The wind swayed my umbrella to the point that I had to hold it steady, the rain soaked my entire side as I walked almost without feeling my feet on the ground. Using my weight to avoid exceeding the height of a house, I finally let go of my protector, letting it fly wherever the wind wanted to take it.

I saw a store with the light on and I ran to it. Closing the door was actually the hardest part, because the wind pressure made me feel like a kid going up in a hot air balloon. I sat down on a simple wooden bench, rested my hand on my knee, directed my gaze to the various racks of weapons and controlled my breathing; getting here was similar to expeditions, except my life is not on the line.

“Good morning, young man. Want a glass of water?"

"I've had enough water to get here, sir."

"There's no need to be in a hurry to leave, the rain is very heavy."

I nodded and got to my feet. The environment had a huge variation of weapons; whether it was nunchaku or curved heavy sword, here it was. I stayed a few minutes by his fireplace to warm up. The gentleman brought me a cup of mate tea and a sandwich, such gestures reminded me of my grandfather. This brought a heavy feeling in my chest and a strong feeling of longing…

Cirlan said something like "buy a weapon to use, even if it's made of wood" in the last mission. Since, oddly enough, I stopped at a gun store, I decided to walk the halls while looking. Even though Kaled is a brute, he's saved me a few times since I started. I could tell I got along better with Cacele, but it seemed like she felt sorry for me and wanted me to stay alive.

I grabbed a bamboo sword which cost five bronze coins and a small circular wooden shield which cost me ten bronze coins and went to the counter. The gentleman asked me why I bought such simple weapons, I replied that it was necessary for the collection team and he was surprised. According to him, many young people my age had given up for fear of certain places or inability to perform certain missions. The worst thing was that I understood and knew those fears to leave the position.

I left the cozy shop and ran towards my house. Mud, holes, branches… My clothes were in their worst condition. The house was empty when I arrived. I took a nice long shower and headed to the kitchen, where there was the smell of seasoned chicken and pasta. I ate about five courses and threw myself on the bed. Maybe I was more tired than I thought, because my body weight had increased and the bed began to exert a greater gravity. I just closed my eyes and let the exhaustion consume me; the noise of the window rattling and drops of water on the roof grew quieter and quieter, until they ceased and I found myself in the world of dreams.

"Happy birthday!" my dad yelled, holding a huge, hot pizza in his hands.

My mother had invited Bruno and João here to celebrate my birthday. I thanked her, I needed a moment like that. Cirlan would certainly love the fact that I had reached the age where he would be a little less responsible for my physical state.

We raised glasses of orange juice and toasted the “collector”. Emy ended up on the pizzas and paid little attention to the bowls, she ate the pizzas as if they were her last meal. I had a good laugh with everyone here, until it was time for presents. I could say that João's was the most peculiar, he gave me five pesos. Each weighed ten pounds. There was one for each member of my body, the pectoral being the one that weighed differently. About forty pounds, I thought. He said that I was supposed to go further training and that he thought of me when he performed a training related to avoiding alligators while carrying weight. Bruno left me a wand loaded with a water spell, and the best part is that he made it himself. That was awesome.

I waved my wand and everyone ducked in fright. I decided to save after that. My mother gave me a book about champions; she knew I wanted this one for a long time. My father took it upon himself to buy two tickets to a restaurant that served raw fish, which I was particularly curious to visit. In the end, Emy approached, grabbed my pants, looked to the side and put her hand in her pocket.

"I did that." she said as she handed me a black bracelet with gold accents.

I looked at my mom and narrowed my eyes. She just held her hands and looked to the side, then whistled and walked away. I thanked Emy with a hug and put the gift on; I struck a pose that flattered my muscles and everyone laughed. For the rest of the night we laughed and talked and ate pizza until we were sick. I had to say: My parents rocked this homemade pizza all-you-can-eat.

