Training on the Road (4)

Lunch was simple. Alex didn't know the two different cereals, which were hydrated in hot water with some herbs and, on top of them, jerked beef from what seemed to be cow meat. Alex wasn't the type to deny food or to be disgusted by it. Poor people can't be that way. So he waited patiently with the book in his lap while he read more about the magic.

Unfortunately, the task had become a chore since the book had become a philosophical tome instead of a magical one. Arch Magus Vitorian III had some crazy ideas about "The inevitability of the Transfer of Energy" or the "Theory of Magical Cords in the Second Epistome of Lucius." Still, Alex was having trouble understanding the sentences. Yes, he was reading the strange language, but understanding…. that was a different deal.

Magic seemed to be a grand mix of philosophy and applied physics, and Alex was terrible in both, for now. He hoped that his intelligence status would increase and make him more capable of discerning the meaning behind the fancy words used by the author, but not just that, he wanted to really learn it. The trinity theory had stuck in his head, and he couldn't get it off.

Not even Rer'Til's stupid face was enough to make him stop wondering what he could do with magic. To be fair, Alex was enjoined seeing the white elf's already purple nose. Rel'Tir was shooting daggers at Alex with his eyes, and he only replied with a smirk,

"What happened to you, boy?" Ratamir asked, handing a bowl of food to the newcomer,

"I tripped when climbing the steps of the wagon," Rer'Til said, still fixing his gaze on Alex. The dwarf had to shake the bowl twice for the elf to get it. Ratamir gave a sidelong to Alex,

"Oh, I see. I understand tripping. I used to do it all the time when I joined the guild. I expect this not to become a habit, and I also expect guild members to help the others not to fall so often, alright?" Ratamir locked his gaze with Alex, who just nodded to the dwarf while thinking how ironic it was for him to say it, considering how much hatred he showed toward Tal'Dore all the time.

Ratamir filled another bowl and delivered it to Alex. It smelled delicious. In front of the young elf stood a brown cereal similar to rice al dente and another softer green grain. Both had a salty and sweet flavor to them that made everything perfect. Even though it was not an ideal match, the jerk beef contributed to the flavors. Alex chewed happily, sitting around the fire beneath a tree's shadow. Everyone sat and ate there except for Ravi, who was happily singing and drinking on the other side of the tree.

Since they stopped to eat, the man had started a very noble mission to get as drunk as possible as fast as possible. If he had a system that encouraged him to drink wine, he was probably already an SSS Devil's Drunkard.

"You already have two enemies, and we are on the guild for only half a day," Tina said at his side,

"Impressive, huh?" Alex commented with a smirk, "Is there something in my face provoking the stupidest guys to fight me?" he asked, and she chuckled,

"It has been an adventure being around you, Valther. Things escalated these last days, but trouble always found a way to get to us," she said and got another spoon in her mouth, "but I'll be by your side. Just try not to pick a fight with everyone you see,"

"I was just reading," he protested, smiling,

"I know," she said and threatened to protest but held herself and kept eating in silence. Considering there was no time better than now, Alex questioned her in an almost whisper,

"What was that talk of Ratamir in the city? The one of 'I'm surprised with what I heard' talk?" Tina immediately blushed,

"I think… I think Ratamir knows about my father," Tina said and didn't complete it,

Oh, it is a secret she already shared with Valther, but she doesn't like repeating the subject. It must be important. I'll have to find a way to discover it without saying that I don't remember. I can't become unreliable. A memory lapse is acceptable, but forgetting a significant secret isn't, he thought while finishing his food.

"Okay, now that you three are well-fed, tend to see Ravi. He'll train you on the sword, and we'll return to the road in three hours. Don't tire yourselves too much in the case you need to drag him back to the carriage,"

Ratamir said, and Bogath and the teen in robes laughed hard,

"Oh, poor rookies wanting to be adventurers but getting stuck with this poor lot. I feel for them." Bogath said, patting his belly and bringing another spoon to his mouth, "I'll feel for you napping on the tree's shadow, okay?"

