Truth

Derrick returned to Lacha's house and found Thomas still laying beside Eloise, filled with remorse. It appeared the ex-thug was quite fragile underneath all his toughness.

When he saw the necromancer return, Thomas' face brightened, hoping he had come back with a way to treat the remaining injuries of the general.

When he saw his good intentions and worry, Derrick smiled.

"Don't worry about her... She will wake up in three days tops. We, on the other hand, have some work to do. We're leaving right now, and I'll explain on the way"

Derrick left the room, leaving behind a puzzled Thomas, who followed suit shortly after.

They continued together before soon entering the thick forest.

At that point, Thomas started having a clearer picture of what would be asked of him. It certainly had a connection to the mysterious power that had erupted earlier.

They continued in the unexplored wilderness for a few hours before finally coming to a halt, with Derrick turning around to face him.

"I'm sure you've already guessed, but we are indeed here for you and what you represent. I'm also the only one in Akata who has knowledge about your condition"

Derrick took a short breather before continuing.

"When I arrived at the battlefield, I was shocked by the strength you demonstrated, and I knew then that you would play an important part in the future plans of the town. Your training will now be held by me… And let me be clear, you will suffer pain you cannot even begin to fathom"

Thomas shuddered. He almost felt malice in Derrick's words, but he wasn't surprised that these intentions could be conveyed by a man to whom killing was akin to breathing.

"However, once it's over, you'll become a man so strong that your name will resound throughout the land, with legends bearing your name for generations. You will have the power to protect those you care about. I remember the despair you expressed when I killed your friend… Do you want to feel that way again? Do you simply want to crumble on the spot when a challenger presents itself?"

Derrick paused, and he saw a torrent of pain invade Thomas's face. The scene was still vivid in his mind, with Derrick's arm drenched in blood and Yannick's disbelieving face.

However, the thing that truly haunted him was the amount of regret he had seen in his friend's eyes… The regret of not being able to live longer, the regret of not having enough strength to change his fate...

There was only one thing that could change such a situation : power. Power so imposing that people would feel terror at the mere mention of it.

While gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, Thomas got down on one knee while looking at Derrick's feet.

"Please, Your Highness, teach me. I want to be strong, and I want to make a difference in this world. Allow me to be a spear that can aid your campaign"

Derrick inwardly jumped in joy.

As a bonus, he had also gained a qualified sparring partner. It wouldn't help him advance in the magic domain, but tempering one's body was always something that had to be done.

"Very well! Before we throw ourselves into it, you need to know what you are. On this continent, there are users with various abilities. Sorcerers are such examples, but there are also those who are despised, to the point of having to hide themselves to prevent public outrage and avoid the Empires' wrath"

An eerie feeling befell the surroundings and Thomas, who had remained on one knee with his head down. This caused him to look up again, only to be met by an oppressing feeling of fear.

A few steps away from him had appeared a huge half-eagle, half-bat creature that stared him down with its glowing red eyes and black beak.

There had been rumors claiming that Derrick had tamed creatures to do his bidding, but the facts had apparently been warped, as the monster didn't give off any signs of life. To further advance his hypothesis, its composition appeared to be made of black miasma instead of actual flesh.

It was a terrifying, but fascinating sight.

With Thomas's curiosity aroused, Derrick smiled.

"Your guess is probably correct. That's my companion named Io, and it's technically dead, thus making me a Necromancer. I know people think that my kin are monsters, and they're probably right to an extent, but it doesn't apply to me. Anyway, I just wanted to show you another class that existed among the lot"

Thomas was stunned by the revelation.

Necromancers were depicted as scum so filthy they deserved a merciless death. In a sense, it was normal for the populace to be weary of such abilities, as even in death they weren't safe.

Before he could wildly speculate on his origins, Derrick continued.

"As for your case, you are what's called a Berserker, a monster that loses its rationality when fighting with your life on the line. From the information I've gathered during our little 'spar', it seems you possess an alter ego that will come out when you demand it. During that process, your fighting prowess and physical abilities become enhanced, transforming you into a murdering machine that rampages leisurely"

Thomas was stupefied again.

He had to say the information did coincide with what had happened to him, but a Berserker!? Really!? It was the first time he had heard of such a thing.

"Fortunately for us, I've managed to subdue that part of you. It will not attack nor endanger the citizens or soldiers who'll fight beside you anymore, so do not needlessly worry over such matters"

Once this was clarified, Thomas felt a great deal of pressure leave his shoulders. Eloise still heavily weighed on his mind, and even though he had promised Derrick to fully commit to the upcoming training, the slight possibility of him losing himself and injuring his comrades had crossed his mind.

With his countenance looking better, it was time to get this show on the road.

"Io, scan the surroundings"

The beast lowly growled in compliance.

[Echolocation in progress… 568 entities have been found in a radius of 20 kilometers. Would you like to display them?]

"Yes"

His mind shuffled, and a three-dimensional view formed. The amount of red dots was staggering.

After deliberating for a bit, Derrick shook Thomas out of his thoughts.

"I've already found our first target"

The next two weeks would be the most hellish training Thomas had ever been through...