'I have injured Noel's hands… At least, he won't be able to use those arms for another one hour. And with the small internal injury, I don't think he can easily run around after this. If I continue, the wound will be too much for his body to handle the next training. I guess this is when I need to stop… Though, he might not agree with me based on his personality.'
Anna thought while searching for the words that could convince Noel.
"It's time for us to stop. More injury will make you unable to continue the rest of the training," said Anna as she prepared the next sentence the moment Noel refused.
"Sure."
"Right? I know that you're going to refuse. It seems I need to suppress you all t—What?" Anna widened her eyes, staring at Noel dumbfoundedly. She couldn't believe that Noel actually agreed without making a fuse.
"Why are you the one getting shocked when you're the one who is expecting it the most?" Noel glanced at her coldly.
"No, no." Anna waved her hands and coughed once to regain her bearing.
"Since we're done with the sparring, I'm going to leave." Noel turned around and started walking away as if he didn't want to talk to her any longer.
"Wait a minute."
Noel stopped for a moment and glanced back.
"My offer still stands."
"I don't need it." Noel harrumphed and finally left the field.
No one knew where he was going since Noel actually went to find Shale to ask about the Spiritual Energy.
Unfortunately for him, Shale rejected his request. "I'm sorry, but I can't favor you too much. I need to make it fair for other trainees as well. I have taught you about Spirit and asked Evan to heal you. So, you need to wait for a week."
"A week?"
"Yes. The reason why there is a test so soon after you just become a trainee is that we want to prepare you as an elite soldiers. I didn't give you the reason why you needed to bring back ten crystals, right?
"That's because we will hand them back to you and train you about Spiritual Energy by using those crystals. All basics about strengthening with Spiritual Energy to the advanced level depending on your speed in comprehending the technique itself.
"Hence, it's better for you to wait for another week and learn it together with the others. I'm sorry, but I can't help you more than this."
Noel looked down while clenching his fists.
Shale noticed his reaction and said, "Your partner is Anna Stargaze, right? You can learn from her. I might not be able to teach you, but I can't stop other trainees from teaching the others. In fact, people will start asking around about the Spiritual Energy since you make that flashy fight."
"…" Noel obviously loathed the idea of asking Anna to teach him. But surprisingly, Noel said while walking away, "I will learn on my own way."
'Hoh?' Shale squinted his eyes, looking at Noel's back. 'If it's the previous him, he would have rejected it with guts. It seems he has grown a bit. Whether it's bad for him or not, only time will tell.'
Of course, Noel didn't want to go back to learn from Anna. Hence, he returned to the field and sat down on the ground, away from others.
He saw the people flocking Anna to know the secret of her success. Currently, Anna didn't tell them anything.
He tried to connect with his spirits and ended up learning that the Spirit itself didn't have a way to teach him because they only let Noel use their power. As for how Noel would use it, it would depend on himself.
In the end, Noel learned it alone by recalling the sensation over and over again, not caring about everyone's thoughts about him.
After the free training session ended, Shale returned and informed them the reason of having the test. It made everyone look forward to have the same strength as Anna.
In the next few days, Anna completely beat him up every spar because of his lack of control over his Spiritual Energy. Even so, Noel didn't say anything to this situation as if he had come to term with it.
Luckily, he completed the mission on the second day.
Medal: Rivalry (Completed)
Requirement: Spar with people you consider your rival (0/5)
Reward: Rivalry Medal, 5 Honor Points, and Ice Control Ability
***
Medal: Rivalry
Effect: Learning and Teaching +1%
This was the first time he saw the medal's effect give so much despite being the first medal. If Anna could see this, she would have realized the reason why Noel always fought against her in every chance.
Whether it was his luck or not, his progress in helping the citizens as well as his Rivalry went smoothly, allowing him to finish the next mission as well.
Ultimately, he received 21 Honor Points, Excellent Citizen Medal, Perfect Citizen Medal, Rivalry Medal, and Rivalry II Medal.
He exchanged 18 Honor Points with 9 Skill Points and leveled up Ardagan Swordsmanship, Mega Slash, and Swift Strike.
With all these preparations, he was ready to fight against Anna seriously in their last match since he had been hiding his Ice Control Ability that turned out to be the last thing he needed to understand the Spiritual Energy.
Although his control wasn't as good as Anna, reinforcing a part of his body was possible for the current him.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried to hide it, Anna realized his swordsmanship had gotten significantly better again.
Their last spar was held on the last day before dinner. This might be the last dinner they could have with all the members since they needed to head back to the forest the next day.
Noel and Anna agreed that their fight wouldn't be observed by anyone, since Noel planned to go all out.
And as soon as everyone left to eat, Noel and Anna stood in the middle of the training ground, preparing their last fight.
**********
Noel's Progress:
[Training]
Training: Running 80 Km
Reward: Stamina +0.25% (Accumulation: 1.20%)
Training: Push Up 1000 times
Reward: Constitution +0.25% (Accumulation: 1.20%)
Training: Swinging a Sword up and down 1000 times
Reward: Sword Mastery +0.25% (Accumulation: 1.20%)
Training: Rivalry
Requirement: Spar with people you consider your rival (5/10)
Reward: Spiritual Energy +0.25% (Accumulation: 0.75%)
***
[Medal]
Medal: Best Citizen Merit
Requirement: Help 100 Townspeople (48/100)
Reward: Best Citizen Medal and 10 Honor Points
…
Medal: Military Service II Merit
Requirement: Kill 25 Low Level Demons (0/25)
Reward: Military Service II Medal and 5 Honor Points
…
Medal: Rivalry III
Requirement: Spar with people you consider your rival (4/15)
Reward: Rivalry III Medal and 15 Honor Points
***
[Career: Swordsman]
Skill: Swift Strike (1/5)
Requirement: 3 SP
Skill: Ardagan Swordsmanship (3/15)
Requirement: 7 SP
Skill: Mega Slash (2/5)
Requirement: 5 SP
Skill: Ice Control Ability (1/1)
Requirement: -
***
Name: Noel Ardagan
Job: Swordsman
Weapon: Ardagan Sword
Main Medal: Rivalry II (Learning and Teaching +3%)
Low Quality Crystal - 10/5000
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