{The Training Field}
Kael drags me through the Kingdom. I can't resist, so I just let him drag me, ignoring the staring of people inside the Kingdom. My clothes are slowly getting dirty from being dragged. Kael stops in front of a strange, large building filled with adventurers and enters. As soon as they see him dragging me, they look scared and let him through a door at the back of the building. Now we're at a training field filled with dummies and weapons.
He finally stops his action and throws me into the middle of the field.
What is he planning?
I thought, looking at him.
"I hope you will like what will come next."
He said, smirking evilly.
His expression slowly changes as he approaches the weapon stands. My eyes follow him. He's serious now, but somehow, he looks even more evil to me.
"Shall we start the training?"
He's taking a wooden sword from the stand.
"What?"
I mumbled, confused and surprised.
Combat training?
"His Majesty said that I need to rush this training, so pick any weapons in this field and fight me."
He said, taking a fighting stance.
I am still surprised, but quickly get up and head to the stand.
This is a reality, not a game... I need weapons away from danger...
I look over the weapons: daggers, spears, shields, bows and arrows, and swords. They're all made of wood. I'm surprised they can make wooden weapons look this realistic.
They are the most common weapons... Hmm...
I grab three weapons I think suit me best and smirk.
He doesn't mention how many weapons he used, so...
I return to the middle of the field with a small shield on my back, an old wooden sword at my hip, and a spear in my hand.
"I'm ready!"
Kael is surprised at this combination, but chuckles.
"You are really an interesting kid."
He said.
"Run, dodge, attack, whatever you want; this training is about survival..."
He suddenly charges toward me without warning. He's so fast that all I can see is a gust of wind and his afterimage.
Woah! He is so fast!
I thought, trying to raise my spear to guard.
As soon as I raise my spear, he is already in front of me. He swings his sword and hits my spear on purpose. My hands are shaking when he hits the spear hard.
"Take this!"
He said, adding more strength.
What an overwhelming strength!
I thought, struggling to stand firm.
After a few seconds, I can't hold on any longer and am flung backward.
Damn it!
I thought, landing on my back.
After that hit, he appears in front of me, with that evil grin again.
"You blocked that, huh? Lucky kid..."
I struggle to get up. My hands are slightly stunned from the hit.
"Are you trying to kill me or something?!"
I asked angrily.
"What? You want more hits?"
He replied, mixing playful and threatening tones.
"Take this!"
He said, charging toward me again.
Surprised by his sudden attack, I jump away from my spot and narrowly dodge his charging attack. I take the shield from my back and hold it in front of me when I see him about to attack again.
This won't work! I will have to run after this!
I thought, looking at the door.
"Getting distracted? Not good. Not good."
Kael said, getting my attention back before rushing toward me with a stronger attack.
He lands a brutal swing, destroying the shield in one hit. But his eyes widen when he realizes I've already slipped past him while he was breaking it.
He turns his head, seeing me running at my max speed to the door.
"Who let you run, kid?"
He throws his sword, aiming toward me. The sword strikes through the air and nearly strikes my head, but luckily for me, he misses the throw.
What monster is this?
I thought, reaching for the door.
"You won't escape from me, little hero."
He said, taking a big leap and heading toward me.
I spot another shield resting beside the door, grab it, and slip outside before Kael can catch me.
When I get inside the building, every adventurer stares at me, confused. Embarrassed by their stares, I rush outside through the main doors. The door leading to the training field suddenly bursts open as Kael kicks it off its hinges. He is standing inside the room with another wooden sword he grabbed.
"Where are you, kid?"
He said, searching for me around the room.
Everyone inside the building is confused, but does not interfere with the training because that is Kael's order.
"I see you..."
He said, eyes locking on me at the main door.
A cold shiver comes over me as I can feel that murderous stare. I quickly open the door and slip outside the building. As soon as I get outside, without hesitation, I rush toward the kingdom gate.
The door of the building flies away and lands in the middle of the road as Kael comes out.
I look back, seeing that with terror. I run as fast as I can. I throw my sword and spear at him to slow him down, keeping my shield to protect myself as he chases me.
Kael, seeing that, smirk and rush behind me and swing the sword.
"Come back, I'm still having fun!"
He said evilly.
"AHH! HELP! I'M STILL A PATIENT!!!"
I screamed, running even faster.
WHY IS THIS WORSE THAN NORMAL SURVIVAL TRAINING?!
Everything in our path turns into a mess, with shop goods scattered across the ground. Instead of being mad, people in the kingdom just move aside and watch me being chased by Kael. It seems like this has happened before, and many times, everyone doesn't even mind it anymore.
Kael suddenly makes a quick charge and hits me.
"I got you, kid!"
He said, with the same brutal swing.
"In your dream, you crazy monster!"
I said, turning around to face him with the shield.
Luckily, my reflexes kick in just in time, and I block his swing with my wooden shield. I use the force of the impact to propel myself backward, putting some distance between us, but the shield breaks into pieces.
The system suddenly appears with comments.
