We continue walking until we reach a quieter spot in the forest, the sounds of the camp fading into the distance. Alex finally comes to a stop and sinks down against a nearby tree, motioning for me to join him.

I gingerly lower myself onto the ground next to my brother, wincing slightly as I feel a pang of pain in my abdomen. Despite the pain, however, I remain silent and wait for him to start speaking.

Alex meets my gaze for a moment, a solemn expression on his face. "43," he says, his voice low and somber. "That's how many people died in the attack."

I feel a numbness settle over me as I try to absorb the information. Forty-three people...dead. It seems surreal, almost unfathomable. My brain struggles to wrap itself around the reality of the situation.

I feel a pang of guilt and regret welling up inside me. Could I have done something differently? I wonder to myself. If I had been stronger, faster, could I have saved more lives?

Alex continues speaking, as if he can sense the guilt and regret coursing through my mind. "Most of them were already dead by the time we got there. There was nothing any one of us could have done," he says, his voice somber. "It sucks. But you can't blame yourself for what happened."

I nod mutely, the feeling of guilt slowly ebbing away as my brother continues speaking. "You saved us all," he says, his voice filled with awe. "From what I've heard, everyone would be dead if it wasn't for that final attack of yours."

I feel a slight pang of comfort at his words, but it doesn't completely erase the lingering guilt and regret that still hangs over me. Still, hearing that my actions had saved many lives does bring me a modicum of consolation.

My heart sinks as Alex continues speaking, his words painting a somber picture. "There are only twenty villagers left," he says, his voice heavy. "Most of them are women and elderly."

I can barely find my voice as I speak, my mind still grappling with the enormity of the tragedy. "Why so few?" I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper.

I feel a shiver run down my spine as Alex pins me with a serious look. "According to the villagers," he says, his voice grave, "There were over three hundred of them just one week ago. But then something called a 'beast wave' hit."

I listen intently as my brother continues. "Leah said that beast waves happen every month, but lately, they've been getting bigger and more dangerous. We've only got three weeks to get somewhere safe."

I feel a sense of worry settle over me as the reality of the situation sinks in. "What should we do?" I ask.

"It's okay," he says, attempting to ease my fears. "According to Leah, there's a city a few weeks away. We'll make our way there with the remaining villagers."

I nod in agreement, feeling a modicum of comfort at the knowledge that there's a safe destination nearby. "Okay, good," I say, before asking my next question. "What happened to the other people we were with?"

My brother's expression turns somber and he speaks again. "Marcus died, his heart was ripped right out of his chest. I found his gun, but he was all out of ammo."

Despite the tragic loss, a sense of gratitude settles over me as I remember Marcus's final act of bravery. "He came to help in the end," I murmur.

My mind returns to the remaining members of our small band. "What about the other two?" I ask.

"Zoe is fine," Alex replies. "She decided to focus on rescuing the injured, rather than fight.”

I feel a pang of relief upon hearing that Zoe is unscathed, though I can't help but wonder about her choice to not join the fight, at least she helped Alex.

I nod slightly and Alex continues, "Jake is alive," he says, his voice solemn. "But he's burned badly. It's going to take some time for him to recover."

I let out a sigh of resignation, grateful that Jake has survived despite his injuries. "At least he's alive, that's more than can be said for many others."

Alex agrees, “True enough,” his eyes travel down to my new tunic, a quizzical expression creeps on his face. "Is that from the quest reward?" he inquires, nodding towards my clothing.

I can't help but crack a small smile as I confirm Alex's question. "Yes," I reply, my voice tinged with satisfaction. "It's quite comfortable, if I do say so myself."

A brief moment of levity breaks the somber atmosphere as my brother lets out a hearty laugh. "It matches your scar," he says, his voice amused. "The girls will love it."

"Anyway, let's head back and get some food," he says, his tone casual. "You must be starving."

My expression turns into one of eagerness as Alex brings up the topic of food. "I could eat just about anything right now," I confirm, my stomach rumbling at the mere mention of food.

Alex stands, before helping me up. “Come on then, let’s go.”

As I finally settle down to eat, the delectable meal of venison and potatoes before me is like music to my stomach. My body greedily accepts the nourishment, grateful for the food after so long without it.

My brother soon joins me, bringing over a couple of drinks and settling down beside me. He hands me a jug before taking a hearty drink from his own.

As we sit together, enjoying our food and drink, the conversation naturally turns towards our stats and newfound skills. We discuss our various attributes, comparing our strengths and weaknesses, and exploring the new possibilities that lie ahead.

