“Good job, Eli! That’s twelve kilometers in a little over fifty minutes—no, don’t stop! You have to keep running for the remaining time,” Vivian said, prompting a groan from Elias. Gritting his teeth, he kept running at the same pace. It was mostly for show anyway. He wasn’t really that tired yet, with his physique having improved substantially since his last run.
Roughly ten minutes later, Elias collapsed onto the dojo floor, panting but smiling despite his exhaustion. He had managed another two kilometers in those final ten minutes, bringing his total to fourteen in just over an hour. It was quite the accomplishment for him. In fact, he suspected his effective Vitality was nearing a level 6 value. The progress he’d made in just a few days was remarkable.
Drinking his well-earned recovery potion, Elias turned to find Isabela sitting in a corner of the dojo with a pink milkshake in hand, staring at him. When he met her gaze, she swallowed, gave him a goofy smile, and waved smugly. Kitty was right beside her, sleeping in a loaf position.
“Hey, Bel. What are you doing?” Elias asked, eyeing his little sister with growing suspicion. She was usually up to something, especially when she looked at him like that. He had a strong hunch she’d come here just to annoy him by drinking a milkshake in front of him. Few things were more irritating than watching someone eat something tasty while you were working out.
“Nothing,” she replied, slurping her milkshake loudly. Then, she flashed a wide grin and stared at him expectantly. Elias simply walked away.
“Wait, I’m just kidding!” she exclaimed, hurrying after him. Elias stopped and glanced back, raising an eyebrow when he noticed another milkshake in her hands—this one a swirling, glittery white with black spots. She held it out to him with a small smile, her eyes sparkling as she asked, “So, how was the dungeon yesterday?”
Chuckling, Elias accepted the offering and began recounting his latest dungeon delve to Isabela. However, instead of focusing on the delve itself, he talked more about the fair in the clearing and how it transformed into a lively tavern at night. He didn’t even have to exaggerate anything, as they were both incredible on their own. Like him, his sister was thrilled to learn about such a place, her eyes lighting up with excitement. It was like the hidden temples they had read about in stories, places where adventurers gathered deep within the dungeon.
Soon after Elias finished telling his story to Isabela, he noticed her animatedly talking to their mother, gesturing wildly with excitement. Vivian’s narrowed eyes turned toward him, her gaze carrying a silent accusation. Scratching his head awkwardly, Elias decided it was best to quietly slip out of the dojo.
He had a good idea of what his sister was trying to convey and didn’t want to stick around to remind their mom that he was to blame. Suddenly, it clicked why he’d never heard about the fair at the clearing until yesterday. Just before he slipped out, he caught his mom turning pensive, her gaze shifting back to him—this time with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Fine, I’ll bring you with me tomorrow! Just stop talking for a goddamn minute,” Elias snapped at Isabela, massaging his temples in annoyance. She had been badgering him for hours to let her come along to the clearing. He only had himself to blame. His parents had clearly seen this coming, and he should have as well.
“How about we come with you this time, Eli? It’ll be like a family trip, and you won’t have to worry about bringing your sister back,” Vivian suggested, taking pity on him. Elias agreed without hesitation. In truth, he didn’t mind bringing his little sister along. Having to escort her back was the issue. After all, although the temple was relatively close to their house, it still took him an hour to make a round trip.
The next day, Elias walked to the dungeon with his energetic sister in tow. Isabela had her long blonde hair tied back with a yellow ribbon that matched her floral yellow-and-white summer dress and white slippers. Beside her, Kitty trotted along, her long tortoiseshell fur bouncing with each step, a matching yellow ribbon tied around her own neck. They looked adorable.
Peter and Vivian walked a few steps behind them, their hands clasped and swinging in time with their steps. Like Isabela, they both wore summer clothes, making the three of them look as if they were heading to a picnic in the park instead of the dungeon. Though, Elias supposed that wasn’t too far from the truth for them.
“Alright, kids, your mom and I will go take a look around. Just find us when you’re ready to head into the dungeon, Eli,” Peter said with a wink, while Vivian snorted and looked away.
Elias knew they were curious to meet his new friend, but he was relieved they were giving him some space. After all, he hadn’t even warned Marco that he’d be bringing his little sister to lunch. Bringing his parents along as well would definitely be pushing it, especially since they had only just met.
