Chapter 18: Training Begins
The sun dipped low on the horizon, bleeding a bruised mix of orange and violet across the sky. The light caught the edges of the cobblestone road, stretching the shadows of the few remaining people leaving the marketplace.
The crowd had thinned. The noise of the day was replaced by the heavy thud of wooden shutters closing and the scrape of stalls being dragged inward.
Tyler walked with a slow, heavy rhythm. With each step, the two silver coins in his pocket collided, a sharp, metallic clink against his thigh.
He rolled his shoulders, wincing as a dull ache radiated down his spine. “My back is killing me,” he thought, pressing his thumb into a knot of muscle near his shoulder blade. “Moving those barrels was brutal. They were heavier than they looked.”
Since he had refused the crafting apprenticeship for now, Hector had put him to work cleaning the shop and hauling inventory. It was honest work, but it was grinding.
He fingered the coins in his pocket. “Hector said he’d pay sixty silver a month. That breaks down to two silver a day. The math adds up.”
He gripped the silver tighter. “It's steady money. But its slow, too slow.”
He remembered the rush of the quest notification, the immediate rewards from the System. “The System rewards quests. If I become a Hunter, I can earn way more than I ever could hauling barrels for Hector.”
He looked at his hands. They were dirty, covered in the dust of the shop. “It pays more, but it’s dangerous,” he thought, his jaw tightening. “I think I can handle it. If James teaches me the basics before he leaves, I can hunt on my own. I have to gather enough money to pay him back. I can’t let him leave while I still owe him.”
A sharp clatter of wood against stone broke his focus.
A group of children sprinted across the road, weaving between the closing stalls. They held jagged sticks in their hands, swinging them wild and fast like swords, laughing as they struck at invisible monsters.
Tyler watched them for a moment, the innocence of the game striking a strange chord in his chest. He turned his gaze back to the road ahead, the darkness settling in around him.
"James keeps teaching me the basics, but there are so many gaps," Tyler muttered to himself, the words lost to the evening air. "I don't even know the name of this nation. I don't know the Class hierarchy. I know James is a 'Knight,' but what does that actually mean? How does the power structure work?"
He shook his head. “I'm just lucky we speak the same language. This is an alternate universe and that’s the only miracle I’ve caught so far.”
He left the marketplace behind, moving into the residential district. The rows of familiar houses stood silent against the darkening sky. Torches were already lit in the windows, the warm orange glow of candlelight flickering behind drawn curtains.
A thought clicked in his mind. “They have paper. I’ve seen at the base. That means they have books. There has to be a library, or an archive... somewhere I can get information without asking suspicious questions.”
He scanned the street, looking for any building that stood out, but the signs were unfamiliar. “I’ll just have to ask James. If I try to find it myself, I’ll end up lost in the wrong part of town.”
His hand drifted to his hip, brushing against empty air.
He smiled grimly. The sword he had acquired from Hector was gone from his physical person, tucked away safely in his Inventory. He had stored it the moment he stepped outside the shop, ensuring no one saw the weapon vanish. Even though his hands were empty, the knowledge of the steel sitting in that dimensional space made him feel safer.
He reached the house a few minutes later. A candle burned in the window.
He pushed the door open. "Hello? Anybody home?"
"Welcome back," Lisa called out. She stepped from the bedroom, wiping her hands on her long brown dress. "James told me you were working at Hector's today. How was it?"
Tyler rubbed the sore muscle along his collarbone. "It was... great."
"That's good to hear." She walked closer, her expression sharpening. "How much is he paying you?"
"Um. Sixty silver a month."
"Sixty?" Her brow shot up. She placed her hands on her waist, her posture stiffening. "Aren't you crafting together? An apprentice rate should be at least seventy. Maybe eighty. Why is he only paying you sixty? Maybe I need to have a word with him."
"Oh, no," Tyler said quickly, raising his hands in defense. "I'm not crafting with him yet. I'm more like... a laborer. I'm just cleaning the shop and moving heavy stock."
"Cleaning?" Lisa asked, her hands dropping from her waist. Confusion clouded her face. "But aren't you a Craftsman?"
"Well... my level is low," Tyler lied smoothly, though he felt the heat in his neck. "I haven't unlocked any good crafting skills yet. I need to work my way up."
Lisa studied him for a long second, her eyes searching his face. Finally, she sighed. "Well. At least you're working."
A small, genuine smile softened her features. "You'll be able to support yourself, even after we're gone."
Tyler forced the corners of his mouth upward. The smile felt tight, like a strain against his skin. "Yeah. Thank you for helping me get this job."
