After feeding us quickly with a mix of foods from our new and old world we were all brought to a large training arena.

“My name is Ralc.” A short man stood proud with his hands crossed over his bare chest.

-What’s the point of wearing metal grieves then?-  

“I was instructed to rush your training so listen up and follow my words. Let's keep this simple.” He took a few steps forward until he had to raise his head to look at our faces.

“Look at your strength and wisdom stats. Those whose higher stat is wiz form a group on my left. The rest form another to my right.”

-Well shit…- I sigh.

I counted 41 of us -42 summoned…- out of which 34 gathered on the left and 5 stood on the right.

Ralc walked up to the large Russian man who came to stand next to me.

-I’m one ninety and he’s a head taller than me. Ralc is no taller than one sixty.- I grin at the image of Ralc glaring up at the guy.

“Name and reason.” He crosses his buff arms on his bare chest again.

“Yigal Medvedev. Both are the same.”

-He’s speaking russian.- I look at the other Earthlings and see some of them confused. -How come the translation stopped?-

Ralc scratches his rugged chin and turns to me.

“You.”

“Marcus Aurelius. The same.” I answer in Russian.

-Yigal looks annoyed… didn’t expect me to know russian? How come Ralc understood him while the rest didn’t?-

“Stay here for now.” He leaves us to stare up at the small group of people on the right.

-Shit… I should’ve kept quiet. Now he’ll be on guard next to me.-

“Second highest stat dexterity to my right. Int to the left.”He speaks loud enough for everyone to hear.

Four people move to the right and Ralc turns and looks at the woman on the left.

“Endurance or constitution?”

“Endurance.”

“Join the two in the middle.”

They both walk back and I nod at the girl as she joins us. She smiles back.

-About one seventy, black, wide shoulders, busting quads. Weightlifting? Probably crossfit.-

“Dex right. Int left,” he says as he glares at 33 people move left.

“Int or End?” he asks Elsa as the only person to go right.

“The same.”

Ralc looks around at all of us and seems to be doing some mental arithmetics after which he turns back to Elsa. “Offense or defense?”

-Isn’t that a good question.- I smile to myself.

“Offence…” she answeres after a few moments.

“Join the three in the middle. As for you…Endurance stay in place. Constitution to me.”

“Follow the priest.” He points the seven who stayed at the priest that was waiting next to a bunch of large crates.

“You will follow the gray robe.” He points the large group next to him at a woman wearing a light gray robe, who stood on the other side of the arena from the priest.

Ralc waits for them to leave the arena before moving towards the four individuals standing in the center. A few of the knights - Apparently they are soldiers. Knights have higher levels and shinier armour.- carried the heavy looking crates towards the groups.

“I am aware, that your greatest strength as summoned heroes, is your unlimited potential when acquiring skills. However, as we only have one month we shall focus on choosing a class and maximizing trees beneficial to it. That is the best way to gain power quickly.”

He walks in a circle around me, Elsa, Yigal, and the crossfitter.

-A bit less loud and his speech would’ve been more impressive I think. Or maybe this is aimed at the others only?-

“In the boxes in front of you is the equipment we suggest you use to gain the trees for a class suited for your individual stats.”

-Weapons and armour.-

“It usually takes a new recruit about a week or two to gain the skills needed for the class change. For you guys, it shouldn’t take more than a day.”

-So that’s what they meant… were basically 7-14 times more efficient in learning and developing skills. No wonder they think that one month is enough for us to join the war.-

“If you survive your first battle you can start to focus on trees unrelated to your class and it will change accordingly. Now equip yourself and listen to the trainers.”

The other four people who were left, those with high strength and dexterity, started to search through the crates. Ralc ignored them and turned to us.

“As for you four… you are going to wait a while before choosing a class. When the ones who are to be mages reach that absurd tower of theirs, a personal teacher will be requested for you. Once he comes here you will split your training between magic and combat and when you receive five skills in each field you will proceed to choose a class.” He looked at each of our excited faces and smiled.

