Over the coming days, the training became more ruthless and students from the academy had also been invited.

It seems that Incus was desperate enough to recruit them.

But it was all worth it because we got to eat in a cafeteria, and Incus slept in a wide bunk room, so all we had to do was sneak in and not have to worry much.

"Are you alright Vertere?" I asked.

Giving me an angry glare, he scowled:

"Do I look alright! Everything in my body aches and I can barely move!"

"At least you can barely move..." Lieur groaned, she was completely still on one of the beds.

Helping Vertere lay down, Alleus asked:

"It has been a while so can’t you just use your magic to heal yourself?"

"I can still feel that my mana pool is slightly unstable, I’m not going to risk it until I have fully recover..."

***

The masters stood in front of their batch as Incus spoke with clarity:

"We will now be rotating Instructors, as you can see we have lined up, all you need to do is move over once and whoever you land with will be the new person teaching you."

Snapping her fingers, we moved with the trainees to the right.

After a few seconds, the trainees stood in order in front of their Instructor.

The instructor in front of us was a wrinkled lady, but even I can tell that she’s too be underestimated.

"Well, would you look at this handful... you all look like you’re pretty strong. Since you came from Incus’ group, I won’t be teaching you much aside from sparring against me. Of course if you ever need any help, don’t be afraid to ask..!" She gave a gentle smile, as she pulled out a wooden axe.

"Oh right, I forgot to say but you can call me Klarm."

Pointing at a trainee, she gestured for him to get ready to spar.

Getting into a fighting stance, they then clashed.

But it ended quickly with the trainee’s wooden weapon shattered into splinters.

"Be proud, you lasted two seconds."

Turning towards us, she gestured for the next person.

Each battle resulted in the same, she would beat them within seconds.

Soon it was Alleus’ turn.

Pulling down her eye patch, she took the first step.

Utilizing vanishing step, she dodged attacks that I can barely see.

"You can do this Alleus!" I cheered, which the other trainees did the same.

She was doing much better than everyone before her.

When Alleus was about to land a clean hit, her wooden short sword met the same fate as the others... it turned into splinters.

"Thirty seconds, you almost as long as our majesty Incus when she was first summoned."

It was finally my turn.

With a sigh, I didn’t bother getting into a fighting stance and instead began to attack.

Trying to see the attacks will do no good for me, I must predict when they will strike.

Looking at her chest, I focused on her shoulders.

Stepping back, I had successfully dodged an attack.

"What a cheeky brat... fighting in such a manner won’t be good as a battle goes on you know?" Said master Klarm.

Focusing on her movements, I smirked.

She was going to swing downwards.

And I was right, but all of a sudden I got hit on the cheek.

"Argh!"

She then stepped forward and did a flurry of blows.

I correctly predicted all of her movements and where she was going to strike, so why am I getting hit!

Broadening my vision, I gritted my teeth.

She was flicking her wrist to change the trajectory of her swings.

What a deceitful hag.

Blinking, the wooden sword in my hand had turned into splinters.

"Strange, I’m suddenly in a bad mood... but you didn’t do too bad, that was about ten seconds." Said Klarm.

Walking back, Alleus said cheerfully:

"You lasted the second most, you should be happy!"

"I suppose, and I did learned a lot from the spar."

Trainee after trainee, it was then over.

With a hand on her chin, master Klarm pondered.

"First of all, you’re all weak. Secondly, it’s evident that most of you haven’t battled against someone truly stronger than you, and for those who have, your fighting styles need improvement. And thirdly, this group is much stronger than the last one... I mean no disrespect of course."

Pointing at the barrels of weapons, she instructed:

"Now then, let’s not waste our time sulking and get to training shall we?"

***

After the training session, a servant had told Alleus that the merchants and major nobles that had agreed to support her cause had everything ready.

Gulping down a cup of water, she began walking to leave the training hall.

"Lieur! Vertere! Alleus! It’s time to go!" I shouted.

Quickly arriving, we began to sneakily following Incus.

There were a few eyes following us but they weren’t going to do anything, the only written characters were the masters and that’s it... and they were also busy doing their own things.

***

Reaching the location of where the supporters were, which was Jansoara’s merchant guild.

"Great to see you, your majesty! We have prepared everything thoroughly, weapons, armors, potions, and everything else you have listen, we have stocked up on." A merchant said to Incus.

Lifting one of the crates, there were potions laid out neatly like eggs.

"You all have done well, your patronage will be rewards."

"You’re too kind, your majesty!" The merchant bowed.

"I am the kindest king after all."

The both of them then laughed.

"Make sure to distribute all of these to the trainees and make sure that it was sent by me, the rest of you guys."

"Is there anything else you’d like your majesty?"

"I suppose your unwavering dedication to me, haha." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

They both laughed again.

Interupting their moment, a servant had appeared behind Incus.

"What is it?"

"The water kingdom of Febritust has been taken over, they are requesting your support, and their teleportation circles have been destroyed whenever they try making a new one."

Pausing for a moment, Incus replied:

"Perfect. Once I save them, they’ll have no choice but join my coalition."

"Shall I prepare a carriage for you, your majesty?"

Shaking her head, she waved her hand as she began walking.

"No need, I’ll take my time and head there myself."