The next morning, the group woke early, ate a modest but energizing breakfast, and followed Tobo across town.

After hearing about the history of the nobility's suspicion of otherworlders, Andy was feeling a bit nervous about the arena. Were they going to be executed?

Tobo had tried to assure them that they would do fine, that death rates were very low in the arena, but Andy couldn't help but remain suspicious. Despite his genuine hospitality, Tobo hadn't been completely forthright with them about the initiation. Why should Andy expect Tobo to be forthright about the arena?

As the group walked the now-familiar streets, Tobo talked with each of them, ensuring that they knew which guild master to approach for the feats they wanted.

"Andy," Tobo said, "you will want to interface with the fighter, the berserker, the warlock, and the monk."

It's exterior was covered in murals of warriors, spellcasters, and crafters. The towering oak doors stood ajar and allowed the group to see inside as they approached. There was ample stadium seating, though there weren't any spectators yet. Instead, the only people that occupied the place stood in a semicircle just inside the gate.

The group stepped through the threshold and the small crowd chattered greetings.

"These are the guild masters," said Tobo. "They will guide you in the confirmation of your feats and instruct you on how to use them best."

Andy scanned the host of guild masters. They stood in a seemingly intentional order, each before a small stone block with an affixed plaque.

First, there was an old man with a scraggly gray beard that reached his chest, covered in twigs, feathers, and random bits of fur, as if he had been rolling around on the forest floor. He wore a faded green tunic and a crown of braided grass. He leaned heavily on a tall, wooden staff. Around his belt hung various animal bones, flasks, and pouches. The plaque before which he stood read: Dilgur – Druid – Befriend Animal.

So the plaque tells us their name, class, and the level 0 feat they offer, Andy thought.

"Please," the druid spoke in a wavering tone, "have a look around, introduce yourselves, and ask questions. I trust you have been somewhat prepared to take on your feats. Don't be shy. We're here to equip and prepare you, and to confer your feats before you enter the arena."

Kermit approached the Druid immediately and began chatting about animals.

Arlene headed toward the fighter, a tall woman in light armor, and the only guild master with a table of weapons behind her.

Andy needed a feat from the fighter, the warlock, the monk, and the berserker. The monk was standing in third place, behind a sorcerer, so Andy started there.

He approached.

"Hello," Andy said as confidently as he could.

"Hello," the monk said, smiling. He stood quietly. He wore a simple tunic, and his legs and arms were wrapped in thick support bandages.

"Well, I…" Andy began and realized he didn't know what to say. He looked down at the plaque: Sammi – Monk – Fluid Strike.

"Can I take Fluid Strike?" Andy asked.

"You can learn it," Sammi said in a gentle but firm tone. "But you cannot take it. Nothing in this world belongs to you, not even yourself."

Already with the pedantic riddles? Andy thought. I shouldn't fight it though. It's not like I need to study under him for years.

"Ok," Andy said, nodding. "Would you teach me?"

"Yes," said the monk. "Strike me with your palm."

Andy hesitated.

"You want me to hit you?"

"Yes."

Andy figured the monk was playing some sort of tactical trick, so he would just strike straightforwardly so that he could learn whatever lesson was in store.

Andy palm struck the monk in the chest, fairly hard, but not overly so.

His palm landed with a thud and the monk rocked back almost imperceptibly.

"Pretty good," the monk said. "Now strike me three times. Right hand, left hand, right hand."

Andy struck three times: right, left, right, picking up in intensity.

"You show great determination," said Sammi, smiling. "You will make a great monk if you choose to continue our path."

"Thank you," said Andy. He nodded appreciatively.

No trick then? He thought.

"Now, observe."

Ah, here it comes.

Sammi dropped his stance, feet shoulder-length apart, and then lunged forward.

Andy could not follow Sammi's speed. The monk seemed to turn himself into liquid, inhabiting several positions at once.

Andy raised his arms in defense, but too late. He felt himself struck in both shoulders and the forehead simultaneously.

As if delayed, the force of the impact then shot him backward almost ten feet, where he landed on his back.

Andy heard several of the guild masters chuckle as he struggled to sit upright.

"You OK?" Arlene called.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Andy gave the thumbs up before he really knew whether or not he had been seriously injured, he just didn't want any more attention.

Sammi approached him and extended his hand.

"I kept my strikes nonlethal," he said. "You have sustained minimal damage. But it is necessary for you to experience the fluid strike for yourself so that you understand how it operates from the perspective of your foes."

"That's a feat for level 0?" Andy asked with a bit of disbelief.

"Yes," said Sammi.

"And you didn't use anything else?" said Andy.

"No other feats," said Sammi. "But I have been training in combat for a long time."

There was a brief pause of silence. Chattering continued in the background between guild masters. The fighter was setting up an archery target for Arlene. Kermit continued talking to the druid, who threw his head back, laughing from his belly at something that Kermit had said.

Andy turned his attention back to Sammi.

"Would you like to learn this feat?"

"Yes," Andy said without hesitation. "That was incredible."

"Very well," said the monk.

