It was midday in the training hall, and sunlight peeked through the windows, illuminating the tired students. By now, many of them could run a few laps without collapsing afterwards.
As had become usual by now, it was time for their duels, and the clash of wooden weapons echoed everywhere.
Cyril was, of course, fighting with Myra currently.
After an additional three weeks of hard work, he was stronger than ever, and their duels were becoming more and more intense.
He struck with immense speed and accuracy; his attacks would deal serious damage, even with a wooden spear. Yet Myra still avoided the most dangerous strikes, their duel resembling a theatrical dance more than a battle.
"Stop! Incredible display as always." Their professor, wearing a satisfied smile, called an end to their duel without announcing a winner and moved on to other students.
Cyril considered this fight a loss, but the visible improvements in strength made it less frustrating.
"Good fight, Cyril! You grew stronger so quickly... as expected of you." There was pure admiration on Myra's face as she approached him.
During this time, they saw each other often in lessons, and her behavior sometimes made Cyril think she had fabricated the story about the future just to befriend him.
"She is acting like a little follower."
By now, Cyril was completely used to Rhamn's presence and reacted better to her occasional quips.
Sometimes, yeah, maybe she really sees me as a hero?
"Thanks, but I am more impressed by you. How did you even become so strong?" Cyril said with curiosity.
He was considered a martial arts genius from an early age—even Prince Clayton, the newly enrolled student, couldn't defeat him. But Myra was on another level entirely
"Ha ha... I guess I am just that talented." She looked a bit awkward saying that and quickly moved on to another topic.
Once combat training was over, they headed to the canteen to eat with the rest of the group.
The four of them—excluding Rhamn—were sitting together: Cyril and Edmund (who also only had two classes that day) on one side, and Myra and Rose on the other.
Lately Myra tried to integrate this intellectual girl into their group; no one objected to it, and so here she was.
"Spell Making is way too annoying! How do you guys do that so easily?! 'Make this circle to cast fire. Oh, you've made the tiniest mistake drawing this incredibly convoluted pattern? That's too bad—the whole spell is busted!'" Edmund said with frustration.
He had been much more studious recently, which surprised Cyril greatly, and often asked for help from his class I friends.
"Just practice more. I am surprised you enrolled here. How did you even pass the test?" Replied Rose with an annoyed tone.
Both of her parents are researchers, and she has inherited an inquisitive mind from them. She is also among the first to raise her hand whenever a professor asks a question. It is hard for her to understand Edmund's difficulties.
"Well, I am sorry I am not a genius, guys... Cyril, how could you betray me? I didn't know you were such a prodigy... " With a sigh, Edmund continued eating his meal.
"..." Cyril was a bit ashamed to hear that.
Truth be told, he didn't know that either. He had enrolled in Class I mainly due to his impressive spear skills, but who knew he would not only have a talent for spell making but also a partner in crime with a frighteningly sharp mind?
As a result, his grades surpassed everyone else's.
"I am sure you'll get better." Cyril could only offer a weak consolation.
"He can only dream of being as good as you are." Rhamn was as arrogant as usual.
"If you really want, we can have a group study session later; maybe that will help." Myra proposed an idea.
"Count me out; I have some plans today." Today was exactly one month later since Cyril saw that healer, and it was time to pay him a visit.
"What is it? Do you need any help?" eagerly said Myra.
As expected she wanted to tag along with him, but Cyril didn't want anyone to know this yet.
"No need; it's something personal; I'll go alone." He calmly replied.
Thankfully she didn't insist, as far as Cyril knew; she no longer stalked him like at the beginning.
"We'll still have to be careful, just in case she comes back to her old trick."I guess that's true...
...
Passing the already familiar scenery, it didn't take long for Cyril to arrive at the 'Happy Patient' clinic.
On the way, he was looking around from time to time but hasn't noticed anyone following him.
When Cyril entered the clinic, he happened to see an elderly woman leaving the place.
There was a beaming smile on her face. "Have a good day, Alvin, and thank you again for your kindness; may the gods bless you."
Seeing this reminded Cyril how some days in the past he asked Edmund his doubts about the mage here.
The answer he got was surprising. Apparently, this middle-aged man was a talented healer who had even been sought after by the Tower, but he declined their offer and settled here, living in peace and helping the needy.
"Where did he even hear that from? Personally, I haven't seen much of his ability yet."
Owing to their previous interaction, Rhamn didn't have a good opinion of the guy.
After the old lady left, Cyril went inside the office and finally saw the healer again.
