Does she remember me?

In the morning, I met Ryul outside my room, and we went to the dining room where Shalia and Leona were already having breakfast. We sat next to them as if it were already normal. I guess we're starting to get to know each other better.

Shaila greeted us with a cute smile while Leona just continued eating. "Good morning! Since you two didn't arrive, I already ordered food for you two. I hope I have requested something to your liking."

"Great! I can eat anything! I thought we wouldn't have time to eat since we were so late. You saved us, Shalia." Ryul said as he started to eat.

Shalia turned to see me and then asked, "You look tired, Darx. Couldn't you sleep?"

"Something like that..." I couldn't get what I heard about the demons out of my head.

"I don't blame you. The same thing happened to me. There is no way not to worry." Shalia replied.

Now that I pay attention, I notice they all have a tired face, same as me. Neither of us got a good night's sleep from what I see. Once again, a silence appeared in which nobody said anything. We just ate.

While eating, I noticed Gerald and his group at one of the tables across the dining room. At the same table is the girl I saw him with yesterday and next to her is the one who seems to be her boyfriend.

"What are you looking at, Darx?" Ryul asked, looking in the direction of Gerald's table.

"Is nothing."

We finish eating and head to the training grounds. On the way there, we crossed several guards who were also training or in their posts, but something caught my attention. The guards are always watching us wherever we go in two different ways. Some focus their gaze on the beautiful Shalia, which is understandable, but some others concentrate their gaze on Leona with a disapproving expression.

"I've already noticed since the other day, but why do they look angry when they see Leona?" Ryul asked without delicacy, realizing the same.

"W-well..." Shalia tried to answer nervously.

"It's common," Leona, walking ahead of us, interrupted.

"Ah? What do you mean?" Ryul asked once more.

Leona didn't answer anything for a few seconds and then said, "It's because of my appearance." After a pause, she continued. "After the war with the demons, seeing the weak state the humans were in, the Beast-Kind tried to invade them. Everything was resolved thanks to the king of that time and was no armed conflict, but there has been a rivalry for power ever since. In the past, thanks to the people of Zrephia, it was indisputable that humans were a stronger race. But since their destruction, the Beast-Kind and humans compete in a certain way. That is why certain humans don't look favorably on the beast-kind. And in the same way, humans have that problem in their territory."

"Sorry, I didn't know the Beast-Kind had it so hard," Ryul replied.

"I'm only half Beast-Kind because of my mother, but my father is human, and all my life I've lived in the human territory, so I consider myself human despite my appearance."

I feel like this little conversation has taught me quite a bit about Leona. Although she doesn't say it, I'm sure she didn't have an easy childhood.

"No matter what happens, we are partners now, so you can count on me." Ryul said, hitting his chest with his fist confidently.

"You can also count on me." Shalia said, imitating Ryul.

"And also with me." I said, doing the same.

Leona stopped her path for a second, then continued walking in front of us without turning to see us and muttered. "Nonsense."

Even so, from my view, I can see part of her completely red face and her cat ears doing funny movements.

We arrived just in time at the training ground where Syvis had not yet arrived. We waited for her a few minutes until she came. Syvis looks a bit tired too. I guess they stayed up late arguing at the Hall.

Syvis stood in front of us and said, "Sorry I'm late. From today, we will start the real training. Since we don't have much time, we will only focus on using skills and magic correctly, teamwork, and the basics of how to survive in dungeons and other types of quests. Things that you will do in the future." After a little pause and seeing that no one answered, she asked, "Something happend?"

We all had the same question, and it was Ryul who asked. "Is there going to be a war against the demons?"

"I guess Darx told you what happened. None of you are from the capital, so I'm not surprised you haven't heard, but there have been rumors about the war for a long time, only this time it may be true." Syvis sighed and started to tell us, "Since the war ended hundreds of years ago, the kingdom has tried to monitor the demons, which is quite complicated. After the war, the demons have not left their territory and there was peace for a long time, but about fifteen years ago, something happened."

"Something happened?" I asked.

"Conflict between demons began to arise, and with the little information we managed to obtain, we deduced that the demon king died."

"What?" We all say at the same time.

"All this is just assumptions, but we conclude that the conflict was related to a coup d'etat. The conflict lasted almost fifteen years, but we believe with the new information that Estella gathered that there is already a new demon king."

"B-But that doesn't mean that a war should begin." Shalia said.

"Recently, there have been more sightings of demons in the northern part of our territory in addition to an attack on a nearby village of the frontier a few years ago, killing everyone. With all the information we have, we have concluded that the demon king doesn't plan to carry a peace mandate as the previous one."

"This is bad..." Ryul said.

