When they arrived at the training ground, the three saw Fia and Amelia wearing the training attire.

They wore a leather overall with a light metal chest plate, waist guard, half plated grieves and cloth wrist guard which covers half of the palms. Even though they wore the same thing as them and the training knights, the girls had this unique charm. A glamor which made it suit them.

Awestruck, the three only stood there admiring the girls.

When the two noticed they finally arrived, they wave them hello. A moment later, they noticed they were staring at them. Amelia felt really uncomfortable with the suit, plus staring at her made her more discomfort, so she immediately turned around.

While Fia had the opposite reaction, she twirled twice and made a peace sign. “How does it look?” she said while grinning.

“It looks good on both of you” Roan gave praises to the two.

“Ehehe… It feels like I’m some newbie hero in a novel.” Fia said bashfully.

“Technically, I guess you are?” Tristan retorted.

“…..” Raze was silent as usual, though wide-eyed. Still admiring the view.

Fia also evaluated the guys, looking at them, Raze and Roan suit the training attire. While Tristan looks somewhat awkward in a way. It looked alright but Fia had an impression that a tracksuit might suit him better than what he’s wearing.

“You guys look really cool! Like knights in picture books .” She said to the three, giving praises.

 "This looks like level-one type of equipment, I guess we start with the starting kits" Roan said to Tristan while giving a laugh. Tristan replied back by saying 'just deal with it'.

 After a few more chitchat here, they walked towards the area where Lutherford was standing.

“Well look at that, you look like proper heroes in the making now eh? How does the training suit fit, and the weapon?” Lutherford asked them.

The party gave an okay sign. They all check everything before they went back to the training ground.

“Okay, we’ll start something simple, you kids will be hitting the dummies over the there and have a feel with the weapons.” He then leads the way to the party.

Roan then immediately jogged near one of the dummies and took a stance. Lutherford saw how Roan was the first one to take actions and he liked that attitude. “Can't wait to get any actions? Then don’t wait anymore and strike.”

“You bet! Here I go!” Roan quickly took a stance and readied himself. The party saw how enthusiastic Roan and the old man is. So they walk near the nearest bench and sat down to observe.

With a grunt, Roan rushed at the dummy. Striking it with his dominant right hand, His body remembers the fighting style from the VR game he plays and unconsciously used the same fighting style. He strikes with one hand, from time to time he switches to two hand form and struck at the vitals of the dummy, the sound of sword strikes resounded around the area and it caught the wind from nearby practicing knights and squires.

Lutherford was impressed seeing this unique style of fighting. But the way he handles himself was still lacking. ‘The foundation is there but he clumsily handles everything. The form is strong but without having a rest will give him a disadvantage in longer battles’ He thought.

After a few minutes of striking, Roan felt his breath was getting ragged. He knew he was doing the form correctly but somehow he feels way more tired.

In the game, the fighting style that he was using was commonly used by warrior classed characters. It specialized in close combat and fast paced way of fighting with any weapons. In-game, most players with warrior class charges at monster and strike without properly pacing their breath or taking a break from the strikes. The notion of fatigue doesn’t exist in-game which is why Roan felt it was different.

The game assisted the players on how to fight without taking a breather and they can fight for hours without feeling fatigued. In this case, Roan was used on the game’s assistance that he didn’t notice the difference with the game's mechanic and reality.

Lutherford noticed that Roan was starting to slow down. It seems the kid hasn’t noticed that he’s already covered in sweat and plans to strike the dummy to dust, if he continues with this, the kid might pass out so he took the initiative to stop the child.

“Enough Roan, Take a rest. Your sword style is impressive, but without taking a break it won't give you a good result.” He said to Roan and gestured to sit down beside his friends.

Since the Old knight said so, He listened and walk over to where the other is.

“It's interesting and weird at the same time that you are using the game’s fighting style” Tristan said to Roan while throwing a wet towel to him. “But dude, Take a breather sometimes. You look like a berserker class on our views” He added

Roan look dubiously at Tristan. “Does my form really look that bad? I’m just doing the same thing as I did in-game though” He answered to him.

“You look like a guy who got rejected by his crush and venting your emotions on the poor dummy, You were ragged and sweating a lot” Amelia said to him with a giggle.

When Roan heard that, felt embarrassed. He was imagining how he looks like when striking the dummy. He looked at where he was a moment ago and noticed that Raze and Lutherford were talking at each other.