Bruno and João stayed to sleep, the weather was still bad outside. I arranged two mattresses on the floor and lay down on my bed, while they were snuggling in the sheets and blankets I had thrown. I considered sleeping with an extra blanket, given that the expedition was in the middle of rain and wind, I deserved it.

"How was practice today?"

“We learned how to cast a few spells from afar. Aria nailed this assignment. So beautiful..."

"Benevi congratulated her."

"And El-"

“Ellie? She ranks first in the ranking of Shadow level students."

It was still hard to believe that a girl with such talent had noticed me, it's a shame I haven't seen her since the day at the fountain. The only two times she saw me I was either being beaten or falling, I must have made a bad impression. It reminded me that I better redo the safe routes in the city, that Zelforne guy meant something when he said he wanted to kill me. I learned that he only stayed at the academy because of his renowned family.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

I sighed in defeat and we continued to talk. They have advanced a lot in physical combat and magic, it would be a lie if I said I could have a good fight with them now. Considering all I do anymore is run, nearly die, and roll around, I'd make a good runaway member. I curled up in the fetal position, made my thoughtful face, and snorted.

"Easy buddy, you'll still have your moment to shine."

"I know cases of delayed magic."

“It might be, but I think that even if I were to ever use as little magic as possible, I wouldn't be able to shine."

“That you will find out. Soon, who knows. Even the best students in the academy were unable to dodge attacks much simpler than the ones you dodged." said Bruno, turning over to sleep.

I held back a laugh, that was funny, not even I knew exactly how I dodged it. After a good night we decided to sleep.

"Brother, wake up! It's time to take me to school."

"I'll be right there, I'm just looking for a coat."

I grabbed my best black coat and the warmest gray pants I owned, then left the room and stood in the kitchen with my hands on the table. Maybe I should wear two scarfs. Emy was picking up the lunch box that Kanro had made. She was more bundled up than I was, with two coats and a pair of pants made from a very thick fabric. Opening the door brought a breeze that made me take a step back, shove my hands in my pockets, and lift my hood. Emy clung to my leg and I grabbed her backpack, which was relatively heavy for a seven-year-old.

We arrived at the school in just under half an hour. I gave my sister a big hug and let her run to her classmates. To my bad luck it started to rain right the moment I stepped outside, the indignation was certainly explicit when my jaw dropped. I opened the umbrella in hopes of actually protecting myself from the water.

The rain stopped, I could afford to stop at the fountain to watch the smallest drops touch it. Vague memories touched me, I knew it was dangerous to go on a mission without using magic, but I tried anyway. The more I learned and gained experience, the more I understood that it was impossible to hunt a minotaur. It involved much more than determination and wanting, it involved potential. I felt lost, stuck in a static point from which escape was impossible. A girl on the other side of the fountain drew my attention as she lowered her umbrella.

It was Ellie.

Oh shit. She could see me here. I turned my gaze, placed the umbrella in front of me, and took two cautious steps back. It would be shameful for such an amazing person, who saw me beaten, talk to me. I looked over the umbrella to peek, but she was already gone. I sighed and lowered the umbrella. A sense of relief coursed through my body.

"Oh, you're the test boy..." I gave a little scream, she appeared behind me. I felt my face burn. "Who doesn't know how to fight."

“I tried, but it was impossible."

The rain tightened. I lifted the umbrella again and Ellie walked over to me. My heart started to do her work a little faster, until she looked at me and brought her face closer. I blushed. Her eyes were two shades of light green, her lips were perfect, and her blonde hair gave her an extraordinary charm. That girl was a spectacle.

"Wh-why did you come closer?" What a pathetic question, Lumi.

"My umbrella broke. Where do you intend to go?" Her voice was so calm and confident, I was lost in her tone. I intended to go home, but it's not every day I get a golden chance like this and maybe the rain would stop me from doing so.

"To the main gate, but I intend to stop somewhere, the rain is getting closer."

"Want to go to Coffee and Cookie?"