“Eli, take care of your sister, and Isabela, behave,” Vivian said, putting emphasis on the word behave. Isabela had the audacity to look offended at the insinuation, but no one was buying it.
Before leaving, Peter transferred some money into Elias’ energy card, which should be more than enough to cover both his and Isabela’s lunch. Considering he was pretty much broke, it was a gesture he greatly appreciated.
As soon as his parents left, Isabela began to pull at Elias’ shirt so that they could get moving already. The excitable young girl had been vibrating in place ever since they had arrived. He honestly thought it was a miracle that she hadn’t tried to run off on her own already.
Rolling his eyes, Elias lightly ruffled her hair before strolling through the stalls, giving her a tour of the fair. Her sparkling eyes flitted every which way while they walked, her gaze carrying a hunger that he couldn’t help but sympathise with. Occasionally, he even caught her stealing glances at the jungle, making him realize that this was likely her first time inside the dungeon.
“Stop pointing, Bela, it’s rude,” Elias hissed, making his sister pout. Thankfully, the older adventurers looked at them kindly even when she had begun pointing at particularly cool looking weapons and items she spotted.
A few minutes later, Isabela had settled down slightly, allowing them to start moving at a more sedate pace. Meanwhile, Elias kept his eyes alert to see if he could spot Marco anywhere. They had agreed to meet in the clearing around lunch time, but he now realized that they hadn’t specified an actual meeting place. Luckily, he spotted Marco beating his way out of the jungle with a wooden sword halfway through their tour of the clearing.
Elias waved at his friend until he noticed them as well and began to make his way over. He stared curiously at Marco’s sword, remembering that the one he’d seen the other day had looked very different. In fact, he specifically remembered it because he had thought it looked awesome; it had been ebony black, not wooden. Unable to resist, he used Analyze on the weapon.
*******
Hardwood Katana
Common
Training Sword
*******
“Hey, Elias! How’s it going, man? Good to see you again,” Marco said with an easy smile.
“Hey, good to see you too,” Elias replied with a smile of his own. “By the way, this is my little sister, Isabela. She really wanted to come see the clearing, so I brought her with me today, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Hi,” Isabela said, earning a friendly greeting in return from Marco.
“It’s no problem at all. So, where do you want to eat? Are you ready to try out that meat skewer place?” Marco asked, motioning towards the stall with his head.
Elias was tempted to agree. Having walked past the stall in question not long before Marco’s arrival, he had to admit that the scents wafting off the place were tantalizing. He shook head, however, already having a place in mind.
“I was actually thinking we should try a burrito place I saw the last time I was here. It looked really good—what do you think? It’s just over there,” Elias said, motioning vaguely in the direction of the stall from what he remembered. “Plus, I’ve been showing Isabela around, and that stall is one of the last ones on the way.”
“Are you sure? I promise the skewer place is really good. You won’t regret going there. Unless, you’re chickening out of eating the chicken-heart skewers,” Marco said tauntingly.
“I’m not chickening out,” Elias said, rolling his eyes. “We can go there another day. I just really wanted to try out this place today with Isabela.”
“Why with me?” Isabela asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously and crossing her arms in front of her. For some reason, Kitty chirped like she did with birds that showed up near the house. Elias narrowed his eyes in turn, getting the distinct impression that the cat was mocking him.
“No reason,” Elias said slowly. “I just think you’re really going to like the place.”
“Okay, and you really think it’s good?” Isabela asked, her arms still crossed. “Better than that meat place Marco just mentioned?”
“Of course! You’re going to love it,” Elias replied, his tone cajoling, before sealing the deal. “And I can take you to that other place another day. How about that?”
“All right then, but that’s a promise,” she said, finally relenting. Elias let out a soft sigh of relief.
“To the burrito place, then,” Marco said with an amused smile.
Their destination set, Elias continued showing his sister around the clearing with Marco in tow, stopping by all kinds of stalls. She was particularly excited by the sparring rings and insisted on staying to watch at least a couple of matches. They didn’t compare to the matches Elias had seen on the entertainment system at home, but some of the fighters were pretty decent.
All in all, Elias was confident that his fighting skills were better than any of the fighters in the ring, even though only one of the bouts was between newbies. The truth was, even in the match between a pair of Journeymen adventurers, their fighting skills weren’t particularly impressive. Regardless, he knew it was time to leave when Isabela started trying to persuade him to challenge someone to a match.