“Huh? When did Raze went to the oldman? I didn’t notice him walking towards him” Roan asked the group.

“Mister Lutherford called him when you were walking towards us. They’ve been talking since then.” Fia answered beside Amelia. She was trying to read their lips but she noticed she might not be able to decipher it since they use foreign languages.

“Huh… I wonder why Raze is so quiet most of the time. Does he have some trauma or something?” Roan asked.

“Dunno, he always quiet and it’s like he’s trying to erase his presence. Or probably he’s just a loner or afraid with his new surroundings. We will never know since he doesn’t open up to us that often.” Tristan said

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The group looks at two who’s having a conversation from afar. They wonder why Raze is somewhat taking a distance at them.

“I do get the feeling he’s looking after us. He’s nice and calm, and he’s not as rash at you two” Fia said while pointing at Roan and Tristan.

“”Him??”” The two once again look at Raze and evaluated him.  Same height as Roan, shorter than Tristan. His build is slim and gives the feeling of a neighborhood kid who doesn’t like to play outside.

The two was having a rude thought about Raze but they didn’t want to voice it out. They don’t want to be thought out to be a person who talks at someone’s back.  The two continued chatting with each other.

While the two was having rude thoughts, Amelia noticed that Fia looks at Raze with a different gaze.

She had an idea and wanted to confirm, so she went closer to Fia and whispered to her ear. “Do you have a crush on Raze?” She said softly

When Fia heard the sudden question, She suddenly lost her balance while sitting down, Her motion looks silly as she tried to have her composure back. “What’s up with the sudden question!?” She screamed softly enough for only Amelia can hear. Fia’s face had a tinge or red and she felt her face heated up a bit.

Amelia was smiling while her eyes give the feeling that it's asking for more, She only stared at her friend but didn’t ask for more. It gave a feeling that she already had the answer without asking at all.

 Fia didn’t like how her friend’s face looks like a secret got leaked out somehow and stood up and tried to walk to somewhere, but when she noticed that Raze was standing infront of the dummy and was about to start practicing, she didn’t know if she should watch or walk away. Beside her, Amelia was giggling and pulled her friend back to sit and watch.

…….

Going back a few moments ago.

 When Roan was walking towards the group, Lutherford gestured to Raze to come to him.

Raze immediately stood up and walk to him silently, that was the time that Fia noticed him walking away.

Raze stood infront of the old knight. “Yes sir?” he questioned.

“Raze, was it? Tell me, boy.  Do you know how to wield a weapon?”  He asked while evaluating him.

“Just a bit, sir. Not as good as Roan.” He answered back. He noticed that the old knight was observing him.

“Just a bit, You say?” ‘This kid is hiding something’. The old knight didn’t believe what Raze said. Since the start, He felt something from him. He has this feeling that the kid knew how the to fight.

He’s been observing how he stood with vigilance, the posture he’s showing, the way he held the training sword; ready to draw at any moment, and his eyes which are roaming around. Somehow it reminded him of someone he knows.  Lutherford’s instincts tell him to mind this boy a lot, also at the same time, he thought that maybe he’s just growing old and minding it too much.

“Boy, If you mind, would you mind if you talk a bit about yourself?” He ask Raze,

Raze was wondering why one of the highest ranked Knights was asking him such question, Even so, He still answered. He told him about his simple lifestyle, how he lives with his parents and knew how to hunt. He tried to answer as little as he can.

“I see, A healthy lifestyle you got there. I do hope you won't resent the kingdom for suddenly taking it away from you.” Lutherford lamented. “But don’t worry, we will take you home once this is all over”

“Sir, why are you asking me this?” He wondered and ask the old knight.

Lutherford laughed. “Hoh, I wonder. You remind me of someone from the past, I just felt like asking” He replied. “Well nevermind that, off you go and strike the wooden dummy” He urged him to start practicing.

 …..

Looking at a distance, Roan and the party were looking at Raze striking the dummy.

“I kind of expected this, but he even swung the sword calmly too. Does he really know how to use a sword? He said he knows how to wield one, right?” Roan asked the group and recalled the questions awhile ago.

Striking with finesse, opposite of the previous display minutes ago.  Less aggressive, swift strikes, weaker sound upon impact. It gives the impression that the person sword striking the sword was somewhat lazy, but the seriousness displayed on his face shows otherwise.