Lisa shook her head. "You should be thanking my husband. He's the one who spoke to Hector. Anyways... are you alright?"
"Huh?"
"The healing," she said, her voice dropping lower. "Do you feel any phantom pain? Sometimes the nerves remember the injury even after your healed."
Tyler waved his hand, dismissing the concern. "Oh, no. I'm fine. I don't feel any pain at all."
"Alright. Well, go to the kitchen. I've already prepared some food. It's on the plate over there." She pointed toward the counter, where a metal lid covered a dish.
"Thanks, Lisa."
She nodded and returned to her bedroom. Tyler exhaled, the tension draining from his shoulders as he walked into the kitchen.
*So, they know about nerves...*
The thought lingered. It made him question the depth of their medical knowledge. If they knew about the nervous system, they weren't as primitive as the sword-and-shield aesthetic suggested.
But the thought was quickly drowned out by the hollow ache in his stomach. He was starving.
He lifted the metal lid. Steam curled up, carrying the rich, savory scent of beef stew. His mouth watered instantly. He grabbed a metal cup from the wooden cupboard, dipped it into the water barrel, and carried his meal to the table.
He savoured the fist bite, then ate with a rhythmic, desperate intensity. The broth was thick, the vegetables soft, and the beef fell apart on his tongue. He scraped the bottom of the plate until the metal shone.
He sat back, exhaling a long breath as the feeling of fullness finally settled in his gut. He looked toward the bedroom door. "Where do I wash the plate?" he called out.
"Don't worry, just leave it there," Lisa yelled back from behind the closed door. "I'll take care of it."
Tyler pushed his chair back and stood. He walked into his small room and sat on the edge of the bed. He held out his right hand, palm open.
The air distorted. A shimmer of blue light materialized, solidifying into the weight of the sword he had taken from Hector’s shop.
The blade caught the flicker of the candle in the corner. A small, translucent panel appeared beside the steel:
ATTACK: 26
“This sword has a higher attack stat than the spear,” he thought, turning the weapon in the dim light. “The spear was only a 10. This deals more than double the damage.”
He rubbed his chin with his free hand, studying the edge. “So if I stab myself with this, will I just lose 26 HP?”
He shook his head. “No. I’ll lose 26 HP instantly. But then the HP number will begin to drop as I bleed to death. The damage stat is just the impact. The dying part...”
He tossed the sword slightly into the air. Before it could land, it vanished into his Inventory.
He kicked off his shoes and lay back, pulling the thin blanket up to his chin. “James hasn't returned yet. I guess I'll talk to him tomorrow.”
He closed his eyes, and the exhaustion took him.
The hours passed in silence. The black of the window slowly turned to a dull, bruised grey as morning broke.
"Hey."
A hand shook Tyler's shoulder.
He woke abruptly, his body jerking upright, his heart hammering.
"Relax," James said, stepping back.
Tyler exhaled, the adrenaline fading as he recognized the face. "You're back," he said, his voice raspy with sleep. He threw the blanket off his legs.
"I returned late last night," James said, leaning against the doorframe. "So, how was it?"
Tyler swung his legs over the bedside, rubbing the grit from his eyes. "It was great. I made two silver."
"See? It wasn't that bad. And you made money on the spot," James said, turning toward the door. "I'm actually going hunting. I always wake up early so..."
"James!"
James paused, his hand on the doorknob. He sighed, turning back slowly.
Tyler frowned, his eyes hard. "I didn't change my decision. I still want to be a Hunter."
He stood up from the bed, his bare feet slapping against the cold, rough floor.
James looked at him for a long second, reading the exhaustion and the desperation in his stance. He breathed out through his nose, a sharp hiss of resignation. "Alright. Today we're going training."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a hushed whisper. "But keep it a secret from... my wife. If she asks anything, don't say you're becoming a Hunter. Just say you're raising your level to help with the crafting. She might be against it."
Tyler nodded. "Alright."
James straightened up, his demeanor shifting back to normal. "Great. Put on your shoes. We're going out."
Tyler pulled on his battered shoes and walked into the living room. He sat at the table, waiting while James finished preparing in the bedroom. He could hear the low murmur of voices, James speaking to Lisa but the wood of the door muffled the words. He couldn't make out the lie James was spinning.
A moment later, the door opened.
"Alright, we're going," James said, stepping out.
"Come back safe," Lisa called out from the room.
"We will," James replied.
They walked out into the grey morning light. The air was crisp, biting at Tyler’s exposed skin as they navigated the cobblestone roads toward the marketplace.