“Come on, Eli, you have to show them how it’s done!” Isabela exclaimed loudly, drawing stares from all around them. However, the onlookers quickly dismissed him when they noticed his still-scrawny frame, with some even scoffing before turning away. Elias ignored them.
“Yeah, man, you’ve got to show your mettle! Go, fight!” Marco said jokingly, adding fuel to the fire.
Elias felt his face flush from their teasing but suddenly grew thoughtful as an idea came to mind. While Isabela knew he was a much better fighter than the people in the rings, Marco was just joking around, assuming Elias was trying to avoid embarrassing himself. This could be the perfect opportunity to show his new friend what he was truly capable of.
“You know what? I actually think this might be a good idea. How about we have a friendly spar after lunch, then?” Elias said, his tone challenging.
“That’s the spirit! It’s a deal!” Marco replied energetically, grinning widely. “Food and fighting, a man after my own heart.”
“You can’t use the sword, though—that would be unfair,” Isabela chimed in.
“Of course,” Marco agreed, rolling his eyes.
With the deal made, the trio headed straight to the burrito stall to finally have lunch. They had spent far more time at the fighting rings than they had originally planned, watching the matches, and now they were all eager to eat.
“What’s the deal with the training sword, anyway?” Elias asked as they walked away from the fighting rings. “I definitely remember you having a real sword with you when we met.”
At Elias’ words, Marco’s jovial expression darkened, like a cloud forming on a sunny day. The shift was so sudden and striking that Elias began to worry he had somehow offended his new friend. He quickly spoke again, trying to lighten the mood. “Hey man, are you alright? You look like someone just kicked your puppy.”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Marco said with a sigh. Then he continued, speaking in a lower voice as if trying to convince himself, “It’s not your fault.”
Elias raised an eyebrow, looking at his friend incredulously. Of course, it wasn’t his fault—he hadn’t done anything! Seeing his reaction, Marco sighed dramatically once more before finally explaining what was going on, though a hint of a smile poked through his lips.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“It’s my fault, really; I was an idiot,” Marco began, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Remember how I mentioned my dad is a swordsmanship instructor? Well, I told him about how you were fighting in the dungeon without any weapons as a form of training, and he got… inspired by it. So, he decided it would be a great idea to take my sword away and leave me with a wooden stick–literally. I spent hours talking him down to letting me use a training sword.”
“I should have just kept my mouth shut,” Marco mumbled regretfully.
Unable to hold back any longer, Elias burst into laughter at his friend’s predicament. Marco glared at him, but Elias couldn’t bring himself to care. The man had really made a rookie mistake. However, he had to admit that Isabela’s pointing and full-belly laugh might have taken things a bit too far. “What an i–”
Elias cuffed Isabela on the head before she could finish what she was about to say, but Marco narrowed his eyes at her, clearly catching the message. It didn’t help that his sister kept laughing at him, making no effort to lower her voice at all. Sensing the situation growing awkward, Elias’ laughter died down, leaving him and Marco staring at each other uncomfortably.
“So, wanna switch? I keep the sword, and you get the brat?” Elias asked, trying to diffuse the situation with a bit of humor.
“I’m good. Anyway, how about we ditch the brat and grab our food?” Marco said, winking at Elias as he picked up the pace toward the burrito stall. Isabela immediately stopped laughing at being called a brat, prompting both men to smirk.
“I’m not a brat,” Isabela whined in a bratty voice, but the two men kept walking faster, forcing her to hurry to catch up. “Wait for me!”
As soon as Isabela caught up, Elias and Marco slowed to a regular walking pace once more. She harrumphed loudly, crossing her arms with exaggerated drama, prompting both men to suppress another smirk. By then, they were only steps from the burrito stall, and Elias looked up from his sister to find Rebecca smiling brightly at him.
“Hi there! I remember seeing you before… Elias, right?” Rebecca asked, tilting her head to the side marginally.
“Hey, Rebecca,” Elias said, returning her smile. “Yeah, we met a couple days ago. I guess you convinced me to come back to try out your stall.”
“What can I say? I’m very convincing,” she said, grinning.
At her words, Marco snorted trying to hold back a laugh, which devolved into a small fit of obviously fake coughs. He looked between Elias and Rebecca, then at Isabela and Kitty, then at Elias again with incredulity in his eyes. Finally, he shook his head, still staring at Elias, and muttered softly, “–shameless.”
