9/6 - secret training ground - afternoon

A spear is coming my way. I dodge it only for the lancer to switch to the backside to go for another hit. I block it before it makes contact. A wooden sword is honing in on my head. I duck to avoid it but it follows me; I use my sword to block it. The spearman is about to kick my chest but I move out of the way before she can hit me. The swordsman follows me to deliver a few quick strikes. Luckily, I'm able to block them. However, right when the swordsman bends their head left, the butt of a spear hits my forehead, cocking my head backward. Suddenly, my feet leave the ground, I land on my ass. A wooden sword and a wooden tip spear poke my cheeks.

"You lose, again," Marie throws the fact in my face.

I let out an agitated groan as I lay down on my back.

"Sorry, Proxy, but you did excellent this time. You lasted 20 minutes against both of us. Better than 10!"

"Really?"

I get up from the ground, dusting myself off.

"Indeed, I'm very much impressed with your progress. What do you think, Marie?"

"He's not bad at all. Still, it doesn't matter if he can't hit us."

She's right. Even if I got blocking down, it doesn't mean much if I can't land a blow. All right, better get back to it then. As I get up from the ground, my arms, legs, and even my chest surge with pain. I couldn’t help but let out a pain-filled moan.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, peachy. I just feel a bit sore, is all. I can still go!"

Alex pats me on the back, causing a knee-jerk reaction on my back.

"As I have concluded, you're hurting," Alex diagnose.

"What, no, I swear I'm fine! I was just surprised.”

“Liar, your body has been through the wringer as of late. You need to rest,” Marie advises me.

“So what, you want me to take a break?”

“Indeed. Actually, as a matter of fact. Lately, I think I’m becoming even more fatigued. How about you, Marie?”

“Now that you mention it, guess I am as well. My bones feel like liquid.”

Guess we all have been working and fighting hard for the last few days. Couple that in with the fact I’ve been helping with the construction for our ride. Speaking of which, I have to head on over there today.

“Sorry guys, but I got to head over to the construction site today.”

“Seriously, aren’t you working yourself ragged?”

“No sweat. I’ll take a break when I can. I promised Elizabeth I would head over.” I give Alex my wooden sword, then go to the side of the training area to grab my jacket. “Thank you for the training today, Alex.”

“Think nothing of it, but I think you should rest. If you overwork yourself, then your body will surely pay the price. Besides, would it not be to your benefit if you were to be at full strength during training?”

When he says it like that, he makes a good point. I guess I should give myself some due rest.

“Fine, I’ll go back to camp for the day and get some shut-eye.”

“Excellent.”

With that, I take my leave from the training field for today. It’s out of the ordinary for me to deny a day off. But I have to do what I can to grow stronger while helping everyone out. Although, I feel as if I’m running myself into the ground. So maybe it’s okay for me to get some me-time.

…

“Brother,” Marie calls. “I think everyone has been working hard, and it's good. . .”

“We’re growing exhausted.”

“Exactly, it’ll affect morale in the army.”

“I understand. We should find a means to raise it.”

“Right, which is why I think we should do something special. What do you think it should be?”

“Hmm. . .I do not know.”

Marie slumps her shoulders in disappointment. I cannot blame her for that. . .Wait, now that I think about it, I do have an idea.

“Marie, I have an idea!”

Construction site - afternoon

I said I wouldn’t work at the construction site today, and I mean it. But Alex never said I couldn’t just swing by. The construction site is taking place inside of a large cave that we cleared out in advance. We’re able to transport parts and whatnot inside the cave without going far inside. As for where we got the part. We scrap them from the bandit vehicles we captured in the area. We gathered them from the last major camp in the area, so we have a lot of resources to work with. With the help of the mechanic Chip brought in, the project is going smoothly. Speaking of the lead mechanic, she’s a bit. . .

“No, no! Not there! Hey, be careful with that! And for the last time, stop eating near the construction site, damn it! Y’all really are a bunch of sorry sacks!”

The woman ordering the men around the construction site turns her attention towards me, letting out a loud gasp.

“Proxy, that you?”

“Yo, sorry Elizabeth, but. . .”

She approaches me only to body slam me to the ground. She sits on my back, keeping me pinned to the ground.

“Ow, ow, ow! What the hell are you doing!?”

“You’re late, you said you’d be here on time!”

“Sorry, sorry, I got caught up in training with Alex and Marie!”

