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Chapter 7: Taste of Combat

Kiril asks I help with lunch again, even if we’re not making more pizza, but I decline. I’m too spent from picking herbs that early. Kiril admits that’s fair enough and promises me a good meal. I look at the time and figure I have long enough for a bath, so I go have one before coming back to wait for lunch.

Multiple cuts from several animals are available as the main for lunch and I notice others eating what I cut. I feel a little pride at that. My own meal is one of the good cuts of venison and roasted vegetables, along with more bread. I try not to sink too much into my meal this time.

A few minutes after I sit down and start eating, I notice movement coming towards the table and see Cynna approaching with her own meal. I surprise myself, being able to identify her. She sits down with a nod and smile and starts eating silently. I appreciate the silence and return to my own meal.

Cynna somehow finishes before me and waits until I do. “Today and tomorrow you’re mine. I’m gonna make you into a fighter. Can’t have you dying out there.” Her ears twist to something like a smile, but it feels more like a smirk, as she crosses her arms and gives me a look.

“Would it help to mention I know how to fight with a quarterstaff?” I offer, slightly taken aback by her phrasing.

I surprise myself again, noticing how her eyes barely widen as her brow rises. “Color me surprised. I’ll have to test that. If you’re any good, might just go ahead and start with some practical spear training.” She gets up and takes her dishes. “Give yourself some time to digest and then come to the arena. I’ll have stuff ready for your test.”

With combat now on the horizon, a thought occurs to me and I whisper under my breath. “Hey, Rep? I got a question.”

“Your assumption that we can hear anything you say is correct, if that was the assumption. How may we help you?”

“Gamer System… does that mean a Gamer’s… unique interaction with physical injuries?” I pose the biggest question I have so far, since waking up.

“Do you mean if you have HP instead of an actual physical condition? Yes, you do. We’re unsure how detailed the simulation the System provides is, but rest assured that you are harder to kill, especially accidentally.”

“Your phrasing leaves a lot to be desired, but I’ll take it. Thanks.” I whisper and smile. Rep is doing their best to make me comfortable.

“As usual, no problem. Anything else regarding combat, while we’re here?”

“Not right now, no. Thanks.” I answer with intended dismissal. Rep picks up on it and their presence recedes and disappears.

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About an hour after I’m done eating I arrive at the arena, in the middle of which Cynna is standing. In the stands all around soldiers are sitting, seeming ready to watch a spectacle. Cynna waves me over and I approach. I steel myself to inform her of what I learned.

Up close I can see Cynna holding a pair of quarterstaves, both closer to a size I could use comfortably than she could. She tosses me one, which I grab, and enters a battle stance. “Well, Sebastian. Let’s go. I want to see what you can do.”

I hesitate for a moment and raise my hand gesturing to have a moment. Cynna’s face shifts in surprise but she nods and approaches. I try and talk as quietly as I can. “There’s something I’d like to test first, and I think you’re the best fit for it.” I take a deep breath and continue. “You’re aware that Travelers have… powers, right? Well, one of mine essentially prevents me from incurring actual physical injury.”

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Cynna tilts her entire head to the side, her ears quirking in what must be confusion. “Yes… that does sound like something that needs testing… Follow me.” Cynna walks out of the arena, and signals for one of her soldiers. “Go get Bozhidar, we might need some healing done.” The soldier nods and dashes off.

A short time later they return with Bozhidar in tow. Cynna explains the situation and Bozhidar nods and agrees to provide magical healing as needed.

Cynna enters a small structure next to the arena and returns holding a short sword. She comes up to me and explains. “I’m going to try and cut you somewhere you won’t be too bothered with until it heals. If you don’t even incur the cut… Well, you’re set to be one of the most dangerous things in our world. Roll up your sleeve and raise your forearm, please.”

I nod and do as instructed. “I should still feel pain, mind you.”

“I’ll take that into consideration.” Cynna gives me barely a moment to brace myself before she attempts to cut me across the forearm. I flinch instinctively and feel surprised when it not only hurts as bad as I expected, but there is a complete lack of blood drawn. Cynna appears considerably more surprised. “Do you mind if I test something else?”

I notice a notification has popped up, but I start nodding anyway. As soon as I do I already feel the sword hitting my arm, a bit under my shoulder. If I was anyone else, that would have cut my shirt and bled me, but it does neither. The sword stops at my sleeve and slides off without leaving a mark. Cynna’s eyes widen completely and her mouth hangs slightly open.

“That… that should be impossible.” She stammers out, sword held uselessly at her side.

I check myself for any non-obvious injury and nod when I find nothing. “Surprised me too… Give a moment, please.” I ask and look at what has become two notifications.

NOTIFICATION

Health damage taken. Condition remains Good.

Health damage taken. Condition changed to Mildly Injured.

I raise my eyebrow at that. I don’t have precise tracking of damage and that worries me a bit. I’ll have to look into that soon. I turn to Cynna. “Well, I can say with certainty your attacks did something, because I was informed I had taken damage.”

I barely catch the small smile implied by her facial movements. “Small comforts, that.” She turns to Bozhidar. “Heal him so I can test his skills?” Bozhidar nods and starts chanting quietly. After around fifteen seconds, a gentle green glow envelops me, prompting a similar notification.

NOTIFICATION

Health restored. Condition changed to Good.

I marvel at my first taste of magic and can’t quite contain myself. “Thank you. Could… could I learn that?”

Bozhidar laughs and nods with a smile. “I have no doubt you can learn it. We will find out if you can reliably cast it.” Bozhidar then nods towards Cynna. “But focus on your current training, OK?”

I nod to Bozhidar and turn back to Cynna. “Bozhidar’s right. Let’s get back to that test.” I gesture to the arena, still having the quarterstaff held.

Cynna nods and smiles. “Yes, he is. Let’s go.” She hands the sword to one of her soldiers and picks up a quarterstaff. We enter the arena gain, face each other a few steps apart, and adopt combat stances. She signals with her hand for me to start and I do so.

Within moments we’re already exchanging parries. I manage to keep pace for a short while, but then she switches gears and I start taking hits I can’t parry. I put some distance between us and clear my mind, trying to go harder too. I feel something click into place and my movements become smoother and more certain. I barely notice a notification left behind where I stood.

We begin trading blows in between parries, both of us starting to wear out a bit. After a few more exchanges she manages to trip me up and land me on my back. With a quarterstaff aimed at my throat, she smirks and then offers me a hand. She’s stronger than she appears, picking me up with ease. “That was a good show. You seem to have forgotten you can’t be injured and focused on proper defense. You still have what to learn and I’m going to make you a proper warrior.”

I brush off a bit and notice the notifications have moved back in front of me. There are notifications about damage and my condition reaching Moderately Injured, as well as a notification about… Aligning quarterstaff expertise? Might be time to invest, and I need to see about these more common notifications like damage.