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Half A Hero 52
Sweat trickled down his forehead as Ghwyr tried pulling out his blade from the edge of the room. He tried it a couple of times before and he slumped back to the ground, unfulfilled and frustrated. He sat on the floor heaving while staring at the ornated pummel of his hilt.Veins were popping out of his arms as he continued to do it once more. He felt a cold air running down his nape as his vision slowly faltered. He had to shake his head a couple times just to get out of it. His ears were ringing terribly but he pushed through it, regardless of how fruitless it was becoming.He wanted to give up and call it quits, but he couldn’t. Out of fear and respect for the veteran swordsman, he was willing to push it until he gets it. Besides, it wasn’t only him that was suffering the same fate. The attending class who arrived a few minutes after Heffer started, were also slumped on the floor and tired.“Is this what you are, adventurers?” Heffer blasted them an insulting question. “Were you tau
Half A Hero 53
Ghwyr had to calm himself after hearing such horrifying noise. He wasn’t sure it was, but it sounded like something inside him tore asunder. His heartbeat raced faster than ever before, and he felt a burning feeling spreading all over him. He glanced at Heffer who was looking at them intently, crossing his arms and looking bored at what they were doing. “Your body has an empty second source which mages call, the Inborn Reserve. Once that is activated it becomes known as the Second Source.” Heffer explained as the class carried on with the exercise. “Naturally, the Inborn Reserve is locked. For it to be unlocked one must undergo extreme physical stress to get it and even then, not everyone could unlock it.” He glanced at them, smirking at their exhausted looks. “Some die like flies.” Heffer said nonchalantly. “Fatigue is most likely the reason for their deaths.” He added. Most of the adventurers paused after hearing this. Their eyes widened as if they just realized they signed their
Half A Hero 54
Their numbers had dwindled from around twenty-ish to exactly nine. Most of the adventurers gave up in the middle of the first lesson, while others had to be placed into the infirmary because of the unrelenting side-effects of the awakening. The day after they had awakened their Second Reserve, Heffer immediately taught them the first moves of the grueling Imperial Sword Art, Sunspire, which was considered the fundamental movement of the Imperial Fighting Style. It involved a lot of leaping and lunging, not to mention a lot of acrobatic movements and quick spells that include a large mana usage. “Left swing! Leaping sidestep to the right!” Heffer shouted at them as the class moved in chorus to his command. “Riposte and stab!” He clapped his hands and gestured that they do it again. Gwhyr had done these series of movements for almost a week now. He had the entire first set of the Sunspire memorized, and yet the one-eyed swordsman was still relentless in letting them do it over and ov
Half A Hero 55
Another week has passed, and their numbers dwindled even further. After Heffer showed them the dance and the steps that came along with it, five more adventurers dropped out from the program to continue adventuring. The nine students were now down to four.As Ghwyr recalled, he noted one of them arguing with Heffer that the lessons he had taught them up until that point were enough to help them survive attackers and bandits. They didn’t need to know more of it since; they were burning their coins already and they were getting broker by the day they stalled from adventuring.Heffer didn’t argue with them. In fact, he didn’t say a word. He simply allowed them to take their leave and wished them luck with their adventure. However, before they left, the swordsman made them promised something.“Don’t ever show your face in this class again, nor teach this skill to anyone, or else I will kill you.” Heffer threatened. “I have eyes and ears everywhere. If I see you brag about being taught by
Half A Hero 56
Three days had passed, and everyone already had a good hang of the ability they were taught. The armor-searing spell wasn’t as taxing as they thought it would be (until you have to incorporate it with some other spells and moving attacks). Although using it in actual combat might be a little tricky than they thought it might.Not all armors were created equal, and some had high-level enchantments more than others. In fact, not all opponents were built equally! Heffer was very keen on letting them understand about it before they could brag about the silly spells he taught them. After mastering the armor-searing spell, a few days back, Ghwyr and the remaining students of the terror swordsman were taught a few more spells in their arsenal. The firebolt spell for their additional attack, the stoneskin spell for additional defense, and lastly, the enhancement spell for well… enhancing their attributes like their speed, agility, and strength while on battle.It didn’t take them long to rea
Half A Hero 57
After a quick breakfast of toasted bread, goat butter, and soft cheese, Ghwyr went up the stairs and into his room where he donned his armor and sling his blade on his side, ready for the day ahead! He locked his room and headed for the Guild Hall with just half an hour to spare.He arrived at the bustling guildhall with adventurers lining up early in the administration desks just before they opened. In their hands were parchments from the bounties they pulled out of the board.Curious, Ghwyr went to the board and was shocked to see the board riddled with a lot of requests. Parchments upon parchments were nailed into the board and he saw a lot of adventurers claiming some of the bounty request, but the board wasn’t thinning.He looked at some of the most recent request and found out that most of them were party related. He turned to the adventurers on the queue and realized most of them were not at a party. He checked at the party bounty requests and noticed the hefty rewards in store
Half A Hero 58
Ghwyr sighed as the one-eyed swordsman stormed out of the room. He turned to the other adventurers who looked stunned at what just happened. Their eyes were staring at the empty doorway before going back to the board with all the diagrams drawn there.“W-what now?” The adventurer with an upturned nose asked.Ghwyr stood up while shaking his head, astounded at their cluelessness to the situation. “We better get studying.” He said while glancing at them. “Or else we die inside that damned dungeon.” He walked out and left the other adventurers mumbling and throwing insults at him like little children having a fit.He wasn’t sure how did they became adventurers. They may not be seasoned like the higher ranks, but they should at least know a thing or two about being tact and insightful towards certain situations. Now, they were left with no one to teach them or explain things from the mini book. Ghwyr highly doubted that Heffer would even return tomorrow, knowing the moody nature of their
Half A Hero 59
The petite old woman waddled towards her small round table at the middle of the room, near her cozy and colorful fireplace. The place hasn’t changed for years. There were still those dried herbs and flowers the old woman hung by the counter of her kitchen which he could visibly see from the living room. The furniture all over her house were still the same red lumber, elegantly carved into beautiful set pieces of chairs and tables with mystical animals in the base of each furniture.Baba Sheby pointed him to his seat. Ghwyr thanked the old lady and sat on the chair with a carved unicorn on the base. It was his favorite seat and even without him telling that to her, Baba Sheby seemed to know that it was.While the old woman was preparing her tea, Ghwyr peeped at the counter at the corner of the room. Behind the beautiful furniture carved with a serpents and ivy vines wrapping on its edges was a simple, yet huge shelf filled with items from potions, dried herbs, spices, peculiar trinkets