Chapter 7: Ray at 15

Ray held the Greatshield in his hand's with pride. Defending hit for hit against one of the many instructors. His hands stung, lungs burning as each of the Instructors punches felt like a hammer striking directly against his chest.

The instructor, one of Alex's descendant's called Elana Eartine was soon dedicated as Ray's personal teacher. She was one of the best Great bow wielders in Silverbranch town and therefore Ray cherished the few moments of teaching he had with the woman.

"HOLD YOUR SHIELD HIGHER" she yelled before punching again. Her hands encased in a gorgeous pair of blood-red gauntlets with sharp beast-claws ripped directly from her prey not unlike Robert's own pair. her Armor shined in the light, the chestplate emboldened with scales of the beasts she'd personally slain, her armplates etched with exquisite detail. 

Her neck-length blonde hair billowed in the wind as she charged at him. throwing fist after fist from all directions forcing Ray to keep on his toes.

The one sided beatdown continued for around 20 more minutes, before it gradually grew to a close. both fighters exhausted. Panting and huffing for what little air they could get.

"Your simply the fastest improving kid we've had ray, you can actually defend against my full onslaught. you could probably hold your own in fights out there now" she muttered to him.

Yes Elana was in Awe. At first she didn't want to teach some stinking slum rat, but as time passed she realised how committed and focused he was. The boy simply grew from a slightly stronger disgusting rat, to a boy she respected and now Elana called Ray by his name for the first time. 

Ray looked at himself with a sense of pride, Yes these past few years he truly had grown out of his kidlike form. he now stood at a 5ft 6inch height. almost matching with the adult Infront of him.

His chest length fluffy white hair was tied in a pony-tail behind him, and his deep-set red eyes had a faint glow to them.

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Name: Ray

Age: 15

Health: 120/120

Strength: 10 (+1 Bodybuilding +1 military training +2 natural growth)

Vitality: 12 (+3 natural growth +1 military training +1 bulwark training)

Agility: 10 (+2 natural growth +1 military training)

Mind: 8 (+2 natural growth)

Skills: 

Observe: 'A true hunter can Analyse its Prey.' Can sense all skills and stats of the target. (within a 10 digit range) +1 Mind

Tough body: your body has been strengthened from years on the streets. +1 Vit

Deft hands: As a street urchin sometimes you have to put your hands where they don't belong. +2 Agi 

Bodybuilding: training your body daily can lead to extreme benefits if you can persist. +2 Str +1 Vit

Bulwark training: you've spent 3 years training in the art of bulwark defence both group and solo + 1 Vit

military training (partially unlocked): your halfway there, you've spent 3 years with targeted military physique training. +1 Str +1 Vit +1 Agi requirement's spend 6 years with targeted military training 3/6 (locked stats +1 Str +1 Vit +1 Agi)

Common slaughterer (not unlocked): You killed your first Common beast, yet they are endless. kill some more. requirements: slay more 921/10,000 (on full unlock +1 mind, +total common creature knowledge)

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Ray's status was that akin to a slightly tough adult. and he still had a lot room to grow further. Although he was still far from the legends of his mind like Robert Silverskin, Alex Eartine, Zarrick and the lightning Zerran he felt like he was at least closing the gap between them.

'It wont be long now' Ray clenched his fist feeling the explosive prowess within him, his muscles taut to his bones with a lean slender physique alike Zarrick's just shorter.

As he was thinking of his progress a clear melodic voice sounded out once more.

"Ray you've progressed far since you became my trainee 3 years ago. but now you'll need to start paying back the training we've given you. once every 3 days you will be working the walls, assisting with monster subjugation. Is that understood."

Elana was staring into his eyes with worry, quite a few soldiers die every week on those walls, she'd seen it personally. not even the great bow wielders atop the wall are safe from some of the attacks. But... Manpower was always needed. the walls were consistently understaffed.

Ray took a deep breath, "does that mean i will fight monsters like the Zerran out there?" he said with a tinge of fear, he knew fighting a Zerran would be a losing fight where his life wasn't in his own control.

"yes you will be, if they appear that is. Zerran's are a relatively rare enemy out there."

He calmed his emotions and thought about it. 'I've got to do it right, if i say no I'd be considered a deserter and won't be able to continue military Training. but.. no i can do it. they survived the Zerran last time. i can survive it this time.'

"you will be serving the wall twice a week for as long as you stay with Silverbranch's military, mostly taking out groups of Squallor's and ot-trins however other monsters will very likely show up so pay close attention and if you encounter a new monster just check this monster encyclopaedia."

Elana gave him a thick booklet with a large winged scaly monster on the front, it's long tail curling around into the 'y' of encyclopaedia. if anything they drew it with great detail.

Ray didn't recognise the monster on the front, but the booklet was thick, at least 500 pages. maybe more. He put it in his satchel, where it rested alongside 2 other booklets given by the military. the 'tactician's manual' and 'group tactic's for large beasts'.

the military gave everyone Literacy classes to help digest these 3 books. "I start today right" Ray asked his mentor as he looked at the rising sun's. and began to set off towards the main gates.

To his surprise Elana followed him, Ray looked over at the woman in confusion. "Don't give me that look, i pulled some strings and got you on the same rotation as i am, least i can do for my personal student, besides it wasn't hard and i can protect you for a while longer." she said with a smile.

Ray gave her a gentle smile "thanks, teacher." as they walked side by side to take up their new duty.