Thunk.

In a pleasant morning weather, an arrow hit the target at its exact center.

Irene blew a breath and took another arrow in the quiver. Her white breath scattered like enchanted mist.

Thunk!

A knife came from behind her and also hit the target albeit a bit off to the left.

“As expected, my accuracy isn't comparable to yours,” Cain said as he approached her.

Irene didn't say anything, she resumed training as if Cain did not exist.

“Wow, that’s cold. Is there anything troubling you, My Fair Lady?”

“...Don't call me that. I’m not ‘fair’.”

Cain looked at her from the side. Her left arm extended holding the bow and her right pulled the string with an arrow placed on it. Her gaze was unwavering and sharp with concentration. She held her breath for a moment, exhaled, then released the arrow. Her body jerked a little, swaying her bangs and the faint beads of sweat on her forehead. An arrow sprouted on the center of the target practice, releasing a satisfying sound.

“Right now I’m looking at you and I can't believe, you don’t know oh-oh, you don't know you’re beautiful oh-oh, but that’s what makes you beautiful~”

Irene looked at Cain with a genuine look of surprise. A shade of healthy red colored her face. Never in her wildest idea Cain would praise her so openly and sing it aloud.

Cain then sang One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful from the start. Cain wasn’t a great singer, neither were there accompanying instruments, so the song was a far cry from the original one. Still, the great song and lyrics themselves elevated his performance. He didn’t sing the complete song, only one segment of it. It’s more than enough.

“Y-you, wha-- Why are you singing all of a sudden? Stop it! It's embarrassing! Stop it I say!”

Irene, the cold beauty akin to a thorny rose, tried to interject during the singing but Cain didn't care and kept singing.

Someone opened the window on the second floor, much to Irene’s surprise. An auntie wanting to know who made a racket so early in the morning looked below and found the two of them. After a few awkward seconds while Cain was continuously singing, she warmly smiled before giving Irene an understanding look and re-closed the window.

Aaah, youth. The auntie remembered her own love episodes of times past.

“Khhh~!!”

Irene grimaced, she didn't know what to do about her first ‘public confession’.

“–but that’s what makes you beautiful… You’re right, I shouldn’t call you ‘My’ Fair Lady. Just Fair Lady is more appropriate.” Cain smiled honestly.

“H-hmph! You’re not making any sense!”

Irene threw her face away, avoiding Cain’s gaze. She hurriedly nocked and loosened another arrow. It was way off the mark and didn't even hit the target. Her face turned redder. Cain wondered if he really saw steam coming out of her head or he was just imagining it.

“How cute,” Cain commented while touching his chin. He said ‘O kawaii koto’ in another language, Kaguya-sama style.

“Shut up! You’re distracting me!”

Cain bowed like a butler that received an order from his lady, then he silently practiced his knife throwing skill. Irene, saved because Cain did not pursue her retreat, also resumed her archery practice. Only a rotating knife and arrow sound hitting the target existed between them. A few minutes passed like that before Irene broke the silence.

“...Did you kill Wollter?”

“...No.”

As in, Cain didn’t, Viers did. I’m Cain right now so that’s true… from a certain point of view. Thank you Obi-Wan.

Viers didn't have a split personality disorder, he only wore masks suitable for the situation. At his core, he was the guy from Earth that reincarnated into the body of Viers Isuel, possessing memories of both lives intact.

Cain knew Irene was unconvinced. Thankfully, a distraction presented itself.

“Heyyy, I’m here! Gosh, you both are early… What did I miss?” Oliver came.

“Nothing. Come Oliver, let’s start combat training immediately!” Cain jumped in at the opportunity.

“O, ooh kay” Oliver was a bit taken aback by how much enthusiasm Cain had. “Just how I like it!”

“En Garde! Cut the Crap!” Cain attacked using a wooden practice sword very suddenly.

“Gwahgh!?” Unready, Oliver got hit in the forehead and lost in an instant.

***

A few more rounds afterward, Oliver lay on the ground with his face upwards and red forehead, panting for breath. Cain repeatedly aimed at his forehead.

“Pheeew… I’m hungry. Moving the body makes you hungry faster,” Cain said.

“Perhaps a bit of hunger is good for you,” Irene commented.

“Oh yeah, I get that a lot, and I want to… It’s just so hard to slim down, man… Damn, cause I’m so hungry I'm imagining things. Mmm, the taste of that Cockatrice was so good. I should have eaten more.”

When they were in the middle of transporting the Cockatrice back to Mokash town. Cain, with permission from the rest of the party members, took some of its meat and barbequed it. The smell was so inviting that the rest of the party also partook.

“The taste was pleasant,” Irene agreed.

