Chương 100: Training

"Were you there the whole time?" Joe asked as he shook himself dry.

"Yes," Corel replied, handing him a towel. He took it and began drying off, making no effort to hide himself. What was the point? She had already seen… Well, everything.

"I'm sorry. For whatever I did to cause it to happen again, I'm sorry," he said, avoiding her gaze. She, on the other hand, didn't look the slightest bit embarrassed. Her eyes lingered on him unabashedly, which completely derailed his thoughts and left him floundering in confusion.

"So… what happened?" he asked, pulling a black toga from his storage ring and dressing. Corel shrugged.

"Just a Voldura thing. Don't overthink it. What happened, happened." She smiled, which only deepened Joe's confusion.

"So it just… happened?" She nodded once.

"Will it happen again?"

"Maybe." Joe sighed and gave up. If she didn't want to explain, he wouldn't push. For now, he'd accept his fate. It wasn't as if it was a bad thing; if anything, he had to admit he'd enjoyed it. But it left him thoroughly confused.

"So, are you back for now, or do you have somewhere else you need to be?" he asked.

"I'm back. What did you have in mind?"

"I'm going to go pick up the brats. It's time for some hands-on training before the next competition. Care to join me?" Corel wiggled her eyebrows in imitation of him before hopping onto his shoulders. She pulled out her cauldron and began brewing pills as they set off. Joe took the scenic route to Heliopolis, giving Corel enough time to prepare a bag full of pills. When they reached the outskirts of the city, Corel tossed him the bag and slipped away toward the musical instrument crafter.

Joe, meanwhile, made a beeline for the training gate. He arrived to find a comical scene: Travis and Shanna locked in a heated argument with a group of four men.

"Why should we let you go first? We were here before you," a tall, lanky young man sneered, gesturing dismissively at Shanna, who looked about ready to explode.

"Excuse me? That is a lie. We were next in line. Did your mother drop you on your head as a baby?" Shanna shot back, trying to look intimidating as she stood before the group of four. She failed miserably as the lead boy shoved past her.

"Get out of the way, pipsqueak. It would be a waste for you to enter again anyway. We saw your scores yesterday; you haven't even cleared the baby tier yet. You're wasting good training time." The young man smirked as Shanna tumbled to the ground. Joe lingered at a distance, watching for a moment instead of stepping in. Travis rushed to Shanna's aid.

"Don't touch me, you obnoxious oaf!" Shanna snapped as she brushed herself off, and Travis offered a hand to help her up.

"Excuse me. There is no need for vio…" Travis began, but the young man cut him off with a fist to the face, sending him sprawling. Joe decided he'd seen enough. He Space-Jumped, catching Travis and Shanna before they hit the ground again.

"Whoa, now. That was uncalled for," Joe said. Setting them both upright with ease.

"You two okay? What's going on here?" Shanna's eyes went wide as her brain caught up to Joe's appearance, and she looked at him with open adoration.

"Progenitor, you're here? We were just having a disagreement."

"Shanna," Joe chided.

"That foolish quest is over. You can just call me Joe now, or Feormere if you like. But no more 'Progenitor,' got it?" Her cheeks flushed red as she lowered her gaze at the scolding.

"Either of you hurt?" Joe asked.

"No," they both replied, shaking their heads.

"Good," Joe turned his attention to the four boys, who looked on the verge of bolting. He quickly identified them, each between levels thirty and forty. He shook his head.

"You," he pointed at the one who'd struck Travis.

"Step forward." The boy shuffled up quickly and bowed his head.

"I'm sorry. We didn't know they were with you. We didn't mean anything by…" Joe raised a hand to stop the flood of words.

"You know who I am?" All four nodded empathically.

"Good, that makes this easier. Travis, come here." Travis hesitated but obeyed, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Punch him," Joe said flatly. The boy stiffened but stayed quiet.

"But, I'm not…" Travis mumbled.

"Doesn't matter. Punch him, and we can move past this. Any objections?" Four heads shook furiously.

"See? They're fine. Now, punch him." After much hesitation, Travis stepped forward and tapped the boy on the chest with the weakest excuse for a punch Joe had ever seen. Joe sighed.

"Now, get out of here. Your training for the day is cancelled. Go think about your decision-making and come back tomorrow." The four boys scattered without a word.

