“Wake up kid,” A man called me. I got scared, momentarily, as I forgot where I was. ‘Right, I’m still with Black Eye’s party.’

“Take this, eat it quickly. We are going to be moving soon.” The man, Neymar, gave me a few dates and nuts. Eating them quickly, I got up, but then remembered something important, ‘The message!’ I hurriedly ran to Black Eye, who was sitting with Neymar talking about something.

“C-captain,” I said hesitantly, still not acclimated to my new situation.

“What?”

“About the message, can we delay our departure for a few minutes so that I can write my family one?”

“No need, Naya has already left to reassure your family. Also, go to Ramses, the guy in the middle of our camp, he has prepared some stuff for you.”

“But…” I wanted to object.

“No buts, that’s an order. Now, MOVE on!”

I wanted to retort but got a bit intimidated by Black Eye’s commanding voice. ‘At least he isn’t using his ability on me,’ I thought.

Ramses was a weirdly dressed guy. He wore tight black leather pants and a brown leather jacket that was a bit short for his size. The jacket’s sleeves were ripped at the biceps, reducing his arm protection but showing his tanned muscles. Ramses was leaning over big backpacks inspecting them.

“Uncle Ramses, I was told you had my stuff.”

“Hey, kid. Ramses is fine. Yes, I do have your stuff. Come closer, let me show you what you got.”

I stepped closer to Ramses as he showed me what my bag held. “This is your bag, kid. It has a waterskin, a sleeping bag, a stick brush, and a few rations of long-lasting food. Also, I managed to get you some sets of clothes from Edger. They should fit as you are the same size as him. Finally, you also get a weapon. What do you prefer?” Ramses asked. ‘He’s offering me weapons? Probably, Black Eye has already told the party of me joining them.’

“I want a spear, a sword, and a shield,” I said, knowing how to use most of them through my training with Uncle.

“You are not a soldier kid. We adventurers complement each other, some defend while others attack. I think we have what you want, but you should figure out your role in the group.”

“Sure, I’ll try to fit in,” I said, but my ultimate goal was to survive, and I didn’t want to trust my life in others' hands, especially those who kidnapped me.

While Ramses went to get my weapons, I checked on my new bag. It had all that he said. I immediately took out clothes to wear. The clothes were clean but a bit untidy. Undressing, I took a look at my back, it seemed to have gotten better, and the pain had become a constant ache. ‘I think it would be as good as new in a week.’

Before I wore the new clothes, I decided to clean myself a bit as I smelled. Seeing that there was no spring around, I looked for a handful of dry dirt that seemed clean, finding one, I rubbed it over the whole of my body, especially under my armpits, and private parts. I didn't put dirt on my back as that would hurt. After finishing the dirt shower, I took out my waterskin and cleaned my hair with some water as using dirt on my hair would make it too dry.

“It’s not the best shower, but at least I got rid of the bad smell.”

As I was about to wear my new clothes, I noticed Ramses approaching me.

“Hey, kid hurry up, we are finished packing, and are about to move. Also, I found you a spare shield from Neymar and a spear from the twins, but I couldn’t find you a sword, so I’ll give you my short sword, is that good?”

“Yes, Ramses.”

“No problem kid, and the spear is still with twins, they’ll give it to you if you come to them in person. They told me they wanted to chat with the new guy.” I just nodded and went back to wearing my clothes.

Checking my new weapons, the Shield was a small round one, and the sword was smaller than the one I was used to. Swinging it around I found it was well balanced.

'It should be good enough.'

……….

We set off immediately after Naya came back, I wanted to ask her about my family but she was talking with Black Eye, ‘I can ask her after she is done talking to him,’ I thought wanting to get as far away from Black Eye as possible.

Our marching formation was simple, Hugo with his large shield at the front flanked by Edger, behind them walked Black Eye with Naya, and at the rear were the twins. I couldn’t see Neymar, ‘he might be up ahead scouting the route,’ I thought.

No one had told me where my position in the group was, so I went to the twins, wanting to take my spear. The twins were, weirdly enough, not similar-looking. They were the youngest of the group, with Black Eye probably the eldest. ‘They seem to be in their early twenties,’ I guessed.