"We knew this day would come, and that is why we have taken action. All of you are one of them." Syvis exclaimed.

"What do you mean?" Leona asked.

"As you already know, anyone of the required age can take the ritual and become an adventurer if they are lucky. In the past, many of the new adventurers had no training or combat experience. Many high-ranking adventurers died foolishly thinking that simply because there were of a high rank, they could do any mission and ended up dying pathetically making beginner mistakes or not knowing how to use their skills." Syvis took a few steps closer to us and continued. "Five years ago, it was decided that high-ranking adventurers could not join a guild until they go through this training that you are having right now to avoid further unnecessary deaths."

Makes sense. Ryul is in that situation. Despite being an A rank, his lack of ability is noticeable.

"Here, we bring the A-rank adventurers and some of the B-rank who have a rare skill." Syvis continued, "Counting between the ritual from half a year ago and this one, only less than fifty adventurers have been called. Too few compared to the large number of demons, and each of you are indispensable in what is coming, so we cannot let any of you die foolishly."

"Are there more demons capable of fighting than humans?" Shalia asked.

"Unlike other races, demons do not have to go through a ritual to obtain new abilities. They are born with them. Not only that but their territory is also much larger, which increases the number of inhabitants, which dramatically increases the number of fighting capable demons. Even if we put together all the other races' adventurers, we would still not be able to equal their numbers. Do you understand now why each of you is so indispensable?"

"How much time do we have?" I asked.

"Who knows... It may be a month, a year, or ten, but we must take advantage of every minute. When the time comes, your job will be to help the few S-rank we have." Syvis reply.

When I see the others, they look distressed, but as Syvis said, we cannot waste time. I have to find a way to get stronger.

"Let's put this talk aside and start with your training. An adventurer's duties are not only to fight against monsters but also with bandits and other adventurers. You have to be prepared for any situation. Many of the quests you will receive in your day to day will be as bodyguards or to get materials, so you will have to travel a lot. The world is more dangerous than you think, especially in desolate places, so you can only depend on yourself and your companions. That is what all of you will learn in these few days we have." Syvis said with a firm voice and continued. "In the mornings, we will train in the use of magic, and in the afternoons, we will put to the test what you have learned as well as your skills."

"What about me? I can't use magic." Ryul asked.

"Monk is one of the most challenging classes to master, especially for someone with no training. The class relies heavily on martial arts and controlling a different energy than the rest of the other classes. It is not something I can help you with. I have asked for one of the royal guard members, who is also a monk, to help you wWhile we practice magic in the mornings. In the afternoon, we will meet again."

"Okay...." Ryul reply, crestfallen.

Ryul went elsewhere with the royal guard while Leona, Shalia, and I began to practice our magic.

Syvis directs her attention at Shalia and asks, “You said you already know some earth magic, right?”

Shalia nods. Syvis asks her to demonstrate her Earth magic, to which Shalia started summoning dirt from the ground and hold it between her hands.

"Not bad," Syvis replied. "It is rare to see an adventurer with an affinity for three elements: earth, Water, and Light. Since you have enough control over your Earth magic today, you will start practicing your water magic, and at the end of this month, your goal will be to have control over the three elements you have an affinity for, so you can start combining them to create a new one."

"Alright!" Shalia responded, motivated.

Syvis then turned to see Leona and me and said. "You two have no prior training in magic, so you will start with the basics. Leona has an affinity for the light element, hence you will try to summon ball of light with magic."

"Understood." Leona reply.

"And your Darx will try to do the same but with the element of water since we saw that you had an affinity for that element."

After that, Syvis explained to us how to summon a ball of light and water with magic. Shalia quickly figures out how to do it while Leona and I had difficulty even controlling our mana.

This is so frustrating. After many attempts, I still can't do it. Unlike me, Leona finally succeeds in creating her own ball of white light. It was cute to see her ears perk up. At least one of us is succeeding.

Syvis explained to me once again how to use my mana towards water magic. After a few hours and with the help of Syvis, I finally managed to summon a small ball of water.

"I-I did it!" It's a bizarre feeling, but I finally made it.

"Congratulations, Darx!" Shaila happily congratulated me.

Syvis got close to me and asked, "Do you have your adventurer card with you? Can you check it one more time?"

I pull out my adventurer card as Syvis suggests. When I look upon it, I notice there is a change. In the list of skills and magics, one row of question marks has disappeared and is now replaced with [Water Magic]. Though the letters also look like they have been burned into the paper.

Syvis took my card and stared at it for a moment, and then muttered, "Just like them..."

"Sorry?" I asked, confused.

Syvis returned the card to me without giving any explanation. She then told us what to do next. "Keep creating magic balls until you can do it without difficulty."

