I'm still trying to grasp the situation when the dragon-winged woman—Leonora—hurried toward us with a worried expression.
"Are you all okay? Sorry I'm late. I was only gone for 30 minutes."
Freya, the elf, gave a faint smile. "We're fine, Captain. This kid helped us. To be honest, I didn't expect him to be this skilled. No wonder he survived that fall… even though you were the one who caught him."
They chatted for a moment before finally turning their attention to me.
Leonora stepped closer, her golden eyes staring sharply at me.
"Can we talk?"
I nodded, and we walked away from the group.
Once we were in a quieter spot, she began interrogating me.
"Where are you from? Why are you here?"
I kept my answers brief—just enough to avoid suspicion. I knew that if I admitted I was from the bandit town, my situation could get much worse.
However, after a while, Leonora seemed to realize I was hiding something.
"Hm... Well, if you don't want to talk more, I won't force you."
I felt a slight sense of relief.
We returned to the group, and they gave me food and water. For the first time in days, I could eat in peace.
That night, we sat around the campfire. I listened to their stories while chewing on dry bread.
They were from the capital, part of an adventurer squad sent to this valley on a mission. However, they refused to tell me what the mission was.
"At the very least, you're safe with us," said Ulrick, the swordsman.
I took a moment to think. Would I leave on my own once I recovered?
No.
I decided to stay with them. I could learn their combat techniques.
Leonora and Ulrick agreed to teach me swordsmanship, but on one condition—I had to help carry their supplies.
Day 3 – Sword Training
I began learning the basics. Ulrick taught me how to use a sword's weight effectively in battle, while Leonora focused more on agility and quick strikes.
However, I noticed they weren't teaching me everything—just the fundamentals.
Days 4 & 5 – Shield Training
I trained with Abraham, the tank. He taught me how to block attacks with a shield and how to deflect enemy strikes at the right angle.
Days 6 & 7 – Assassin Training
Kai, the werewolf, trained me in swift and silent movements, as well as targeting an enemy's weak spots. He also taught me basic dagger techniques, though I felt more comfortable wielding a sword.
I started to feel at ease with them. No one from the bandit town was looking for me—because who would care about a missing bandit?
Still, I couldn't just run away. If I crossed the border and encountered other bandits, they would report me to the central group. I could be captured and punished.
For now, staying here was my best option.
Day 8 – My Secret Revealed
I planned to learn magic from Freya, but she immediately refused.
"Elves, fairies, and dwarves can only use spirit magic. You won't be able to learn human magic," she said.
I nodded, but Freya kept staring at me.
"...Wait."
She furrowed her brows, her eyes narrowing as if analyzing me.
"Your mana aura… it's different. You…"
She looked at me sharply.
"You have elf blood, don't you?"
I fell silent.
It was too late to lie. It seemed she could see something others couldn't.
I let out a quiet sigh and nodded. "Yes, I have elf blood."
Freya smiled in satisfaction. "Why didn't you say so from the start?"
I shrugged. "I have my reasons."
Freya studied me for a few seconds before saying, "In that case, I can teach you spirit magic. But there's a condition."
"What is it?"
She pulled a book from her bag and handed it to me.
"You need to learn the elf language first. I can't teach you if you don't understand elf incantations."
I took the book. I knew this wouldn't be easy, but it was my only chance to learn magic.
For the next four days, I studied the elf language while traveling with them.
When the others noticed me learning it, they questioned Freya.
"Why is he learning the elf language?" Kai asked.
Freya simply smiled. "That's a secret."
I could see their curiosity, but no one pressed further.