"Aaagh!" I yelled as I swung my daggers, slashing the orc across its forearm.
One lone orc had wandered into the room where the friendly goblins and I were resting. The fight had barely started, yet I could still hold my ground—though only just, given I was still recovering. Meanwhile, the old goblin and the two kids scrambled to the far side of the room.
"Stop, we can—!" Tinalara, the only one capable of fighting in their group, shouted. But instead of charging in, she froze in front of them, not even in her usual strange fighting stance.
"Tinalara! They're no longer the people you once knew!" Clighton barked, his voice harsh with authority. "Go and help Alen, right now!"
"But…"
The orc and I exchanged slow, heavy blows. I stayed mostly on the defensive, conserving energy and trying not to tire myself out.
"I…"
I had no spells left in reserve—magic was out of the question. My chances of winning were drastically reduced.
The orc's club swung down toward me, faster than I could react.
But before it landed, a loud clang rang out—Tinalara had parried it with her machete. The force of her leap carried her past us, but the opening gave me just enough time to disengage and leap back, creating distance.
"Thanks!" I shouted toward her.
Now that I had space, I could watch her land.
She immediately dropped into that strange posture again—upper body lowered, one hand brushing the ground. But as she moved, it looked almost like she was gliding. Her feet and free hand barely touched the floor.
"I'm only doing this because boss told me to!" she snapped, gliding around the room with sharp, fluid movements.
So that's how it's going to be, huh?
The fight dragged on. I studied her strange style, but she never dealt a serious blow to the orc. The killing strike, in the end, still fell to me.
I couldn't really blame her. If the people I knew turned into mindless, corrupted monsters, I'd probably hesitate too.
Tinalara stood stiffly beside the corpse, her head lowered, hand clenched tight on her weapon.
I glanced toward Clighton and the two kids. Their faces carried the same conflicted expression.
After a long minute of silence, Clighton finally said, "We should get moving."
Tinalara looked at him with teary eyes, then silently obeyed her captain.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"We can't stay hidden here. We need to find food and water," he answered, leaning on the two kids for support.
Tinalara and I took point, leading the way.
"What was that back there?" I asked while scanning for traps.
"What do you mean?" she shot back, her voice sharp.
"That… gliding thing you did."
"Interested in Krath's Glide, Alen?" Clighton's voice carried a hint of pride.
"Krath's Glide? That's what it's called?"
"Mhm," he nodded.
"Say, Alen… how much do you actually know about goblins?"
Aside from what the game and monster-hunting classes had taught me? Practically nothing about non-corrupted goblins.
"The best most goblins can reach in magic is Tier Two," Clighton explained.
Tier Two…? That's below the average human adult, who usually reaches Tier Three. Still, the basic structure of magic sounded the same between our worlds.
"That's why I told you this little guy's a prodigy," he continued with a proud smile, patting the boy's head. "He's expected to be the eighth goblin in recorded history to reach Tier Three."
"That's why I think he's the best to explain how it works"
"D-do you know about elemental defense… sir?" Sheiran asked timidly.
"One of the three principles of magic?"
"Yes! Manifestation, Elemental Defense, and Inner Realm! Krath's glide focuses on using Elemental Defense"
Eh…? Elemental Defense? That was a worthless skill back at the Academy.
"Manifestation," Sheiran explained, "is calling forth an element using incantations and visualization—the rules set by the ones who created all the spells taught."
"Inner Realm is about breakthroughs and internal mana manipulation. Strengthening your inner realm lets you control more of what's inside you."
"And Elemental Defense is moving manifested mana freely without relying on rules. It's usually for reinforcing defenses… but it can be used in other ways, too." His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Krath's Glide is an application of Elemental Defense!"
"Wait, what Tier are you?" I asked Tinalara, who could use Elemental Defense so good, a skill only taught in the second year at Aurum Academy.
"Hmph! I don't need to tell you," she huffed, crossing her arms.
"She's Tier One, just a rookie," Clighton said with a chuckle.
"Boss!" she yelped, cheeks burning, while he laughed it off.
"And you can already use Elemental Defense that well?" I muttered. I hadn't even managed to use it properly in that special class with Crowbell and Goldenlaw.
"You can focus on whichever of the three you like," Sheiran explained. "I've read that humans usually prioritize Manifestation first, then move to Elemental Defense."
Not just prioritize—we have to master it by the end of our first year.
Wait… maybe that's because we're focused on always casting spells and relying on damaging through named attacks.
