**Tomorrow At Chris Room**
I wake up feeling refreshed and eager for the day's training.
Morning light streams through the windows as I head to the designated training area.
Heroes start arriving one by one:
* Kai looks focused, his eyes already intense
* Ryan stretches his arms, cracking his knuckles
* Hana smiles softly, her hands glowing with gentle magic
* Nao stands beside her, her eyes shining with magical energy as she examines her spellbook
* Akira chats quietly with them, her own magical staff at the ready
* But Mark is nowhere to be seen...
I assume he declined the training invitation, feeling a pang of disappointment.
Instructor Viktor arrives, directing us:
"Equip yourselves in the Armory Room – all class gear and weapons are available."
We head to the Armory Room, rows of shelves stocked with:
* Magical staves for Akira, Hana, and Nao
* Swords and bows for Kai and Ryan
* Stealth gear and daggers for me
Still, no sign of Mark...
The heroes finish equipping themselves, looking ready for battle.
Instructor Viktor clears his throat to get our attention:
"Though one member is still absent, time waits for no one.
We will proceed to the training grounds."
He gestures towards the east castle gate:
"Follow me to the East Castle Gate, Hero Training Grounds await beyond."
We fall into step behind Viktor, exiting the armory and heading towards the gate.
As we walk, I glance back at the castle corridors, hoping Mark might suddenly appear...
But the halls remain empty.
We reach the East Castle Gate, pushing it open to reveal:
A vast outdoor training area with obstacles, targets, and combat zones...
I watch as we're about to depart with Instructor Viktor leading the way to the Dragon's Spine training grounds, when:
Mark rushes up, out of breath, his face flushed.
I glance at my fellow heroes and notice their reactions:
* Kai smirks openly, amused by Mark's tardiness
* Ryan hides a snicker behind his hand, trying not to laugh
* Hana and Nao exchange a curious glance, likely wondering what happened to Mark
* Akira raises an eyebrow, interested in this new dynamic
The castle guards nearby stifle grins, one whispering to another:
"'Looks like the 'Commoner' slept through his wake-up call...'"
The other guard chuckles silently, eyes fixed on Mark's embarrassed face:
"'And still showed up thinking he belongs with them.'"
Viktor turns to Mark, expression neutral:
"Mark. You're... punctual. Sort of. We were about to head out."
Mark hurries to fall in line, trying to ignore the snickers and smirks.
Viktor nods to a guard:
"Give him the training sword."
The guard hands Mark a longsword – its weight looks unfamiliar in his hands.
Mark tries to grip it correctly, but his stance and hold are awkward.
The guards burst into laughter – even Kai and Ryan are grinning openly.
I try to maintain a straight face, but it's clear Mark needs help.
Viktor clears his throat, attempting to hide his own smirk:
"That's enough. Silence."
The laughter ceases, but snickers still linger.
Viktor approaches Mark:
"It seems swordsmanship isn't your forte... yet. Let's try something simpler."
He takes the sword from Mark and nods to the guard again:
"Give him the training knife instead."
Mark receives the knife, looking embarrassed – its smaller size barely boosts his confidence.
Viktor leans in, voice low:
"Mark, can you even tell me what kind of combat experience you have?"
Mark shakes his head, admitting:
"None... just what I read in that book yesterday."
My eyes widen slightly – he only read the strategy book I requested for him yesterday.
Viktor nods thoughtfully:
"Given your lack of experience, it's best if you stay at the rear of our formation during training. We'll focus on survival skills for you first."
Mark nods, still looking embarrassed, and falls back to the end of the line.
As the group begins moving out, I find myself wondering – can Mark really survive this?
As we walk towards the Dragon's Spine training grounds, I glance back at Mark, trailing behind us.
My mind starts questioning my own decision to include him in this training:
Was I trying to redeem myself for past wrongs or genuinely help him?
Mark looks utterly out of place among us heroes, struggling to even hold a knife correctly.
