EPISODE 9: TRAINING ARC
-Edryan Queendom. Year 7288, Season: New Beginning
I can do this all day.
-Captain America, The First Avenger
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‘UP! GET UP NOW, LAWRUTHIAN,’ My brain screamed. Exhausted, sleep-deprived, and on my last legs I rolled to the side. My breath left a steamy white trail as the final dregs of winter were fading. A New Beginning was here. Dirt and stone churned as the massive paw cratered the thawing ground before me. Fragments impacted me yet I did not cry out. A large chuck hit my mouth. The coppery taste of blood swirled around my tongue. Rolling to my feet, my left arm hung uselessly while my right grasped for the dagger kept at my waist. The hard brown leather of my boots was stained with the blood of the beast before me. Leaving bloodied footprints in the several dozen feet our battle took place. The creature's back was torn and shredded from my surprise attack. Leaving it bleeding profusely.
Out of reach, dozens of feet away in a clearing I was camping in, lay my bow and arrows. I am in a dangerous situation, but I had a plan. My eyes never left the beast own. Disregarding the fact that my fallen sword lay feet away in the muddy grass before an oak tree. The bear snarled as the wind brushed past us, blowing hard against the fauna. The early spring scent entered my nose. New life at the beginning rising to learn, grow, and overcome. The decayed fauna was shoved aside for new green.
In front of me was death. I would overcome it. The brown bear snarled and once again raised its arm to strike me down. The other hung nearly useless at its side. While one of its eyes hung limply out of its socket. With a push of its hind legs, it charged.
I laughed. “Checkmate, fool.”
My body was crouched low almost like a sprinter ready to take off. Years of discipline had instilled this starting position into me. Edryans were not attacked. We were the first to attack. Even when defending. As the bear charge flinging grass and mud in its wake, I charge forward myself. Not retreating in the slightest as I utilized the skill drilled into me. (Royal Knight Arts: Defense Breaker) drove me forward accelerating me faster than the bear for a few moments as my mana twisted in a far cry mimicry of the skill. This gave me enough moments to position myself correctly. My dagger slid through its tough underbelly as I slid through the slick ground underneath it. Creating an easier opening for my next attack.
The bear showed its tough resistance in shrugging off my previous attempts. The bear's paw swiped inches from my skull. Missing as it once again created a small crater. The dull brown gem at the end of my blade glowed one final time its mana spent. My slide was completed; my dark hunter’s outfit was bloodied and muddied from the fight. The brown bear was slightly off balance as it missed its final attack.
“(Earth Spear).”
Savagely I bit off the chunk of the seared bear meat. Nursing the flames in front of me as I sat in the clearing. My equipment gathered alongside a few choice cuts of meat. One more week and I get to go home. I stared at the sparse trees across from me as I churned the flames. Sparks flying and embers dying. My arm was dislocated after the bear grabbed my sword in its maw. I, foolishly, held onto the weapon. A scene of a famous actor from Earth popping their arm back in after using a tree flashed through my thoughts. Couldn’t be too bad right?
I clenched my fist, knuckles popping. What I just faced was basically a normal animal. It held no mana and wasn’t even a single-star creature. It was just a normal [Brown Bear]. Such a creature left me battered and bruised like nothing I’ve experienced before… it was exhilarating.
I let out a long heavy sigh turning my attention back to my dislocated arm. I couldn’t go a week without the use of my arm. “I’m learning first aid soon as I return to the castle.”
A lot would be going down upon my return. As I ate the gamey meat, my memories of the week before resurfaced. The reason behind my solo adventure into the royal hunting grounds played through my thoughts.
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“Hmm, it's time for you to unlock your first class. To take the First Step”
I questionably looked at my mom as she spoke. It was a chilly early morning, and the snow of the winner slowly removed itself from our surroundings. Winter was receding late this year. A red-orange sun shone through the high windows of the royal palace. The light shone brilliantly as we enjoyed ourselves. While birds chirped announcing the start of the morning. A few weeks ago, I experienced my thirteenth birthday.
“Unlock my first class?” I asked as I heartily dug into my breakfast. The warm oats had berries sprinkled throughout while honey was drizzled over. Giving the oats a natural and sweet taste. On the side was a naan-like bread stuffed with meat and various vegetables. The Edryan version of the hamburger I introduced a few years ago. Something that spread like wildfire through the country.
“Like our forefathers who were hunters and gathers you will live off the land for two weeks. Surviving with nothing but a few base tools. A bow and its arrows, a sword, and a trusty dagger by your side,” my mom said with a smile. “Far more than our ancestors started with, yet it is enough to unlock the class.”
My face grew grim as she said this, a frown appearing. My thoughts began to drift to something I learned about in my history lessons, yet I opened my mouth to ask anyway. “Are you talking about An Edryan’s Three Steps?”
My mother nodded her head, continuing to smile as she ate, seemingly reminiscing. Only pausing to speak once again. “Every Edryan is required by law to learn about three different professions once they turn thirteen. As the Edryani family, we are no different.”