"Yes I want." I tried to hold back a smile, but I think I failed miserably. I wondered if she was asking me out discreetly.

Most of the way I concentrated on walking, I was too nervous to be near her let alone tripping over my own foot. Despite her serious and calm face, I could have sworn her lip had curled the slightest bit. The Coffee and Biscuit was nearby, but we were at a slow pace. Her change of clothes was similar to mine, only wearing a dark coat and black pants.

"Are you part of any section of the academy?"

"I'm on the collector team..." His peaceful gaze was glued to my eyes, as if he expected me to continue. "It's a little different from what most think, I need to train a lot if I want to collect miserable flowers on top of dubious mountains."

"In the job description it was written that there was a good chance of contact with monsters. It was surprising when news spread that a boy had been dropped by a goblin."

My eyes just widened and my mouth curved down, I could hear the blood pounding in my ear. Did she know it was me? Come on, Lumi, ask a nice question. As I opened my mouth to go along with my plan, the rain picked up, and the beautiful girl looped her arm through mine. The words that were in my mouth receded, decided by themselves that they would remain hidden until my face was different from a tomato.

We walked to the front of the store, the sign said “accessible”. A white light could be seen even through the rain. Ellie opened the door and walked in. I closed the umbrella, jumped in and stopped behind her. There were people scattered around the place, although it was basically empty compared to usual. Ellie sat at a table next to a torch of fire and magic, and I looked at her and around. Would this be a date? Focus, Lumi, stop being crazy.

I sat next to her, I felt something weigh on my shoulders. Finding my scarf soggy, I was forced to drape it over the arm of the chair. The armchair was soft, it had a red cushion, and the table was made with some kind of spell to keep the room warmer. I stretched my shoulders back and my gaze met hers, we spent three seconds looking at each other until I turned my face to the side. She pinned her hair. This was unexpected, my heart could give out. A waiter came to our table, I ordered an orange juice and she a cup of coffee.

“What… are your reasons for training? You know, where do you want to go?"

"My family." she replied, her calm had been replaced by a blanker expression. I was afraid to pursue the subject, but I chose questions anyway.

"Just?"

An awkward silence ensued, and the waiter brought our order. Ellie took a sip of her coffee and looked at me seriously. My legs were shaking, she could kill me.

"And yours?"

“Hunting a goblin…” I said, dreading to go on. The silence was short lived this time.

“His technique sucks" she said, and casually took another sip of her drink.

I opened my mouth to retort, but she was right. If I consider that my last encounter with one was in a critical situation, I can say that I won passively. However, I was far from defeating him in combat. I sighed and looked away, my reality was walking far from my goal, at this rate failure awaited me with saber in hand. Being an adventurer who only fights to the bone seemed unfeasible, and I was considering giving it a try.

"I can help."

At that very moment, the rain stopped. The silence, the climate, his gaze and his words were like an opportunity, a hope, opening up from far away. I didn't know how to react, without understanding why she wanted to help me. Although that didn't matter. When the waiter arrived with the bill, a damned fly got into my mouth. I coughed. By this time my dignity had gone down the drain.

Ellie placed the money for the juice on the table and stood up. What a regret, that moment was so short lived.

“Thanks for bringing me here." She thanked me!

“It's nothing, Ellie"

She opened the door and I decided to say.

" I Accepted. I accept your help." Her lip curled into the smallest of a smile and she nodded.

Many emotions. A big smile on my face, my hands were sweaty, and shaking a little. I believed that if I wasn't in a closed and silent place, I would scream a lot.

"She's your girlfriend?"

"I wish, my dear, I wish."

The waiter withdrew after receiving the money. That's when I realized: he had a very dense body and his steps were silent. Unusual.

A man wearing a brown overcoat and hat arrived beside a familiar soldier. He watched everyone present here, his eyes were extremely narrowed, and his soldier placed his hand on the scabbard of his sword. It was Kairy, the accursed one who discredited me in the fight against the noble.