"Thank you," Travis mumbled.

"Four eyes, that was the weakest punch I have ever seen," Shanna teased. Joe nodded in agreement.

"That was pretty pathetic."

"I am not a fighter," Travis protested, adjusting his glasses.

"Do you want to be?" Joe asked with a grin.

"Ooohhhh, I do!" Shanna jumped excitedly.

"So does Four Eyes."

"Well, well, well, that's good enough for me. It's time for a training session run by yours truly." Joe snapped a salute.

"Attennnn-tion!" Shanna straightened and returned the salute with a huge grin. Travis groaned and dragged a hand down his face.

"Now, where are Meris and Locke?" Joe asked.

"They're inside the gate," Shanna replied.

"Perfect, that gives me a great idea. But first… hold your breath." Before either could protest, Joe scooped them up and Space-Jumped to Corel, dropping the dizzy pair outside the music store.

'Incoming," he pulsed to Corel before jumping back to the gate. The guards stiffened and saluted as he approached.

"At ease, gentlemen. Mind if I go in and retrieve two of my brats?"

"Anything you ask, Progenitor," one answered quickly, waving him through. Joe dashed into the gate and located Meris and Locke within minutes, locked in a fierce fight against insectoid holograms. He didn't bother waiting for them to finish. He Space-Jumped between them, scooped both up before they could react, patted their backs as a quick signal, and vanished again.

Moments later, he strode out of the gate with his captives slung over his shoulders and a big grin on his face, before Space-Jumping once more to the music store. Joe found Corel inside, perusing the score section for new songs to practice.

"Anything good so far?" he asked.

"A couple," she replied, showing him a handful of information crystals. The titles meant nothing to him, so he handed them back and simply watched as she added a few more to her pile.

"You gathered all the… kids?" she asked once she was done.

"Yep, they are outside looking queasy." Corel shook her head with a faint smile.

"You enjoy this far too much."

"Hey, what's the point if I'm not having fun?" Joe tapped his chest. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Just make sure you work them hard. Don't let Meris slack off."

"Yes, ma'am," Joe replied with a salute as they stepped back outside. Meris lit up the moment she spotted Corel and rushed to her side.

"Everyone ready for some proper training?" Joe asked, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

"Yes!" Shanna chirped.

"I am ready," Meris added.

"Do we have to?" Travis asked, earning a punch from Shanna.

"Great! Let's go!" Joe pulled out his skyboat, and soon they were all speeding back toward Landradad. Training began with footwork. Joe spent an hour drilling the basics, and to his surprise, the brats picked it up faster than expected.

"What's next?" Shanna asked, bouncing in place.

"Can we take a break?" Travis added, already winded.

"Actually," Joe began, "I need to make some purchases. So let's take a short break. I do need some info from you all, though. Let's start with Shanna." He beckoned her over. Her face reddened so much he thought she might faint as she shuffled to his side, head bowed, fingers tugging at her leather skirt.

"Shanna, you can look at me," he coaxed. She drew a deep breath and met his eyes for a moment before glancing down again. Joe almost asked Corel for a pill to calm her, but decided against it.

"How can I get you to relax around me?" he asked gently. Her blush deepened.

"Erm… I'm not sure," she stammered. She was fine in a group, but one-on-one, she curled in on herself. Joe reached out, taking her hand. She froze but didn't pull away as he lifted it.

"Shanna, look up," he urged softly. She obeyed, breath shaky.

"Tell me about yourself. What did you do before you came here?" As Shanna spoke about her past, Joe watched her shoulders gradually loosen, the tension melting away as she became more animated. He kept her hand in his, gently pulsing a trace of nature's energy through her, something she seemed completely unaware of, as she shared stories of her parents and siblings.

Her childhood had been troubled, though not in any extraordinary way: bullying from siblings, disappointment from parents, until she eventually ran away to strike out on her own. Whenever her voice began to falter, Joe asked another question, weaving in the occasional joke to keep her talking. Slowly, she reached the point where she could look him in the eyes without flushing, recounting with ease the day she first met Travis.

"Four eyes had his head in the clouds and didn't even notice two stray cats dart right between his legs," she said with a laugh.

