I'm on high alert immediately, and thus, as I notice something flying my way, I dodge out of reflex, spending barely any thought on the movement at all. I barely pay the feeling that my [Dodge] skill improves a little any heed either. As a result, whatever it is goes flying by me.

The projectile goes flying past me, but it doesn't go much further, as it smacks Matylda right into the face. She noticed that something is up, but not due to a skill like [Danger Sense]. No, she only noticed me tensing up. As a result she doesn't manage to dodge. Instead she is left to stare cross eyed at the chestnut that just smacked into her nose, at least for a very brief moment, before it drops to the ground. Her words, and her tone as she speaks them, reflect my own feelings on the sudden attack.

“Ouch! What the quack?”

Oh yes, I'm most definitely a bad influence on her and the rest of this world too for that matter, but I couldn't care less. No, actually, come to think of it, I do care. I just don't think that this particular change is for the worse.

Well, whatever, a chestnut is not a particularly deadly projectile. Not usually. Not even when they are not peeled and all spiny. Well, I wouldn't want to get one into an eye, but otherwise they are more of a nuisance than anything else. I probably won't even feel much through my clothes, if anything at all.

The more important question is another one anyway. Where has this sudden attack come from? The question regarding its purpose only comes after.

I sharpen my senses and look all around. My [Perception] improves a little, but a little is, as it turns out, not good enough.

The next strike hits me. And it's not just a chestnut in its spiny shell this time around either. No, what hits me is a genuine rock. It isn't a big one, but it doesn't have to be, as it has been thrown with considerable force. Enough of the latter in fact to drive the air right out of my lungs as it nails right into the middle of the chest.

“Oof!”

[*Ding!* You have been wounded! Health reduced by 9!]

Oh good gods! Yes, I feel that. No doubt about it. I'm probably still going to feel it tomorrow. The day after too in all likelihood. This is going to leave a bruise. A nasty one probably. That my [Clothes] skill improves a little only adds insult to injury.

I don't dare to dwell on it though. I don't want to take more hits like that. One is already bad enough. A dozen might just be the end of me. I don't feel like finding out if I'm mistaken about that number either. No thank you. Thus I start dodging in earnest as I keep looking for the source of the projectiles.

Matylda's approach is different. Simpler but no less effective. She throws herself into the ditch to the side of the road. The side opposite from the one where the projectiles harassing us come flying from. There she'll be out of sight for the time being.

Both my [Perception] and my [Dodge] skill improve a little more, as my heart starts beating harder. Finally I spot the source of the projectiles, just as I realize that they are actually focusing entirely on me. It seems Matylda was just unfortunate enough to be caught in the crossfire.

The one moving from position to position in the treeline beyond the roadside is no other than Wiktor, the person I have come looking for.

I repeat Matylda's earlier exclamation, except a little more forceful.

“What the quack! Are you tying to kill us?”

Finally he leaves the treeline to join us out in the open.

“Sorry about the surprise, but I think you are entirely too dramatic.”

He doesn't look sorry in the slightest. My left eyebrow starts to twitch.

“No, you aren't. And that doesn't explain anything. So, why are you chucking stones at us all of a sudden?”

He just shrugs, not perturbed by my not very amicable tone in the slightest.

“Right, I'm not. And this is training of course. A fun little exercise called dodge, block or take the hit. I read about it recently and thought I'd give it a try with you.”

His tone is serious and the suggestion not entirely out of the world. Somehow that, combined with his unapologetic innocent look is enough to give me pause. I'm looking for him to get in some training after all, even if this isn't what I had in mind. I might still sound a little unsure as I decide to dig more deeply.

“So you read about this in a training manual? Are you sure there is no better option? And could you at least try not to hit bystanders?”

Matylda dares to raise her head again from where she has taken cover at my words. There is a bruise forming where the chestnut hit her.

“Yes! Think about the innocent bystanders!”

He on the other hand hesitates a little as I bombard him with questions.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Training man … ”

Before I can jump on this reaction though, he flashes me another grin.

“Yes, of course. I read about it in a training manual. I do read you know. You don't think I'm just napping all day, do you? And this is as easy as I can go on you without entirely defeating the purpose of the exercise.”

Now all hesitation seems forgotten, as he keeps explaining.

“Once you get good enough I can stop holding back and throw in earnest. Maybe we can even graduate you to the level where I can use a sling instead! I'd use magic like the … manual … suggests, but I'm no spellcaster, so I have to make do with chestnuts, pebbles from the river and maybe a sling.”

I can only blink. I barely even manage to open my mouth before he starts talking again.

“And as for bystanders, they add a whole other level of complexities to the exercise, don you agree? Especially if it's bystanders you actually care for!”

