Bryn spent a few more hours on their training. Gabriel seemed unsatisfied with the session since he didn’t unlock the individual skill. They spent time performing the movements and having sparring sessions. Still, no notifications appeared in his mind and no updates were done on his status. At this point, Bryn had already spent all his energy more than once and was starting to exhaust his mind not only his body.
“Mr. Gabriel, could we pick this up tomorrow? I don’t think I can take another round with you…” Said Bryn.
Gabriel’s first reaction was word for word what Bryn expected. The man repeatedly performed the white belt sequence, not even looking toward Bryn for the last few minutes. “Nonsense, a few more minutes!” he answered.
“Mr. Gabriel, you said there was an important dinner at the village, the sun is setting already and there will be no time to clean ourselves if we don’t go back soon.”
“Don’t worry Bryn, the evening will start when we arrive. Now come here and correct my form once again.” As he said it, the movements kept going.
“As I told you since the second time you performed each movement, Not only have you got the movements, your form is better than mine…”
Looking at the faun he could see the tiredness in his eyes, his eyelids hanging and circles around his eyes darker than before. As he saw Bryn, his mind reminded him that the kid in front of him was only 8 years old and a level 1. One thing could compensate for the other but there was no chance for the faun to keep going at that rate.
“Fine, we are going back. Tomorrow, I’m participating in the morning training once again. I’m going until your skill is unlocked. What was it called again?”
“Taekwondo Mr. Gabriel. Feel free to join any time. If you could also improve the physical training for the higher-level people at the caravan that would be great as well. I still have no idea their limits.”
“My deal was that I would help you develop and in return, you would help us develop the village as well. I think I can help a little, but nothing will change your reality apart from leveling up. I believe that should be our first line of action.”
His words made Bryn find energy in his body and his eyes became bright once again. “I agree with your suggestion!” he exclaimed.
“Good, we’ll start tomorrow. Now let’s get back for dinner, there is no way for you to level up looking skinny like that.” He pointed towards Bryn’s arms.
As they walked from the forest, the sunlight faded into the horizon. A small orange point came into their sight as they approached the village. The colors changed the closer they got, making them realize the origin was a big fire.
As the two arrived, a commotion in the main square drew their attention. Both Bryn and Gabriel went straight to the middle of it only to find the fire from before. It had two creatures held with steel spikes and a few wires.
Bryn looked at the creatures and he was unable to identify them. None of his days helping at the Wycliffe’s farm or with the caravan had he seen such monstrous creatures. Two black furs extended and curing next to the fire gave Bryn the impression he was looking at two bears roasted entirely.
“What are these?” Bryn asked.
“These are Mystic Boars Bryn, have you ever eaten one?” Gabriel returned with a question. Looking at the big goggling eyes Bryn was making. I suppose training the entire day almost nonstop has made the young man next to me quite hungry. Gabriel thought.
“Never, are they good? Are they really a wild boar?” Bryn was incredulous with Gabriel's affirmation. How big is that to be a boar? I’ve yet to see boars in this new world, but that is too much!
“They are amazing, much better than regular boar meat or even pigs. One can’t even compare them to a Mystic Boar. Since they use magic to strengthen their fur, the meat inside is juicy since the muscles don’t need to be used defensively. On top of that, the fur can make good armor for both the cold and protection.”
The first time Gabriel spoke, it skipped Bryn’s notice because the man had not given it much thought. But now, he heard it for a second time.
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“What do you mean MAGIC?? Is that a magical beast??” Bryn looked at the man next to him with different eyes. From the duel, he knew Gabriel and Jonas were strong, at least stronger than Daniel and the others. But the few tales Bryn heard about magical beasts pointed toward creatures that would not be easily caught, much less be the course in a regular meal.
“Of course they are. Mystical Boars are common since we are close to a forest and near the mountains. They don’t venture so deep into the woods and can't take on the lack of food in the mountains. Since our village is near both, we deal with them quite often…” Gabriel looked at Kwame who was coming in their direction and stopped talking to greet the man. “Good evening Kwame, are you enjoying the fire?”
“Mr. Gabriel, good evening! I’m, I mean, we all are. Thank you and Mr. Jonas for offering the opportunity to eat Mystic Boar and the other delicacies Mr. Lysander is preparing inside. I have to say it will be a first for me.”
“Have you ever eaten a magical beast, Mr. Kwame?” Bryn asked.
“Hello, young man…” He said as he fumbled the hair on Bryn’s head. “I have eaten them, yes, but the ones served here are different species from the ones I previously tasted. On top of that, some of the ones we are about to try are very strong Bryn.”
“I see… I wanna taste them! Do they make us stronger if we eat them?” he asked.
Coming from further away a voice answered Bryn’s inquiry. “No stronger than any other food. If you wish to become stronger, train and then train some more.” Jonas said.
