Training began the very next week. Borin believed that once a talent was revealed, it needed to be nurtured immediately.

  "Talent means nothing if you let it rot," he had said.

  Lyra and Alric stood in the open training yard behind Borin’s house. The morning sun had barely risen. Borin crossed his massive arms.

  "Alright!"

  "Let's see what you've got!"

  Lyra stood proudly with a wooden shield strapped to her arm and a short practice sword in her hand. She looked ready for war. Alric stood beside her holding two wooden swords. They felt awkward in his hands.

  Two swords… This is going to take some getting used to.

  Training responsibilities had been divided. Since Borin had been the party's tank, he would train Lyra. Maris, the party’s swordswoman, would train Alric. Lyra rushed toward Borin first.

  "COME AT ME!"

  Borin laughed loudly.

  "That's the spirit!"

  He raised his own wooden training weapon. Lyra planted her feet firmly. Borin swung.

  THUNK

  Her shield absorbed the blow. She was knocked back, but her feet were still firmly on the ground. Borin raised an eyebrow.

  "Oh?"

  Lyra grinned proudly. Her Great Tank talent boosted her natural attributes. Even at eight years old she already had incredible physical strength.

  "Again!"

  She shouted and repositioned herself. Borin obliged. Another swing. Another block she was knocked back a little less further than before. Lyra’s stance was solid. Her shield positioning was precise. Borin nodded approvingly.

  "You're catching on fast."

  Across the yard, Maris observed Alric carefully.

  "Show me your stance."

  Alric held both swords awkwardly. Maris sighed.

  "Relax your shoulders."

  She stepped behind him and gently adjusted his arms.

  "The sword isn't just a weapon."

  She tapped his forearm.

  "It's an extension of your body."

  Alric attempted a swing; it looked stiff and uncoordinated. Maris shook her head.

  "No. You’re forcing it."

  She demonstrated. Her blade moved smoothly through the air, almost like a dance.

  "When you use a sword, your arms must move with your body. Since you dual wield, both arms must move, flowing together."

  Alric tried again; left sword, right sword, step, turn it still looked clumsy. He frowned.

  Lyra already looks amazing…I'm way behind.

  Maris noticed the frustration.

  "You're thinking too much."

  She crossed her arms.

  "Dual wielding is a rare talent."

  Alric looked up.

  "Really?"

  Maris nodded.

  "I've only ever met one."

  Her expression softened slightly.

  "A master dual wielder. He served the king as a captain in his Royal Guard."

  Alric’s eyes widened.

  "What was he like?"

  Maris leaned against a fence post.

  "I only saw him fight once."

  Her voice carried a quiet respect.

  "A group of Bakari had begun attacking farms outside the capital."

  Raging four-legged beasts, fast, brutal, dangerous even for seasoned adventurers.

  "The kingdom sent a small detachment of royal guards to assist us adventurers. Since the threat had been near the capital, the King saw fit to make sure the threat was neutralized to protect the civilians."

  Maris continued.

  "When the unit arrived, he stood in front of us facing the three beasts."

  She closed her eyes briefly, remembering.

  "He moved like water, every step flowed into the next. His blades danced. It looked graceful, and every movement had purpose. He cut through the Bakari like they were wheat. One after the next they fell. It happened in a matter of minutes."

  Alric listened in awe.

  Maris looked down at him.

  "He was far stronger than me. Probably stronger than I'll ever be."

  She knelt so they were eye level.

  "But that's why I want you to become something incredible."

  Her voice softened hand resting on his shoulder.

  "Lyra is my baby. Even if she becomes the strongest tank in the world…I want someone beside her who can protect her."

  Alric at that moment felt the weight of her words; he stood straighter, gripped his swords tightly.

  "Mrs. Maris…I swear. I'll give my life to protect Lyra. You can count on me."

  Maris blinked in surprise. She could feel the determination in his words. From across the yard, Borin's loud laughter echoed. Lyra was standing nearby. Her face bright red, she rushed over.

  BONK

  A wooden stick hit Alric on the head.

  "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?"

  Lyra shouted.

  "That's so embarrassing!"

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  The adults burst into laughter.

  Training continued for months day after day, morning until sunset. Winter came and passed a new spring had dawned.

  Getting training from C-rank adventurers was a rare privilege. Alric and Lyra took full advantage of it. Lyra's progress was astonishing. Her stance grew stronger, her shield work precise.

  Eventually, Borin began testing her. He swung harder, not full strength. But strong enough, you could hear the crack of the wooden hammer slamming against her shield. Lyra planted her feet. The ground cracked slightly beneath her boots. She didn't fall. Borin laughed proudly.

  "That'a girl!"

  Alric improved too slowly, painfully. Dual swords required perfect coordination. But countless hours of practice paid off.

  His movements became smoother, less rigid, more fluid, Maris nodded approvingly.

  "Now you're starting to look like a swordsman."

  Caelan eventually joined their training, mobility training. He stood calmly in the center of the yard.

  "You must learn to dodge."

  Lyra frowned.

  "I'm a tank! I don't need to dodge."

  Caelan’s expression hardened.

  "Wrong."

  His voice was calm but firm.

  "If you die blocking a needless attack that wasn't meant for anyone… You've failed your team."

  Lyra blinked.

  "Blocking every attack isn't bravery. It's stupidity."

  He stepped forward.

  "Dodging isn't about avoiding attacks. It's about saving your strength. For the attacks that matter."

  He looked directly at her.

  "If you can't move… Who will protect your comrades?"

  Lyra lowered her head, she took those words to heart.

  Elara's training was different, more educational. She taught us about magic and runes.

  "As you train, you will awaken skills."