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As the night grows darker, a soft knock on the door of my assigned cabin interrupts the silence. A moment later, a familiar figure enters the room. It is Madam Lucy, her presence filling the small space.

I give a nod of acknowledgment as Madam Lucy enters and takes a seat across from me. She gestures with her hands, gently requesting if she can continue her healing efforts on me. I hesitate for a moment, my gaze studying her carefully, before giving a curt nod in agreement.

As Madam Lucy focuses her mana, I close my eyes and allow myself to feel the flow of energy entering my body. A sense of warmth radiates through me, and I can feel the familiar process of the healing spell taking hold.

As I continue to focus on the flow of energy, Madam Lucy suddenly chuckles, her eyes meeting mine with a look of amusement. "You have good senses," she says, her tone approving. "Most people new to mana wouldn't be able to track it so well."

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My response is automatic, yet holds a hint of curiosity. "How can you tell I'm new to mana?" I ask, my gaze still focused on the flow of energy within me.

Madam Lucy smiles as she speaks, a small chuckle escaping from her lips. "Maybe it's the way your eyes light up when you sense it," she says, her expression fond. "Or maybe it's because your brother told me." She finishes in an amused laugh.

I let out a soft grumble, a hint of irritation coloring my voice as I mutter under my breath. "Typical of my brother to go blabbing about me behind my back…"

As Madam Lucy withdraws her hand, her expression softens into a warm smile. "Your brother was looking out for you," she says, her tone reassuring. "In exchange for you both escorting us to Mala, I'll be teaching you both about mana."

I feel the last remnants of Madam Lucy's mana dissolve within me, leaving behind a sense of calm and rejuvenation. I nod my head in silent gratitude, acknowledging her healing spell and the promise of future lessons.

Madam Lucy rises from her seat, a smile still on her lips. "I'll let you rest then," she says, making her way towards the door. "We leave in the morning. I’ll have Asha bring you some new supplies."

The night unfolds in a restless haze, my mind plagued by vivid nightmares. The horrors of battle seem to replay endlessly in the darkness of my dreams, haunting images of burnt bodies and torn limbs assaulting my senses.

My eyes snap open as a jolt of panic seizes me, and I instinctively reach for my hunting knife. But as my sleep-addled mind slowly awakens, reality sinks in and I realise I'm safe in my room.

Taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart, I rise from my bed and start to dress myself in the new tunic. The fabric feels soft against my skin, a testament to the quality of the clothing. Feeling slightly more composed now, I prepare myself to face the day ahead and head out the door.

As I step outside into the early dawn, the rising sun casts a warm glow over the surroundings, its light filtered through the trees surrounding the village. The air is crisp and refreshing, laden with the scent of dew on grass.

A familiar voice interrupts my thoughts, bringing me back to reality. "Morning, bow boy," the voice says, a hint of teasing in its words.

I turn to face the source of the voice and find Zoe standing there, attempting to maintain a veneer of composure. Despite her efforts to hide it, I can see the fear and tension lurking beneath her facade.

I greet her with a nod, my gaze flicking around as I take in the surroundings. "Hello, Zoe," I reply.

I pause for a moment, considering my words carefully. "Hey, listen. Thanks for what you did for my brother, I heard a big part of his survival is thanks to you."

For a moment, the facade drops and a glimpse of the true fear and vulnerability behind her smile peeks through as she likely remembers the battle, but she quickly composes herself and puts on a big grin. "It's fine, Bow boy." She replies and then walks away, her steps deceptively casual.

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I survey the group with a critical eye, taking in each individual face and trying to gauge their potential. There are twenty-three of us in total, but only me and Alex seem to be the capable ones among them. While I can't be sure of how capable Zoe is, it seems likely that she might be able to contribute as well, at least judging from our first meeting with the goblins, she seemed capable enough.

My eyes travel over to the cart, where the unconscious form of Jake lies, still in a coma. As we continue to trek through the forest, the wheels of the cart groan and creak on the rough terrain.

I find myself grumbling under my breath, a hint of irritation coloring my voice. "We've already saved the village and now we have to escort them too," I mutter. "These mana lessons better be worth it."

As I walk silently alongside my brother, my thoughts drift to his nature. I know that Alex is naturally empathetic and willing to go out of his way to help others. But I can't help feeling somewhat detached from the group, struggling to care about their plight as deeply as Alex does.

I nod to myself, a sense of resignation settling over me. Still, Where he goes, I go.

A playful punch from my brother snaps me out of my musings. "Why don't you go scout ahead, Balin?" he suggests, his tone light and friendly.

