Xylus strapped the large sack on him as he followed Victor towards the North exit. Victor kept Xylus close to him as they snaked through the city.

  "Don't we need food or water?" Xylus asked.

  "That's what the forest is for!" Victor told Xylus. "Part of your training will involve finding and securing food and water." Xylus nodded as Victor led them to the large gates. The Myst Crevice guards all wore blue-silver armor with an orange emblem across their armors. It was three squiggly lines with an upside down V in the middle. It was supposed to resemble a misty mountain but the kids that saw it always thought it looked tacky.

  "Ah, Mr. Cross, where are you headed to?" A guard flagged down and stopped Victor and Xylus.

  "Training with the kid." Victor pointed at Xylus.

  "Ah, you got another kid with you? When are they gonna stop requesting you to take their kids in?"

  "Don't worry about it too much, Greg." Victor patted the guard. "I'll willingly take kids under my wing if it helps them become strong assets to the Kingdom of Myst."

  "Always working hard to impress the higher ups." Greg shook his head. "What's the kid's name?"

  "Go on, tell the guard your name." Victor motioned. Xylus stepped forward and gave a warm bow. Greg raised his eyebrows.

  'He isn't from here.' Greg thought.

  "My name's Xylus. Xylus Silverfang. Nice to meet you." Xylus introduced himself.

  "Nice to meet you, I'm Greg Redtail. You're not from around here are ya, Xylus?" Greg introduced himself.

  "How'd you know?" Xylus asked.

  "People don't bow around here. We all shake hands unless we're in the presence of royalty. I believe the South continent Wrystfall bows." Greg stuck his hand out and Xylus hesitantly shook the man's hand. "Good. Just like that. Your parents must have paid a lot of money for you to be trained under Victor, huh?"

  "Oh, uh," Xylus pulled his hand away and looked at Victor. "The Palia's Light took me here."

  "Ah, the Order?" Greg looked at Victor. "Did the Order really do that?"

  "Yup. They wanted me to watch over the kid. They wanted him to have a better life, so I couldn't say no. He will be training under me until the Academy entrance test." Victor told Greg.

  "Ahh," Greg nodded. He looked at Xylus and gave him a pitiful smile. "You'll be in for a time. Cross doesn't go easy on his students."

  "Ah, I'm not like that. I don't make the kids stay out all night like I used to." Victor playfully patted Greg.

  "Oh, but you used to." Greg looked at Victor and then to Xylus. "Be careful. Your teacher has the toughest teaching methods but he produces great results. That's why everyone wants him to teach their kids. But enough of that, I'll let ya go! Good luck, young Xylus. Don't be too hard on the boy, Cross."

  "I won't. See ya, Greg." Victor waved. Victor and Xylus started off into the forest. When they were far from the gates of Myst Crevice, Victor stopped and turned to face Xylus. "Alright, we're going to be starting your training now. We'll be jogging into the deep parts of Mystfall Forest. I'll be taking you to paths that don't have as many creatures on it. We'll be going until the sun's highest. We'll stop and you'll secure food for us." Victor explained the plan.

  "Alright, doesn't sound too–" Xylus watched as Victor took off to the left. "Woah!" Xylus sprinted to catch up to his teacher. Victor was far quicker than he was. Xylus struggled to keep up. The forest was bumpy.

  [New Quest: Training with Victor!

  Stay close to your new teacher! Don't lose him in your sight!

  Reward: 30 XP]

  'A new quest?' Xylus thought. 'I guess I have to do well if I want the XP!' Xylus ran faster, trying to keep Victor in his sight. Victor was already snaking down the hill. Xylus panicked and moved faster. 'I need to keep up with him!'

  Xylus followed Victor like he was a tiny speck in his eye. He was growing tired as the time went on. Victor would periodically slow down and let the kid think he was going to go slower for him and then start back up. The slow downs and sudden speed ups kept Xylus on his toes. He didn't think the run would ever end until the sun was highest. He saw Victor come to a stop near a stream and sit down.

  Xylus huffed as he grew closer to Victor. Victor leaned forward and scooped up some water and splashed it on his face. He took a sip from the stream and ignored Xylus as he fell onto his knees.

  "Y-y-you run so fast." Xylus exhaustively told him. Victor didn't say much and moved to sit again.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  [Quest: Training with Victor!

