Nikola, Dimitri, Jean, and Jack went to the guild master early in the morning. All four of them knew that it was unfair to ask him to back them up against a demon, but they didn't know what else to do.
"If he wins an honor duel," Nikola said, who had spent quite some time in the library. "Then we're free."
Dimitri nodded.
"Yes, but that's asking him for a lot," the blonde said as he looked at the guild house's gates. "He risks becoming Tangra's servant."
"If he says no," Jack began, as he looked Nikola in the eyes. "Then Niki will just have to become a powerhouse."
Nikola blinked. He took out the flute, showing it to Jack.
"With this? How? Should I play Ala Turka and hope for the best?"
Jack smirked.
"Well, you brought us in this mess; you have to take us out. It is only fair."
That sounded a lot like we will help, but you have to do the heavy lifting.
Nikola paused to think.
Jack was right. The druid had brought them into this mess. He had accepted Tangra's gifts. He had become his champion. And now… now things were complicated.
"I hope the bow from the Leshy is done," Dimitri murmured next to him. "The materials were from a deity, right? With the knowledge Tangra gave you, you should be able to slay him."
Nikola nodded.
The four stepped into the guild house. There was not a soul inside.
"What is happening here?" Dimitri asked, only to see a light wisp coming at them.
"Maybe we should follow it," he said next, as the four began to follow the wisp.
Only to be brought into the training hall.
Guild Master Arnold was doing drills. The trainees were copying his movements.
"Oh, look who decided to show up!" Arnold said with a soft smile. "Tired of mucking?"
"We're sorry," Nikola said, bowing his head. "And it won't happen again."
Arnold let out a fond chuckle.
"Just take your place. We will train for another 3 hours."
Nikola blinked. Guild Master Arnold had never taken such an active role before.
What had changed?
The old man sighed.
"The last mission was an eye-opener for me," he said, as he pointed at a small spot at the end of the crowd of trainees. "We all should learn basic fighting techniques. Something new for each of us. When I am done showing you the drills, I will practice my air sorcery. Now, I will repeat once more for the party, Vampire Rose! First a kick, then a punch, then a dive, and then another kick! Follow me!"
It became apparent that Nikola was not managing as well as the others pretty fast.
Still, he gritted his teeth and continued to do the drills.
Time and time again he nearly fell to the ground. Time and time again he forced himself to remain up on his feet.
Even when his legs began to hurt. Even as he thought that he was going to die.
Only for the drills to keep on going, as guild master Arnold began to wave his arms around.
Nikola was so overheated he didn't think. He began to do the drills and wave his arms around just like the guild master.
When a wind picked him up and then lifted him off the ground, he blinked.
That blink disrupted his concentration, and he fell. Only for his mana to soften the ground below into soft white sand.
Arnold stopped his drills and marched to Nikola.
"Why," the guild master asked, as Nikola was blinking there, looking at his hands. "Didn't you say you are an elemental druid?"
Nikola had no answer to that. He just wanted to avoid mucking the stables.
His phoenix, Tony, chirped at him. Flapping his wings to try to keep the guild master at bay.
"You are not in trouble," the man said as he held his hands high. "But if you can fight with earth and wind elements, then we should test you for water and fire! Not to mention, if you do this accidentally during a mission, you might hurt your party members."
Nikola nodded. He stood up, waiting for instructions.
"Now, place some mana on my palm. I am a sensor." Nikola had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but he did so.
The mana turned into soil, got wet, and then started to give out smoke.
Pure white smoke. So, as if it were smoke for a barbeque.
Arnold grinned.
"The only thing that is missing is fire. But fire does more harm than good! Ok, Lily, I have an apprentice for you! But right after the drills!"
A raven-haired girl nodded, waving at Nikola with a soft smile.
"And Niki?" Arnold asked as he patted the brunette on the head. "You did good, considering you are one kick away from falling over. I think you will need some extra training. How about this: you will walk all around the village between 6am and 7am for the next three months. Don't jog, don't run, just walk, ok? We need to build up your stamina."
Nikola bowed his head.
He knew that this dream life as an adventurer was something he wanted. But the question was whether it was the right thing for him.
"Hey, don't be like this," Lily said as she made her way to the party. "When I got discovered as a wind elemental, I was pretty weak physically as well! The guild leaves no one behind. You will just have many houses sitting and dog walking quests in the following months! Don't stress it!"
Nikola nodded, sitting down on the ground. His legs were killing him. He had more sweat on his body than blood in his veins.
"I need a minute," he said as he tried to keep his eyes open.
"Your training for the day is over," Arnold said as he offered Nikola his hand. "But that doesn't mean that you have to stay idle! How about this? While we are doing the drills, you will walk around the training hall. Not jog, not run. Just walk, ok?"
This was a turning point for Nikola. He didn't know if he should feel like a weakling or if he should be happy that he still had a spot in the guild.
"Pride is for fools," Nikola muttered finally. Standing up and beginning to walk around the edges of the training hall. Feeling slightly put down but refusing to stop.
How was he supposed to chase away Tangra if he could not fight? And how was he supposed to learn how to fight if he let his ego talk him into leaving the guild?
He was no child.
He had to do the right thing.