"Cats? There are cats in Heliopolis?" Joe asked with genuine interest. He hadn't seen a single one since the system arrived.

"Yes, but only in one part of the city. Apparently, there was an old lady who moved there before the merger, and she had twenty cats with her. So most are hers," Shanna explained, her hands waving as she grew more excited.

"They're all tabbies, but I heard rumours of some maine coons somewhere, though I never found them."

"And you met Travis about two years ago?" Joe prompted. Steering her back to the story.

"Yes, Four Eyes was a complete disaster back then, obnoxious and rude..." she continued, completely at ease now, not even noticing that Joe had let go of her hand. Joe repeated the same approach with the other three, drawing out their stories. Each had come from different backgrounds, but all shared one detail in common, they had run away from their families just before the system arrived, though for very different reasons. He was glad he had taken the time to learn more about them.

It gave him perspective before he threw them into the fire, so to speak. Turning to his pillar, he did a quick Identify on all four to confirm their classes and plan how best to guide their training. Shanna, Human (Grade F), Knight of Orion level 10. 1 Hidden stat, Bloodline slumbering. Travis, Human (Grade F), Guide of Fortov level 10. 1 Hidden stat, Bloodline slumbering. Meris, Voldura (Grade F), Tracker of Gildegrund level 18. 1 Hidden stat, Bloodline slumbering.

Locke, Voldura (Grade F), Shield of Varo level 17. 1 Hidden stat, Bloodline slumbering. Their classes shared similarities but leaned in different directions. Shanna and Locke were strength-focused, Meris leaned toward agility, while Travis was intellect-based. With that in mind, Joe opened the pillar shop and dove into the footwork and skill section, searching for techniques that would complement their strengths. His pillar shop was now level 30; he didn't know what that meant, or how it levelled.

But he was happy to see that the selection of skills he could buy had ballooned, so he had a nice selection to look through. For Shanna, he chose a footwork called Dust Dancing, a style that kept the user close to their opponent, disrupting balance and creating openings through relentless movement. She wrinkled her nose at the name at first, but as she read the description, her interest quickly deepened. 3.

For Travis, he selected Dashing Retreat, a style built around maintaining distance while keeping the opponent in sight, perfect for a ranged combatant. As expected, Travis gave no visible reaction as he absorbed the details. Locke received Gathering Clouds, a showy, attention-drawing style that made him the natural focus on the battlefield. The idea of using his presence to shield others brought a rare smile to his face.

Lastly, for Meris, Joe picked Heron's Mark, a style emphasizing stealth and silence, letting her glide through the battlefield unseen. She was clearly pleased, eyes shining as she read. Joe's ego swelled as he watched them settle in to study their crystals. All of the footwork skills were classed as uncommon, which was the highest tier he was allowed to purchase in the pillar shop. Within half an hour, they began to practice. Meris flowed like a dancer, her movements elegant and precise.

The others, meanwhile, stumbled like puppies trying to chase their mother.

"Great! Travis, come here a sec. Let me give you a few pointers," Joe called, waving him over. Travis hesitated.

"Erm… did I do it wrong?"

"Yes," Joe said bluntly.

"Well, not wrong per se, just not very well. You move like a duck on land." Before Travis could protest, Joe grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a playful shake, jostling his legs for emphasis.

"Loosen up those hips. Bend your knees. If you keep moving like a stiff board, one little tap and you'll be flat on your face. Like this." He mimicked Travis's steps, only smoother and sharper.

"You make it look easy," Travis mumbled, trying to copy him but stumbling almost immediately.

"You can do it, four eyes!" Shanna clapped, grinning widely. Travis waved her off without looking, concentrating on his footing.

"Better," Joe said, "but your legs are still as stiff as boards." He gave Travis another exaggerated shake before calling.

"Meris, come and show him how it's done." Meris hopped forward and demonstrated her fluid movements.

"See how her hips shift on the left step?" Joe explained, giving a sashay.

"If you're right-handed, you need that twist in your hips to keep your lead side aligned. Like this." He spun, swished, and slid. Travis tried again but toppled sideways.

"Slow it down. Purposeful steps first, speed later," Joe advised.

"Meris, guide him through it." She nodded, placing her hands on Travis's hips, correcting his form as he grimaced but followed along.