My frown deepens as she spoke, and I spoke up in protest. “But mooom, is it truly necessary when I’ve done and learned so much? I’ve started the LSG, and its general stores are spread throughout the capital and now we are expanding to various noble territories. LSG has several restaurants and minor companies. I’ve built Military Grade Batteries and Hero Golems. Not to mention my studies in runes and my general knowledge in magic…”
What my mom wanted me to do would be to go on every young Edryan’s Three Steps journey. Something I didn’t feel was necessary as I already touched so many different fields. I was certain my Choice of Three would have a variety of classes to choose from when my system was unlocked. I did not need to spend two weeks in the forest surviving on fruits and berries.
Edryan Three Steps came about in 3840 when King Lord Deveni Kangius Edryani declared it law. King Lord was a prominent member of the Royal House that established a lot of things. It was common knowledge that the more experience you have in different fields. More class options would be available once your system is unlocked. King Lord just made it a law for the youth to apprentice under three different professions. To have more versatile class unlocks. Youth extended to the royal family’s prince and princesses.
“The first tribe of Edryani was hunter-gatherers. It has been the tradition since the founding of our kingdom to unlock such a class pathway before 16. You will be no different,” my mom said with extra emphasis. “Do not believe that some common class will unlock for a son of Edryani. At a minimum, you will have a rare unlock. I expect you to have Mythical options. Yes, it means that your Three Steps are not all that important as they will not show with your Choice of Three, yet it is still the tradition.
Besides, after you complete your Three Steps. You will be bathed in precious resources to enhance your attributes to the utmost limit before your system unlocks. Giving you an even greater advantage.”
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My hand clenched around the detailed carved spoon. The metal slightly warping underneath. I was already stronger than any thirteen-year-old had the right to be. I let out a soft sigh quietly eating the rest of my food. The conversation was over once my mother decided something. No matter what argument I put up.
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This can’t be too hard. Right? Before I could change my mind, I held my arm in place and ran. The handle of my dagger was tightly clasped in my jaw. It was there to deafen the scream as my shoulder hit the tree. Wood splintering as muffled groans of pain escaped through my tightly clenched jaw. With a sickening pop, my shoulder reentered its socket. My legs buckled yet I caught myself before I could fall.
Men of Edryani have suffered much worse.
King Darius – The Legend.
Princess Carina – Carnage One.
Madris Edryani – The Challenger.
The stories of various figures and myths of legend flashed through my thoughts. All of them were people I admired, even… Goddess Madris. King Darius slayed Oogoon – Heaven’s Giant and son of the God of Giants in 3456 off the coast of Edryan as the sea titans came onto land to pillage and raid. Massive men-like creatures with the smallest being 4 meters in height. Oogoon was 12 meters while Darius stood at 2. The battle between both lasted for days as they both ascended into demi-godhood. Yet in the end, there was only one victor. After slaying his son in single combat in theBattle of Ocean Depths. An Avatar of Ogun descended slaying King Darius, but not before his name was etched into legend. His name was carved onto the Immortal Wall. Madris then showed the sea giants why her first domain was War, not Wisdom nor Wealth.
Princess Carina – Carnage One is the only recorded Edryani to reach demi-god hood in the past thousand years. Achieving level 300 but she was betrayed by her allies. As the princess chose classes not following a combat path, she was slayed by the treachery of the Lorric Humans. A variant of humanity just like Magi Humans, who ran from the upper reach of the Elrunian continent as they were persecuted by Elysium. Madris once again showed why her first domain was War. A god fell. Its people… eradicated. The domain of wisdom was captured and assimilated into Madris. My people’shistory was rich with strife, betrayals, risings, and fallings. Yet, I haven’t even mentioned to worst of it all.
Hundreds of Edryani rose. All fell. Will I be one of the ones to fall as well? My left hand gripped the tree and pulled myself up to my feet. A minor training arc wouldn’t stop me. ‘Just one more week… just one more week,’ my thoughts whispered.
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Carefully I set the trap and bait. I was in a dense part of the Royal Hunting Grounds. Far away from the cave I set up camp. Internally I sent a thousand blessings to the men and women of YouTube who taught me how to make simple traps. I took another look at the shotty trap, and the small bits of bear fat attached to a stick at the end. Any disturbance to the bait would bring the heavy cage down trapping the prey within. Then I removed myself from the area. Returning to the region my cave was located to gather and eat nuts and berries.
Three days of my impromptu survival were left. In the first week, I had eight long days of hard struggle against the waking beast and monsters. I managed to carve out a small territory for myself. While claiming a small cave to give me comfort from the cold. I just had to murder the family of foxes within. With survival on my mind, I had no time for being rational. This past week had done its best to shape my mentality and keep one and only one thought on my mind.
Survive.
Now I had the larger cave of the brown bear for my own. The alpha male of this territory was dead at my hands.