“Hey, I'm Haitham, the new guy, I was told you have a spear to spare,” I asked, in a friendly manner.

“Hey, my name is Art and this is my twin brother Fin. Fin doesn’t speak much, so don’t worry about him,” Art cheerfully introduced himself and his twin brother.

“Hi, Art, Fin. Is the spear still available?”

“Yes, we have a few in the pack, but, first I want to chat with the newest member of the group, is that okay?"

"I'd be happy to have a chat," I said.

"Captain said you have an ability, are you from a noble family? Is that how you got your ability?”

Stolen story; please report.

“What?! No, I’m from a farming family, but I got my ability by… luck, yes, luck. What about you guys, do you have innate abilities too?” I asked trying to divert the subject.

“Yes, we do. Most of the group have one but with different rankings.”

“That's rare,” I said, surprised, didn’t Uncle say that innate abilities were few?

"Yeah, our group is special."

“What ability do you have?” I asked, hoping to get an answer, but expecting none.

“It’s usually rude to ask about others’ abilities, but since you are joining the group, you’ll see my ability eventually, so, I’ll tell you what my ability is. My ability is “Mind’s Will” It’s a rank one ability that allows me to exert influence on stuff, like this.,” Art said, as a small rock flew to his outstretched hand. Holding the rock, he smiled at me.

“Wow, that’s awesome, can you make me fly?” I asked, curious.

“Haha, I wish I could. Beings with a will are harder to influence, the weaker the will the easier it’s for me to move. Also, I can’t move heavy objects.”

“Still, it’s an amazing ability.”

“Thanks, but I think your ability is way more awesome, you can have many abilities in one. By the way, how was it living on a farm?” Art asked. 'It seems Black Eye has shared my ability with the group.' I frowned at the news of the disclosure of my ability without my consent, but still answered, “It was good, farm money isn’t good but we got by, and I was living a happy life. What about you guys, were you living well before joining the party?”

“Yes, me and Fin are the youngest sons of a wealthy merchant,” Ast replied, not noticing my frown at the mention of my ability, or acting as if he had not seen it.

“Really! Then, why did you choose a life of adventure? You could have lived happily with your family,” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Well, it’s complicated,” Art said, uncomfortable, “But believe I’m going to come back home one day, one day,” Art said with a sad expression on his face.

“Hey Art, can you tell me what abilities the others in our group have?” I asked after seeing that the guy was chatty.

“As I said you will see the party's abilities eventually, so, yes I can tell, but only the general workings of their abilities. If you want to know how the party's members abilities work precicley you'll have to ask them youself. Also, don't share this information, or you'll be in trouble.”

“Of course. My lips are sealed.”

“I’ll only be telling you what their abilities do at rank one. I won’t be telling you what they can do at rank two, Captain’s orders.”

“No problem,” I replied, happy to get new information about the group’s abilities.

“Let's get started. Brother has a utility ability called “Wize man” It’s also a rank one ability. His ability allows him to remember everything he sees. Hugo’s ability is called “Phantom Muscles” It’s a rank two ability that gives him insane strength but drains mana quickly. Neymar’s ability is a transformation ability named “Night Predator” It turns his body into a werewolf, it's also a rank two ability. Naya’s ability is a ranged one called “Seeking Arrow” It’s a rank two ability that can make arrows change directions midair, and her ability is at its max already, so it can’t be upgraded any further."

I was amazed at the different Abilities. “What about Captain’s ability what does it do?”

“He told me not to tell you,” Art said. I didn’t mind much as it was expected.

“Also, Edger and Ramses, don’t they have any ability?” I asked as they were the only members left.

“No, they don’t, but Edger is the most skilled of us with melee weapons, and Ramses is responsible for logistics and cooking,” Art replied.

“Thanks for the information, Art,” I thanked Art as the information he provided was important.

“No problem Haitham. Before I forget, here’s your spear.” Art handed me a spear from half a dozen in a quiver on his back.