I can't help but feel a small pang of appreciation as he reads me like a book. He knows what I need right now - a moment of solitude to escape the gazes of the group. I nod in thanks and silently slip away, disappearing into the trees.

I take off like a shot, darting through the trees with practiced ease. The world dissolves into a rush of green and brown as everything blurs around me. The rush of air in my ears and the familiar grip of my bow in my hand is pure bliss.

I move swiftly and silently, each step precise and calculated. I can feel my skill actively guiding my movement, as if my feet have become one with the forest floor. No sound escapes me, and I am little more than a ghost flitting through the undergrowth.

I freeze at the sound of chittering nearby, my body melting into the shadows of the trees. I stay motionless, my eyes fixed on the area where the sound came from, watching and waiting.

My blood begins to pump faster as I spot them - four goblins, oblivious to my presence. I feel a familiar thrill at the sight, my fingers tightening around my bow as I prepare to pounce.

My gaze falls to my full quiver, a gift from the villagers in appreciation for me and my brother's protection. It's good to know I won't be running out of ammunition anytime soon.

I nock an arrow, my fingers moving with practiced ease. As I do, I can feel my mana begin to stir, a warm buzzing energy that dances on the edge of my consciousness. I focus on the arrow, visualising the flow of mana and guiding it into the arrow's tip.

I take aim and release the arrow, feeling it leave my hand with a satisfying twang. The arrow soars through the air, its glowing tip leaving a trail of light in its wake. It strikes the goblin in the head with pinpoint accuracy, continuing its path through the air until it embeds itself deep into a nearby tree.

I watch as the goblin's head explodes on impact, its lifeless body crumpling to the forest floor. A stunned silence follows, shock and amazement registering in my expression. The power I just unleashed - it was far greater than I ever imagined.

The goblins turn in my direction, their eyes searching the shadows frantically, but I vanish into the darkness before they can catch sight of me. Frustrated cries of anger fill the air as they realise they can no longer find their attacker.

I move stealthily through the forest, stalking behind the unsuspecting goblins. Positioning myself behind them, I nock another arrow and pour my mana into its tip once more. This time, the arrow glows even brighter, fuelled by an even greater torrent of magical energy.

My arrow strikes true, its glowing tip piercing the goblin's body and completely obliterating it. The force of the impact is so great that the arrow itself seems to vanish from sight, disappearing deep into the forest.

I attempt to pour more mana into another arrow but quickly realize I've depleted my stores. Frustrated, I release a standard arrow instead. This time, it strikes the goblin but doesn't have enough power to immediately kill it.

The remaining two goblins charge forward, enraged and determined to find their attacker. I unleash another arrow but quickly fade back into the shadows before they can catch sight of me.

My arrow strikes true once more, piercing the already weakened goblin's body and sending it crumpling to the ground.

Sensing the situation becoming one-sided, I decide to step out of the shadows and reveal myself to the last goblin. It screams in rage as it finally lays eyes on its tormentor.

The lone goblin rushes towards me, its weapon raised and thirsting for vengeance. I stand my ground, calmly putting away my bow and instead drawing my sword. This blade belongs to the fallen, taken from the battlefield.

The unfamiliar weight of the sword feels slightly comical in my hand, but I've made up my mind to take on the last goblin with it. I feel a determination within me, a desire to improve my skills by testing myself in close combat. The remaining goblin draws closer, its eyes burning with anger. I plant my feet firmly, my sword raised and ready.

The goblin lashes out with its makeshift blade, its movements wild and desperate. I react quickly, parrying the blow with ease. The clash of steel on steel rings through the forest as the goblin tries to overpower me.

I can feel my heartbeat quicken with adrenaline as I try to anticipate the goblin's next move. A smile unwittingly spreads across my face, fueled by the thrill of the fight. The goblin, driven by rage and desperation, attacks again.

I continue to dance around the goblin, parrying and dodging its attacks with ease. The blade begins to feel less like a clumsy stick in my hand and more like the dangerous weapon it is. It's been barely a week in this tutorial, and already this goblin seems laughable in comparison to my first encounter.

I can feel the adrenaline surging through my veins, fuelling my muscles with newfound strength and dexterity. In an explosion of movement, I lash out with my blade, my aim true and my strike precise. The goblin falls to the ground, lifeless, its neck severed cleanly.

I stand in the aftermath of the battle, surrounded by the bodies of four slain goblins. My body thrums with adrenaline, my senses heightened and my blood pumping with vitality. I've never felt more alive.