  Quest Complete! 30 XP has been added.

  Current XP: 30/150

  New Quest: Training with Victor, Part 2!

  Catch food and secure some water!

  Reward: 30 XP]

  "Ahhh, food." Xylus weakly groaned. He pulled the sack from his back off and set it next to Victor. Victor enjoyed the nice breeze as Xylus looked around. "What do I do, Mr. Victor?" Victor didn't look at him and began to whistle a random tune.

  "He's not gonna help me." Xylus muttered. He glanced around. The stream next to them probably had fish. How would he secure fish? "I haven't fished before… I need something to catch them… What do I use?" The image of a spear appeared in his head. He had saw fishermen carrying fishing poles and spears with them when they went on their fishing journeys.

  Xylus turned and wandered into the forest.

  "What do I use? I have to make a spear…" Xylus groaned. "Wait." He stopped in place.

  'System, do I have an inventory, right?' Xylus asked.

  [You have access to the System Inventory. Do you want to open it?]

  'Yes.'

  The inventory opened and he noticed only two items were currently in the inventory.

  [Inventory:

  Daggers of Shadowbane x2]

  'I have those equipped right? What do I have to do to summon them?' Xylus asked.

  [Xylus must call them by name.]

  "Shadowbane." Xylus whispered. Two large daggers appeared in his hands. He lifted them up. They were shimmering with a blue hue. "Woah. It did work." He turned around. Victor had moved the bag and was using it as a pillow.

  "Now, I need to somehow get food… How am I gonna cook it? I need sticks for a fire… How do I start a fire?" Xylus raised the dagger, scratching his head as he almost smacked himself with the god weapon. Xylus moved into the stream. Victor had taken a small peek as soon as the kid entered the stream.

  'So he's fishing?' Victor thought. 'One of the choices… There's enough fish that he could possibly find one if he tried hard enough. There's enough hunt around the forest that if he chose to hunt with those daggers, he'd probably get a hit off. Let's see how he deals with this.'

  Xylus moved far enough into the stream that the water went up to his thighs. The sound of water ran past him as he stared at a mirrored version of himself.

  'Hmm, I do look quite good looking. I guess Lord Nura did pull some strings with my looks…' Xylus nodded as he saw something move past him. He watched as fishes moved past him quickly. He swung and plunged the dagger in and pulled out. There wasn't anything.

  "Ah, I missed." Xylus whispered. He readied himself and sighed. "They move fast. How do they spear the fish so easily?"

  'He's gonna learn that it takes precision to pierce a fast moving target.' Victor watched with one eye open. 'It'll probably take him a couple weeks to learn that. The entrance exam is a year away. I can only train him for a couple months before I get busy. In that time, I'll teach him the basics of what it means to be gifted with such grace.'

  Victor watched Xylus fail to pierce a fish. The boy grew agitated fairly quickly. Victor thought this was normal for a child around his age. They weren't very patient and putting the risk of food on the line, it would hurt the child more. Xylus continued to try to get a fish but failed with each strike.

  "Ah, it's not working!" Xylus shouted.

  'Well, the fish know you're there now…' Victor thought as he shifted in his spot. Xylus looked over at his teacher. Victor shut his eyes and listened as Xylus moved out of the stream and stood near his teacher.

  "How am I supposed to get a fish?" Xylus complained. "It's so hard! Can't you give me a hint?"

  'Should I give him a hint?' Victor asked himself.

  "You wait until they're in your sight to strike." Victor commented. He smacked his lips and moved to get comfortable.

  "What's that supposed to mean?" Xylus asked.

  "Think about it. You have all day to secure food. Wake me up when you get food." Victor yawned and fell quiet.

  "He's just gonna let me get food?" Xylus snorted in disbelief. "Maybe I should just whip up some leaves and say, 'let's eat rabbit food.'" He tried to cross his arms but the daggers reminded him to be careful.

  "Ahh!" He screamed loudly. He threw the dagger, watching it pierce the ground hand he sat down.

  'You wait until they're in your sight to strike.' Victor's voice echoed in his head.

  "What does that mean?" Xylus asked himself. He set the other dagger to his side and rested his head on his knees. "Am I missing something here?"