  She explained calmly.

  "As a tank you’ll learn Fortify. A basic skill that strengthens your defenses, allowing you to take on attacks that would normally overpower you."

  She turned to Alric.

  "A swordsman may learn Sharpen, a skill that allows blades to cut through tougher hides. Some monsters have skin strong enough to break ordinary swords."

  Both children listened carefully.

  One evening, the adults gathered inside Borin's home. Their voices carried through the walls. Alric and Lyra listened quietly outside the door.

  "They're too young," Elara said firmly.

  "They're only nine."

  Borin replied.

  "We'll be with them. They'll be safe."

  Caelan spoke next.

  "They still need more training. We shouldn't rush this."

  Maris crossed her arms.

  "If they never face danger… They'll never understand it. It's a dangerous world out there, and I would want them to be prepared. The earlier the better."

  The children leaned closer to the door, too close. The door suddenly swung open. They tumbled onto the floor. The adults stared down at them, unamused. Alric stood up quickly.

  "We want to go on the hunt."

  The room fell silent.

  "We've been training hard. Our skills have improved."

  He looked at Lyra.

  "Right?"

  Lyra jumped up.

  "Yeah! We're ready! We had the best teachers!"

  Caelan studied them carefully, then he spoke.

  "You may go."

  Lyra gasped.

  "But only if you pass a test."

  Alric’s heart raced.

  "If you fail…you’ll train for two more years."

  Two years…

  Alric swallowed.

  "We accept."

  Caelan nodded.

  "Tomorrow morning, get some rest."

  Morning arrived under a blanket of fog and the field outside Borin's home was quiet. Lyra stood ready shield and sword in hand, Alric stood beside her with his twin wooden swords. Across from them stood Caelan wearing his adventure gear. Archer’s hood, leather boots, bow in hand.

  "You only need to land one hit."

  Lyra and Alric exchanged looks. They had never even gotten close to Caelan during training.

  "You have unlimited time."

  Caelan raised his bow and fired instantly.

  "There is no ready signal in battle."

  The wooden arrow screamed through the air straight towards Alric's head.

  Before he could react—

  THUNK

  Lyra appeared in front of him, her shield blocking the arrow. It happened so fast Alric barely blinked.

  "LET'S GO!"

  Lyra shouted.

  Alric snapped out of it and rushed forward.

  Caelan had already drawn again.

  "Rapid Draw."

  His skill activated his fingers in a blur two arrows launched in quick succession. One aimed at Lyra, one aimed at Alric.

  Lyra planted her shield.

  "Fortify!"

  A faint glow spread across the wooden shield, the arrow struck. The impact pushed her backward, but the shield held firm. Alric crossed his blades.

  CLACK

  The second arrow deflected off the wooden sword. Caelan stepped backward smoothly. Never breaking rhythm.

  Lyra charged shield raised sword ready. Caelan's eyes narrowed.

  "Too direct."

  He pulled the bowstring again. The arrow slammed into Lyra’s shield and the force halted her advance. She dug her heels into the ground.

  "Where's Alric?"

  He listened, footsteps. Alric darted around his flank, twin blades flashing.

  Caelan’s gaze shifted instantly.

  "Better."

  He activated another skill.

  "Evasion Step."

  His body blurred sideways. Alric's strike missed. Alric jumped back as another arrow whistled toward him and he rolled aside. The arrow struck the ground where he had stood.

  Lyra rushed forward again, shield raised. Caelan fired twice. Two arrows slammed against her shield. She pushed through the impact, closing the distance, Caelan pivoted, sidestepping smoothly.

  Lyra spun around to follow him. But he was already gone lost inside the fog. Lyra looked around.

  "Where did he go!?"

  Silence filled the field. Then—

  TWANG

  Another arrow flew from the mist Alric knocked it aside. Caelan's voice echoed through the fog.

  "You’re panicking focus, you're a team."

  Lyra clenched her teeth.

  "Alric! Yeah!"

  They moved closer together, shield and swords at the ready back to back. Caelan watched them from the fog.

  Good. They're adapting.

  He drew another arrow and fired. Lyra blocked it, another arrow, Alric deflected it. Then suddenly—

  Alric disappeared into the fog. Lyra stayed in place, shield ready. Caelan tracked Alric's movement by sound. Footsteps rushing through the grass.

  Behind me.

  He spun just in time to see a blade descending. Alric swung the first blade. Caelan leaned sideways. The second blade followed instantly and Caelan jumped backwards. Mid-air, unable to adjust a thought came.

  Where's Lyra?

  Too late, she burst out of the fog behind him. Shield lowered her body, leaning forward.

  CRASH

  Her shield slammed into his back. The force launched him forward several feet. He rolls across the grass before coming to a stop.

  Silence.

  The adults watching stood in stunned silence. Lyra froze, Alric stared.

  Did we…

  Borin exploded with laughter.

  "HAAHAHAHA!"

  Maris cheered, Elara facepalmed, Lyra rushed over.

  "Dad! Are you okay!?"

  Caelan groaned.

  "I'm fine… sweetheart.”

  She jumped in excitement.

  "We did it!"

  Alric stared in disbelief.

  "We actually landed the hit…"

  Borin lifted him high into the air.

  "You did it!"

  Maris hugged Lyra tightly as Caelan stood up, slowly dusting off his armor. He smiled slightly.

  "Well, you passed. You have my blessing."

  Everyone cheered.

  Except Elara.

  She sighed.

  "You've proven yourselves."

  She looked at the children.

  "Against my better judgement… You may go on the hunt."

  The cheering grew louder and Borin laughed loudly.

  "Tomorrow… We go on your first hunt!"