Arcane Innovator

"Ugh," I couldn't help but groan as I opened my eyes the following day. It was shortly before dawn, and one of the Guild's clerks had just barged into the resting area to wake us Recruits up.

I groggily rose to my feet, and my joints cracked with displeasure as I tried to stretch my hurting body.

This made me scowl at the hard plank that they were, for some strange reason, calling a "bed" in here, which made my back throb with severe pain.

Not to mention, I barely got a wink of sleep last night, thanks to the everpresent stench and snoring of my fellow Recruits.

'Not even a full day has passed, and I already hate it here...' I grumbled as I reluctantly followed after the others for what seemed like a quick wash in a communal trough and a meager breakfast.

All we got was a watery soup that barely managed to satiate my quickly growing body. Therefore, when I was done with it, I first ensured that nobody paid me any attention before sneaking out to quickly gobble a few pieces of the highly nutritious dried-out meat from my bag.

Yet there was no time to savor it as before long, I heard the unmistakable sounds of clinging swords as the Guild's training regimen had already started. Thus, I quickly finished up and hurried onto the training grounds.

When I arrived there, I was immediately met with the broadly smiling face of Wolf - my new personal trainer. "What are ya waiting for? Grab a sword, and let's make ya sweat!"

I sighed, not at all enthusiastic about what was to come. Still, I swallowed all my complaints and mentally prepared myself.

Grabbing a training sword from the rack, I felt its sizable weight as I made some feeble swings to warm me up.

Wolf came to me, tilting his head thoughtfully as he observed me for a bit before saying. "Let's start with the basics..."

He then stepped back to demonstrate a proper stance, which I tried to replicate to the best of my ability.

I planted my feet firmly on the thin layer of fine sand covering the courtyard, adopting a wide stance with my knees slightly bent and the sword extended forward.

Wolf nodded, satisfied with my posture. He then began to walk around me, making minor adjustments here and there as he explained the importance of balance and how it could determine the outcome of a battle.

"Now, let's work on your grip," he said as he stepped closer. "Ya want to make sure your fingers are wrapped firmly around the handle, but not so tight that ya lose control!"

I tried to convert what he just said into practice, but it only resulted in Wolf's amused chuckle as he looked at me rigidly grasping the handle.

He then leaned over and promptly adjusted my fingers until they were in the correct position. As his massive hands made brief contact with mine, I instantly felt his rock-hard callouses, realizing that this man must have seen his fair share of battles.

"Next, we'll work on your swing," Wolf continued. "Ya swinging it like a little girl. Always strike like ya mean it and let the momentum come from your entire body!"

I took a deep breath and swung the sword with all my might while trying my best to keep the proper stance. The wooden blade cut through the air with a satisfying whoosh sound, which made me smile.

"Good, good," Wolf nodded in approval. "At least ya got the movement right; now ya need to also add some force behind it; otherwise, ya wouldn't make a dent into a monster's skin!"

He then made me swing the sword over and over until I couldn't feel my poor arms at all.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally seemed satisfied with my performance and told me to stop. "For a first-timer, ya make good progress, but I want ya to practice your strikes at least an hour each day!"

I happily nodded, eagerly expecting him to say that our training session was finally over, but his next words made me break into a cold sweat.

"Now that ya know the basics, let's go for a round! Nothin' teaches ya like a proper fight!" He grinned at me, and before I could process what he was saying, he was already coming at me with his sword raised high.

What followed was a brutal spar that I only made through unharmed, thanks to my magically improved senses and the rejuvenating qualities of my essence that I made to circulate through my suffering muscles all the time, alleviating some of the relentless pressure Wolf was subjecting me to.

Wolf's movements were quick and sure, and I found myself struggling to keep up. I looked at him in utter bewilderment as I had never before seen somebody so vigorously swinging a sword as he did.

We continued to fight for what felt like hours, sweat pouring down my face as I desperately deflected one vicious blow after another.

Yet even struggling like this, I could feel that Wolf was clearly holding back as he never exploited any of the countless openings I made with my poorly executed swings.

I noticed that he was expertly exerting exactly enough pressure to make me stretch to my limit, yet never too much so I would break.

In the end, realizing that the spar wouldn't otherwise end, I simply collapsed to the ground, pretending to be utterly exhausted despite the fact I could still continue just fine.

Not that I was being a defeatist, but I noticed that by now, our spar had attracted plenty of attention from both the Recruits and the other Instructors, and everyone was stealing glances in our direction with utmost interest.

I knew that attracting too much attention could be a very bad idea, not to mention showcasing any kind of unnatural strength or stamina would be highly suspicious.

Thus, I endured the painful smack of Wolf's sword before he, too, reluctantly came to a stop and then, for some strange reason, looked at me with what seemed almost an admiration in his eyes.

"Hah! You're really something, boy! I wanted to push ya to the edge to see your limits, but I've never seen a Recruit who could keep up with me for so long... I feel like I finally found a kindred spirit!"

'Wait! Don't get any wrong ideas! I'm not like you at all... and I'm definitely not some battle junkie!' I screamed inwardly with wide eyes, not liking that affectionate look Wolf was giving me one bit.

Luckily, it was already time for lunch. I used this opportunity to promptly excuse myself and run away from the still-smiling Wolf to join the long line of Recruits patiently waiting for the small lamentable ration.

Finding a quiet place under the shadow of a large tree growing in one corner of the huge training ground, I hungrily bit into the stale piece of bread they had provided us, together with a bowl of the same tasteless, watery soup as before. 'How could anyone gain any muscles with food like this?'

As I was eating, I went over the brutal training regimen I had experienced that morning, and despite hating every second of it, I couldn't deny it was very effective.

After those few hours of defending against Wolf's vicious strikes, I felt like my almost non-existent sword-fighting ability improved by leaps and bounds.

I knew it was only possible thanks to me constantly circulating my essence throughout my body and rejuvenating my abused muscles, allowing me to continue well past the point where any other mundane person would long collapse from exhaustion.

Although many would call this cheating, I didn't care a single bit. I will take any advantage I can get since my enemies won't be showing me any consideration, either.

Somewhat satiated, I then returned to continue with the afternoon training. To my great relief, it seemed that Wolf had other duties, so he would only instruct me in the morning.

Thus, with a sigh, I joined the other Recruits standing before the long row of training dummies to practice my swings until sunset.

Having finished my training for the day, I collapsed onto my bed, not even bothering with dinner as I could already imagine what we would probably get, so I rather took some of my remaining rations out of my bag.

After meditating for a bit, I felt much better as most of the exhaustion left my body, although my muscles were still somewhat sore.

Not paying it any attention for the time being, I carefully sneaked out of the sizable building onto the busy evening street below.

I still remember the main reason why I was here, so while during the day, I will dutifully pretend to be a diligent Recruit. At night, I will search for that bastard Dominic and his gang.

'Alright... time to explore the city.'