To all my readers on the subreddit, I'll be typing this fanfiction here and therefore adding the chapters. If you enjoyed Chapter 1 and would like to see more, please feel free to "follow" me or comment/review! You guys give me the motivation to write more, so please show it :).


Chapter 2

"Ah. So you're the new kid Baj sent me" the instructor said as he eyed Etho up and down.

"Y- yes… That's me." Etho whispered, too nervous to even speak. Today would begin the most intense and rigorous training in the land to become a part of the King's army, and he was already trembling with anxiety. It certainly wasn't a good first impression.

The instructor certainly thought the same, but the boy's physical features had a more significant effect on his initial opinion. He was scrawny and short, an obvious farm boy. The instructor sighed. The kid won't make it a year.

"Well, my name is JSano. I believe you have no idea how a bowman operates and fights. No, I know you don't know how a bowman fights. Also, I doubt you've ever handled a real weapon." JSano told Etho. He bent down to reach for a large bag sitting at his feet. In it, he revealed a worn, scratched up wooden bow. "This will be your bow to use for the first few months of your training. It's been carved to make it easier for beginners to string an arrow and release it; you can tell by the way the frame curves." He gave the bow to Etho to hold, and while reaching for another thing in the bag.

"This is your quiver." JSano said as he directed his eyes toward the long, worn-down object. "Since you obviously haven't physically developed into a man, its small. It can only hold 20 standard arrows, so it's in your best interest to avoid conflict with another fighter. Here, it goes on your back like this… How does it feel?"

"Uh great." Etho replied respectfully. In actuality, the quiver felt awkward on its back. It certainly wasn't light, and the shape of it bothered his back. He cringed at the thought that he would carry it everywhere he went.

"Well, you may notice something strange about it. Try shooting an arrow." JSano said.

"But, I don't have any…" Etho replied. Uh oh, was I supposed to bring arrows?

"Ha! Exactly! What good is a bow without any arrows? Therefore, your first assignment is to go to the plains around Romero. It's a small village that you can stay at, but I'll warn you, the inhabitants are kind of… well, stupid. It's hard to communicate with them."

"Alright…"

"Anyways, during your stay you should hunt some chickens. Obviously once slain you can pluck the feathers off them, but not every feather will do. The ones that can make arrows are found at the butt of the chicken and have dark, black tips. Only these feathers allow arrows to properly glide through long distances of air. Understand?"

"Yes sir."

"The next material you need to make arrows is flint. Flint can be found by digging up gravel. It's a tedious task, but a necessary one. Gather small pieces of flint, fuse them together at a crafting bench, and you'll have a piece large enough for a single arrow. Of course, you can buy flint for an inexpensive price, but I suggest you gather it naturally. That way, if you ever get stranded in the wild, you'll be able to produce arrows. Oh, and you'll need sticks obviously. Those can be carved out of any type of wood. Attack the feather on one side and the flint on the other and you should get a basic arrow. Emphasis on the word basic."

Etho nodded his head, retaining all the information into his brain. His dad always told him he was a smart kid, so he shouldn't have much trouble with the technical aspects of his training. He thanked JSano, gathered his bow and quiver, and began to depart toward the village of Romero.

Meanwhile, in a different part of the Kingdom, another boy had received his first initiation. He had chosen the path of a magician, a job that revolved around the study of magic and how to manipulate it in battle. Another important part of a magician's training was book study. A large majority of the Kingdom's medical and science-related

advancements depended on the magicians.


"MicGamer, h-"

"It's M-C Gamer, sir."

"Well, M.C shall do for now. Anyways, as a magician, its extremely essential you become familiar with the kingdom's surroundings. I assume you hope to become a healer in the future, yes? If that's your goal, then you must thoroughly study alchemy. Potions are mostly made out of natural ingredients - flowers, soils, liquids, those sorts of things."

"I see." M.C replied.

"I believe you also know that magicians can use spells. Spells require you to be able to harness the mana inside of you, manipulate it into a variety of forms, and channel it through your fingertips. The key word in that sentence is *mana*. Its perhaps the most important word in your life. Throughout your training, you'll gradually learn how to control it easier, different ways to unleash it, and of course, many many spells." the instructor explained. "For example, the first you'll learn is Energy Claw. Let me demonstrate..."

"Energy Claw!" the instructor shouted. Suddenly, the dummy target fifteen yards away had four slash marks through its front side, similar to the shape of two "X's" on top of each other. It's entire body had been ripped to shreds, and a thin line of smoke could be seen being emitted from it.

"Of course, you won't be able to use that spell at that caliber this early in your life. But still, its a good beginner spell that can take down basic enemies and monsters."

M.C nodded his head in amazement. He glanced at his own bare hands, and thought to himself. Could he really one day be able to do that?

"However, remember, spells are not the only thing magicians study," the instructor interrupted M.C's thought as he plopped a huge fat textbook into the boy's hands. "Get to studying."

*The Encyclopedia of Mana and Alchemy: Volume 1* M.C read. Sigh. He hated reading, and the book looked like it would take several of hundreds of hours to thoroughly read. Still, he was determined to become the 2nd job of Cleric, and maybe even the 3rd job of Priest, if he worked hard.

"Oh, I suggest you travel to the village of Romero. The people that live there won't talk to you, but I'm sure you can find a house to sleep in. The plains nearby are gorgeous, and the caves below have a lot of basic resources and minerals that are explained in your encyclopedia. You should study and live there for awhile. Good luck."

M.C once again nodded his head in appreciation, and promptly left for Romero.


In the middle of a forest, east of the Kingdom, Pause was swiftly moving from tree to tree. Blend with the shadows, JSano, his old instructor had told him. That's the key to moving without being seen. He let out a sigh. He had been told he excelled simply shooting the bow but, JSano had constantly mocked his below-par evasive skills. And although he hated to admit it, if he wanted to become an elite archer he would have to become extremely stealthy.

"Shit!" Pause muttered as he tripped on the root of a large tree. "So much for damn elusiveness..." It was getting late, and it was probably wise for him to set up camp for the night. Besides, he was only a few hours away from the archer camp Baj had suggested him go to. He could arrive there tomorrow and immediately begin his training. Grunting as he forced himself off the hard, dark ground, Pause thought to himself: I'll avenge them soon… They can't get away with it!


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