What if my attempt to make amends puts him in greater danger?
Viktor's words echo in my mind: "survival skills for him first" – implying Mark's chances of survival are already slim.
I feel a pang of doubt and guilt:
Have I just sentenced Mark to a gruesome fate by dragging him
Hours pass as we venture deeper into the Dragon's Spine training grounds, entering a dense woodland area.
The trees tower above us, casting deep shadows that seem to twist and writhe in the fading light.
Viktor's expression turns cautious, his eyes scanning our surroundings:
"Something feels off. Stay alert, everyone."
His honest concern for our safety is palpable.
Suddenly, Mark shouted urgently, his voice cutting through the tense silence:
"GET DOWN AND COVER YOUR EARS, NOW!"
I exchanged a surprised glance with Instructor Viktor – Mark's warning seemed out of place.
But before I could process his words, the guards burst out laughing:
"Haha, look at Commoner Mark thinking he's got battle instincts!" one guard jeered.
Another chimed in, "Yeah, what could you possibly know, Mark – how to till soil?"
Instructor Viktor's expression remained cautious, but he didn't intervene
Then suddenly air seems to distort around us as a dark aura erupts.
Two massive, horned creatures – Head Oni – burst from the shadows,
Sending the castle guards flying through the air like ragdolls.
Chaos erupts around us.
Hana quickly casts "Serenity Aura" – a soft blue glow envelops the wounded guards, healing and calming them.
But barely a moment passes before:
* Two more massive Head Oni emerge from the trees
* A horde of twisted creatures floods the battlefield: ogres, hobgoblins, and goblins
The fighting begins – swords clash, magic explodes, and screams fill the air.
I manage to strike one of the Oni with my dagger, momentarily stunning it.
Kai faces the largest Head Oni, his sword flashing in the fading light – he seems to be toying with the creature
Kai faces the largest Head Oni, his sword flashing in the fading light – he seems to be toying with the creature
His movements are effortless, precise, and deadly, yet he's clearly holding back.
My heart racing, I watch in horror as the battle unfolds:
A blast of fire magic strikes the ground nearby, sending shockwaves through the air.
Hana and Nao are caught off guard, blasted by the impact:
* Hana stumbles, losing her concentration – her calming spell dissipates, plunging the guards back into chaos
* Nao is sent flying backward, landing hard on the ground
Dazed, Nao looks up to see a Goblin charging towards her:
Its short sword glinting in the faint light, mere inches from her chest
Nao's eyes widen in shock as the Goblin prepares to strike...
She stands frozen, unable to move
Ryan stands beside me, drawing his bowstring back to launch an arrow at the Goblin.
But I grab his arm, holding him back – my eyes fixed on a shocking sight:
Mark, the commoner who barely knew how to hold a knife, is SPRINTING towards Nao.
His face set in determination, Mark throws aside his sword, freeing himself to run faster.
Time seems to slow as Mark stretches out his bare hands to block the Goblin's attack:
Everyone watches in horror as Mark intercepts the Goblin's sword:
His palm meets the blade, and then his forearm...
The sword bites deep into Mark's hand and forearm, Piercing through skin and muscle.
Mark's body locks up in agony, his eyes wide with pain...
Ryan's gaze meets mine, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he mouths silently:
"The hero... commoner..."
He chuckles softly, then his expression turns accusing – as if thinking:
"This is your doing."
My face burns with guilt, knowing he might be right.
Without hesitation, I charge towards Mark and Nao, dagger flashing in the dim light:
I cut down the Goblin that attacked Mark, then spin to kill the other creatures closing in – ogres, hobgoblins, and more goblins.
My blades slice through the air, deadly precision fueled by urgency to protect them.
Finally, the immediate area is clear of enemies.
Breathless, I stand amidst the carnage, my eyes locking onto Mark's pain-contorted face:
He lies on the ground, clutching his mangled arm