Chapter 166: Ch166: Under Gray Skies
Esmeralda lowered her gaze and whispered, "Can we move to the side? Someone might see us in a bad way."
Daniel kept his hand firm on her shoulder and guided her behind the walls. "Let them—"
"Ahm!"
Tressa gasped as she saw them pressed close. A flicker of jealousy twisted her face.
"Esma, here’s your basket," she said, extending her hand.
Esmeralda pulled away from Daniel and grabbed the basket. "Thanks, Tressy. You’ve been a big help."
Tressa locked eyes with Daniel before turning away, shooting him a side-eye — the kind that silently said, I know what kind of man you’re.
But before Daniel headed to his rented room, he slipped his arms around Esmeralda from behind and gave her a quick hug.
Esmeralda froze for a moment before a warm blush crept across her cheeks.
...
Early the next morning, Daniel woke up feeling refreshed. After getting ready, he headed to the town center and waited for his comrades to arrive.
Before long, familiar figures began making their way toward the town center.
"Daniel, what happened to you? You disappeared for a whole week," Molex asked, his tone laced with concern.
"A week?" Daniel said.
"Let’s just say... Master isn’t happy with you," Molex added.
"Hey, Daniel. Where have you been all this time?" Zenim asked, his tone filled with curiosity.
Daniel scratched the back of his head. "I... uh went home. My mom had been sick, so I stayed to take care of her."
"At least you could’ve told us before you vanished all of a sudden," Zenim said. "We thought you weren’t going to make it before we left for the next town."
"Next town?" Daniel asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Even though it’s been a week, Master finally told us yesterday that we’re moving to Raven Town for training," Molex replied.
Daniel’s eyes widened. "What?! When?"
"Today," Zenim replied, folding his arms.
Just then, Marco arrived on horseback with two wagons in tow. The moment his eyes landed on Daniel, his expression darkened.
"Daniel! Get over here," he barked.
The students gathered behind them watched Daniel being scolded. Some looked concerned, while others couldn’t hide their grins.
"I’ve never seen Master this angry before," one student whispered.
"I mean, what do you expect? he literally disappeared for a whole week," another replied.
Whispers spread among the students as they watched the scene unfold.
"Look at me, Daniel!" Marco snapped. "I understand that your mother was sick and you wanted to take care of her, but that doesn’t excuse you from falling behind the others. You should’ve informed me before you left."
"I know... It won’t happen again," Daniel said, lowering his gaze.
A moment of silence settled between them.
"Well, what’s done is done," Marco said with a sigh. "You’re lucky the others only recently learned the Third Form. You’re not too far behind, but you’ll have to work twice as hard to catch up. Now get back to the wagon."
"Students! Split into two groups of five and climb into the wagons," Marco ordered.
"Yes, Master!" the students replied in unison.
With that, Daniel and his comrades set off for Raven Town, where they would continue their training.
The goal of this training cycle was to expose the students to different environments and different combat situations, ensuring that every student mastered all forms by the end of the program.
*Rattle~*
As the wagons rolled onward, the lush greenery of Arcana Town gradually faded into a darker, pale landscape.
The vibrant forests gave way to leafless gray trees, the grass grew sparse, and the wooden houses looked old and weathered.
Thick clouds blanketed the sky, dimming the sunlight until the entire region was cloaked in a dull, gloomy atmosphere.
...
Two hours later.
"Students, we’re here," Marco announced as he climbed down from his horse.
Daniel climbed out of the wagon and surveyed his surroundings. A massive iron gate, flanked by sturdy metal fences, enclosed the town.
What kind of a place is this?
Once everyone had gotten out, two guards approached alongside a man dressed in a black tunic beneath a gold-trimmed surcoat, with gray trousers and polished leather boots.
"Welcome to Raven Town, Marco. Young shamans. It’s an honor to welcome you all. Please, come in," the man said with a courteous smile.
"Status," Daniel whispered under his breath.
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Name: Zenmo Farelo
Age: 53
HP: 5000/5000
Mana: 3700/3700
Description: A person known for his mastery of the Shadow Element, his many connections with the royal family, and his position as the mayor of Raven Town.
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From the gate, they were led toward the heart of the town.
The streets buzzed with activity as merchants called out to passing customers, children darted between the crowds, and the rhythmic clanging of blacksmiths echoed through the air.
Despite the gloomy sky overhead, Raven Town was very much alive.
Soon, they arrived at a spacious compound surrounded by pale, leafless trees and enclosed by a low stone wall.
At its center stood a massive hall-like building with a weathered wooden exterior and a dark slate roof.
It was a self-contained place where the shamans would eat, sleep, train, and spend the remainder of their stay — all under one roof.
Marco stepped aside with Zenmo as the two discussed the accommodations and training arrangements for the students.
Their voices were low, and Daniel could barely make out a word.
After a brief conversation, Zenmo nodded with a smile before taking his leave.
Marco turned to the students.
"Students, before we enter the hall, we’ll complete today’s training first. Then we’ll wash ourselves. Only after that will you be allowed inside. Is that clear?" Marco said, his stern gaze sweeping across the group.
"Yes, Master!" the students replied in unison, though some couldn’t hide the exhaustion on their faces.
Marco gave them ten minutes to stretch their bodies and prepare for thirty laps around the training grounds.
Meanwhile, several workers arrived carrying iron poles, wooden dummies, and various other pieces of training equipment.
Once every shaman had completed their thirty laps, they were instructed to gather at the center of the training grounds, where the wooden dummies had been lined up.
"Alright, everyone. Yesterday, you trained with thick wooden sticks. Today, you’ll be facing these wooden dummies. Your objective is simple — deal as much damage to your dummy as possible. Understood?" Marco said.
"Yes, Master!" everyone answered.
Ten shamans stood before ten wooden dummies, each carved into the rough shape of a human.