This is the point where Matylda jumps up and makes a run for it, throwing a few parting ways over her shoulder as she does so.

“That's it! I'm out of here! Go and get yourself another bystander! Sylwia maybe! She can take this kind of abuse.”

I tilt my head slightly and tap my chin, as I think about it, while Wiktor's gaze follows the quickly disappearing Matylda. Finally I take a deep breath and nod.

“You know, she probably is right. We should ask Sylwia. She might just do it just to get another achievement and class upgrade out of it.”

It's not even that much of a stretch. She probably really would. That isn't the most important thing on my mind right now though. No, something else is. Something of no little importance.

Books. There are books to be found around here. Beyond the ledgers at the warehouses or shops. Even if it's just training manuals, no especially if it's training manuals, that is an important piece of information. In fact it's important enough for my [Gather Information] skill to edge a little closer to the next level up.

Still, something feels off. Maybe I should dig a little deeper? Oh, who am I kidding. Of course I have to keep digging! Thus, before he can comment on the suggestion to involve Sylwia, I speak up again.

“How'd you get your hands on a training manual anyway? I somehow doubt that anyone would let you abscond with a valuable book from their library. Those things tend to be pricey. Or am I wrong? And you take a rare treasure like that to read it out here, where it'll be exposed to wind and weather?”

He makes as if to answer only to shut his mouth again before he can even begin to speak.

“...”

He raises a finger to forestall any further questions while he thinks about his answer for a moment. We move along the road a little further away from the city as he does so. Finally he seems to have composed himself.

“Well, to be honest, I have never thought about it like that. Probably because the books in question are in fact not my books. Maybe I should be a little more careful in the future.”

That is all he says. He doesn't make this easy. I guess I'll have to keep up the pressure.

“So, where can someone get their hands on interesting training manuals or maybe even some magic tomes around here?”

He doesn't even hesitate to answer this time around.

“Well, I'm sure the lord has a nice little library in his keep …”

I snort and interrupt him.

“Except, considering the way Matylda talked about a certain maid, not even you would dare to try and borrow one of those.”

He shivers and looks around briefly, as if my words could have summoned her somehow.

“Yes. The alumni of the Towers of Midnight are no joke. Either they become lords and ladies in their own right or the most trusted servants of the same. Anyway, you aren't wrong. The adventurers' guild is a slightly safer source for decent reading material. Just don't get caught red handed borrowing anything from their archives.”

I nod, but somehow I have a feeling that this still isn't it, whatever it is in the end. I motion for him to keep going.

For a moment Wiktor remains silent, but finally he gives in with a sigh.

“Fine. There is a printer and bookbinder in the inner city. Just behind the temple in fact. I check out the newest items in their inventory every once in a while. It's pretty tricky too, since they tend to keep the printing press running well after their actual opening hours. And navigating their workshop and storage rooms is like trying to sneak through the woods without rustling any leaves since they have the pages fresh from their printing press strung up all over the place for the ink to dry.”

Now that sounds a little more sensible. Still tricky but not nearly as suicidal as burglarizing the keep or the adventurers' guild. And my [Gather Information] skill improves another little bit too. I nod satisfied. I decide to provide some feedback on his newest training regime in turn.

“You might consider starting off with some plain dodge training at first. Maybe use mud or clay too instead of rocks or chestnuts. Only switch to dodge, block or take the hit once your student has the basics of dodging mastered.”

He pulls a grimace.

“How can you make an interesting idea sound so boring?”

I just shrug.

“Your training worked. I'd rather not take another hit like that. Never mind though. I was looking for you to inquire about a different kind of training. Something a little more conventional.”

Now that seems to pique his interest.

“Oh?”

I nod this time around in reply.

“Yes. I want to get in a little more practice with the sword. Preferably without having to fight a deadly duel right away or anything like that. Maybe I could even pick up a skill for long swords specifically.”

It seems I have him really hooked now, as his attitude turns all business like in the blink of an eye.

“You sure could. You'll really have to put your mind to it though. A skill for melee weapons in general or just any bladed weapons is easy enough. A skill dedicated to a single kind of weapon on the other hand takes some serious dedication. I know just the place for this too.”

As he finishes speaking he leaves the road to make his way through the trees and bushes at the roadside.

I follow him, my own curiosity rising.

Not much later we arrive on a small clearing and he is quick to explain.

“Unless you are with the guard or maybe the night watch and do your practice in the keep's yard you really don't want to cross blades with anyone within sigh of the city if you don't have to. We probably could talk our way out of any trouble, but it's all too bothersome to begin with. It's better to find yourself a nice secluded spot like this instead.”

Without much delay he drops his things, what little he has with him anyway, under one of the trees at the clearing's edge.

“Come on! Let's not waste any more daylight!”