“Understood?”

“Yes.” we said and Yigal nodded.

“Good. Go play with the equipment.” He walked off to exit the arena. “Oh… and congratulations on being able to become tactic casters! It’s one of the better classes.”

Still excited I walk over to the crates and start rummaging through them.

-Swords, knives, daggers, bows, spears and other common weapons in this one. Light armors in that one and heavy ones next to it. With the last crate full of random weapons... some I’ve never seen before.-

I pick out a nice looking recurve bow and a nicer looking double-handed, double-headed axe with each blade lengthening and joining together into a finger long spike.

It was slightly too heavy to use with one hand but I always liked axes and this looked impressive to me.

-Beautiful dark brown wood shaft transitions smoothly into whatever metal the blades are made of. As if the shaft was grown around the metal... A bit heavy but hopefully the skills will help with that.-

I look around and see people already changing into their new equipment. The soldiers brought two more crates.

-One with bags and another with clothes.-

I didn’t fuss too much about anything except my weapons and simply threw a bunch of clothes that looked my size into a leather bag I took and quickly changed into a leather brigandine with thin gambeson sleeves, studded with metal plates at the forearm.

Gambeson pants with extra padded leather over my thighs followed by thick leather boots with metal platings on the shin that reached over my knees.

-There's padding on the inside of the knee plate. How considerate.-

I look around with understanding as the other earthlings struggle with their boots. The trainers drop to one knee and explain how to secure them on their feet.  

Not bothering to wait, I pin the Heroes mark given to each of us to my gambeson and walk to a missing wall in the borders of the arena. Dozens of quivers and barrels of arrows are scattared around randomly near the 20 meter opening in the wall.

-Nice shooting range. Reminds me of the open gun ranges in the army.-

I lean the leather bag next to one of the small pillars that separate the gap into five parts. My axe lays nicely on the bag as I drag one of the barrels closer to the edge where I’ll stand.

-So I should get something like archery mastery?- I start warming up my joints and waking up my nerves, making a mental reminder to myself to ask someone what is going on with my stats.

Finished with the warm up I have a bunch of predictions and I’m eager to check how many of them will come true once I learn the skills related to archery.

“Elsa!” I yell and wait for her to notice me, “What's the time?”

“11:42.”

I hold up my hand up in a show of thanks and grab an arrow from the barrel. Knocking it on the string, I imitate archers I saw in movies or on youtube and wiggle myself slowly into a position that feels a bit uncomfortable and straining but I think is proper form.

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I try to aim at the closest target. A bale of hay about 10 meters away, with old clothes full of holes attached to the side facing me, representing an enemy.

I hit the cloth hat, pinning it closer to the hey as the arrow goes through.

“Ouch…” the bowstring hits me on the forearm and I can feel a slight sting even through the padding of my gambeson.

-I’ll need to get myself a bracer or else I’ll be walking around with a bruise.-

Disappointed a little that gaining the skill wasn’t as easy as that, I take aim at the 25m target.

After my first arrow misses I correct my aim and my elbow so the bowstring doesn’t hit my wrist so hard. The second arrow hits the hay where the left knee would have been, if the clothes were a real enemy.

-That's half of the predictions down. I’ll try to score a kill on each target. Maybe that's the trick…-

Four more arrows and I manage to hit the neck of the 25m target.

The next target at 50m needed a dozen arrows to kill as I had to shoot at an angle, but once dead the notifications popped up.

Ranged Combat tree unlocked

Dexterity +5

Aiming branch unlocked

Perception +1

Focus +1

Armed Combat tree unlocked

Constitution +1

Strength +2

Dex +2

Ranged Weapons branch unlocked

Dexterity +1

Perception +1

Recurve Bow Mastery twig unlocked

Perception +1

Surprised, I stare at the targets without really seeing them.

“Elsa!” I yell without even turning to look, “What's the time?”

“11:56!” she screams, clearly annoyed.

