18:19

They seem to have trained for some hours now. LUK3 showed N04H some fighting techniques as always, but C0NNER seems more to watch than help them out, as he doesn't really know how should he help them in any way. He did help, it's true, but more than being the target dummy for N04H, he didn't really do much.

After a while though, KYR4 enters the training ground too, searching for LUK3 this time.

[KYR4]-LUK3!

[LUK3]-Huh? KYR4? Didn't expect YOU to search for me! Heheh!

[KYR4]-Keep your mouth shut!

[LUK3]-Aww, you are so cute when you are angry at m--

To make him shut up though, she puts her hand on his mouth as she got a bit annoyed. But he looks at her as he knows what happened the last time she did this to him. She remembers, of course, and removes her hand immediately.

[LUK3]-Good choice! Now, why are you searching for me?

[KYR4]-...MY4 told me to do so. Do you think that I will search for you without being obligated?

[LUK3]-Are you sure you didn't come here because you wanted?

[KYR4]-God dammit, LUK3! MY4 wanted us to come with her so we can help her out! I'm not interested in taking you anywhere with me, but I'm doing it only for her!

[LUK3]-Help her out with...?

[KYR4]-She said she needs to buy some things from the merchants and we can come to help her. Nothing special. So we are not going to the shelter again, calm the fuck down!

[LUK3]-Aww, you just don't want to admit that you want me to come with you!

[KYR4]-BUT I DON'T WANT THAT! MY4 WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD ME TO FIND YOU!

[LUK3]-Mhmmm...

[KYR4]-LUK3, FOR THE LOVE OF--

Yet it seems as N04H interrupts because he doesn't really know what's stopping LUK3 from training.

[N04H]-Hm? What's happening? Why did we stop, LUK3?

[LUK3]-Oh, sorry, little guy! I have to go with KYR4 for a while! You can stay with C0NNER so he can teach you until I come back!

[C0NNER]-What!?

[LUK3]-Don't "what" me! You heard me! Stay and teach N04H some moves until I come back from the city!

[C0NNER]-But I have to go somewhere soon as well! You can't just leave me alone with the kid and pass the responsibilities like that!

[LUK3]-Don't worry! I will finish quickly! Take my role just for this time!

[C0NNER]-But--

[LUK3]- --See ya later, kiddo!

[C0NNER]-No! Hey!! WAIT!!

LUK3 already left the room with KYR4 while C0NNER was shouting at him.

[C0NNER]-I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO TEACH HIM! ...Ah, god dammit, LUK3...

[N04H]-...So what do we do now?

[C0NNER]-*sigh* I... guess we have no other choice but train together. I think I got some time left... and maybe I can try some techniques from what I remember from my lessons and so... Come on. I'm going to argue with him later on this subject. It's not worth wasting our time like this now.

And so they start training. But the training itself is a bit confusing for N04H since C0NNER looks to have different ways compared to LUK3's techniques. C0NNER seems to be aiming with his bow towards N04H, while he tries to dodge the arrows coming, but doesn't seem as he does that well.

[C0NNER]-*sigh* No! No! You are suppose to dodge them, N04H!

[N04H]-But it doesn't help that you are not going easy on me!!

[C0NNER]-I AM going easy on you! Never mind... Then at least try to catch them or... something...

[N04H]-But I can't! I can't catch them if you are hitting me, C0NNER!

[C0NNER]-It's a method of learning, N04H! Doesn't LUK3 hit you as well while training?

[N04H]-No! He doesn't!

Yet it got C0NNER surprised this response of his.

[C0NNER]-...He... doesn't hit you at all?

[N04H]-No! At worst, I'm the one who is hitting him as a training practice!

[C0NNER]-...

C0NNER looks for a while at N04H, perplexed. Then, he remembers his old trainings with his master. After all, he tried to take from His example.

"But it seems like... the little C0NNER we see here is rather exhausted, angry, sad, you name it! He looks as he falls on the ground because of all this training with his master, while He seems to hold His weapon, trying to teach C0NNER everything He tries.

[CHE5TER]-Again, C0NNER!

["C0NNER"]-...But I can't do it... I-I can't...

[CHE5TER]-Don't say "I can't"!

["C0NNER"]-I-It hurts me, Master...

[CHE5TER]-It's suppose to hurt, C0NNER! Pain is the best teacher in training! My master taught me the same way and made me the man that stands in front of you right now! The more you learn to endure it, the more powerful you become!

["C0NNER"]-I-I can't...

And yet... he starts crying a little. He is disappointed of himself after all. CHE5TER looks at him, and from the serious face He had before appears now a softer one, holding His sword a bit weaker.

["C0NNER"]-...I-I'm a disappointment to them! I'm too weak! I-I can't do it, Master!!

[CHE5TER]-Look at me, C0NNER! A warrior never gives up, no matter the obstacles of life! You want to make them proud, right? Show them what you have to offer to their murderers! Show them that you can, C0NNER!"