I chatted with Art for two more hours. He was friendly and helpful, he even made me momentarily forget about my circumstances. Also, Art informed me we were heading south to do an extermination mission for a noble called Count Louis. Apparently, a dungeon had overflowed and was spewing Gnolls. The noble was offering ten silver coins for every Gnoll killed. ‘That’s a lot of money, these nobles must be filthy rich, while the normal people barely scrape by,’ I thought, mad at the insane level of unfairness.

After talking to Art, I wanted to ask Naya what my family had said about my sudden leave when Neymar returned from his scouting. I was close to him and Black Eye when Neymar reported, “Captain, I have spotted a Seezeek, it was bigger than a usual one, it might be mana touched. “

“Did it spot you?” Black Eye asked.

“No, I concealed my scent with Dwarf powder.”

Black Eye seemed to be deep in thought, he turned and looked at me making eye contact. I broke eye contact scared of his endless dark eyes.

“Prepare, we will be fighting a Seezeek. Ramses, stay here and protect our bags, the rest with me.”

The group dropped their packs and started marching more tightly. Hugo was still at the front but this time he held his shield in front of him, he was flanked by Neymar on his left, and by Edger on his right. Neymar transformed his arms, his nails grew to the size of daggers, and his arms became long with thick black fur covering every inch of them like a shield. Captain was behind them at the center of our formation while Naya, and the twins were occupying the back with me.

As we got closer, A sickly smell of iron invaded my nostrils, ‘Blood!’ I thought.

ROAR

“The beast has noticed!” Neymar said.

“Be ready to take action,” Black Eye commanded.

The trees parted before us and I managed to see the beast. It was standing on two muscular legs, its height was double mine, and its flat face was atop a long neck, with its small hands it looked like an oversized hammer wearing dark green scales.

The monster immediately charged us. I could see an arrow flying over our group and racing to the monster but before it hit the monster the arrow changed direction and hit its eye. The monster didn’t stop its charge even after the arrow penetrated its eye.

Hugo was holding his ground, not backing in the face of such a monstrosity. ‘He’s dead,’ I thought when transparent cables raced across Hugo’s skin forming defined muscles atop his armor, the muscles stretched all over his body giving Hugo a look like he was a skinned animal, the only difference being that Hugo’s muscles were transparent, not blood red, as they were… phantom muscles.

BOOM

The Seezeek hit Hugo’s shield with its head. The sound was deafening. Dust obscured my vision of what happened, but I managed to see a spear flung into the dust cloud. It must be Art using his Telekinesis to move the spear. The dust settled and I couldn’t believe what I saw. The beast named Hugo was still standing his ground. The Seezeek seemed to be stunned by the impact. A spear was jutting from its stomach. Black Eye, Edger, and Neymar charged the beast immediately as another arrow changed course and hit the beast in the other eye.

“Target the legs!” Black Eye shouted, but that proved to be a mistake. The beast was blinded but upon hearing Black Eye’s shout turned its head in his direction using its hearing and with the speed of sound took a bite.

“Wha-at?” I said, unbelieving what I saw.

Black Eye at the last second, barely escaped the bite, he’s hair was flung back from the wind generated by the force of the bite inches away from him, but Black Eye didn’t halt his action in the near-death situation, in one fluid motion he cut deep into the beast's leg using his long black sword. The Beast suddenly losing support on one side fell to the ground. Edger managed to cut the other leg stopping the beast from ever standing again. Seeing the beast had fallen, but fearing its strong jaws Hugo pressed his shield on the beast's face, pinning it down, but the beast still tried to flail under Hugo’s weight until Neymar put it out of its misery. He slashed at its neck with his clawed hands, the flesh easily parting under his sharp claws.

“Amazing,” was all I managed to say.

“Good job guys. This beast might have a Mana core as it was strong, so make sure to check out,” Black Eye said as he came to me. I thought I might get beaten again by Hugo for not participating in the fight but was surprised at what Black Eye said, “Kid you know why I ordered the Fight?”

“N-no.”

“I ordered it because I want you to absorb your first ability, the beast's ability…”