Hours later, Daniel lies on his back groaning in pain, unwilling to move another inch and feeling thankful that he’s not training in the heat of summer.

He hasn’t felt this tired in years, not since his first year as a miner. For hours, he has been put through various exercises. Firstly, basic fitness tests and weight carrying before moving on to more intricate martial forms with both mace and shield. Once he had spent fifteen minutes working with his new training equipment, Litzburn had walked over and ordered the young man to return the set that he had been working with to the walls, before providing him with even heavier equipment.

Hours of drills then came, at first beginning with simple actions such as stepping and striking before evolving into more and more complicated sequences as Litzburn realises Daniel isn’t a complete novice. Every time Daniel flags, Litzburn is at his side, barking at him to pick it up and move faster, driving the young man on. Still, he can’t complain as he stares at the blue notification window floating in front of his eyes.

Skil Increase

Clubs: Level 3 (27/100) +3

He’s interrupted in his thoughts by a shadow falling over his still form and a booted foot prodding him. He turns his head to meet the gaze of his smiling tormentor. “You did well today. Litzburn tells me you have good stamina and some adequate training for a beginner.”

“Thanks…” Daniel mutters before pulling himself up from the ground shakily. Normally he’d heal himself slightly with his gift, just enough to take

away the fatigue to let him work more but after this morning’s events, he decides against it. Enough has already been lost for one day.

“Come on. We’re heading back to the Top. Tomorrow, Litzburn will have you work with some of the other students, and I’ll train with you in the evening.” Mary is already walking off, and the bemused Daniel follows along, accepting that the young lady doesn’t seem to have any desire to waste time.

“Mary, thank you for the training. But, don’t we have to pay or something?” Catching up, Daniel gestures back to the training grounds that they have just left.

Mary snorts, before she stops, realising that, of course, Daniel wouldn’t know, “I own these training grounds. Well, my sister and I do,” she corrects herself, before continuing, “Litzburn is the Master-at-Arms my father hired before he died and while Litzburn might run it, we do own it.”

“Oh.” Pondering the news for a moment, Daniel continues, “Is that where you learnt to fight too?”

A nod confirms his guess which makes Daniel fall silent, a part of him considering how strong Mary might actually be. She moves with a fluid grace, every action like a part of a dance. Perhaps he too could learn some of that?

It takes them only a few minutes to reach the Top, where Elise seems to have been joined by a pair of waitresses. Spotting her sister, Elise waves them over before directing Daniel to a seat and placing a tankard of beer and an evening meal in front of the weary youngster. The heavenly smell of roast lamb with vegetables and mashed potatoes is all the enticement Daniel needs to throw himself at the meal with gusto. Leaving the young man to eat, Elise drags her sister off and begins a furious conversation with her.

Daniel digs into the meal, casting an occasional curious glance at the arguing pair, but after a moment, he dismisses it. Best not to get involved in a family fight. Instead, he spends his time eating and surveying the various other

customers, many of whom look to be guards and adventurers. Each group sits with others of their kind, clustered in tables and partaking of the food with relish. Daniel is so caught up in people watching that it’s a surprise when Elise speaks to him, “I know it’s been a hectic day, Daniel, but you really should have stayed for me to say thank you properly.”

“I’m sorry,” Daniel tries to explain. “Mary dragged me off and then…”

“I know.” She gestures with the dirty washcloth in her hand. “She told me.

She says she’ll be teaching you for the rest of the week before you go into the Dungeon. Good.”

“About that….” Daniel opens his mouth, wanting to protest about being given free room and board.

“Daniel, you saved my son’s life. The least we can do is increase your chances of surviving in the Dungeon.” She suddenly snorts, shaking her head, the long-time resident of a dungeon town adding her two cents, “I don’t believe you intended to use that hammer in there. You won’t make it past the second floor with that thing.”

“Come on, it’s not that bad!” protests Daniel.

“Yes, it is. I’ve lived here all my life and let me tell you, Daniel, one in four Adventurers die on their first foray into a Beginner Dungeon. Of those that make it past the first zone, only one in ten ever completes the Dungeon. Being an Adventurer is dangerous.” As she speaks, Elise holds Daniel’s gaze. Though she is telling the truth, what Elise leaves out is that many Adventurers do not complete the Dungeon by choice. There are significant riches to be made continuously ‘farming’ the dungeon monsters for their mana crystals and other dropped items. Riches that an experienced Adventurer could gain with minimal risk.

“That bad?’ Daniel’s eyes widen, completely taken in by Elise. For a moment, doubt creeps in, and he second guesses his new future and his

decision to travel, to adventure, to be his own man. It is a brief moment of hesitation that is soon pushed aside as Daniel refuses to give up before he has even begun. “Thank you. For the advice and the room. And thank Mary for the training.”

Satisfied that she has won, Elise bestows a kindly smile on Daniel before she hurries off to care for her patrons. Left alone, Daniel makes his way to his assigned room to wipe himself down and rest. It has been a long day, and tomorrow Litzburn has promised that the real training will begin.