Book 4. Chapter 17
"Of course, I will be coming with you," Sion said promptly when Brin delivered the news that he’d be leaving Blackcliff.
"Are you sure? I can't pull you away from your family duties," said Brin.
"Yes, I'm sure. Now, it's your serve."
Brin had been surprised to learn that the Wogan mansion had a tennis court. Not because he didn't think the mansion was big enough, but because he'd sort of forgotten about leisure activities altogether.
He thought of the game as tennis because it involved hitting a ball back and forth across a net, but there were key differences. The ball was hard, like a baseball, and instead of rackets, they struck the ball with a round bat, not unlike a baseball bat. And in addition to scoring when your opponent failed to return a ball or let it go out of bounds, you could also get two points by hitting a dinner plate-sized gong set up in the middle of the back of each side of the court.
The added difficulty was only natural for a world of Classes and levels, and so far Sion was thrashing him. Brin attributed that to Sion's [Running] Skill, but Brin was getting better every minute they played. [Athletic Training] didn't just increase the amount of attributes he got, it was also making him better at athletics.
Brin served, and was relieved to see the ball go right where he wanted it. Unfortunately, that seemed to be right where Sion wanted it, and he returned it with a fierce crack that shot the ball to the opposite side where Brin had no chance of reaching it.
"Doesn't your uncle need you here?"
"My uncle needs nothing," said Sion. "My entire purpose in coming here was to get away and have an adventure. Which I have done. Now I must return. Certainly returning with you will be more enjoyable."