“Which is better, blessing or gift?” Aria felt her heart race. The idea of being equipped with such abilities in battle was both thrilling and exciting.


    “That depends on the situation. Often, a blessing is superior when fighting humanoid creatures. Gifts are relatively predictable, while the drawbacks of a blessing are harder to detect.”


    She thought back to the fight when Vrael dominated their enemies with his strange abilities. A shiver of respect ran through her, and she nodded in understanding.


    “Now, what you clearly lack is strength. Right now, you wouldn’t be able to do much with broadsword.” Vrael let his gaze drift over the trees, as though weighing the challenges of the journey ahead.


    “We can set aside endurance training for now. During the journey, you’ll naturally develop enough stamina, so that will improve on its own. For now, we’ll focus on your strength and…”


    With a sudden swing, he swept her legs out from under her. Aria found herself crashing to the ground, a brief shock overtaking her.


    “…and your balance.” A mischievous grin spread across his face as he leaned over her.


    “Understood, Master.” She squinted her eyes, trying to hide the indignation on her face. “I’d like to know, how long do you think this journey will take?”


    “If we manage ten kilometers a day, we’ll make good progress. We’ll need at least a month. With training and unexpected events, it’ll probably take two months.” He sounded thoughtful as his gaze rested on the dense trees that closed in around them like sentinels.


    The next three days passed without incident, but that meant little rest for Aria. Her body was scraped from the constant falls, her muscles aching from the relentless training Vrael imposed on her. Every evening, strength training followed the long hikes until her legs trembled under the strain.


    Despite her increasing vigilance, Vrael managed to throw her off balance time and again. Sometimes she caught the twitch of his feet, but it didn’t change the fact that she found herself once more in the dirt.


    “What about creatures around here?” she finally asked, the question casual, though her interest was piqued.


    Vrael gave her a measured look before answering. “I think we’ll encounter some soon. Beasts usually avoid larger towns because they’re hunted. They fetch a good bounty, so they’re often wiped out within the vicinity of bigger settlements.”


    Aria nodded. “And terrors?” she asked, her tone revealing neither fear nor particular expectation.


    “Terrors are more difficult.” Vrael’s voice grew a touch more serious. “They’re more unpredictable. While beasts are dumb and follow set patterns, horrors possess a kind of cunning intelligence. They adapt, understand their environment, and sometimes even their opponents. Strategies that work on beasts are useless against them.”


    Aria raised an eyebrow slightly. “So, a problem that can’t be solved beforehand?”


    “Exactly.” Vrael nodded curtly. “So you’ll need to learn to pay attention to your surroundings and act flexibly.”


    “As always.” Her response was cool, almost indifferent. She adhered to the motto, what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.


    “What beasts are we most likely to encounter?” Aria asked, not taking her eyes off the uneven forest landscape. Her voice was calm, but beneath it was a faint curiosity.


    Vrael shot her a brief sidelong glance. “Since we’re in the forest, we can narrow the beasts down to woodland creatures.” His voice had that instructive tone she was now well accustomed to. “Beasts can generally be split into two categories: weaker beasts that live in larger colonies, and stronger individuals that tend to be loners.”


    “So which beasts are we talking about?” Aria pressed, her tone now more urgent.


    ?Since we''re still on the edge of the forest, it’s likely weaker creatures. We''ll see what comes our way.” Vrael grinned slightly, as if it were hardly worth mentioning. “Come to think of it, we could use them for your training.”


    Before Aria could reply, he drew one of his broadswords from its sheath. The metal gleamed dull in the subdued light of the forest. “This is a simple broadsword. It has neither runes nor any special properties. I kept it as a reminder of earlier times.” He held it out to her, his gaze expectant. “From now on, you''ll carry it with you.”Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Aria hesitated before taking the sword, its weight heavy and unfamiliar in her hands. “And what should I do with it?” she asked, though she knew the answer wouldn''t take long to come.


    “Every time we stop, you’ll swing it,” Vrael explained calmly. “Strike straight down from above, then pull it back and thrust forward. Repeat that until you can''t anymore. Then keep going.”


    Aria snorted quietly, but she gripped the sword more firmly. Her fingers searched for the hilt, finding the right grip as she mentally ran through the first strike. Sure, it would be exhausting, but by now she was used to it. She nodded slightly, saying nothing, and mentally prepared for the upcoming training.


    “Understood, thank you, Master,” Aria said, accepting the sword with a slight bow.


    Vrael raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "We''re not at court anymore, you don''t need to bow."


    Aria barely shrugged. "Understood," she murmured, her voice cold and distant.


    The next two weeks passed in deceptive calm. Her body slowly adapted to the grueling exercises, but the monotony of the movements left space for her thoughts to wander back to earlier times. The forest around them, still and ominous, was a welcome distraction.


