours fast I was just able to dodge. Shooting myself forward I got close enough sending a slash of my own at him.

Before I could touch him he used the bottom of his sword hitting my back sending me crashing into the dirt.

Laying there I let out a little whimper of pain but got back up away from him as I caught my breath.

My mana was stirring as I breathed heavily. Grabbing on to it I slowly moved it up my body to my arm. Letting it break into three strands it flowed over my hand through the sword.

The strands started weaving over and under each other. Reaching the original height of the sword they fused together making a blunted point. With renewed confidence, I held out my now glowing sword.

Everyone else stared in awe as the new sword formed. Captain Hermes couldn’t keep his shock in as his jaw hung open.

I smiled stepping forward stabbing towards the Captain. He didn’t know what to do so he just weakly moved out of the way.

With a heavy step, I threw my body towards him letting me smack him hard with my mana sword.

There was a loud smack as my sword made contact but soon dispersed as I took a step back falling to the ground exhausted. Finally taking a moment I looked at the notification I ignored.

[-Through repeating action the skill [Mana Weaving] levels up]

[-Reward 15% exp]

Smiling as I slowly stood throwing my broken sword to the side. With a straightened back I cast my gaze at everyone around me with confidence. Glaring at the Captain I nodded before turning around and walking back towards Mr. Tann’s house.

“Where are you going,” an angry Captain yelled!

“Home, you kicked my ass today but tomorrow I’ll be back for round two,” I responded as I threw a wave over my shoulder and kept moving steadily. I wasn’t about to let anyone know how fucked up I was.

Once I knew I was out of sight I started running through the streets trying to get back to the house.

With the most ungraceful sprint possible I busted through the door and set Tiny down on the table carefully.

Sluggishly I dragged my feet towards the back yard where I laid down in the grass. Closing my eyes I passed out due to pain.