"Oh, it's you." The mage's reaction was not that promising; he looked reluctant to see him.
"I came here for the scheduled check-up. Previously you mentioned how you would search for some information about my state. Are there any results?" Cyril immediately asked.
He had hopes that maybe at least a clue would be found, so his voice was as cordial as he could make it.
"Alright, alright, come here; I'll check something," said Alvin with boredom.
Trying to stay optimistic, Cyril approached him and waited until he was done casting all the necessary spells.
After the healer was done, there was a weird expression on his face, like looking at a freak.
"You are not ill at all, not a funny joke; go study or something; don't waste my time." He said this with full confidence and turned away from him, paying more attention now to a magazine on the table.
"What? No! I've said before, I am not lying! I've heard you are a good healer; please, I need help!" Cyril raised his voice.
"Look, kid, I can clearly see you are fine; if you want to skip your lessons so much, just go and do it; no need to find an excuse like this. Now leave; I am pretty busy." Alvin said without raising his head.
He was obviously not intent on helping.
"I can't believe this; some healer you are," Cyril said before leaving the building, feeling ridiculous.
I even had hope after all this talk about him; what a disappointment!
He felt angry; after waiting for a whole month, this was the result.
"This is weird..." There was a pensive look on Rhamn's face.
What do you mean?
"Everyone keeps saying what a great healer he is, but he didn't even ask you about the potion he prescribed—it felt like he was just trying to get rid of you."
Maybe he's just a sham—he doesn't know anything about medicine and is only trying to trick people. With this thought, Cyril continued on his way, heading vaguely toward home.
"But he didn't even take any money from you, and Edmund shouldn't be this much of a fool to think so highly of a scammer. "
"Aside from that, did you see that look on his face when he checked your body? Didn't he appear a bit... unnerved?"
Unnerved? Maybe. So, you are implying he is hiding something? What do I even do about that? I can't beat the truth out of him. As Cyril was thinking that, he suddenly heard some unfriendly voices ahead.
"Hey, look at that, we have a student here." It was coming from three people in ragged clothing.
Looking around, Cyril realized that he had wandered into an unfamiliar area; it was a narrow street with rundown buildings. Am I in a slum?
"At least say hello to us, buddy. Hey, can you do us a favor and loan us some money? We'll be really grateful," one of the thugs said in a mocking tone—more a demand than anything.
Cyril was already frustrated, and this encounter only worsened his mood.
"Come on, Flick, the boss said you can't do this anymore. There are all these rumors..." in a hushed voice, one of them tried to intervene.
"Oh, shut up! Not every day we have a visitor like that; the boss will surely understand." He pushed back the other guy and continued looking at Cyril.
"I suggest you don't do anything you'll regret." Cyril tried to solve this peacefully, but his words only caused the thug to become angry.
"What a tough guy! Are you sure you want to mess with the Red Snakes? We are a pretty famous group around here. We do all kinds of jobs, from finding people to worse. I suggest you quickly give up everything you have if you don't want your head smashed in!" The thug was losing his patience.
So was Cyril "What luck, to encounter such a moron..."
These words completely infuriated the man, and he shot his hand forward in an attempt to grab Cyril by the collar.
In return, Cyril threw out a punch of his own aimed at the thug's chest.
Even if he started later, he was still able to hit faster; the resulting force knocked the man off his feet, landing him a couple of meters from where he originally stood.
The thug clutched his chest in pain and started gasping for breath; his friends looked on in concern and ran over.
They alternated between their fallen and Cyril, debating whether to escape or not.
This was not a result Cyril expected; he didn't think he used that much strength. Not wanting to kill the guy, he ran over, scaring away the others in the process.
Thankfully not that long ago they learned a basic healing spell, used by him, is not sufficient to completely recover a person but enough to stabilize his condition.
After expending a fair bit of his natural mana, Cyril managed to prevent his death for a time and turned to look at the man's trembling companions.
"Take him to a healer and don't do anything stupid in the future." Cyril's voice didn't fluctuate much; it seemed like this wasn't enough to unsettle him.
"Of course, sir! Alvin should fix him up in no time; sorry for the trouble!" stumbling in his speech, the thug said something of interest.
"Alvin? from the 'Happy Patient' clinic? What can you tell me about him?" stopping them from moving, asked Cyril.
"Not much! He has been here only for a, uh... few years, but all the folk here trust him; he even healed many of our friends before." Hearing this, Cyril suddenly had an idea.