Syvis left for a while, and we kept practicing just like she said. It didn't take Shalia long to create a water ball without difficulty. It took Leona and me more time, but we improved a lot in the time we were practicing. Syvis came back and asked us to show her our progress and told us what to do next.

"Now that you can easilly create a magic ball, you will learn the most basic spell." Syvis said.

Syvis created a magic ball in her hand, which she pointed towards a tree. She threw the water ball into the trees, making a hole in the trunk on impact. "Now do the same."

After telling us how to do it, Syvis left once more. The rest of the day, we tried to do it, but even Shalia was having a hard time. After hours of trying, we managed to launch the magic ball against the tree but far from creating a hole in the trunk.

When the sun was beginning to hide, Syvis returned, along with Ryul, who looked very mistreated.

"D-Darx... I can't take it anymore... Everything hurts!!" Ryul said, almost crying.

I wonder what kind of training Ryul had to have left him in that state.

"We'll finish for today. Don't be late tomorrow." Syvis said and left again without saying more.

We go back to the rooms to take a shower. After a shower, I agreed with Ryul to go eat something, but when I saw that he did not come out and did not answer the door, I went into his room. I'm surprised he has such a messy room in just a couple of days that we've been here. Ryul was asleep in his bed and not wanting to wake up.

"I need to get some sleep. I'll come later." Ryul answered sleepily.

"Are you sure? If you stay asleep for too long, you won't get food."

"I'll be fine..."

Exactly what training did he do to make him so exhausted? It's the first time I've seen Ryul like that. Normally he wouldn't skip mealtime for the world. Now that I think about it, Ryul and Oliver would get along just fine. Oliver loves making food, and Ryul loves eating it.

I met Shalia and Leona in the dining room, with whom I ate, and we talked about magic. It is evident that we were all tired, so we returned early to our rooms, or at least that was my initial plan.

I decided to go to the library before going back to my room. There's something I've had doubts about since yesterday. I understand now why humans and Beast-Kind don't get along thanks to Leona's explanation, but why did the bald guy treat Syvis that way yesterday. He complained about the dark elves, but I don't know why and it's not like I could ask Syvis. Maybe some book in the library can explain it to me.

Almost when I reached the library entrance, Gerald and the girl he was with yesterday went out in a rush.

"Move," Gerald said, passing beside me.

What's his problem? Whatever... I don't really care.

I went straight to the third floor since at this time it seems that there is no one there. I like to read alone. I went upstairs, and when I reached the third floor, to my surprise, Syvis was there. She was standing drinking something from a small bottle.

After noticing my presence, Syvis, surprised, tries to hide the bottle. I wonder what she was drinking.

"What are you doing here?" Syvis asked.

"Ah, I-I'm looking for a book to help me with my magic..." There is no way I can tell her that I am looking for information about the dark elves because I am interested in her. "And what are you doing here?"

"Is it not obvious that if I'm in a library it's because I'm looking for books!? However, two fools were using the library for something else, and they interrupted me."

She asked me the same question... Two fools? Don't tell me Syvis found Gerald and the girl doing the same thing they were doing yesterday, and that's why they ran away.

"Don't stay up late," Syvis said before leaving.

"O-Okay..."

After Syvis left, I found a book about the dark elves on one of the bookshelves. I took it and sat at a table in front of a large window that illuminated the table with the moon's light.

Let's see. The book is quite interesting. It says that the dark elves were the only race that did not help in the war against demons in the past. It seems that they are a race that rarely leaves their territory, which is very far south. They live in the forests, and they don't like to get into the problems of other races, and that is why they don't leave their territory and didn't participate in the war either.

Now that I think about it, Syvis is the only dark elf I've seen in the city.

The dark elves have different customs compared to the other races. They worship the goddess [Aena], who is the goddess of pleasure and fertility. One of the qualities of dark elven women is that they can control at will when they get pregnant. Because of this ability, their culture allows them to have sex with people other than their stable partner without being frowned upon...

WHAT!? I-I didn't know that they had that kind of customs. There's still more. They...

"Didn't I tell you not to stay up late?" Syvis behind me said, surprising me.

I was so focused on the book that I didn't notice her approaching.

"I-I was just ..." I said, trying to hide the book.

"Why are you nervous?" Syvis asked, sitting in a chair across the table.

"I-I'm not nervous..." She didn't notice the book, did she!?

"Right..." Syvis said, crossing her leg. "Your eyes are the same as when you were a kid. You haven't changed much."

"Not really. I'm... I..."

What did she say? She said when I was a kid? I was stunned by her words.

Does Syvis remember me...!?