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I’ll just teach him the basics then. Maybe he’ll be able to teach the others—or at least protect them. Who knows? Vander thought to himself as he watched Jillian stab through an empty clearing with the spear he’d given the teen boy.

"Keep your feet shoulder-width apart," Vander said, his eyes fixed on Jillian's stance. "Grip the spear firmly, but not too tight. You want to be able to move it quickly."

Vander's voice echoed in the stillness of the forest clearing. He continued to guide Jillian through the intricacies of spear-fighting. The early morning sun cast a warm glow upon the scene, filtering through the leaves and dappling the ground with patches of light and shadow.

Jillian shifted his weight from one foot to the other, seemingly trying to find the perfect balance. Vander stepped closer, his sharp eyes scanning every inch of Jillian's form. With a quick motion, he adjusted Jillian's stance, moving his feet a little further apart. "Good," he said, nodding in approval. "Now, when you thrust forward, keep your arm straight and your shoulder relaxed. You don't want to waste any energy."

Jillian thrust forward tentatively, feeling the rush of air as the spear sliced through it. He drew it back again, testing its weight and balance.

Vander's voice cut through the stillness once again. "Now, try the sweep," he said, his eyes never leaving Jillian's form. "Remember, keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, and use your whole body to generate power."

Jillian nodded, a bead of sweat trickling down the back of his neck. He took a deep breath and swung the spear in a wide arc, his swing not looking all that strong. However, Vander made no judgment. Just the boy’s form was amazing for a newbie. He had the talent.

As the boy continued to practice, Vander felt a smile creep up his face. It felt somewhat satisfying to guide someone. He couldn’t stop it, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're a natural," he said, clapping Jillian on the back. "With a little more practice, you'll be a force to be reckoned with."

Jillian grinned back. Vander continued to help Jillian practice, and his movements became more fluid with each passing moment. Vander kept correcting Jillian's form, his gentle guidance allowing the younger man to improve quickly.

As the afternoon sun began to dip towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the clearing, Jillian took a moment to catch his breath. His chest heaved with exertion, sweat trickling down his face in rivulets. Vander watched him with a sense of pride, marveling at how far the young man had come in such a short time.

With a nod of approval, Vander motioned for Jillian to join him in the center of the clearing. "Alright," he said, his voice soft and measured. "Now it's time for us to delve deeper into the art of combat. We'll be learning how to detect your energy."

Jillian cocked his head, a look of confusion crossing his face. "My energy?" he repeated, his brow furrowing.

Vander smiled, his eyes glinting with a sense of mischief. "Yes, your magical energy," he said, chuckling. "It's the energy that flows through all living things, either in the form of mana or aura, connecting us to the world around us. And if you learn to sense it, you'll be able to gain explosive power that defies logic."

Jillian's eyes widened with amazement, and then he nodded with a determined look.

Vander's voice cut through the stillness. "Now, concentrate," he said, his voice soft but commanding. "Reach out with your senses, and feel the energy flowing through you."

Vander watched as Jillian closed his eyes, his body still as he took a deep breath.

After a few moments, Jillian opened his eyes, a look of frustration on his face. "I couldn't detect anything," he said, shaking his head.

Vander let out a chuckle, amused by Jillian's eagerness. "Naturally not," he said, patting Jillian on the back. "It takes hours, sometimes days to sense mana, depending on your level of skill."

Jillian's face fell, disappointment etched on his features. "Then how do I do it?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation. “Do I just… repeat this?”

Vander chuckled. “I have a method to make it quicker.”

Before Jillian could ask anything, Vander's hand gripped the hilt of his sword, feeling its weight and balance as he took a step forward towards Jillian. His eyes were fixed on his opponent, searching for any sign of weakness or hesitation.

Vander's voice was low and steady as he spoke, trying his best to intimidate Jillian. "We shall duel," he said, his eyes flashing with fierce battlelust.

Jillian looked at him in confusion, his brow furrowing as he struggled to make sense of Vander's words. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice uncertain. He took a step back, mirroring Vander’s step forward.

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Spotting his opponent's confusion, Vander explained calmly, "There is no need to win. Simply push me a step back or scratch me, and you win." As he spoke, Vander shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his muscles coiled like a spring, ready to strike. His eyes never left Jillian's, watching for any sign of movement or aggression.

Vander watched as Jillian hesitantly stepped forward, his spear trembling in his grip. Vander's sword was steady as he parried the thrust, the clash of metal ringing out in the stillness of the clearing. Jillian's confusion was palpable, his movements unsure and uncoordinated. Vander could see the fear in his opponent's eyes as he raised his sword and aimed it at Jillian's neck.

"I'm not joking," Vander warned, his voice firm and commanding. "Duel seriously. You won’t hurt me."