-So the only thing needed to unlock these is just a demonstration of basic proficiency? So if a normal person would get these in… lets say 2 hours… than these can’t be the skills they want us to get. Something like the Pounding skill? I remember a mention of a bud… There’s even an aiming branch? Does it affect non-ranged weapons as well? If I throw a sword does it count as a ranged weapon?-

Scratching my hand with my stubble that grew since my last morning shave, more than a day's worth already, I stood and pondered what to do. The stubble was still short but it acted like soft sandpaper and the scratching felt nice.

-How am I supposed to shave here? Maybe I should grow out my beard? It’s been what? 4 or 5 years?-

Picking up my axe I put my bow in its place on the bag and walk back to the others. One of the earthlings was still searching for a good pair of pants but the other six were at various stages of figuring out how to use their chosen weapons.

Elsa was dressed in a long dark green gambeson and brown clothes underneath. Her boots were high and leathery and in her hands she held a short sword and a round shield.

-She looks horrible… can’t see any curves at all.-

A female trainer stood next to her, demonstrating with her own sword and shield. I walked up to listen.

“...until then just try to get a feel for what I showed you. Once you feel ready, we’ll spar until you unlock the trees. Things will start feeling better then and you can continue to skill practice.”

Elsa looked at me for a moment and proceeded to imitate what the trainer showed her. Swinging her sword and shield to both attack and defend from an invisible enemy.

“Can I join her?” I hold up my axe to the trainer and motion at her to switch with me.

“What are you doing?”

“I want to see if we unlock the trees at the same time or not. You’ll understand once we spar.”

“I’m not sparing with you!”

“Why not? Scared?”

“No.” she snarls, “I just rather not be stabbed my first day here.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll wait until nighttime to do the stabbing.” I smile a lecherous smile.

She glares at me through narrowed eyes.

“I promise you’ll enjoy it.” I fake an innocent smile.

“Only if it's not with you.” She smiles back but her eyes stay as narrow slits.

“Ouch…” placing a hand over my chest I exaggerate a deeply offended posture, “so you rather do it with her than me?” I point at the female trainer.

“No offense. I just prefer people with actual experience and with her I’m less likely to get poked.” It was her turn to fake an innocent smile.

“Non taken.” I play around with the sword. “I learn fast. And prefer my partners experienced.” I smile and look her up and down, exaggerating the movement so she can see. “Much better you than those two.” I point at two man swinging spears, clearly scoring hits but not drawing any blood. A male trainer stands next to them giving pointers.

Elsa looks at them in surprise and turns to stare at our trainer.

“Safety charms. Freshly cast by the cleric.” The trainer points at the group of soldiers that carried the crates, who were now sitting at the edge of the arena. A woman wearing a simple white dress stood out amongst them as she talked to a man who, unlike the soldiers, didn’t wear any armor.

“I was lucky to be picked. It’s not often that we get to spar with them. It’ll hurt and you might break something or lose an eye but that's why Val’s here. He’s the designated healer for the month and will make sure you finish every day completely healed.” she smiles at Elsa as she adds “Also, I’d prefer you do it with him as I already have the skills.”

“Or we can all do it together. The more the merrier after all.”

The trainer jokes back but Elsa is seriously annoyed.

-Well… that's one way to fire her up…- I try to cut my arm but nothing happens. -As if the sword is trying to repel the skin.- I notice Elsa is no longer playing around -This is gonna hurt…-

Elsa half-crouches, raises her shield to just under eye level and begins to move towards me.

I react by walking in a half circle while leisurely swinging and spinning the short sword with my right hand. This forces her to do the same and we walk in circles eyeing each other out.

-I’ll let her start the fight. Why hold the shield in position from the start? You know I don't have any way to reach you fast enough… anyways… will she slash with the sword or bash with the shield?-

We each complete two full circles, during which her shield never fell below her jawline.