“Ahem, I’m sorry. I must have gotten something stuck in my throat,” Marco said, clearing his throat theatrically for effect. It did little to smooth over his earlier reaction, but it seemed Rebecca hadn’t heard his muttering. Deciding not to dwell on it, Elias chose to push forward.
“Oh right, this is Marco, and this is my little sister, Isabela,” Elias said, introducing them both in turn.
“Hi,” Isabela said, her arms still crossed, clearly still upset about being called a brat. She glanced between Elias and Rebecca with a strange expression before raising an eyebrow at Elias, as if to ask what was going on. He looked away, pretending not to notice, missing her frown and narrowing her eyes in annoyance at being ignored.
“And this,” Elias said, bending down and grabbing Kitty by the sides and lifting the cat up for Rebecca to see, “is Kitty.”
“Aw, so cute!” Rebecca said, stepping forward to pet the cat. Elias held his breath, knowing this was a bit of a gamble, as Rebecca extended her hands toward the feline. Kitty allowed herself to be petted on the head exactly twice before meowing and twisting out of his grip, trotting back to Isabela. Elias let out a sigh of relief. As she left, Kitty shot him a look as if to say, You owe me one, and he nodded in silent acknowledgement.
“Lunch time’s almost over so there are plenty of tables available. Just grab a seat wherever you like. You can order at the counter,” Rebecca said.
“Sure, but don’t forget that you owe me a free burrito,” Elias said, reminding her.
“Hum… yeah, I remember… but I only promised you a burrito, like, a single one. Your friends still have to pay,” Rebecca said with a raised eyebrow. Then, her expression turned grief-stricken and she placed both her hands on her chest dramatically, looking at him with wide eyes. “I can’t believe you’d try to take advantage of me like this…”
“Oh, please, don’t even start,” Elias interrupted with a laugh, and Rebecca joined in. Just as she was about to respond, Isabela finally spoke up, having had enough of being ignored.
“Eli, is this the girl you told me about? You know, the one you like,” Isabela said, bursting into giggles as she finished.
Elias choked on his laughter, staring at his little sister with a shocked expression, in utter disbelief at her betrayal. To be fair, he doubted she knew he actually liked Rebecca and was likely just trying to embarrass him. Whether it was payback for calling her a brat or for ignoring her was anyone’s guess. Regardless, Isabela grinned victoriously as she saw blood rush to his face.
“Oh, so you like me, then?” Rebecca asked, a smile threatening to break through, which only made Elias’ face redden even more. By now, Marco was laughing loudly beside them, clearly enjoying the show along with Isabela.
“Come on, let’s grab a seat and order already. I’m starving,” Marco eventually said, coming to Elias’ rescue with a tap on his shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Rebecca. Actually, why don’t you join us for lunch?”
“Yeah, join us!” Isabela chimed in. Then, with a mischievous smirk and a sugary-sweet tone, she added, “I’m sure Eli would love that.”
“Sure, why not?” Rebecca replied with a laugh at Isabela’s antics. “How can I say no to such a cute little girl? Besides, I was just about to take my lunch break anyway.”
With that, Marco led them to the counter to order their food. As they approached, the mouthwatering scent of grilled meat and spices filled the air, making Elias’ stomach rumble. Rebecca took their orders and joined them a few minutes later, after speaking with the man cooking at the stall—her father, as Elias recalled.
“So, Isabela, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Marco asked.
“I want to be an adventurer like Eli! We’re going to be the most famous party of all time… just, when I’m old enough,” Isabela said. Kitty meowed once, agreeing with her human. After all, how could a party not be the best with both her and Isabela in it?
“Oh? The two of you also want to be adventurers?” Rebecca asked, perking up. “You better start working on your foundation soon then.”
“I know,” Isabela answered, rolling her eyes. “But Mom and dad say that it is more important to improve my fighting skills for now and that I can focus on my body later.”
“It’s still really important to get started early,” Rebecca insisted. “I started training at your age, and even then, I’ve been stuck at level ten for almost a year now, trying to perfect my foundation. If you wait until you’re older, like Elias, well… the potions you’ll need to catch up to people your age can get really expensive.”
