At the arena, Leo dealt the 10th attack, stopping for a few moments to take his breath.
"You ok buddy? We should take a break." announced Bron.
"Fine."
The two go to the bench where Kaly was sitting.
"Good work, guys." said Kaly before the two took a sit.
"Were my attacks good?"
"Yes, honestly I expected you to have at most 5 or 7 attacks in you. Does lightning infusion take that much mana?"
"It takes about 3 to 4 times as much as a lightning bolt."
"Why are you using it then?" asked Kaly.
"It's quicker and stronger, same reason why a mage learns stronger spells."
"Fair point. Anyway, Kaly, are you ready for round two?"
"Sure am. Let's do this." said Kaly while jumping off the bench.
"What about me?" asked Leo.
"Take a break. We don't want you to fall down right before a mission." said Bron while getting up.
The two got in the middle of the arena and started their training. Leo looks down at his trembling hand, then looks up at his teammates saying "Weak!" in a whisper that only he heard.
A few minutes later. Kaly used all her mana and Bron was finally satisfied. The two got back to the benches sitting down.
"Well it has been a good session."
"I will surely sleep like a baby this night." said Kaly while stretching.
"Is this all you do while training?"
"Well, I used to spar against our former team leader but now we are in different teams."
"Why is it so?"
"We just had different styles, goals and expectations."
"We were a good team, but the puzzle pieces weren't matching perfectly, so we just moved to another chapter in our lives." added Kaly.
"Let's spar then."
"Sure thing, I am wandering how do I compare with you in a fight. But first, let me take a breather."
"By the way, when will you be allowed to take the pups." asked Kaly.
"I haven't asked, I will go some other time and see."
"What a bummer." responded sadly Kaly.
"You will get your time with the fluff balls another time, just don't anger Leo or he might take them away from you." said Bron sarcastically.
"Nooo, not the pups. Anything but that." said Kaly dramatically.
"Pffft hahaha" Leo started laughing at Kaly's dramatic show.
"So you can laugh after all." said jokingly Kaly.
"What do you mean by that?" said Leo after stopping his laughter.
"You have that vibe of someone that saw to many things, thought you might be a shapeshifter or something." responded Bron.
"I... I guess so."
"Anyway, I am all charged up. Let's go and get some bruises, but no mana. Ok?" said Bron while jumping off of the bench.
"Ok." answered Leo while getting up.
Leo followed behind, both of them entering the arena after taking some training swords.
"Ready!" yelled Kaly from the benches "Go!"
The two dashed at each other, closing the distance.
Leo slashes at Bron's right hand, Bron blocking it before pushing forth to attack.
Leo attacks at his belly, Bron redirecting his attack to block.
Bron kicks Leo away, slashing at his torso. Leo taking a few steps behind just in time.
For a few seconds they keep the distance, looking for an opening.
Leo takes the initiative, closing in while Bron slashes from above.
Leo blocks being stopped and pushed back a little.
Bron takes the chance and grabs his blade starting to disarm him.
Leo drops his sword, pushing forth with a punch to the face while trying to grab Bron's dominant hand.
Bron moves his hand away, turning around and kicking Leo in the chest throwing him to the ground.
Leo grabs his fallen sword while trying to get up, being met with Bron's blade pointed to his face.
"Match over!" yelled Kaly once again.
"Good match, almost had me there."
"If I was a little faster I could have won." said Leo silently
"I just got lucky there. Didn't expect you to go for a punch though." said Bron while raising a hand towards Leo.
Leo takes his hand getting up. Kaly reaching the two.
"Any damage that needs healing?"
"Non on me, although my nose hurts. What about you Leo."
"Nothing."
"You sure, I did kick you pretty hard there?"
"The pain already went away."
"Fine then." said Bron while looking at the sky "It's about time to end this session."
"It's already past noon? Time really flew fast." said Kaly.
"How about tomorrow we take the goblin extermination. I checked it earlier and it's about one day on horseback, from here." said Bron.
"If we can find a horse to take I am in, but otherwise I can't, I have a church appointment at Delis in a week." said Kaly.
"Hmm, we could borrow a horse and carriage from the old man. Leo do you need to go to the blacksmith today?"
"Yes, I need to pick up my order."
"I will come with you. Are you coming too, Kaly?"
"No, I will go and pick up some provisions for the road. You guys have fun running from the fling hammers." said Kaly jokingly before walking away.
"Let's go then." said Bron before starting to move.
On the familiar rode, the man were walking near each other.
"Why did you call the blacksmith an old man?" asked Leo.
"Small talk, I see. Well he is pretty old, i think he is already pushing eighties, what can you say, dwerven blood is one of the closest things to a fountain of youth. We also used to see each other a lot."
"Was he an adventurer?"
"Nah, he did get graded but he never did any quests, heard he was a grade 4. He used to work for the guild as a blacksmith since it was formed, well, until an adventurer got pissed at him, for some reason, and sent an assassin for his son... now he hates all adventurers. Try to be nice with him, he might be an asshole now but he used to be a good person... at times at least."
Leo looks to the ground, clenching his fists saying in an unheard whisper "I know how he feels.".
The two keep walking reaching the shop.
"Now, remember what I told you and try to not get hit." said Bron before opening the door.
A hammer hits the wall near the open door.
"Oh it's you. What do you want? I won't repair your equipment." said Enda while picking up another hammer, continuing his work.
"I've come to pick up my order." said Leo while entering the building.
"You are here too! It's on the table, try them then leave the money on the table."
Leo moves to the table starting to look at his order.
"Sir Enda, might I ask for a favor?" said Bron while slowly but cautiously getting closer.
"What do you want?" asked Enda while gripping his hammer tightly.
"We were wandering if we could borrow a horse and a carriage."
"We?"
"Yeah, me, Kaly and our new teammate, Leo. We have a quest that it's pretty far away and we need to reach it fast."
"Hmm, what do I get in return?"
"Anything you would like, we can share a part of our rewar..."
"I don't want any money." interrupted Enda "How about you do an escort mission for me in about a weeks time?"
"Are we going to pass by Delis by any chance? Kaly needs to go there in a week."
"It's one of my stops. Do you agree or not?"
"Fine. Can you have everything ready by tomorrow morning."
"Yes. How about you boy? Is the equipment good?"
"It feels... alright." responded Leo.
Leo now was clad in a bluish leather chest piece and his cloak, now like new.
"Fine then. Now leave my store, your presence has long exceeded it's limit." said Enda while banishing them away.
Outside the building the two started walking, reaching the main road.
"Well, I need to go. See you tomorrow morning." said Bron before running off.
"Bye." said Leo unheard while walking away.