Adventures Beyond The Void (Season 1)

Chapter 38: First Paycheck and New Weapons

3RD POV

The following days passed uneventfully, thankfully. No near-death scenarios… unless you counted Selin’s brutal training. Nicholas ran his usual laps around the hills, weaving through incoming slashes and tumbling boulders. The healing blooms worked wonders on his injuries. He ducked under another dark slash, his endurance and reflexes sharper than before. Training was one thing, but surviving actual battles… that forged a confidence that pure drills never could. Jumping over a fallen tree, he sprinted down the path, ready to finish his round.

Then, out of nowhere, a pyramid-shaped knife, dark magic coiling along a black chain, sliced through the trees toward him. Nicholas jerked back, trying to evade, but the Tree-trooper’s roots surged from the right, pushing its host in the opposite direction of his escape. The result: he lost his footing, hitting the forest floor hard. He rolled just enough to avoid the blade, but his back slammed painfully against a tree trunk, the impact stealing his breath for a moment.

    Nicholas: - Ouch!!

    Selin: - That was pathetic.

His gaze snapped at the voice of Selin, who was walking towards him.

    Nicholas: - I...I didn't know you'd use your weapon.

He weakly defended.

    Selin: - So? You should've expected the unexpected, even while training. What if another nightmare appeared? Another bandit attack happened? Or an invasion?

Nicholas lowered his head.

    Nicholas: - I'm sorry....

    Selin: - "Sorry" doesn't get the job done. Those who the kingdom considers threats, are more than worthy of the title. And rest assured, they wouldn't have gotten it, if they played by the rules....If they had no dirty tricks up their sleeves.

Nicholas nodded, standing up and brushing the dirt from his clothes.

    Nicholas: - I understand.

    Selin: - Good. You have improved quite a bit. Honestly, I was hoping to focus more on your fighting skills, but that'll have to wait.

The boy's blue eyes widened at the woman's words.

    Nicholas: - W-What? Why?

    Selin: - Because, when you fight, you don't do it alone.

She pointed at the Tree-trooper around the boy's waist.

    Selin: - This little guy saved you, but is also holding you back. You saw what happened just now.

Nicholas felt a bit protective of the little tree monster at that moment.

    Nicholas: - Yes, but.... He tried to protect me.

    Selin: - And failed. Because you two desire the same thing, but are not working together to achieve it.

The boy looked confused.

    Nicholas: - The.... same thing?

    Selin: - Yes; You, staying alive. For whatever reason, this thing has refused to kill you or let you die. But now, that is a problem. Today, it was just falling on the ground. Tomorrow, it may get you killed.

Nicholas shuddered.

    Selin: - You'll have to find a way to work together as a team. As well as unlocking that strange root-armor you spoke of. But until then, I cannot allow -....