“Hey, I’ll have you know I started building my foundation when I was four years old,” Elias said defensively, unable to hide his annoyance at her assumptions. “I was just born with very low-level attributes, and I only turned eighteen less than a week ago. Isabela was born with high attribute levels, so she didn’t have to spend years strengthening her body just to handle combat training. With my mom’s training, I’m sure she’ll reach her body’s natural potential well before she turns eighteen.”
“I’m just saying… I’m not against using potions and elixirs—Heavens know I’d use them more if I could afford them—but they’re no substitute for hard work,” Rebecca said, still sounding unconvinced. As she spoke, Elias sighed, like so many times before, and was about to change the subject when Isabela puffed up her cheeks and spoke up.
“Eli trains harder than anyone! I’d like to see you do any better if you were born with Vitality at level one,” Isabela said, her tone indignant as she glared at Rebecca. Marco actually sputtered when she revealed how low his Vitality had been and Rebecca’s eyes widened.
“One?! I didn’t even know that was possible! How the hell are you even alive, man?” Marco asked in disbelief. “You told me you were born with low attributes before, but not this low!”
Elias scratched the back of his head, embarrassed at Marco’s and Rebecca’s reaction, while Isabela puffed her small chest out and harrumphed in satisfaction. This was the reason why he avoided telling people the exact level of Vitality he’d had from birth. At best, they would be shocked and look at him with pity; at worst, they’d call him a liar.
“Well, I take back what I said,” Rebecca said delicately, her eyes still wide. “I’m sorry. I just assumed you were one of those guys who wait until all their attributes are above level ten before even starting to build their foundation, using a bunch of expensive potions as a substitute for hard work.”
“Well… that last part isn’t actually that far off,” Elias said. “I’m practically using a recovery potion every training session. In my defense, I’m using them to buy time, not confort. Vitality wasn’t the only low attribute I was born with; I also had Strength at level four. At least my mental attributes were okay, and those are the hardest to train anyways.”
“Jeez, man. I'm actually starting to feel bad over here,” Marco said with a laugh, his jovial attitude returning as he recovered from his shock. “What did you do in your past life to deserve this?”
“Maybe he mistreated his little sister, like not buying her dessert when they went out together,” Isabela suggested, as if that would undoubtedly explain such a harsh punishment. Elias rolled his eyes. He had noticed her not-so-subtle glances at the stalls selling sweets, along with the pointing and nudges.
Their conversation quietened when the food arrived, with only the occasional sound of enjoyment being heard. It wasn’t quite as good as the cheeseburger he’d eaten with Marco the other day, but it was delicious nevertheless. Although, Elias suspected that the cook then had Skills related to cooking.
“I guess you were telling the truth—the burritos here are really good,” Elias said as he finished eating.
“Told you,” Rebecca replied smugly. “But I have to admit that I’m kind of sick of always eating the same thing.”
“Wait, you’ve never tried the other stalls?” Marco asked.
“I have tried them, but I’m here every day, you know? The food here is pretty expensive, and I’m saving up money to perfect my foundation,” she explained. “Both my physical and mental foundations are already well-developed since I’ve been spending all my money on potions and elixirs for the past several years. It’s just really hard to take that final step to go from good to perfect.”
"That's really impressive already, to be honest," Elias said encouragingly, noticing how she glanced down and to the sides as she spoke. "My parents are trainers, so they're helping me with everything, but I know how expensive the right training aids can get."
“Thanks! It definitely hasn’t been easy, but I’m getting there,” Rebecca said with a dazzling smile, the pride on her face unmistakable.
“Heh! I think you two need to pick up the pace, or I’m going to leave you both in the dust,” Marco said with a laugh. “As soon as I reach level ten in all my attributes, my dad’s taking me somewhere to perfect my foundation. I’ll probably hit the Beginner rank in just over a month.”
“Show off,” Isabela scoffed, drawing a round of laughter from everyone, and even a boo from Rebecca.
As the group continued chatting, Isabela finally decided on her dessert. After much deliberation and consulting Rebecca a few times about which sweets were the best, she settled on a chocolate chip muffin from a nearby stall. Caught up in the excitement of having lunch with friends—and feeling generous—Elias decided to buy one for everyone, earning cheers from his new friends.