Memories still haunt him after all. He rethinks a bit what should he do to teach him, but this way was how he became stronger. He tried his entire life to take an example from his master because he admired Him, the man who saved his life.

[C0NNER]-...But why do you admire LUK3's teaching ways anyway?

[N04H]-Huh? What do you mean?

[C0NNER]-Even if he is older than me, I can still beat him in a battle. The only thing that is in his advantage is that he is way more taller than me, which makes it hard for me to put him down because of his bonus weight. But I'm faster than him and have more energy, which allows me to stand longer during a fight.

[N04H]-Yeah, but... teaching with pain?

[C0NNER]-"Pain is the best teacher in training". Don't you think the same?

[N04H]-Okay... Alright then! I will give it another try!

[C0NNER]-Good. Back to where we were then. You want me to go easier than that?

[N04H]-No, no! I will try this way again!

[C0NNER]-Alright... As you wish. If you can't dodge them, at least try to catch them. Understood?

[N04H]-Mhm! Understood!

And so, C0NNER takes another arrow and aims at N04H. He takes the hit again. He takes another arrow, N04H gets the hit again. It's hard for him to do something since he is used to a different method of learning. He takes hits after hits. One, two, five, eight, twelve... but doesn't give up that easily. It sure hurts him from the impact of the arrows on his body, but at least his immunity isn't affected, so he can't get injured or anything serious.

He takes another hit, and another hit... until he finally manages to catch one of the arrows. He got used to the situation now, so it's a bit easier compared to the beginning. N04H looks a bit at it, smiling from his joy, then at C0NNER, happy as he saw that he has succeeded and gives a small and silent laugh. He then throws it on the ground, making it destroy itself and becoming nothing but a black mist, evaporating into thin air, just like all the other arrows which were shot.

C0NNER takes another arrow and starts shooting again. Compared to the beginning, N04H does seem as he has improved a little. If he got hit by each arrow at the start, now he at least manages to catch some, though he still gets some of the hits. Seems like this method of C0NNER's isn't that bad in the end.

C0NNER gets the to the next level and makes it a bit harder now, to see at least how N04H would do in a different situation. He takes three arrows at the same time and aims at him again. N04H does notice that and gets a bit nervous this time, but tries his best. He shoots the arrows and N04H manages to catch one, but tries to avoid the rest, failing. They practice this way for a while, until C0NNER looks a bit shocked at N04H while he tries to get other arrows. Then, he looks at his quiver that was attached around his stomach area, in the right side, searching for more. But the quiver seems to be empty, no more arrows, as if he used them all.

[C0NNER]-...Shit!

[N04H]-What's the matter? Why did we stop?

[C0NNER]-Oh, nothing. I think it's enough practice for today.

[N04H]-Eh? Why? I was just getting used to this!

[C0NNER]-Nothing serious. I just run out of arrows. I will go later to get more from someone, 'cause I don't think I want to do that now. I don't even have the time to do so anyway...

[N04H]-Can't you just make some others now? Or at least just create some that are more of a simpler design?

[C0NNER]-N-No, no. I'm more used to these. I've used them for years now and I'm not really thinking of using other arrows with different design than these. A-And the thing is that... I don't have the sketch of them and I can't really make any without it. You know what I'm saying?

[N04H]-But they don't seem that complicated to create... Look, I can help you make some!

[C0NNER]-N-No, really! N04H! No need to do that! It's fine! N0--

But N04H doesn't really listen this time. He creates with his powers one arrow similar to the ones C0NNER uses, but C0NNER doesn't really seem happy about it. N04H shows him the arrow so he can take it, but he simply refuses, shouting at him.

[C0NNER]-...I said it's fine, N04H!

And when he does so, N04H gets so confused. He doesn't really understand this behaviour of C0NNER's, as he never saw him this way until now. But, it doesn't take long before he calms himself down and realises what he did.

[C0NNER]-*sigh* Never mind... Look, I have to go somewhere anyway. Take it as a... break from your practice. At least until LUK3 comes back to you.

[N04H]-But, C0NNE--

[C0NNER]- --Go in the city if you wish. Visit some of your old friends in the meantime. I'm sure LUK3 takes his time after all. You only waste your time staying here alone. I will... see you later.

[N04H]-Wait! C0NNER!

And so, C0NNER leaves the room, as if it was out of fear more than anger. N04H doesn't really understand what happened either. Maybe he said something wrong? Or maybe did something wrong? In the end, he never really found out more about this guy. He did accept, technically, to be friends, but doesn't seem as he wants to talk about his past that much, nor about anything in general. He just likes to be left alone, in his own world.

Others know, it's obvious, since N04H is still a newcomer. But even with his past, it's a bit weird this action of his. It's pretty obvious who was his master after all, knowing that He, too, refuses to say a word about Himself or His actions. But even He behaves a bit better than him. But... it's how LUK3 said: he took a bad habit from his master in the end.