“I also want to eat more of it,” Oliver, sprawling on the grass ground said. “Did you know Cockatrice meat was so good before yesterday? That explains why you insisted that we must eat its meat so persistently.” Oliver pondered.

“Nah, it's just a hobby of mine. I want to have a taste of every monster if possible. I’m a gourmand you see,” Cain pointed to his not-slim belly.

A mixture of truth and half-truth and un-truth. Since I didn't lie, I felt no sin. Damn Obi-Wan, you’re good. Now I can ‘lie’ as much as I want without dirtying my conscience. ‘From a certain point of view’… I learn from the best, hur-hur-hur.

The fact was known to the party that Cain was Level 1. At his behest, the four kept the fact to themselves. Yesterday, Lena suggested Oliver and Irene do a training session with Cain since their age was close to each other. Surprisingly, all three agreed.

Unbeknownst to them, while the trio was training, Paul and Lena went on a date. Lena the tactician dumped the baggage (Oliver) to Cain to have a little vis-à-vis between her and Paul before she returned to the village.

“You hold the knife like this. Against a humanoid enemy, you aim at this, and this, and this spot. Similar to where you aim with your arrow, really. Knives are fast and compact weapons, make sure your movement is fluid.”

Cain taught Irene how to use a knife.

“Arm straight… don't grip the handle too tight… feet should be at shoulder width… breathe normally… focus… the rest is practice.”

In return, Cain requested to be taught archery. Irene straight up said she didn't know much which Cain didn't mind. He only needed someone in the know to correct him if he was doing something wrong.

Time passed and noon arrived. Cain kept rotating between Irene and Oliver.

“Cut the Crap. Cut the Crap! Cut the Craaap!!!”

“I am! I am already. Why do you keep saying that? Am I the crap!?” Oliver desperately tried to block Cain’s flurry of attacks.

Cain swung his wooden sword while saying ‘Cut the Crap’ numerous times. Little did Oliver know Cut the Crap was Cain/Viers’ Arte name. In this practice session Cain didn't use any Arte, only practicing the technique. Cain admitted the sight of his must be quite comical. That was why he didn't shout the name of his Artes most of the time.

“Huahahaha! It's practice, don't mind me,” Cain said with glee.

“Gahagh!” Oliver got hit again on the forehead.

“Irene, your turn!” Cain turned to the eager looking Irene.

Under the gaze of the winter sun, the three continued to sharpen their skill.

Time flowed forward.

“As I said, efficiency! Your fighting policy should be to kill or defeat your enemy as fast as possible. Drawn out battle is a big no-no. You both are wind Pathseekers, wind Artes are fast and strong. This is a plus for you both. Your Victa is too precious to waste.” Cain lectured while tapping the practice sword on his shoulder.

“...Hey Cain. Why are you hiding your strength?” Oliver asked during the rest period. Even now, Cain was using a magic item in the form of a tribal bracelet to hide his true Level.

“I prefer others to perceive me as weaker than them. They are usually less guarded against me then. Looking weak has its advantages you know?”

“I never thought about it, actually… Isn't it preferable to be seen as strong?” Oliver asked.

Oliver was a normal boy raised in a village. He never went to school and had a formal education. His situation was the norm in this world and age, since education was still the privilege of the few. Cain understood this so he didn't blame Oliver when he said something ignorant.

“Strong reputation can be useful. It’s just a matter of preference, I suppose. You both, just remember to treat others with respect, at least don't make them your enemy. No matter their appearances, no matter their status. Even that someone looks weaker than you... even if they’re an Idler. You never know if they’re actually a tiger in cat’s clothing.”

The words all Young Masters in xianxia should adhere to.

Oliver and Irene heard him. Whether they would remember and follow his advice, Cain could not say.

But Cain wasn't their mentor or anything, he didn't have the obligation to hold Oliver and Irene’s hand. He was just here to give some pointers. Whatever Oliver and Irene made of his advice was up to them.

It was almost dusk. While Cain was practicing parrying Irene’s arrows with his sword, a voice resounded in his mind.

“Viers, your first request is finished. It has been compiled.” Clarissa the lamia spoke.

Finally! And the other good news is I can perform the Advancement! I shall become a Level 2 today!

“Okay guys, that’s it for today. Good work,” Cain wiped the sweat on his brow.

“Tomorrow I’m unavailable. I want to buy a horse. See ya.”

After Viers left, Irene spoke.

“Oliver, do you think I’m beautiful?”

“Ehhh!? Beau- I uhh, I… guess?” Oliver stuttered.

“Never mind,” Irene also left, leaving the flabbergasted boy alone.

“...What the hell was that? Was she hitting on me?”