"Okay," Alex replied, smiling. He had been a rookie in many places and could differentiate a hostile environment from an unwelcome one. These guys were friendly and caring, but they also knew the recruits needed to get stronger, and good results can only come from hard work. Alex could appreciate it. 

Rer'Til didn't seem to appreciate the idea of training after lunch or hearing someone insinuating he needed to drag his drunk teacher back to camp. Reality was hitting hard on the kid, and Alex couldn't care less.

The trio walked towards Ravi and found the man lying on the tree singing a song. Surprisingly, the man had a beautiful, grave voice. He sang the tale of a hero who had long lost his city for a dragon. The song gave goosebumps to Alex. Strangely, he had been hit by the certainty of being in a fantasy world only a few times since arriving in Tevia. This particular moment was one of these times. A powerful scene to contemplate.

Alex realized that the man could be singing a song about something that had really happened, and this bizarre thought was the one that shivered Alex. The idea of anything being possible was simple and impactful. Still, the scene was quickly replaced by the mumblings of the drunk.

"Oh, my pupils!" He exclaimed, trying to get up but failing, "Oh, I was anxious for your arrival. Can we go now?" He didn't wait for an answer and started moving, pointing to a sack on his side, "someone picks this up," Alex walked toward the pack, but Rer'Til was faster and grabbed it, adopting the face of someone who had just won a competition,

"Be my guest," Alex muttered, "you can always carry our bags," Alex said with a smirk, and the kid lost all his posture but didn't reply. Tina chuckled, and they followed Ravi,

They were in a plain with green pasture in all directions. For Alex, all places seemed to be as good as any for training with the sword; the only difference he could spot was some trees piercing the sky here and there, but besides that, the landscape seemed to be the most common possible,

But no place was good for Ravi. He kept walking and walking and drinking at every opportunity. Alex used his clock to measure how long they walked, and Ravi stopped when they completed one hour, one exact hour on the trip.

The landscape had changed slightly; hills were now close to each side of the road, but there was still a plain for them to walk. They stopped there, under the shadow of the hill, and waited,

"Okay, today we'll do a very, very simple exercise," Ravi said, not wasting time, "I'll teach you how to stand your ground and stance while fighting with a sword, and you'll have to hit me, alright?"

Perfect, Alex mused, contemplating smashing the man's head.

"Okay, now pick the training sword that our friend… what's your name, kid?"

"Rer'Til, sir,"

"Yes, the swords our estimated Rer'Til brought us with so much care. We'll use them." The man said, almost tripping on his own foot. He put the bottle of wine on the ground, grimly showing what seemed to be regret with the thought of leaving his bottle behind, and looked at them. He's completely crazy… Alex thought, looking to the man who not so long ago had said he was disgusted by them and now was training them as if they were estimated disciples,

"This is the right position," he said, more serious this time. He tried his best to stand with his two feet on the ground. Alex could see Rer'Til wary of the whole situation. Ravi put one foot in front of the other, flexed his knees, and stood with one hand in front of the body, holding his real metal sword, "this is the position to fight with one hand. I'll teach you to shield in another moment. Now make a line and start trying to hit me,"

Alex grabbed a wooden sword and assumed his position, imitating Ravi as much as possible. He struck as fast and as strong as he could, and the man deflected the hit with ease, striking the edgeless part of his sword with force on the side of Alex's arm,

"Next," the man said, and Alex walked to the end of the line, half in shock and half angry. He watched Ravi do the same with Tina and Rer'Til. The cycle repeated itself for what seemed like an eternity.

Strike, deflect, get hit. No matter which part of Ravi's body Alex tried to strike, the drunkard knew where he was going to shoot before he finished the movement. Strike, deflect, get hit. They did it for half an hour, and not one single time did one of them hit the man,

"Okay! I'm impressed with your results," What results? Alex mused while Ravi took a large gulp of his wine and sat, "now, the second part of the training, one-on-one combat,"