He could feel the tension in the air as Jillian swallowed nervously, his eyes darting back and forth between Vander's sword and his own spear. Vander could see the hesitation in Jillian's movements, the uncertainty that held him back.

"Try to do what I told you," Vander urged. "Sense your energy while you do so."

Jillian gripped his spear tighter and got up, seemingly relieved. “Y-you didn’t mean a duel to the death?”

Vander rolled his eyes and gestured the boy forward. “If you don’t come to me, I’ll come to you. Bring your best.”

***

Vander and Jillian had been dueling for what felt like an eternity. The sweltering sun beat down on them relentlessly, casting sharp shadows across the dusty ground. Beads of sweat dripped down their foreheads, staining their clothes with salty patches. The air was thick with the smell of earth, sweat, and the metallic tang of blood.

Vander had been dominating the duels, effortlessly parrying Jillian's strikes with his sword. His movements were precise and fluid, like a dancer's. Each of his parries sent a ringing clash through the air that reverberated off the surrounding trees. Jillian, on the other hand, had been stumbling, his movements slow and heavy with exhaustion. He had been no match for Vander's lightning-fast strikes and deft handling of the younger boy’s momentum and weapon orientation.

But then something shifted. Vander noticed a change in Jillian's stance, a newfound confidence in his eyes. It was then that Vander realized that Jillian had finally begun tapping into his energy, hot yet powerful and sturdy mana. The air around Jillian shimmered with an otherworldly magic, crackling with power like a murky storm cloud of molten earth.

Despite the sudden change, Vander remained focused, his sword at the ready. Jillian lunged at him with his spear, but Vander deftly parried the attack with a sharp clang. The impact sent a jolt through his arm, but Vander stood his ground. He had faced tougher opponents than Jillian before.

Jillian, fueled by his newfound power, let out a fierce battle cry and thrust his spear forward once more. But this time, Vander was not prepared for what happened next. As Jillian's spear pierced the air, a bright orange flame erupted from its very tip, casting an eerie glow across the battlefield.

Vander's eyes widened in surprise and awe at the unexpected display of elemental magic. The flames licked hungrily at the air, leaving a trail of smoke in their wake. The heat was intense, making it difficult for Vander to even stand near the flames. But Jillian seemed unaffected by the searing heat, his eyes blazing with the intensity of a wildfire.

Despite the temptation to use his superior skills and brute force his way through the fiery attack, Vander knew that would be unfair to Jillian. If they were using wooden swords and spears, he would have been forced to attack for real, without any parries.

Thus, he ducked and struck Jillian in his side, causing him to tumble to the ground. “Alright, that was good. I’ll give you the win,” Vander announced, standing up straight. “You did well.”

“Really?!” Jillian’s chest heaved from exhaustion, but he bounced in place as he seemed to process Vander’s words again. “You mean…?”

“You did a good job. You’ll be able to defend the village with this level of power, but don’t let yourself stagnate. You have a lot of potential. If you train the other boys your age, you’ll find life has a lot more opportunities than you first imagined,” Vander said, grinning proudly. Jillian had sprouted into a full-fledged sapling, his combat potential and capabilities sprouting from beneath an earthy surface to see the light of day. He would grow if he kept practicing.

The boy’s hand pushed against the ground as he stood up, a bright smile etched onto his face. “Thank-”

Vander was distracted from Jillian’s words by the letters that consumed his vision.

Class Assessment: Part 2 of 3

All goals achieved.

You have now moved onto Class Assessment: Part 3 of 3

Completion Goal: Overcome.

Suddenly, a large portal materialized out of thin air right in front of Vander.

The portal was enormous, towering over him like a colossal monolith. Its surface was smooth and glassy, with swirls of iridescent purple and blue that seemed to dance and shift like a living thing. Vander could feel the power emanating from it, calling to him with an irresistible force.

Jillian had also fallen silent. His mouth hung open in wonder as he gazed at the portal, his eyes wide with anticipation and fear.

Vander knew that the time had come to say goodbye to his new apprentice. He turned to Jillian, his voice soft, "It's time. Keep this up, and you might even beat me one day."

Jillian simply nodded, his eyes somewhat misty.

As Vander stepped into the portal, he was immediately struck by a sense of disorientation. The world around him seemed to spin and shift, as though he was caught in the middle of a wild and chaotic storm. He stumbled forward, his legs weak and unsteady, until finally he regained his balance and opened his eyes.

What he saw caught Vander off guard: a city in ruins. It was a place of chaos and decay. Tall buildings stood crumbling and broken, their walls scarred and pockmarked with evidence of battle. The streets were barren and empty, save for the occasional pile of rubble or twisted piece of metal.

However, the sight of destruction was not what caught Vander off guard. Something else entirely took that credit. The portal had brought him to a place he was all too familiar with.

He had lived here for most of his past life, after all.