New Buff

[Apprentice]

Training now gives experience as if it were a normal fight. In addition, you gain 50% increased experience. This buff is disabled at level 40.

Eric kept pulling up his character sheet and staring at the buff every chance he got as if to reassure himself that it was still there. Part of his mind still thought it was a trick, or maybe a dream. But the sight of the window of text was undeniable proof. He wasn’t mistaken. He really had convinced Ehran to take him on as an apprentice. Even better, this mysterious system between him and Ahya took note of this and granted him extra experience for it. This had already been more than effective at building him up further.

[Combat Information]

Level: 12 (2,086/2,455 XP to next level)

Hit Points: 6/6 (3 Base, 1 Level, 2 Constitution)

Attack (0): 28 (21 Strength, 7 Half Dexterity)

Defense (0): 27 (20 Constitution, 7 Half Dexterity)

Stat

Race

Class

Assigned

Gear

Misc

Total

Strength

3

8

9

1

0

21

Dexterity

3

5

6

0

0

14

Constitution

3

8

8

1

0

20

Magic

3

2

0

0

0

5

Intelligence

3

2

1

0

0

6

6 levels in just two weeks. With ten days under Ehran’s strict but useful tutelage, he’d doubled his level. He could feel the effects of the training, and its benefits to his overall strength, whenever he moved. He felt faster and stronger, as evidenced by his now higher Strength and Dexterity. When they partook in mock combat to sharpen his reflexes and further cement his fighting style, Eric was able to pull off more devastating blows and jump back and forth just a little faster.

Ehran clearly noticed his progress, judging by his narrowed eyes whenever Eric surprised him with an extra burst of unexpected speed. But he made no comment, whether correction or praise. That was clearly his style. Most teachers told you when you made a mistake in doing a task they set you, but not his. He simply let Eric explore the training in his own way, and feel the consequences of each mistake, big or small, on his own.

“An enemy will not take their time to tell you what you’re doing wrong,” Ehran had explained When Eric questioned him on this strange teaching technique. “They will simply take advantage of the weakness, and you will be worse off for it.”

“Is this how all the members of Issho-Ni are trained?” Eric had gasped, sinking to his knees after a grueling sparring session. “Or is this just how you view the world?”

“A bit of both,” Ehran replied with a smug grin. “Issho-Ni’s teachings train you to expect the most cunning of foes, but my training put extra emphasis on perfection in combat.”

That went a long way towards explaining his almost supernatural reflexes, Eric thought. If he’d been whacked as much as Eric during his training days, it would certainly spur him to make sure that happened as little as possible. The importance of that self-taught lesson even translated itself into his own teachings, showing his student just how effective it was to be self-taught, to a degree. It made for a tough lesson, but both Ehran and his protege were tough people.

After this explanation on the second day of his training, Eric devoted himself to training with an intensity he’d not felt for nearly six years. The last time he was so passionate about something had been his own, limited, martial arts days, when he’d trained harder than his classmates, and won tournaments. He applied the mentality he developed then to his training now, and the benefits it brought him were self-evident. He worked so hard that, by the end of the day, he collapsed into his soft bed at Raven’s Hall without much else.

At the dawn of their third week of training, Eric had entered Issho-Ni to a general air of respect and camaraderie with the other students of the dojo. They’d noticed the effort he put into his training, the concentration that he put into perfecting his skills, and they honored him for it. The warriors of Issho-Ni, apprentice and Master alike, generally looked upon lax training with disdain. They pushed their bodies to the limit, to attain a level of strength that would never fail them in their duties. So to see an outsider embrace their training with such obvious determination was a welcome sight.

Ehran was instantly recognizable, sitting in a small circle with other Masters of Issho-Ni, in the direct center of the room. This was another quality of Issho-Ni that Eric liked. Rather than keep their internal politics and training methods a secret, they made their very workings available to the public, in case one wanted to learn. There were no secrets, only information that you weren’t motivated to find. This was further evidenced in their weekly meetings. Four times a month, Calemviir and every Master who could make it attended this meeting, to discuss current events in the world outside, and to consider their possible reactions and responses.

Eric knew that they had a wide network of information established, monitoring the countryside of every nation in order to spot evidence of nefarious crime. Whenever an innocent civilian was the victim of abuse or corrupted power, the members of Issho-Ni acted. Independent people, those who shared their vision, brought reports of crimes and misdeeds to the central point, and Issho-Ni gathered around to discuss it all.

Nor was it just Calemviir and the masters in attendance. While the meeting was designed to share this gathered information with the Masters, other members of Issho-Ni, and even a few from outside organizations were there to listen in and were welcomed to share their own news. Issho-Ni’s mission was a well-known one, and many conspired to help them with their efforts, either through donation or participation.

Ehran had stipulated that Eric’s participation in these meetings was not optional. He wanted his apprentice to understand the effort, consideration, and devotion that went into maintaining public peace. Eric had complied willingly, finding it fascinating to watch the obvious interest of Issho-Ni in protection and defense. More importantly, they functioned as an independent policing force, working in tandem but separately from the Crown of Tyrman. The Royal Family had constantly allowed them this jurisdiction in recognition of their skill, despite knowing that they could eventually become targets of this group, should they abuse their own citizens.