An alert flashed across Andy's vision:

You Learned Fluid Strike!

Andy focused and brought up his display, navigating to the Feats tab. There it was:

Feats

Equipped [0/4]

-

-

-

-

Learned [1]

-Fluid Strike, lvl 0 Monk

Andy concentrated on the Fluid Strike feat, willing it to appear in the equipped section. It did so.

You've equipped Fluid Strike!

Andy bounced back to reality. He felt no different.

"Now," said Sammi, "strike me again, but this time, allow your spirit to guide you."

Allow my spirit to guide me?

"What does that mean?" Andy asked.

"It means you need to allow your thoughts to fade. When thoughts go blank, spirit takes control."

Andy thought he understood. He attempted to clear his mind. He closed his eyes and thought about nothing.

Well, nothing except whether he was going to deliver this strike correctly.

Andy opened his eyes and dropped his stance, as Sammi had done. He lunged forward and threw a palm, awaiting the liquid speed that Sammi had demonstrated.

To his chagrin, Andy remained solid, which made it hurt more as he fell off course, overcorrected, and then tripped over himself and landed in the sand. He hadn't even connected with Sammi at all.

Damn.

"It's alright, friend," Sammi said, extending his hand to help Andy up. "Try again."

Andy accepted Sammi's hand and repositioned himself.

"Find your center," said Sammi. "Many people live in their heads. You must live in your heart."

As Andy closed his eyes, Sammi's words resonated. Andy moved his attention to his chest, and when he did, he felt a strange burning, like a vortex of energy ready to break out at any moment.

Oh… this must be the "spirit" Sammi was mentioning.

Andy concentrated on his heart energy.

"Draw out your spirit, little by little, through your arms," Sammi said.

Andy began coaxing the energy out of his heart center and through his shoulders, through his upper arms, down to his wrists and hands. He felt a subtle vitality infusing him.

"Now try again," said Sammi.

Andy dropped his stance and felt the energy in his chest become bigger, stronger, more wild. And yet he was able to maintain full control, keeping it coursing through his arms.

He fixed his eyes on Sammi and lunged forward.

As he did, time slowed. He felt the energy break loose like an arrow from a taught bow. He lunged with ease, as if some unseen force were propelling him forward.

Andy watched his attack happen in slow motion, as if he were a witness to something else moving through him: he struck each of Sammi's shoulders with alternating palms, and then connected a palm on Sammi's forehead. The momentum pushed him forward, past Sammi, where he skidded to a halt. The world sped back up.

Andy found himself breathing heavily, he had expended a lot of energy in the span of a few milliseconds.

"That was quite good," came Sammi's voice.

Andy turned around. From the looks of the sand surrounding Sammi, he hadn't moved at all.

"That was… wild," Andy replied. "But you didn't move at all. Did I do it right?"

"You did indeed," said Sammi, "and quite well."

"Why couldn't I push you back, the way you did to me?"

"Ah, well you have no skill levels in combat," said Sammi. "Gaining more combat skill levels will give you both more power and more fighting stamina. Fluid Strike simply increases the speed at which you can make melee attacks, with only a modest increase to your striking power. As you gain levels in combat, though, your strikes will become more powerful."

Andy nodded.

"Here," said Sammi, pulling a leather pouch out of his pocket. He opened it to reveal a few dates stuffed with walnuts and honey. "Have a quick snack to restore your health and reenergize."

Andy tooke the dates and thanked him. He was lost in thought, considering how he could use Fluid Strike with his limited stamina. As he consumed a date, he realized he didn't feel any different.

"Do these work?" Andy asked.

"What do you mean?" said Sammi.

"I mean the dates. I don't feel any different."

"Ah, you must not be concentrating well enough," Sammi said. "In order to gain benefits from the food, you must give your full attention to it. You must actively enjoy the food. It's difficult to do when you're concentrating on other things, much easier at a dinner table."

Weird, Andy thought. I haven't had this problem yet, but that might be because I haven't been so distracted while eating until now.

Andy collected himself and concentrated on the dates, looking at the texture and the various components of it. He placed it in his mouth and began to chew, relishing its sweetness.

Then, finally, he felt the now-familiar revitalization spreading throughout his body, energizing and enlivening him.

"Better?" Sammi asked.

"Yes, thank you," Andy said with a nod.

"Tell me," Sammi said, "do you plan to fight unarmed, or with a weapon?"

"I aim to fight with a greatsword," said Andy.

"I see," said Sammi. "Fluid Strike will help your melee attacks, including with a greatsword. But it will not affect your ranged attacks."

"That makes sense," said Andy.

"If you take Favored Weapon, and use that weapon with Fluid Strike, you should see an immediate difference in the efficacy of your fighting, even without combat levels."

"I'll head there next," Andy said.

Sammi smiled, standing at ease.

"You have a knack for this," said Sammi. "Many of my students have taken much longer to learn how to use Fluid Strike, and they have gone on to do great things…"

Andy nodded, unsure of what to say. He had never learned how to take a compliment.

"You show great promise, Andy."