"Locke, you're next. Faster this time," Joe called. Locke stepped forward, his movements heavier but deliberate. Joe corrected him here and there with a nudge or a shake, but overall approved.

"Good. Now vary your pace. Faster left, slower right. If your opponent can't adjust, they'll lose their balance. Keep them guessing, or…" He drew a finger across his throat.

"Goodbye, Locke."

"Understood," Locke replied gruffly, repeating the steps with new focus.

"What about me?" Shanna asked, bouncing on her toes.

"Hey! Watch where you are touching!" Travis barked as Meris adjusted his stance.

"You're so skinny I can only feel bones," Meris teased.

"Eat more." Joe chuckled and offered Shanna his hand. She turned scarlet but accepted. With a sudden spin, he guided her, catching her shoulder before she toppled.

"I noticed your footwork relies on spins," Joe said.

"So let's get you comfortable with sudden shifts. Do you trust me?" He flashed his most roguish smile.

"I do," Shanna whispered, blushing an even deeper shade. At least she could still form words.

"Perfect, now close your eyes and follow my lead." As she closed her eyes, Joe guided her gently at first, left, right, left, right, before stepping back and twirling her around him. With a sudden lift, he spun her high like a top, catching her as she shrieked with exhilaration. He eased her into another round of spins, repeating the rhythm until she slumped against him, breathless.

"You okay?" he asked, setting her down carefully.

"Yes! Oh my god." Shanna gasped, still glowing.

"I knew you could dance from the first time I saw you in the sky… but wow." She dropped onto the ground with a thud, trying to catch her breath.

"I used to teach dance," Joe said with a wink before turning to Meris.

"All right, let the poor boy rest. Your turn. Show me how you handle a twirl."

"Is this how you won the Seeker?" Meris asked dryly, taking his hand.

"Enough of that," Joe huffed before surprising her with a sharp spin. She flowed with it naturally, her movements graceful.

"Very good. If all my students moved like you, my job would be easy," he praised, then pushed her into faster, tighter turns, trying to make her dizzy. After five minutes, she squealed for him to stop, staggering as he released her with a grin.

"You monster," Meris panted, collapsing and rubbing her thighs. Joe chuckled, then turned on Locke, who froze like a deer before Joe scooped him up and spun him wildly, laughing like a man possessed. Locke's panicked yelps only made Joe cackle harder. By Joe's reckoning, the first day of training went well, though it was clear they all had a long way to go before he'd be satisfied. On the second day, Alice and Felicia joined in, offering their own advice while everyone practiced footwork.

Corel sat nearby, plucking softly at her new instrument.

"That instrument is beautiful," Shanna said, staring at the guzheng with wide eyes.

"Thank you," Corel replied with a smile.

"I think it suits me well, but it's a challenge to learn."

"A beautiful instrument for the beautiful Seeker," Meris intoned.

"Mm-hmm. Aren't you girls supposed to be training?" Corel arched a brow, which made both girls shuffle back guiltily.

"Does he ever get tired?" Shanna asked as she watched Joe force Travis into yet another lap around the lake.

"Why does he practice so much? We already know the steps. Why make us repeat them every day, even changing them to improve?" Corel glanced toward Joe, who was jogging ahead, already lapping Locke and Travis. Her gaze softened.

"I didn't understand it either at first," she admitted, her tone slipping into something almost reverent.

"But the more I came to know him, the more I saw it. He's… what's the word you humans use? A perfectionist. He never settles. He always pushes to refine, to improve, no matter how good he already is. I've watched him practice his footwork every day for a year, never once taking a day off. He told me why once, but… that's a secret. Just know he works harder than anyone I've ever met."

"How did you two meet? I bet it was super romantic," Shanna asked, eyes sparkling. Corel chuckled.

"I was tied up and captured, covered in dirt and blood." Shanna looked horrified. Meris leaned forward, grinning.

"That is romantic. Did he take you there and then?" Corel flicked her horn in admonishment.

"Now, now. That's a secret." She winked, which only made Meris's grin widen as her mind wandered who-knows-where.

"Enough daydreaming." Corel clapped her hands.

"No more slacking. As Joe would say, back to training." Both girls groaned, but got to their feet and rejoined the boys in their stamina drills.