'So, what was it like fighting against the instructor?' (Dennis)

'It wasn't even a fight.' (Michael)

'You managed to give him a black eye though? (Dennis)

'He gave himself the black eye. I managed to get pretty close with the knife, before he blew both of us away. Bastard's been holding back with that little breeze he showed in class.' (Michael)

'For that matter, what would you even have done if you actually killed him by accident?' (Dennis)

'If he would die from something like that he would have died long before getting a titanium plate. Ambushes aren't an uncommon thing. But I needed to know how large the difference is between us and them.' (Michael)

'Difference... huh. You think what he said about Elaina is true?' (Dennis)

'My dad fought on the frontline in the last skirmish we had with Ostland. Or he was scheduled to. The opening barrage of arrows proceeded as expected, but after that their vanguard just dropped dead, and so the rest of their forces pulled back and the conflict ended there. He thought that we gained access to a new kind of poison or something, but the corpses showed none of the usual signs of poisoning. If we had someone who could kill with a glance, that would be understandable. (Michael)

'What the heck?' (Dennis)

'It's still possible that he's bullshitting us, but the higher ups in this country are dabbling in some really weird shit one way or another. Not that I'm not happy that my dad is still alive though.' (Michael)

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

'So what do you plan to do with that information now that you know they're monsters?' (Dennis)

'Become one myself.' (Michael)

----------------------------------------

'Ya gotta admit, some of them girls be looking damn hot right about now,' went the troublemaker.

'You're impressive in a weird way, Rob. The rest of us are having trouble even walking straight and you have spare blood for your dick to think with?'

Mental note, weirdo is Rob.

'How many chances do you get to see something like this, eh?'

'I just wanna lie on the floor.'

'Pfsh, weakling.'

----------------------------------------

'For this next training exercise we will be joining with the other classes, and the other instructors will take one of the main types each. I will be conducting training for throwing weapons and the bow. Instructor Glenn will cover techniques for axes, warhammers and morgensterns. Instructor Elaina will cover techniques for the spear. And lastly, Instructor Sophia will cover techniques for swords and daggers.' (Gwyn)

'Haah? That midget is a woman?' (Rob)

'Can it, or I'll put you in the ground myself.' (Gwyn)

'Yessir...' went Rob, before sticking his tongue out when Gwyn turned his head.

Using daggers seems suicidal. Maybe keeping some of them to throw as a distraction or surprise attack might be a thing, but it takes a certain kind of suicidality to charge a spear with something so short. And after the tent peg episode last night I don't think the brute force weapons are a good idea, either. So it's between the spear and sword I guess? Most people seem to be heading for Elaina though...

'Not going, Rachel?' (Joshua)

'Still having trouble deciding.'

'Ah well, you can always switch if having trouble, right? I think I'll go for the sword, myself.' (Joshua)

'Any reason why?'

'You don't need as much reach to deal with goblins, it gives me more ways to kill them with, and using a spear is probably suicidal against enemies with steel axes. Anyway, see you later.' (Joshua)

Really one-track mind, that guy.

I guess I should head for the boringly mainstream choice, though that does mean all of us are heading to different classes. Maybe we can compare notes later.