"And you goblins focus on Elemental Defense?"
"That's right!" Sheiran said proudly.
"Krath's Glide requires learning the Wolf's Stance to really make use of it," Clighton added.
"Wolf's Stance? You mean that crouched posture, with her hand brushing the ground?"
"Exactly. Gliding on two feet alone is unstable. Using a hand for balance lets us take full advantage of our greatest strength—our agility. You could probably learn it too, considering your height."
"Kuh!" I choked when he called me short.
Still… learning Elemental Defense properly, strengthening myself—that was exactly what I needed right now.
"How can I do it?!" I turned to Clighton, eager.
"Why don't you teach him, Sheiran?" the commander suggested.
"B-but, Mister…"
"Don't worry, kid. We owe him for helping us."
My gaze locked onto the small goblin. "Please teach me, Master!" I bowed deeply, halting our march.
"M-Master?! W-well… if you ask me like that… I guess I can't refuse a student!" Sheiran puffed up with pride, laughing triumphantly.
"He can teach you Krath's Glide," Clighton confirmed.
"Thank you very much, Master!" I said, bowing again.
Even if I felt bad for him—since he'd have to deal with my abysmal magic talent—I couldn't waste this chance.
"There aren't any enemies in the next room. Can I train there?" I asked, scouting ahead.
"I could use a rest," Clighton admitted. "What about you, Gola?"
"I-I don't mind, Mister Clighton. I'm strong! I can carry you longer if I have to," the orc girl insisted. But she was sweaty, panting, and trembling from effort.
"What a strong young lass," Clighton chuckled warmly. "You'll grow into a fine orc warrior one day."
Once we entered the next room, I did a quick inspection to make sure no traps were present.
After confirming it was safe, I straightened up.
"I'm ready to learn, Master!" I declared, bowing to the small goblin kid who probably had more magical talent than me. But honestly… who didn't?
"Okay!" Sheiran answered enthusiastically.
"Elemental Defense is all about stances, right?"
As soon as he said that, I shifted into my element's defensive stance.
The stance began by slightly bending the knees and placing one foot in front of the other. The torso turned sideways, the forward shoulder lined up with the forward foot, narrowing my profile.
The arms were the key: the rear arm lifted to waist level, the hand relaxed—since the stance allowed for different weapon types, or none at all. The front arm lowered at the elbow while lifting the hand, again with no strict rule on hand shape.
Once the posture was locked in, controlling mana should, in theory, come more easily.
"Good form," Clighton commented. He sat on a rock with Gola and Tinalara beside him, watching.
"My teachers were strict about posture when fighting" I replied.
Not Crowbell or the academy professors. I meant the people who first trained me—[Crescent Moon]. Even now, I got goosebumps remembering Karla's brutal trainings.
"But this is the part I struggle with. I can't control my mana."
The last time I tried, my mana had fizzled out before I could form even the simplest barrier.
"Try it, and Sheiran will tell you where you're going wrong," Clighton suggested, nodding toward the eager boy.
"Alright."
I inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly as I visualized what I wanted to achieve.
Mana flowed outward from my body. I tried to manifest wind, coaxing it into a circular current around me. For a moment, faint breezes began to form—then the mana wavered, unstable, and within seconds it dissipated completely.
"Haa…" I sighed, shoulders slumping at my failure. Still holding the stance, I looked to Sheiran. "Where do I need to improve, Master?"
The boy's face shifted from excitement to troubled hesitation.
"And you killed the three of royal guards?" Tinalara snapped, her voice dripping with anger.
"That was pitiful!" Clighton bellowed with laughter.
Gola only giggled softly, covering her mouth so as not to look mean.
"You… where do I even start?" Sheiran muttered.
I'm sorry, Master! I'm sorry I'm such a talentless fool!
"I'd say your biggest problem is trying to go full power when you're still at the basics," Sheiran finally said.
"Huh?"
"Mister Alen, you tried to create a perfect twister spin when you can't even control mana once it leaves your body," he explained.
"You want to fly before you've learned how to crawl. No—" Clighton cut in with a booming laugh, "you haven't even left the womb, and you're already talking about living on your own and raising a family!"
I groaned. What kind of metaphor was that?
"So… what should I do, then?"
"Start small," Sheiran instructed. "Don't try to form big wind currents. Just create a small, steady swirl in front of you. Keep it simple and manageable."
"Yes, Master!"