“How long have I been out here?” Averisa asked, noting that the sun was already setting.

“Over seven hours that I know of. Please have a seat Miss, Master Foster will be here shortly to escort us back to the mansion.” Meryl gestured to a chair that Ryker had brought for her to sit while waiting for Averisa to come to her senses.

“And I couldn’t get anything right!” Averisa’s clenched her fists, her knuckles whitening.

“Not quite. Sir Ryker now knows of different methods you could implement to achieve the same results. He will train you personally come morn; that is if his interests are still aligned when he wakes, he is after all a man whose mind chases as the winds shifts!” Averisa couldn’t but help feel calmed by the wisdom that eased out of every word Meryl spoke, her voice soft, kind and gentle… It could lull anyone to sleep even!

Averisa felt her stomach ache in response to her hunger, knowing she hadn’t eaten since the morning only made her worse.

“Here.” Meryl handed her an apple.

“It should at least help fend off the nausea.” She gave a wry smile.

“I see you were able to get through to her, your skills are improving quite remarkably, Meryl.” A unknown new man stepped out of the shadows of the trees.

“Master Foster.” Meryl bowed.

“Please, how many times must I tell you to drop the honorifics. You call Ryker Sir, but me Master? How does that even work?”

“Simple, Sir Ryker is temperamental and I rather not face his irritation being called Master, Master Foster.” Her reply caused the man to sigh, his hand instinctively messaging at his temples.

This man was now young spring chicken, his greasy black hair were slowly greying and his wrinkled forehead told of the many stressful events he must have endured through the years. More evidently was the scar that ran down his right check, down his neck disappearing beneath his loose fitted shirt.

“Shall we head on home?” He held out his home allowing Meryl to take the lead, it was not that she didn’t know the way, only that there were wild boars that scavenged for food at night.

Standing, Averisa felt her body give sway to her weight, she felt lightheaded too such degree the earth felt as if it just decided to walk out from beneath her!

“I’ve got you!” He Foster grabbed her by the arm, steadying her back onto her feet.

“Do you think you can walk?” He asked and she just nodded.

“Good. But do let me know beforehand if you decide to feint.” He joked, taking the chair as he followed behind them, keeping alert for any dangers. Meryl was no fighter, and he knew by how fatigued their new trainee was, she would be of little use should something befall them.

It wasn’t long before the mansion stood deftly on the horizon, the woodland trees giving way as they entered the garden that surrounded the large ‘house’.

She had quickly learned that besides the basic training halls for new recruits some Trainees were often selected be select factions within the Adventuring world. There were exactly fourteen factions, each would often send scouts out to look for potential recruit to join them.

It had just so happened that Gerrard was a scout, and though Ryker was also the head of Vhallen’s Colosseum and Adventure Guild’s HQ for that region he often acted as a scout himself, but she had yet to meet the Faction’s leader.

“Thank you Foster.” Averisa nodded before heading in, deciding to freshen up before heading to dinner.

“The pleasure his all mine.” He smiled at her, and she could note a hidden meaning behind the friendly gesture.

“Master Foster, what do you think of our new recruit.” Came Meryl’s voice from beside him.

“She’s dangerous, just as Ryker, I believe they’ll make a good team in the future!”

“Be sure that Ryker understands his duty to her, he allowed her to live, so it falls to him to train her! I do not expect any less from him.” Foster’s bared his teeth as his grin widened, the haunting chill that ran down Meryl’s spine quickly reminding her of the man’s reputation. A natural killer; and he expected nothing less from his subordinates. All that challenges members of his faction deserved either death or to join him.