“Oh, why didn’t ya say so?” she casually questions.

“You didn’t let me!”

“My bad.”

She gets off of me, picking me off the ground as well. The woman named Elizabeth is the head mechanic. Like Marie, she has a muscular build, except she’s bulkier than her, but still keeps a woman’s figure. She has short red-orange hair, a mole under her left eye, and she’s a tad taller than me. She’s wearing a jacket that covers her chest, but covers very little of her arms.

“So how is everything coming?”

“Eh, they’re coming, but these lay-aways don’t know how to find their own ass if you gave them instructions.”

Sure doesn’t mince words when it comes down to it.

“Come on, most of them aren’t too used to working with vehicles. Gotta ease up on them.”

“Yeah, you’re right, but it just frustrates me seeing amateur work.”

“Endure it for just a bit longer.”

“Trying to. Speaking of which, are you gonna help or stand around?”

“Can’t, Alex told me to take some time off because I’m running myself ragged.”

“Ah, I see. Yeah, you do seem a bit exhausted. So why are you here then?”

“To check up on things.”

“Well, at least you came. Chip said he would but never does. Honestly, if he’s gonna not show up, he can at least be honest with me.”

Yeah, I doubt she would allow him to say that with no problems.

“Anyway, we’re almost done putting the thing together. We’re welding parts from the cars you guys brought in to fit the frame of the vehicle. I’m also leaving any cars that don’t need to be scraped alone. But don’t expect too many to be left behind. We’re trying to make this thing big, after all."

“Why not use all the vehicles you need to?”

“Gonna use them, at least that’s what Marie said.”

“Ah, makes sense. Marie is always on top of that sort of thing.”

“Yeah, seems like a lady that has her shit together. Though, she seems kind of intense.”

“You’re telling me.”

Other than that, a few more days, and we’ll have ourselves a fine ride. If it works.”

“Cool, can’t wait for it to be done! Hopefully, it works.”

“Sure hope so. Well, that’s enough of a break for me. I’m gonna get back to work. You take care now, kay?”

“Yeah, see ya.”

I turn back to my bike. Elizabeth screams at the others behind me. Honestly, I wish those guys luck.

Anti-bandit camp - afternoon

As soon as I enter the camp, I notice Richard is here. Must’ve gotten done with his training early. He’s playing cards with Quincy, Nunnalé, as well as Gil. The energy they’re giving off is something fierce, deadly even.

Gil places two cards on the flat rock they’re using. Richard responds by placing one card. Must’ve been a bigger number. Nunnalé draws one card as it’s her turn.

“Pass,” she announces.

“In that case.” Gil throws two cards, a 5 and 4. He only has one card left. Richard has 3 left. “Your move,” he attempts to provoke his opponent.

“Master, do not give up!”

“Don’t worry, because this game is mine.” He places the last three cards in his hand; 4, 5, and 1. “10.”

“Seriously!?”

“Congratulations, master!”

“Thank you, but you know you lost, right?”

“As long as you win, I am fine with any result.”

What a good sport, or loyal sport? Eh, whatever. Might as well congratulate the winner.

“Nice going buddy, pulled out another win.”

“Proxy,” Richard says my name in utter surprise. “I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”

“Yeah, got off early. Mind if I join in for the next game?”

“Sure, take a seat?”

We begin a new game the moment I take my seat. A couple of turns go by as we race to see who can win first. Gil is dead last while Nunnalé is third, so that leaves me and Richard in a stalemate; our next move can break it.

“Attention, allies!” Alex’s voice booms throughout the camp, distracting me from the game. “You all have been working hard, and I appreciate all your efforts. However, I know that you lot are growing exhausted from the recent amount of work. Take heart, I too am exhausted. If we are to go into battle, we must be in top form. So I propose we take a break tomorrow, and not just anywhere, but none other than the Endel springs!”

An uproar of cheers emerges from the crowd that surrounds him.

“What a delightful full game you’re playing. Mind if I watch?”

Doctor Crow appears in front of us.

“Sure.”

He takes a seat between Gil and Richard.

“Are you all excited about the trip to the Endel springs?”

“What is it like?” Richard directs the question to Crow. “It’s a large spring that is famous amongst the people outside the kingdom as a bathing source that rids of fatigue. Not only that, but it is known to rejuvenate your skin as well.” Hmm, guess I can use the skincare next to the fatigue riding bath. “I was the one Alexander came to about the springs.”