“Jonas, thank you for organizing the evening. Was it hard to convince Lysander on such short notice?”
“Are you kidding me? Kwame was there as proof, that the old man is easy to bribe when you have good ingredients for him to cook. Kwame, back me up here.” while he spoke, he tried to hug Kwame. His arm was unable to envelop both shoulders, so he opted for a few pats on the man’s back.
“Mr. Jonas is right, even though I just met the man, his face said he was annoyed but the speed at which he said yes told a different story.” Kwame complimented.
“That is good, this way you can enjoy a proper celebration feast!” Said Gabriel.
“Mr. Gabriel, if you don’t mind my asking… What made you want to offer us this? Even if you don’t believe Daniel’s actions are that bad, they absolutely were not good.”
Listening, Bryn looked up to the sky as if the subject had nothing to do with him. Trying to count the stars, he noticed that the fire was intense enough making it very difficult to see any of them.
“Kwame, you should relax more. You worry too much. I enjoy it when we find good companions for our village to interact with and create bonds. Yesterday we held a banquet to evaluate if we should become one during this winter, but today we are celebrating that everyone accepted you.” As Gabriel, his eyes looked towards both Jonas and Bryn.
Kwame was not able to pick up on the fact that the three of them had a secret but was still happy about the celebration.
“Gabriel, the boars are almost ready for us to enjoy, the other meals will be done quite soon as well. If you wish to say anything, now is the time.” Said Lysander.
“Good, thank you. Be right back guys,” Gabriel replied as he jumped on top of the fire that was cooking the boars. Gabriel balanced himself in the very tip of one of the sides of the contraption holding both animals over the embers.
“Everyone, I hope you had a great day. Today Jonas and Daniel offered us an amazing demonstration of fighting techniques that finished with a close ending…”
Most bystanders rolled their eyes at Gabriel and a few whispers were heard.
“He always says that no one ever landed a blow on any of them…”, “I wanna see the next fight be Lysander and Jonas!”, “There he goes downplaying the events…”
Gabriel continued over the small talk from the audience.
“I’ve decided that not only will the caravan led by Mr. Kwame stay here with us during winter, but we are doing a training camp for all interested.”
The faces of the crowd changed instantly from bickering to trepidation. Silence befell the square, people looking at each other as the smile on their faces grew more and more. Eyes open wild one of the men in the square yelled in hysteria. “Yeah!” and Many others followed him on cheering the news.
“The training camp will start tomorrow morning, the classes will start with us learning and exchanging with Mr. Kwame’s party members. In the afternoon, you can all go back to your regular tasks…
The training camp is not mandatory, meaning you come only if you wish to do so…
Now, to celebrate this union, we shall feast!!
Lysander, open the boars!!”
Gabriel jumped back to the floor as the people from the village were frantic in conversations about the training camp.
It is clear that this is no ordinary village, first none of them were worried or even got mad about the posture demonstrated by Daniel. They all looked happy when the confrontation was advertised as a duel in the arena. Now, at least a third of the village got happy about a training camp with people they never even met! What is this place? Bryn thought.
“Mr. Kwame, please come have some meat! Bryn, come here as well. Jonas, where are the rest of our guests?” Gabriel asked.
“Thrain, the dwarf was forging with Seraph. Zara decided she would hide from Michelle, I’m not sure where she is. Daniel and Amelia were resting in the main hall and Kaelar said he wanted to check the village surroundings to get familiar with the terrain.”
“Kwame, after you grab your food, bring your people here to celebrate! Especially Daniel, after experiencing the taste of defeat, there is nothing better than drowning in great food and a good pint of ale,” said Gabriel.
“Don’t worry I will,” Kwame answered as he waited his turn.
Looking at the faun salivating as he looked at both boars on the fire, Gabriel approached him. “Bryn, as for you… I hope you to properly meet Luca and Michelle. Tomorrow in the afternoon you three are going to go hunting together.”
Snapping out of his imagination, he answered “Absolutely Mr. Gabriel, but I thought you would be the one to help me…”
“And I will, but Bryn, you are a level 1… Until you grow a little, there will be nothing that I say that Luca and Michelle can’t for now… In the meantime, I’ll help your friends be put in shape together with Jonas. Also, I have things to do as the leader of the village that I can’t forget. You and I will train once every 3 days, the rest of the time you’ll go hunting with both Luca and Michelle.”
I can’t know for sure if that is good for me or not, but it’s not like I have any other choice… Besides, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, right? Bryn thought.
“Ok, I accept your offer!”
“Good, I already called them here, they will be here shortly.”
There were still two wooden tables capable of fitting more than what was being cooked over the fire, without any food over them. As Gabriel told Bryn that Luca and Michelle would be here shortly, both left the main hall holding huge plates of meat. The smell was different from the boars and as people from the village got a whiff of the plates, almost everyone rushed towards the tables.