«Wow! Your confidence is completely gone; I'm surprised.»
"Shut up, and help me."
I said angrily.
«Sorry, bye.»
"Wait! What!"
The system disappears in front of my eyes, leaving me alone.
That's a stupid system!
***
{Kingdom Gate}
Alice and the elves finally arrive inside the Kingdom to find me. But as soon as they see me, they are stunned and speechless at what happened inside the kingdom. Those elves are surprised at what happened, while Alice is not surprised much, just shaking her head with a sigh.
What am I witnessing...?
They all stare at the scene in disbelief.
In the scene, I am running and screaming in terror around inside the Kingdom, with Kael chasing me with joy. I have some thick bruises and a lump on my head. My broken shield is nowhere to be found and the whole market square and everything inside are gone into the mess by us.
"SOMEBODY SAVE MEE!!!"
I screamed for help when Kael missed the hit.
"COME HERE AND TAKE MY HIT!"
Kael said, laughing evilly.
***
During the run, I gain so many stats that system screens keep appearing and blocking my view.
I'm swiping the system out of my sight, making the systems disappear. But I suddenly can't feel my body. I can still see my hand moving, but it feels like I'm no longer in control of it.
What the—?!
I thought.
My steps grow slower and heavier. My legs barely respond, and my vision begins to blur. Kael notices that I'm slowing down. He stops chasing me and watches carefully.
"My Body... It's reaching its limit—"
I try to finish my sentence, but I have no energy anymore.
"Damn... it..."
I said, struggling.
My body finally gives out, and I collapse from exhaustion.
"He is really weak... He only runs for 3 hours before fainting..."
He said, turning to those people watching for a while.
Alice and Serelith are sitting at an outdoor table at a nearby restaurant, drinking cold Emberfruit juice. And the two elves that are supposed to be guarding the princess elf are nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, Knight girl, your hero friend has fainted. What should we do?"
He said, scratching his head.
Alice stops taking a sip from the cup of juice and puts the cup on the table. She sighs and glances toward the castle. Kael is confused and follows her glance. He turns pale with fear as he sees the King with a mage standing there for a while. The mage looks away from the scene while the King pinches his nose.
"Kael... I should have known you better..."
The King said, sighing.
"I-I am sorry... Your Majesty."
He apologized, kneeling with a sad expression, looking like a dog being scolded by its owner.
"Please forgive my rudeness and carelessness..."
The king looks in disbelief at this whole mess.
"You dare wake early, go to his place, and sneakily train him without my notice?!"
He said angrily at his actions.
"You know that he is just a boy and doesn't have any blessing!"
The King calms down after scolding him and turns to the mage.
"You may go heal him now."
The mage nods and walks toward me.
Serelith looks at me lying on the ground with worried, thinking of coming and checking on me, but Alice stops her.
"Trust our mage, princess."
Alice said, smiling at her.
Serelith sees that smile and sighs in relief.
"Okay..."
The mage comes to me and kneels down, checking my condition. My body is soaked in sweat. My muscles are now in pain from doing exercise off-limits. My condition looks really bad, but not as bad as those from the monster raid.
He has some injuries, but I think I can heal him enough to wake up within an hour."
The mage said loudly for the King and everyone to know.
"I see... Use your strongest healing skill to wake him up within minutes."
He said firmly.
"I understand."
The mage answered immediately.
That mage turns to me and uses their strong magic. The mage closes their eyes, muttering something.
A large green magic circle appears beneath me, followed by a bright beam of light that engulfs my entire body. The beam twists and flickers, making it look as though I'm being burned alive inside it.
Kael shudders at the sight.
"Eugh! Of all the healing skills, who would've guessed this mage uses that damn skill?"
He said, taking another step back as the beam grows brighter.
"Well, at least it heals him..."
the King commented
"Ugh... That still looks painful. He looks like he's being burned alive in there."
Kael said, shuddering again.
"That's your fault, Kael."
The King glances at him sharply while Kael lowers his head, looking utterly defeated.
***
After being unconscious for several minutes, I slowly open my eyes. A clear blue sky greets me. Suddenly, I realize something and sit up in a panic.
"Am I dead?"
I said, looking around.
"No, young child..."
A voice comes from behind me with a slow footstep, making me tense up. I turn around and widen my eyes.
"Y-your Majesty?!"
I gasped.
"W-why are you here?"
He stands directly in front of me, with other people at an outside table with food and drink. Kael is kneeling down as punishment next to everyone's table. I look past the King in surprise.
"I am here to apologize for what happened earlier... young child."
He said with a chuckle, catching my attention.
"Well, that was not an actual training..."
He said, helping me get up properly.
"We will start the training after we're done giving you a blessing from the church, so let's go, shall we?"
He said, smiling kindly.
"A-alright...?"
I replied, confused.
—— PROFILE ——
Name: Zin Fortis (The Ghost of the Future)
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Race: Human
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Authority: Unknown
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Stats:
STR: 4
AGI: 5
END: 3
STA: 5
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Skills:
Observation
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