Each chocolate chip on the dessert was a different color and shape, making it look more like it was encrusted with jewels than chocolate. When Elias took a bite, each chip elicited a unique sensation in his mouth. Some popped on his tongue like fireworks, while others felt like crushing ice between his teeth, yet they all still tasted like chocolate. Beyond that, the warm dough embraced his tongue with a rich vanilla flavor that tied it all together. It was delicious. Unfortunately, just as he was about to take a second bite, they were interrupted by a tall young man with a shining silver mace strapped to his side.
“Hey, Rebecca. Haven’t seen you around in a while,” the man said, a cocky grin plastered on his face as he stepped close to her. She shifted uncomfortably, crossing her arms in front of her chest and leaning back slightly.
“Hello, Jake. I guess not,” she replied drily.
“Guess what? I just reached the Beginner rank yesterday,” Jake announced, raising a hand into the air. It glowed a soft blue before a bolt of mana shot upward, dissipating high above them. “Why don’t you party up with me? I could buy you those potions you needed and we could delve into the Beginner zone together.”
“No, thanks,” Rebecca replied curtly, already turning her back on him, and Jake’s expression darkened.
“What? Why not? I know that you need money to perfect your foundation. I’ll give it to you if—”
“I already told you I don’t need your money, Jake! Now, get lost and stop bothering me already!” Rebecca snapped, turning to him with a fierce glare. Jake’s smirk finally twisted into a snarl, but before he could respond, Elias stepped in.
“You should leave,” Elias said firmly, setting his stance in case the man turned aggressive. Jake turned to him then, giving him a once over before sneering and turning away.
“Shut up, pipsqueak,” Jake said dismissively.
Elias’ face twitched at the insult, and he stepped forward, ready to teach the man a lesson. He might not look like much, but he knew he could fight well enough to beat the arrogance out of some random level 10 Beginner. If Jake were a higher level, like the man who had robbed him just a few days ago, it might be a different story—but by his own admission, that wasn’t the case. However, before he could do anything, Marco stepped towards the man.
“You heard her,” Marco said, his voice low and steady. “Leave. Now.”
Jake scoffed and shoved at Marco, but Marco simply tightened his muscles and shifted his stance, pulling on the extended arm. Jake lost his balance, and Marco used his other arm to grab him by the shoulder, twisting to shove him away from Rebecca.
Jake scrambled to regain his balance and, once steady, immediately surged toward Marco, fury in his eyes. Mana sparked around his hands as he prepared to use a Skill, but a commanding voice cut through the tension.
“That’s enough,” Rebecca’s father said firmly, stepping out from behind the burrito stall. His aura washed over them briefly, heavy as the weight of a waterfall, marking him as someone at the Journeyman ranks. The group froze under the presence of the stronger adventurer, and Jake hesitated, his bravado crumbling under the older man’s stern gaze. With a final glare at the group, he turned and stomped away.
“Are you all right?” Marco asked Rebecca, his posture relaxing visibly.
“Yes, thanks, Marco,” she said with a small smile. “You too, Elias.”
Elias nodded silently, his eyes cast downward as his fists clenched tightly, simmering with anger at being so easily dismissed. He felt a nudge against his side and looked down to see Kitty poking him with a paw. She stared into his eyes for a moment before turning away and swishing him with her tail. He sighed, slowly letting the tension fade.
“Are you all right, Elias?” Marco asked, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t stress over guys like that. There are always assholes around no matter where you go. You can’t let them get to you.”
“It’s not that,” Elias said, deciding to open up. “I’m just pissed at how he dismissed me—like I wasn’t even there.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Rebecca said reassuringly. “Like you said, you’re still catching up with your attributes. It’s okay that you couldn’t handle someone like Jake yet—you’ll get there eventually.”
“That’s what makes me angry. I might not be very strong yet, but I can fight better than some random Beginner,” Elias proclaimed. “I could have handled him.”
“I don’t know, man,” Marco replied, doubt evident in his voice. Elias narrowed his eyes, prompting him to elaborate. “I’m not saying you couldn’t, but the difference in strength still matters a lot. I saw you were about to step up, but I’m nearly level ten in all my attributes with a near-perfect foundation. I can fight better than some random Beginner too, so I decided to step up instead. There was no reason for you to be the one to face that Jake guy.”
“You know what? Maybe you’re right,” Elias said, flashing Marco a predatory smile. “But I don’t think you really understand just how well I can fight. How about we go have that spar we talked about before, and I show you?”