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Name: Silvester

Age: 23

Race: Human

Level: 2/50

Attributes

Mana consumption: Mana can be converted into energy for the body.

Regeneration: Surplus energy can be used for regeneration.

I’m already Level 2? I thought surprised. Is physical training how I should level up?

That was the main activity I did during the day.

Or maybe it was the fact that I started using mana in the morning. It seems too easy with just that though, but who knows?

I didn’t see any other changes, so I dismissed the screen and went to sleep.

I slept like a log and woke up feeling refreshed and energetic, the fatigue of the previous day completely vanished.

It seems that nothing happened during the night… maybe we should have thought about having someone keep guard, in hindsight.

Freya was still sleeping and didn’t wake up even when I got out of the tent. She was having a really hard time keeping up, especially now that she had a backpack too, but it would be good for her in the long run. Plenty of food and a good amount of exercise will help her put some muscles on those bones.

Moreover, we also had the added security of Zeph's healing supplies, so there was no need to worry too much about injuries.

Outside, it was still dark, and I could feel the cooler air of the morning brushing against my skin. It was still warm since it was summer, but it was much better than the hot air I felt under the sun.

The horizon Is brightening up, so it shouldn't take much before sunrise.

I breathed in, feeling refreshed. It felt like the previous day's fatigue was just a dream.

How do I proceed with my training today? I thought while walking toward a rock near the river.

Devising training plans for myself was one of the few hobbies I cultivated during the years I spent as a Gladiator after the lanista help became obsolete. There wasn’t much else to do, truthfully, but I also enjoyed it.

I also learned that for training to be effective, one had to be methodical.

So, should I proceed with yesterday's plan?

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

That was my first thought, and it was quickly dismissed. No. I won’t be able to tell what I’m doing right if I mix things up.

Honestly, I didn’t feel like my level-up did anything to me.

It could be that I just didn't feel it since the change was too small, or it could be that the change was something different from just strength.

I bet it's neither, I thought, sitting down and looking towards where the sun would rise from. I liked watching the sky change colors during dawn.

During the years, after I saw the screen appear, I thought about it long and hard, and I reached the conclusion that it was just there to display my status as a living being and nothing else.

At first, I thought that the 25/25 represented I reached the peak of my strength, but I felt some improvement afterward too. It was mainly in skills, but I also got stronger — that's the reason I discarded that theory.

Anyway, despite the level I wasn't exceptionally strong compared to other humans, so I just concluded it measured something else or that it represented some kind of achievement.

After what happened the other day, though, the first thought that cropped up was that it represented one of the requirements to reach the next evolution threshold. I was just not sure if it meant body strength or something else — I didn’t have mana before, but I also had no idea if something changed now.

What I really needed to find out what ticked the count up and which one of them worked best.

So, that means I have to toughen it up, uh?

The best way to find out was to keep the physical training up, and see what changes it brought, then switch to mana and compare the results; rinse, and repeat. If I kept it up, I’d soon know where I should focus or if I should focus on only one.

After deciding on a course for improvement, I felt much better. It was going to be hell later, but at least I had a more definite goal to strive forward. Let’s see how much I can level up before I reach Caldris.

Maybe when I get there, I’ll be already strong enough… no, I won’t. I squashed the thought that was trying to resurface and decided to do something to get my blood flowing and clear my thoughts.

The first rays of the sun were already brightening the sky when I started to swing my sword.

Not long after I started, I heard someone coming towards me.

It was Zeph with a bowl in hand.

“Good morning!” I said, pausing my swings.

“Good morning,” he said calmly.

It seems that he’s finally let go of his sour mood.

“Why did you come here?” I asked.

He pointed at the river as he passed by me. “I need some water for breakfast.”

I nodded and was about to start again when I thought of something.

“Hey Zeph,” I said, stopping him, “How about having a spar with me?”

He was stunned for a moment. Then looked pensive.

“Yes, I would like to have an opportunity to measure myself against you,” he said with a nod, then after a momentary pause he quickly added, “But let’s avoid causing injuries.”

He was talking casually, but I could see a bit of tension in his movements as he put down the bowl and took out a saber.

“What’s the problem with a few injuries, you have your magic healing things, no?” I asked perplexed.

He gritted his teeth. “Just because I have them, it doesn’t mean it’s fine to get hit… or cut.”

I rolled my eyes. There was so much I wanted to say, that I didn’t even know where to begin.

Still, I just wanted to get a feel for how strong he was, and I didn’t want to spend all morning here.

“Fine, fine, princess,” I said, failing to keep the snark off my tone, “Why are you using a saber though? I’ve seen you bring around a sword.”

“This is the weapon I’m most proficient with,” he said with a sullen face, “I just walk around with a sword because it’s common around here. I also know how to use it, but my main weapon is the saber.”

I shrugged.

“Ok, let’s do it like this then,” I said, taking some distance, “I will hold back and only tap you instead of hitting or cutting.”

How I hated saying those words.

“You can just do your best without worrying, come at me as if you wanted to kill me. We will stop at your surrender or if you manage to injure me. What do you say?”

He thought for a moment.

“What kind of injury is considered a victory?”

Oh! Confident, aren’t we?

“Anything. So long as a little blood flows out, I will concede. If you use elements, like fire or ice, as long as they touch me it will be enough.” I will give him some more advantage. I doubted he could already use elements, but who knew?

Let’s see if he can beat me.

“Fine, I accept.”

“Good, start whenever you want,” I said, focusing.

He sprinted towards me, signaling the beginning of our spar.

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