“Well, its much better than thoughtlessly attacking like a frenzied person. And look, he isn’t getting ragged like you were” Fia teasing said to Roan. Roan took an annoyed look with the comment, He looked at Raze’s way of striking somewhat weak and lacks power.

“It's weak! There’s not much power into it, He has to put more strength to it.” Roan said

“I don’t think he’s doing badly. Look at Lutherford, He sometimes gives approving nods from time to time. It seems Raze has actually had some skills.” Tristan

 When Roan heard, He also spotted that the old man did made a nod. Since the old knight approved the way Raze strikes the dummy, he didn’t say anything else or he might look like he’s looking down on him. Though he still doesn’t like it that it doesn’t have power under the strikes Raze made.

“I really don’t get this sword fights and all, I really don’t like seeing people dangerous blades like that” Amelia whispered while silently observing.

 …..

After a few  more minutes of displaying his sword style, Raze finally stopped striking while panting.  He unconsciously went serious when he was swinging the sword. A few days of no practice made him crave to move his body to train, but he had to hold back doing his routine since the others also didn’t train at all.

“Splendid! You’d make a fine swordsman.” Lutherford praised him immediately after he stopped moving his sword arm. The old knight also showed a delighted expression.

“Precise, quick and always hitting the vitals of the enemy. I say, why don’t you join my army? I see real talent in you, my boy” He said while walking towards Raze.

“Thank you, Sir. I don’t really think I’m that good.” He replied, while putting the sword to his waist. “And uhmm… I don’t really want to join the army. ” He said in a low voice.

Tapping Raze’s shoulder, Lutherford smiled and spoke. “You don’t have to think about it that much, I’m not forcing you. You are one talented kid, if ever you have interest, You know who to talk” He said while strongly giving Raze a pat at the back.

Raze didn’t like how Lutherford was recruiting him to the Army. But deep inside him, Raze was actually happy that a knight with a high prestige gave him a praise. A knight with a status like that doesn’t always have the chance to evaluate commoners like him, apart from the army.

After Lutherford talked to Raze, he told Raze to take a rest with his groupd. He also asked the others if they wanted to try out striking the dummy but, Tristan and Amelia refused to do so.

“I’m not really into swords, I just wanted to held one” Tristan said to Lutherford.

“I’m sorry, I.. I don’t really feel like it” Amelia refused in a timid way.

Lutherford then looked at Fia. Hoping that she might be a talent.

“Uhmm…. Maybe later? After seeing the two did that, I kinda want to do it when there’s not much people around.” Fia said, After the two displayed their skills, She felt shy showing her mediciore skills. Her skills ingame was pretty much common, Slice and dice, assisted by the system to use skill using a menu, etc.  and she was sure she’ll do bad if she shows her embarrassing skills.

“Hmm I see. Looking at the two, They might need a rest or two. I’ll be moving around to supervise the training ground, so I’ll be leaving for now. If ever you want to leave the place, Ask one of the squires stationed at the rest area.” Lutherford said while pointing one of the Stalls and bench for restings.

The party gave a nod, Lutherford walked away to supervise the other squires. They decided to wait around the area where they are now. Roan had a sudden idea decided to practice on the dummy once more.  

“So, He just decided to train once more with a little bit flashier move, Is he trying to…” FIa noticed that Roan was intentionally shouting and giving a loud grunt, and had an idea on what’s going on.

“Yeah, you’re right. With how this guy’s brain work, he wants people to challenge him. You know, just like in those stories.”  Tristan replied back to Fia, He also noticed that the other people around the training ground were eyeing them for some time now. It’ll only take a moment for them to challenge or be provoked once Lutherford was away.

And as they were just thinking about it, A group of knights in training were walking towards them, there age were around the same or older than Roan’s group.

Roan stopped moving around and waited for the people to arrived, while standing in an imposing manner. ‘As expected, now let see how they do in battle’ Roan thought within.

Amelia felt that trouble was brewing when Tristan held his hand up and stopped Amelia from taking action. “You can leave it to him. I’m pretty sure he was expecting this, look at his face, he’s smiling.”

“I knew this would happen, guys and their own selfishness.” Amelia let out a big sigh afterwards. Resigning everything to them.

“Ahaha…. Why are they doing this…?” A weak laugh came out of Raze, hoping that this might become something big.

……………….