Dusty had been relentlessly striking the training dummy for what felt like hours. The heroes had to be not only trained in their abilities but also in combat proficiency. Quick reflexes and a well-trained understanding of fighting techniques were required for any individual who hoped to survive a war.
Their training was rigorous and thorough. Each day, the class alternated between physical training and lectures about magic. They didn't even have weekends off!
Dusty had to maintain his facade of being an inexperienced novice. He intentionally made small slip-ups, missed obvious hits, and over-exerted himself, along with other basic mistakes. It was not easy, he had to abandon his previous combat teachings and act like a fool.
Alistair, seemingly perfect at everything, consistently performed at the top of their class. He seemed to excel in every aspect of their training effortlessly. It was like the gods themselves blessed him. Alistair wasn't at Dusty's level yet, but he certainly wasn't far off.
The other students weren't slacking off, even the lower-class heroes were shaping into formidable warriors. They were more determined than ever to grow stronger, not wanting to end up like the hero who died.
Outside of training, Dusty spent his time in the library, even skipping out on a few of his meals. He had been studying various books about magic, history, and the invasion.
Dusty entered the library, his mind already going through the day's lessons. He barely noticed the presence of a fourth student in the corner of his eye. Dusty paid them no mind, but as he looked through the shelves, a book was missing. The Chronicles of Eldoria. He immediately looked over to the young hero, an average-looking individual with messy hair and tired eyes. The hero was reading the missing
Dusty approached cautiously, his voice a low whisper, "Excuse me, is that the Chronicles of Eldoria?"
The young man flinched, "Uh... yes," he mumbled, avoiding Dusty's gaze. "I... I was just borrowing it."
Dusty feigned a casual interest. He quickly reached for the book, flipping through the pages until he found the section he was looking for. The theory, the one he had been studying, was still cross out. The whole thing made him uneasy.
Without a word, Dusty placed his hands on the book, channelling magic through his hands. His power, Reality Manipulation, quickly moved throughout the pages, erasing the words.
"Hey! I... I was reading that!" Lucas, the young hero, startled by Dusty's thievery, protested.
Dusty looked up, feigning innocence. "Oh, my bad. I was simply admiring your taste. It's quite a wonderful book. What's your name?" He already knew the answer, of course, but he needed to figure out more about him. Appraisal, unfortunately, only worked on objects, not people.
Lucas, slightly shaken, extended his hand. "Hi... I'm Lucas. Nice to meet you."
Dusty shook his hand, offering a warm smile. "Dusty. The pleasure's all mine."
Dusty kept his smile, though his mind was already calculating. "So, Lucas, what are you studying in the Chronicles?" he asked, trying to sound friendly. He subtly watched Lucas, noting his reactions, the shift in his posture, the way his eyes flickered.
Lucas hesitated, "I'm.. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of Advanced Magic. It's.. quite complicated really." He ran a hand through his already messy hair.
"Tell me about it," Dusty chuckled, feigning reliability. "I've been trying to wrap my head around the principles myself. It's all a bit overwhelming, isn't it?" He paused, then added, "Well, I should probably get back to studying. I was actually heading over to the magic section to pick up something on the foundations of advanced magic. Maybe I'll see you around?"
Lucas seemed relieved by the change of the subject. "Yeah, maybe. Good luck with your studies."
"You too, Lucas," Dusty replied, giving a friendly nod. He had turned and walked towards the magic section, leaving Lucas to his own thoughts.
Dusty hadn't even studied a lick of Advanced Magic. He didn't even know the Chronicles of Eldoria had a section like that. As he browsed the shelves, he selected a book with a title that sounded good enough: "Basic Principles of Advanced Magic" It even had an intelligent-looking cover! Satisfied that he had made a good impression, he walked over to the tables and intentionally sat out of Lucas's vision. He didn't want to even consider talking about the subject without actually reading up on it. The encounter with Lucas had been... interesting. He had a feeling that their paths would cross again soon.
[Three Months Later]
At this point, most of the students had evolved their skills into Expert or Master rank. Mark and Alistair hadn't yet, showing the exponentially increasing difficulty of ability evolution.
Dusty had been relentlessly practicing his Fire Manipulation, pushing himself to his limits. He was so close to evolving his ability to Ethereal, but he just wasn't there yet. His Reality Manipulation, however, had soared to Expert. The power increase was breathtaking.
He mentally reviewed what he could do with Reality Manipulation.
• Alter the shape of objects
• Repair Objects
• Erase small things
• Enchant Items
• Edit Enchants
• Change the material of objects
It was an incredibly versatile ability, a way to reshape reality itself. He'd previously attempted to create objects from nothing, but it evaded him. He suspected that it would be within his grasp at Master or Ethereal rank.
Reality Manipulation wasn't the only skill to evolve. Appraisal had also undergone two evolutions, reaching Expert as well.
He had also tested his innate skills, but since he didn't practice them often, none had made significant progress. His stamina recovery after training was incredible. He had tested Fire Manipulation on himself; no effect. Heat resistance also had a neat little side effect of blocking out the effects of high heat outside. His Magic Proficiency so far has played an important role in accelerating Fire Manipulation's evolution. He suspected that he would evolve before his other classmates and would likely be required to hide that. His physical enhancement gave him extreme combat prowess and strength; he could effortlessly shatter diamond that he'd created with Reality Manipulation.
It wasn't just him, his classmates had grown significantly stronger. Some of the guards had even been whispering about an upcoming outside practical training. They'd been prepared by the best of the best and were certainly ready.
On the morning of their four-month anniversary of training, the instructor, whom Dusty had learned was named Bellatrix, addressed the class.
"Okay! For today's training, we have been permitted to leave the castle and explore a dungeon. You will all be paired into groups of four. Beware; there are various monsters and potential dangers. We're bringing a healer, but anything can happen. Stay vigilant."
The class erupted in cheers. After months of confinement, the prospect of a real-world challenge was like a vacation.
As the class moved throughout the castle, Dusty shared a few words with Lucas before they reached the gate. It was a colossal structure, layered with intricate magical barriers for the utmost protection. Bellatrix ordered the guards to open the gate, which revealed a line of large carriages and a sizable entourage of guards.
Four heroes were assigned to each carriage. It also served as their dungeon partners.
It was just his luck to be paired with Abigail, Mark, and, of course, Connor. This time, Alistair wasn't there to save him.
The carriage doors closed, and all of them were silent. He was sitting next to Mark; Abigail and Connor were forced to sit next to each other on the other side. Abigail looked uncomfortable to say the least, but being the silent type, she didn't say anything.
Connor had a wide grin on his face and, breaking the silence, "Well, aren't we such a lovely bunch. I'm sure we're going to have a great time!"