    Suddenly, a faint hiss broke the silence. Something shot through the air, aimed directly at Aria''s neck. Before she could process what was happening, Vrael was already beside her. His hand moved with lightning speed. A soft whistle ringing out as he intercepted the projectile. When he opened his hand, a small, feathered arrow lay within it.


    "Alright, Aria," he said calmly, as though he had been expecting this. "It’s time. The attackers are brownies. They''re weak, but don''t underestimate them. Their weapons are poisoned, and they prefer ambushes. Don’t get hit."


    Aria’s gaze immediately followed the trajectory of the shot. Her eyes narrowing as she focused on a point in the trees. There it was. A small brownie, nearly invisible, holding a blowpipe about a meter long. Her heartbeat remained steady, and her fingers tightened around the hilt of the broadsword. No room for fear. No room for hesitation.


    "How many?" she asked quietly, never taking her eyes off the enemy.


    "Three more arrows shot through the air. Aria swiftly dodged to the side, but the unfamiliar weight of the sword hindered her. One of the arrows nearly struck her leg, but she managed to deflect it with the broad side of the sword. Her breath was shallow. "Whew, that was close."


    Without hesitation, she dropped her backpack and glanced over at Vrael. "Master, should I attack?"


    "No," he replied in his usual nonchalant tone. "Better find out how many arrows you can dodge."


    "Understood," she muttered, getting used to the sarcastic undertone in his voice. She ran diagonally towards the opponents, her gaze firmly fixed ahead. The sword in her hand felt heavy. A solid anchor for the upcoming battle.


    "So reckless," Vrael called after her. "You should''ve listened better."


    "What’s he talking about?" she wondered, her focus slipping for a moment. A hissing sound came from behind her. An arrow, this time from behind. Aria sensed the danger at the last second and leapt to the side. She brushed past a thick bush, just as a bony blade shot out from it.


    "Shit," she cursed as the blade came at her.


    "And death," Vrael suddenly said, appearing next to her. With a casual movement, he grabbed the blade as if it were just a twig and shoved it back. A startled scream rang out as Vrael effortlessly lifted the wriggling opponent from the bush. The small body thrashed wildly, but Vrael held it firmly, his expression unchanged.


    "As I said," he remarked dryly, "listening is an art."


    The Brownie that Vrael had effortlessly lifted was gaunt, its bony limbs hanging limp. It had a human-like body covered in green fur. Its head resembled a mix of a monkey with a touch of sloth.


    Pain flickered in its greenish eyes until its life force ultimately faded. Aria glanced at it briefly, almost casually, before shrugging. "They''re even smaller than me," she remarked, surprised.


    Her voice sounded relaxed, perhaps even cheerful at not being the smallest anymore. Hardly had she finished her sentence when the next arrows zipped toward her.


    Aria reacted instinctively, the weight of the broadsword still heavy on her arm, but she raised it, blocked one arrow, and dodged the others to the side. "Thanks, Master," she said with a smile, quickly grabbing the lifeless enemy and using it as a shield. For a moment, she glanced at Vrael, who watched her with a raised eyebrow.


    "Quite cheeky for someone who''s just died," he replied dryly.


    Her eyes scanned the forest as more enemys emerged from the underbrush. Two dozen, if not more. Their movements were uncoordinated, hissing and baring their teeth. But their eyes unmistakably showed: They were hunting.


    The damp forest floor beneath their feet made a soft squelching sound, and the smell of rotting leaves mixed with the acrid stench of the foes. It felt as though the forest itself was breathing harder, as if it could sense the danger.


    "So many..." Aria whispered.


    "They probably want to go drinking with you. Ask them. I''ll be waiting back there in the tree. No alcohol for kids," Vrael replied with a smirk.


    She knew that Vrael would help her. She trusted him one hundred percent. So, she could train undisturbed.


    "Although, I think they''re more likely to invite you to a cozy meal by the campfire."


    Vrael sat down on a thick root, stretched out lazily, and let his head fall back as though it was the most natural thing in the world to rest in the midst of a potentially deadly situation. "Do your best, my dear pupil. Wake me when it''s over." He closed his eyes, as though he actually intended to sleep.


    The attackers seemed to avoid him, as if they had instinctively realized that he was not someone they should mess with. Their attention was fully focused on Aria. They surrounded her, their drooling mouths open, growling as if ready to strike at any moment.


    Aria lifted the sword, its weight still uncomfortable. But the past few days had helped her adjust. "Could it be that they want to eat me?" Her voice was calm, almost indifferent, yet her eyes kept a sharp focus on the movements of the opponents.


    Vrael didn''t answer. Instead, a loud, deep snore came from him, making Aria roll her eyes briefly.