He made a quick look at the [Climbing Claws]. They were leather boots with a single strip on the front of them. Since he had already experienced the effects of the boots in the nightmare he put them to the side.
Next he grabbed the [Captain's Pipe]. The pipe was made brown wood. On the middle and end there were golden accents. Each accent had an engravement on it. Unfortunately, the engravements on the pipe were all in runic language. This one differed from the ones the Spell translated. They were clearly words and yet they were not translated. The longer he stared at the runes the more his head hurt. It was a pain that was not physical. It was mental. He wanted to use it and so he did.
He brought the pipe to his lip and sucked in. It was as if it was natural. The pipe lit and the smoke filled Anderson's lunges. The smoke did not burn is throat. His lunges did not protest. It was as if his lunges were used to using the pipe for years. Breathing out the smoke filled the room. Anderson sat there all the worry and chaos that had clouded his head disappeared. He felt perfect no stress. All the thoughts in his head were clear and concise.
He wanted to double check the runes of the final enchant again.
[Captain's Pipe]: [The captain saw...
Memory enchants: [Calming Mind], [Impowered Smoke], [Forsaken Blessing]
[Forsaken Blessing]: [The more smoke the more the smoke gives you. Will you become addicted?]
[Haze's blessing] 0/1000
'What? What is this? How did it gain an enchant? What does it do?'
His questions stopped as he realized that he was still smoking the pipe.
'Oh what the hell. Why am I still smoking this.'
Dropping the pipe he backed away.
'Why the hell am I smoking it?
You know what I can look at this later. I want sleep.'
Unsummoning his memories he made sure he did not forget anything in the room and left. Heading back to his room he continued to ponder his unanswerable questions. Arriving in the room he saw Zena was asleep in her bed. Checking the clock he saw it was already past midnight.
'How long was I in that room?'
Quickly he got ready for bed and went to sleep.
The next day went very similarly to the first this time they did not have to do any of the introductory things they did before. Luckily, their identity of having true names were not know to all yet, so they were not fully swarmed when entering. Only when someone asked for their names did they realize who they were.
Anderson's basic training group was going well. Most people did not care about him so non asked his name. He was like a shadow blending in to the background. His skills were increasing rapidly as he was very keen on all the details of the instructor. By the month he would be able to move to the sparing group.
Zena on the other hand was put in the spot light. She was swarmed by most of the people as not only did she have a True Name she had also beaten Awakened Orum in the placement spar. However, the swarming did not last long as their instructor ordered the Sleepers to begin sparing. Zena's first three sparing partners were swiftly defeated as she was ruthless with her strikes. Each person's first three fights were designated by the instructor. After which the Sleepers could choose their partners.
"So you're one of the two new Sleepers with a true name, Remorseful Hunter. I am Anvil of Valor. I wish to spar with you."
Zena readily accepted the challenge to a spar. Unlike her previous opponents, Anvil was from a clan and not a small clan, but one of the largest in the world. Soon their fight started.
Zena used the first move to get into Anvil's guard. However, Anvil pivoted while grabbing Zena, using her own momentum to throw her. Quickly recovering Zena readied herself for another attack only to see Anvil swinging his blade downward. His blade moved quick, but Zena's instincts moved quicker. Barely rolling out of the way Zena dodged, but before she recovered Anvil was moving again. Swinging his blade in a horizontal motion. This left only moments for Zena to block the blade. However, that was not what she did. She lunged for Anvil. Just under the path of his blade. Getting a hold of one of his legs Zena flipped Anvil. This gave Zena just enough time to fully recover her footing and prepare for another attack. Not letting Anvil get up Zena struck. The quick attack caused Anvil to have to block with one of his hands. Blocking the blade he felt his hand go limp.
Their instructor had a unique aspect that let him simulate injuries as if it was real combat making the sparing much closer to real life.
The loss of one of his hands caused Anvil to become defensive. Setting his stance he waited for Zena to attack. Zena seeing this complied with Anvil's plan. Dashing forward she fainted a swing. Kicking her leg out to try to hit one of Anvil's legs. Unfortunately for her Anvil was quick to react. Swinging his blade down and striking her leg and just like Anvil's hand Zena's hand went limp. Unlike Anvil's hand though Zena needed her leg to fight. With out the balance from both of her legs she was unable to stop Anvil's attack. With a swift strike to her chest the spar was over. Anvil had won.
Reaching out his hand Anvil helped Zena up as she had fallen from his last attack.
"You did good. That last strike to my leg was a bit sloppy. If it weren't for that you could have won. Also, I was not expecting that grapple for my leg earlier. It was a good move." Anvil smiled.
"Thanks, that was a great spar. I was not expecting the ferocity of your strikes at the start. I knew blocking there would only cause more to come so the grapple was my only option out that I could find. Also, you are way better than the three people I fought earlier. They hadn't even put up much of a fight." Zena replied back
"Only the five of us, now including you, are at the same level of sorts to be able to spar. So unless you spar one of us then you probably will wipe the floor with the rest."
"Us? Who do you mean?" Zena questioned.
Sighing Anvil responded, "Me, you, Sol, Ki Song, and Ash. Ash and Sol are defiantly the two best fighters though so your matches with them will be even harder. I myself have yet to beat either recently. At the start Ash was not the best but now he is contending with Sol and it seems both are growing at a rapid pace. By the end of the academy they might be the only two who can fight each other if they continue like that."
As he mentioned them a broken sword flew by.
"God damnit. Every single time."