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The first eight days of the week were spent on my survival. It was only now as I stabilized my situation, I had more time to think and consider everything that occurred so far. The changes I brought to Edrya and the Edryan Queendom. The changes to come. The plans to change the Edryan people from the ground up were slowly forthcoming. Kids from ten to twelve were attending school learning languages, history, math, and small amounts of magic. Something that was never done before on such a scale. At least on a scale that required all Edryan no matter their birth to attend school learning these subjects. Imperius Law came about in 7282 and six years was plenty of time for a change. Even my schools of higher education were now complete.
Imperius Academy and College or University, whichever you fancied. I brought a rough standardized education pathway for the people of Edryan. These people were no less intelligent than the humans back home on Earth. It was only about gathering that intelligence and allowing it to breathe and not be constantly smothered by the Noble Houses. To allow these individuals to achieve and expand, I already have results. Johann the Rising Star, Melina True Sight, and more. Johann was your standard pretty boy who came from the streets. He had dark hair and eyes a sharp jawline and an unyielding temper. Melina was the complete opposite. She was a gentle and soft-natured young woman, who took to her studies and jobs with serious efficiency. They both were now in LSG and certified Agents under the company.
These were the names of a few talents that showed themselves in the Imperius Academy and College. After graduation, they were given 30-year contracts assigned to me. Originally it was only supposed to be 15 years in total, however, attending the college racks up another 15. They were the first people who were not underneath my mother or any noble houses. They were my own people!
I sighed and extinguished the events from my thoughts. I had no time to go off on a tangent. My body tensed as a wave of bird chips echoed through the forest. Black ravens and others rising in a hurry. My eyes narrowed as it came from the direction of my trapping grounds. My vision peeped into the denser section of the forest but halted as the thick foliage stopped the advancement of my sight. Do I check it out or do I leave it alone?
The agitation of the birds grew as another cacophony of birds made alarming sounds and flew off. This time it was closer. Hesitantly I got up from my position. When I finished setting the trap. I returned to the vicinity of my cave. I sat atop a hill and cleaned my weapons while doing impromptu maintenance on my quiver. Attempting to rearrange my arrow layout and find a more comfortable position. Yet now, after the third agitation heading closer to my direction. I hurriedly gathered my equipment and took off. The most dangerous animals were not supposed to be awake yet. The beast and monsters with magical abilities. Not to mention they possessed the strength to easily kill me. Fuck.
Quickly I scampered down the hill and away from the cave. Making my way toward a dense tree line. The dark brown line of trees was still in bloom altering me of their magical nature but also giving me the option to hide in their canopy. A fourth agitation occurred. This one sounded closer. I didn’t hesitate about my choice anymore. Climbing the largest and thickest tree within the area. The specimen I chose stood almost 1 and a half stories tall. One of the larger trees available. I moved fast. Short sword sheath on my waist while the quiver and bow were slung over my shoulder. My trusty dagger remains sheathed on my right side. The air was dripping with the smell of fresh pinecones. Sticking to me as I climbed, nearly causing me to stumble on the way up. The higher I climbed the more overpowering the scent became. I reached the top just as the sixth cacophony of birds made themselves known. Silently and with control, I brought my rushed breathing back into the stable rhythm taught by Eliana. Closing my eyes to receive the full effect of a quick meditation. Calming my body and nerves in the same instant. As more birds and creatures became startled, I grew increasingly worried as the noise grew ever closer. My heart slowed as I brought myself into a deeper and calmer state. Forcing my nervousness to the side. As the creatures not startled away by my abrupt presence lift off in startled surprise. I stayed completely still. Limiting my movement as much as possible. Only my eyes moved as I looked around trying to spot what startled them. The forest around me was dead silent. Other creatures that did not make it out in time grew still and silent.
Ever so slowly I shifted my body to look down. My weight slightly shifted on the dark brown branch I stood upon. Below me was a horned rabbit that seemed to be sniffing around. Its glossy silver-white coat shone like flickering starlight. Seemingly reflecting off all light that bounced upon it. It sniffed around and I blinked. By the time I open my eyes, it was gone.
In the distance, I could hear another cacophony of birds rise in fright. Yet even then I stayed in my position. Only leaving once the sun began to set. My mind combs through the bestiary I read in my free time. Showcasing the monsters in Edryan.
That was a [Jackalope – ★] and they were very dangerous monsters.
A few hours passed as I stood there waiting. Slowly and gently, I climbed down the tree. The communal sounds of the forest had long since returned. With the sun setting it was best to return to my cave and attempt to get any rest I could. My last few nights had been extremely restless. The animals and monsters who spent the winter in their hibernation began to return to the thawed world. In my two lives, not once had I spent a week beneath the stars. Not in the way I did as Lawruthian… with only myself to rely upon.
The first day I believe it to be some sort of joke or perhaps I’d have hidden guards watching me. After I stumbled upon the family of foxes that notion quickly evaporated. I stumbled into my cave, tired and mentally exhausted from the day's events. I fell into a night of dreams and expectations. Just three more days.
Just three more days.
System Unlock:
1,019 Days
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