"Where exactly are we going?" Tyler asked, falling into step beside the larger man.
"We're going training, of course."
"Yeah, I know that," Tyler said. "But where?"
James glanced at him, a small smirk touching his lips. "You'll see."
They reached the transport station near the town exit. A row of wagons sat waiting, the horses stamping against the stone. Tyler saw a man with a wide straw hat leaning back on a wooden bench, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Hey, George. Good morning," James called out.
The man tipped his hat up. His face brightened. "Oh, James. Good morning. Are you both heading out?"
James nodded.
"Hop in," George said, gesturing to the empty bed of the wagon.
Tyler climbed in, the wood creaking under his weight. As the wagon lurched forward, exiting the town gates, he watched the buildings shrink in the distance. The familiar safety of the walls faded into the morning mist.
*We're taking the exact same road that leads to the base,* Tyler thought, watching the road tracks. *Is that where he's going to train me?*
They rode in silence for a while, the only sound the rhythmic clatter of wheels on dirt. Suddenly, James tapped the side of the wagon.
"Stop here."
George pulled on the reins. He let out a sharp whistle, and the horses ground to a halt.
"Okay, let's get off," James said, jumping down.
Tyler followed, landing on the grass. He looked around. They were in the middle of nowhere, just an endless stretch of green fields.
"What do you plan to do here?" George asked, leaning down from his seat.
"We're going to train," James answered, adjusting his gear. "I'm raising his level."
"Oh," George said, raising his eyebrows. He nodded understandingly. "Well, I think this is about five kilometers out. So, it's two copper for the both of you."
James fished a single silver coin from his pocket and flicked it to the driver. "For both."
"Thanks." Tyler said as George gave james his change.
"No worries."
George turned the wagon around, the wheels churning up the dirt as he headed back toward town. Tyler watched him go until the wagon was just a speck.
"Are we really training here?" Tyler asked, looking at the empty field.
James nodded. He turned, walking off the main road and into the grass. He pointed toward a massive, solitary tree in the distance.
"We're heading to that tree over there."
Tyler followed James through the grass until they reached the solitary tree.
It was an odd, unsettling thing. It didn't look like the twisted flora of the Monster Zones, nor did it resemble the trees back in his world. The leaves were short and jagged, colored a disturbing, vibrant light green that seemed to almost glow against the dull backdrop of the plains.
"Alright," James said, dropping his heavy leather bag to the ground. "Your training begins here."
He pulled out a thick, rough-spun canvas sack with sturdy rope straps attached to it. He tossed it to Tyler, then pointed to a pile of jagged rocks stacked neatly a few meters away.
"Fill this sack with those rocks," James ordered. "To the brim."
Tyler looked at the pile, then at the sack. He took a deep breath, knelt, and began the work. The rocks were heavy, rough-hewn granite that scraped against his skin. He packed them in tight, filling the canvas until the fabric strained against the jagged edges.
"Alright," James said, crossing his arms. "Now lift it and put it on your back like a rucksack."
Tyler stared at the bulging sack. "What?"
"Well, you said you wanted to train, didn't you?"
Tyler looked at the rocks, then gritted his teeth. He grabbed the ropes and hauled the weight up. He grunted, his muscles firing as he swung the load onto his back.
The weight was crushing. It forced his center of gravity backward, threatening to topple him, but he stomped his foot back, bracing himself. The ropes dug into his shoulders, cutting off the circulation.
James grinned. "You see that tree?" He pointed toward the horizon.
Tyler squinted against the sun. "Where?"
"The one way over there."
Tyler narrowed his eyes, scanning the distance. Barely visible against the heat haze was a dark, vertical smudge.
"Wait... that thing is a tree?" Tyler asked, disbelief coloring his tone. "I didn't even notice it. It’s miles away."
"Yeah," James said casually. "I want you to go all the way there, touch it, and come back."
"What?" Tyler shifted the weight, his legs already trembling slightly. "That's too far. And this thing is too heavy."
"That's the only way you'll level up," James said simply. He sat down at the base of the glowing tree, leaning his back against the bark and closing his eyes. "What are you waiting for?"
Tyler stared at him. “Is he kidding me? With this distance, my stamina will hit zero before I’m halfway there.”
He looked at the distant speck on the horizon. The weight on his back felt like a physical manifestation of his own weakness.
*Fine,*Tyler thought, a cold resolve settling in his chest. *If this is how I'll get stronger. I'll do anything. This isn't the first time I've put my body through hell for work. At least this time, I’m getting paid in strength.”
He adjusted the straps, ignoring the bite of the rope. "Let's do this."