“How far is it?”

“Not too far, half-a-day away on foot.”

“Damn, you serious?”

“It should pose no issue. The bandits in this region are cleared out, so I see no problem.”

He has a point. Even so, that’s a long walk. Oh well, might as well get ready for the trip then. I get up from the floor.

“Well, I’m gonna go get some sleep then. Don’t wanna be half dead when we need to walk tomorrow.”

“Excellent idea. It would be a bad thing if you were to be half-dead tomorrow. . .I might have to put you down for your own good. Just kidding,” he ends with a weird giggle.

Man, his jokes are still unfunny.

…

Endel Springs - afternoon

With the help of Elizabeth, who used whatever vehicles she had left to transport people from the camp to the Endel Springs; I went back and forth to pick people up from the camp to the springs. We finally got everyone here. There are two paths, one leading down, and the other leading upward.

“Okay,” Marie shouts. “The two paths lead to two different baths, the men go to the lower path, and the women go to the higher one.”

“Wait, why do we get the lower one?” I ask her.

“Because then you’d be able to see us from way up there, and that’s not gonna be happening.”

“Oh, right. Wait, then you’ll be able to see us!”

“Don’t worry, we won’t look. Besides, you’ll be submerged in water, so it’s not like we’ll be able to see anything.”

The women head up to their part of the springs.

“Well, men, let us go as well,” Alex commands.

We make our way down. Nunnalé, however, follows along with us. Richard and I stop her from doing so.

“Master, what are you doing? Are we not going to the springs?”

“Yes, but why are you coming with us?”

“I must go where you go.”

“You have to go with the girls.”

“But then, how will I be able to protect you?”

“It’ll be fine. We’re here to relax, so you should do the same, but with the girls,” Richard urges her.

“Yeah. Besides, Marie will get angry with us if you follow us.”

“I see. Very well, I will separate from you, for now. Proxy, I request you look after my master.”

I can’t believe she told me that. Is she finally trusting me? Either way, it feels good.

“Sure thing, he’s in safe hands.”

Nunnalé slightly nods her head. She walks off to the upper path of the springs.

“Right, let’s hit the baths.”

“Man, this is going to be awkward,” Richard mumbles under his breath.

“Don’t worry buddy, we’re going to have a grand old time!”

“If you say so. . .”

Anti-bandit army camp - afternoon

I sit by myself in the camp. Everyone else has gone to the springs to recover. Naturally, Crow told me to go along, but I refused him. My research on the book is far more important. Besides, I know how to recover from fatigue with a blend of herbs into a drink. So far, the books I collected from the royal library have yet to mention anything of note about a book similar to the black Grimoire. However, I uncovered an important clue that I yet to share with Richard.

“Excuse me, is anyone here?”

I pick up my weapon in the presence of someone entering the camp. I have a full view of him. He’s wearing a white coat, has blonde hair, and has a sword on his hip. He seems to have noticed me.

“Excuse me, but is anyone named Proxy here?” he politely asks me.

“Are you a friend of his?”

“I wouldn’t say we’re friends, but we are acquainted. I came here to speak with him about something?”

“What would that be?”

“I am not at liberty to disclose that information.”

Hmm, why would he need to speak to him? He doesn’t seem to share the same type of attitude as him, so I doubt it’s anything personal. Maybe. . .

“Does the Black Grimoire mean anything to you?”

He fails to hide his shock from me mentioning the book. Looks like I hit the mark.

“How do you know about it?” he presses for an answer.

“Proxy gave it to me to research.”

“Then I must ask you to hand it to me.”

“I will have to decline the proposition, and you will not be taking it by force.”

“You’re not leaving me much choice here.”

“I know, which is why we should have a civil discussion, and nothing more. About the book, of course.”

“I cannot.”

“Come on, I just want to learn what it is, nothing more. If it is dangerous, then I’ll hand it over to you. The only way for me to know that is if you disclose some information on it.”

He places a hand under his chin, pondering what he should do. He shoots a glance at me, one that is examining me. Despite his appearance and his mannerisms, he seems to be the type of person who will not budge easily. I can only hope he accepts my demand.

“Fine,” he agrees, conceding to my demands.

“Excellent, but before we start, my name is Quincy. What is yours?”

“Mine is Legion, it is a pleasure to meet you.”