Eric quietly took his boots off and joined Ehran, sitting a few feet behind him in the second ring of silent listeners. Others quietly made space for him, recognizing him as the Master’s personal apprentice, and so knowing that he had a right to sit there. Strictly speaking, the second ring was set for the older, more capable warriors of Issho-Ni, those who had already completed their training, and were the bulk force of leading the organization’s initiative. They weren’t Masters, but they were close.

“Welcome, Apprentice Breeden,” Calemviir said solemnly as Eric settled himself. This was his tradition. He made a point to welcome each and every attendant who came to witness the meetings. It was a polite gesture, giving a warm, welcoming air to those who sympathized. It also served as a perfect example of what was expected of the head of this judicial company of warriors. He noticed everything that happened within his sphere of influence, and his simple polite greeting showed that he had the attention and concern necessary for the job.

“We have been given new information this week, my friends,” he continued after Eric had bowed in respect and reply. “This comes from Samuel Bragg, our ally and only recognized Master outside of Issho-Ni.”

Every eye in attendance switched from Calemviir to one of the Masters who sat around him. Eric craned his neck, surprised to see the Archmage in attendance. His dark blue robe stood out clearly among the white of the other masters, and Eric wondered why he hadn’t immediately noticed his presence. Samuel hadn’t been present for the previous two meetings. He, being one of the few who knew the true identity of Hammerbrewer’s murderer, could figure why he was here today.

“We have discovered, researched, and confirmed the identity of the criminal who broke into the Divine District three weeks ago,” Calemviir explained, confirming Eric’s thought. “We now know with complete certainty that it was Attos Berran, former King of Attos, to the far west.”

One of the people in the second ring perked up at that and stood. Calemviir nodded at him, and he spoke. “Former King? What do you mean by this, Master? And how can you be sure that it is him? Accusing a monarch is not a light thing to consider.”

“Well spoken,” one of the Masters in attendance said. There was a chorus of quiet agreement throughout the room. Another, from the third ring, said, “We should be careful. Attos is not an easy target to hunt.”

“Our proof comes from many witnesses, who heard a second-hand account,” Calemviir said, raising his voice to be heard over the mutters. “Furthermore, our own investigation, and commune with our own Patron, has confirmed that Attos now resides within the Divine Isles.”

A shocked silence spread throughout the room, effectively putting an end to the muttering. There were no challengers to this proclamation. Their Patron was none other than Shigeru Tokugawa, who had founded this group, and whose nobility and honesty were not forgotten. After another few moments, one of the people in the corner spoke up. His question, along with the tone of his voice, indicated that he was still not satisfied with the evidence available. It was also clear that he was not alone in this opinion.

“Who witnessed the event?” He asked, sweeping his gaze around the room. “Who saw Attos murder the god with their own two eyes?”

“A group of adventurers,” Calemviir answered his demeanor calm. “They have been thoroughly questioned by both Master Bragg and myself, and we believe their testimony to be trustworthy.”

The stranger opened his mouth to ask another question, but, sensing what it would be, Calemviir forestalled him with a stern voice. “Furthermore, one of our own Masters was complicit in Attos’ crime and has been questioned during their captivity. They were subject to the most intricate of honesty spells, and quite frankly declared our knowledge to be accurate.”

This terse addition put an effective end to the opinion that Attos might not be guilty, and the stranger flushed. As he sat down, the air of the room changed to a dour one. The undeniable thought that one of Issho-Ni’s own Masters, Anya Tokugawa’s compliance in the crime, was a serious matter that weighed heavily on the proud group and their allies. Eric understood their shock. He’d been horrified to discover it himself, and could only imagine just how bad the news was to those who had trained and fought alongside her.

“Anya Tokugawa aided Attos in his excursion into Milagre,” Calemviir said. He told it baldly, with no attempt to dress it up or excuse her actions. “She captured the adventurers who witnessed this, and attempted, on two different occasions, to kill the only other witness to her crimes.”

“Attempted?” One of the Masters queried. “I trained alongside Master Anya. She was a fierce friend. What warrior was able to stave her off?”

At this question, Calemviir gave a firm smile. It was the first sign of emotion that he’d allowed to cross his face since the meeting began. “Our own Eric Breeden, who is now Apprentice to Master Ehran.”

Eric felt the eyes of the Masters, warriors, and students switch to him now and tried to keep his own face calm. There was no comment about his involvement made, just a silent recognition of his presence, and a sort of recognition for surviving the ordeal. Clearly, they were surprised that he was able to survive Anya’s attack twice. The thing they didn’t know and what caused Eric a great deal of embarrassment at the honor, was that he’d only survived through sheer chance and the assistance of much stronger allies.

“Are there any further questions or doubts as to what we have discovered?” Calemviir said, drawing the attention back onto himself. Nobody spoke, which he seemed to expect. “Right then. While this is a great tragedy, our ability to bring Attos to justice is limited in the extreme. Let us instead discuss how we can keep the citizens calm in this troubling time.”