-Sword most likely. Should I wait or provoke her?- I try to keep smiling but it's getting hard to fake with the way she’s glaring at me. -She already wants to hurt me… should I make her angry on top of that?-

We complete another circle.

-Nevermind...too long.-

The next step I make I push hard with my right leg, bursting forward in a half-step feint causing Elsa to react as I plant my left foot hard to stop. Letting the momentum from the sudden stop pull me forward I raise the shield attached to my left arm in time to deflect her oncoming stab.

With a loud tang, the metals collide but I hold firm as my back leg never left the ground and is still firmly planted slightly behind me.

Twisting from the hip I aim at her thigh that became exposed from under the gambeson as she stepped forward to thrust. She quickly lowers her shield so I try to slow down my thrust at the last moment. Her shield makes my sword bounce to the side but it doesn’t matter as my shield is already moving to bash her in the face.

Elsa tries to evade but the shield clips her on the brow, sending her falling as she loses balance and falls on her butt.

Messages pop up but I ignore them and look at the wide-eyed Elsa staring at the empty space in front of her.

“Told ya you’d understand in a moment.” she glances at me and goes back to reading her notifications.

Close Combat Weapons branch unlocked

Dexterity +1

Perception +1

Short Sword mastery twig unlocked

Perception +1

Self-Defence tree unlocked

Constitution +2

Strength +2

Dexterity +1

Shield Mastery branch unlocked

Constitution +1

Strength +1

Small Shield twig unlocked

Perception +1

“Two trees, two branches, two twigs?” I ask Elsa.

“Yeah.”

“Five, two, one stat distribution?”

“Yep. Armed combat tree one con, two strength, two…”

“I’ll save you the time.” interrupts the female trainer, “Everyone get’s the same rewards. It’s the skills that change. Got any yet?”

“Nope”. I say and Elsa shakes her head and grimaces in pain. “Mind explaining why?”

“One sec.” She waves her hand at the group of sitting soldiers but they don’t notice, so she whistles.

-Nice! She’s good. I wonder if that's also a possible skill?-

“Let’s see what we have here…” Val the healer leans to get a better look at Elsa as she sits on the dirt. “Raina must’ve leveled up. Are you sure it was a solid hit?” he asks the trainer.

“Felt like it…” Elsa grits her teeth in pain as the man pokes her forehead.

“Level one and no skills. Don’t expect any concussions anytime soon.” Answers the female trainer.

“Hmm…I see. I’ll heal you this time. It’ll take away the bruise and pain but next time don’t call me over something so minor. My mana pool isn’t big enough to bother with every minor bruise.”

He closes his eyes and moves his lips in a barely audible chant. After a moment his palm begins to glow slightly and he touches it to the bruise.

As he moves his hand away the large bruise is gone and the forehead is perfectly healthy again.

-That's more than just healing! Sure the blood vessels and tissue are possible to heal but what about the hematoma that formed around it? You can’t push the blood and plasma back into circulation. And even if you could… sending apoptotic cells and forming clots back into circulation is worse than any pain the bruise would cause.-

I observe the trainers and try to remember Ralc’s bare chest.

-No scars. Nothing I remember seeing… Interesting. I have a few scars I wouldn’t mind getting rid off.-

“Thank you.” Elsa gets up to her feet and smacks the dirt off.

“My pleasure, madam hero.” He nods respectfully and walks back to the soldiers and the girl.

We watch him say something and they explode in laughter.

“So…” I look at the female trainer in question.

“Tabika.” she smiles.

“Marcus. And...” I turn to Elsa.

“Elsa. Grateful for your help.” she nods.

“So… Tabika. Before we continue, I have a few questions related to the system. Or trees, branches whatever.”

“I can try to explain but anything related to the garden you better ask one of the priests. I’m just here to help with your combat training. But if there’s anything you need don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Anything?” I smile a lecherous smile and look her up and down.

“Anything.” she answers and does the same to me.

“Well…” I look at Elsa as she's listening to our conversation and double check my grip on my shield.

“About that threesome…”