Arranor knew a journey was ahead of him at least five days' time that's if they rest after killing the goblins four otherwise. Arranor knew he had to pack food for himself no one would be willing to share, so he scavenged all the bread and cheese he could find and separated them into five cloth parcels and packed them into his makeshift backpack. Made with his blanket some sticks and vines he found on a tree near the river not much room but enough for his meager belongings then went to fill his canteen up. after finishing his preparations for the upcoming journey ahead he met back up with Jaysen.
When he met back up with Jaysen it was just breaking daylight and you could see the refinement of the man not looking close to his actual age looking no older than 29 but getting close to Forty. No one else had arrived so Arranor decided to ask a question to Jaysen and said I hope I'm not being rude by asking but what rank are you and what are the ranks of those I'll be travelling with Jaysen laughed heartily and replied back to Arranor its not rude at all ill answer the second question first there are two other boys you'll be traveling with they are both rank two their name are Rugard and Brawn and one girl who is rank one on the verge of becoming rank two her Name is Ethel. The three of them are around your age at most a year older.
As Arranor started to look down Jaysen told him not to feel so bad most people can't even raise their vitality they fact that yours has been growing larger slowly but it is, I can see it, its trying to smash the wall down over and over but for some reason it just can't topple it so it seems the energy has just been accumulating all this time trying to smash this wall down. Your situation is dire though it seems that there are impurities in your fundamental energy and that is a minimal chance for you to succeed and every single rank will be more torturous than the last to you I once again ask you do you really want to keep on trying if you want i could give a small job it won't be much but you won't starve.
Arranor thought deeply before responding he thought of the man who cared for him how he'd always come back with a giant smile on his face, how much they laughed while training how much he had struggled just to get to where he was now, fighting in the orphanage it never ended, he was always fighting. He knew Erik was only trying to protect him knowing a time would come when he wasn't with him. but Arranor knew deep down That anything else would be a pitiful life filled with contempt and regret. Arranor looked back at Jaysen with newfound determination and told him after all Erik never taught me anything else and always hated my cooking what other choice can i make.
Jaysen looked at the boy and knew no rhyme or reason was going to change his mind and said now for your first question, I'm at the end of rank nine gathering all of my vital energy to lay a solid foundation to begin my ascension into the earthly gate realm which there are 7 which will probably be my end point if i can even reach the end but ive heard of much higher states of being just none around here could tell you so. Arranor looked shocked not realizing how strong the man in front of him really was. Just as Arranor was about to start speaking again the other three guild members all wearing an identical combat suit just with different color bracers to label the ranks better.
The larger boy close to six foot had sandy blonde hair and gray eyes he introduced himself as Rugard a shorter but more robust boy five and a half feet with reddish brown hair introduced himself as Brawn and lastly the lady stood tall around the height of brawn she had black hair and had a firm body build to her introduced herself as Ismane and so Arranor a stocky boy slightly taller than Brawn but shorter than Rugard with red hair Introduced himself, and before he could finish he could already see the disdain in their eyes towards him.
The newly arrived looked at Jaysen and asked if he really was cut out to do this mission and that they could do it alone without Arranor but Jaysen firmly said no and vouched for his skills and told them just cause he hasn't gotten ahold of his vital energy doesn't mean he won't be a useful asset. The three of them sighed in response but agreed none the less, Arranor knew he would have to tolerate this if he wanted to pursue anything in his life. And with all prep and introductions in place Jaysen gave them the map of where to go and they set off to start the mission of theirs.
They had just left the small city when morning had truly begun to set in the pace set by Rugard was a decent one a bit faster than a normal walk but not fast enough to overexert yourself in long times. With this pace they should be almost three quarters of the way there by night fall but Arranor didn't koiw if he could keep up that entire time but he cast that though aside and said must di it no matter what.
If his life granted to him by his parents who were ripped away while young due to constant attacks by Erik who had given him life and taught him how to survive. Arranor would do anything so he continued on with them until they finally stopped which was close to eleven at night when Rugard finally spoke back up saying they would rest here until morning than go and complete the mission and return as possible as everyone settle in Arranor let out a heavy breath while everyone looked over in disdain. Ismane said if it was that hard you should just go back now while you can right after Brawn added no itd be better to watch him get beat by goblins then save him to hold it over him and laughed, as Rugard just snorted and said enough then went to eating.
Arranor didn't mind he was honestly expecting it to get physical between them and was just glad it ended where it did and since they plan on finishing tomorrow and being back the day after I'll eat two servings tonight. Arranor been starving since they left but it took crawling everywhere he knew to get what he had so he'd saved it for now so he would have the energy he needed to fight correctly. But Arranor knew better than anyone that he wasn't in the best of conditions he had been starved for too long and was lacking energy all the more obvious upon the guild members soft footsteps and even breathing his quite the opposite loud and heavy breathing.
But once again Arranor knew he had to keep pushing as Jaysen had told him that it would be torturous just to get started and that every rank afterwards would be harder than the last he knew they all laughed cause he hadn't even reached rank one after three years of training his vital energy under Erik there had been no improvement on the one stage that happens naturally nothing can be done to stop the rank up it just happens after enough is gathers and he still couldn't. But Arranor wouldn't let that blind him he wouldn't care what anyone said he would strive to succeed wherever he could at whatever chance given to him
with that he finished his meal dissembled his pack grabbed his blanket and set up a spot to lay down for the night as he layed there Arranor began to imagine what tomorrow would have in store for him what the goblins were capable of he'd heard of them but never encountered them before and if he would come out further than when he started would he finally make any progress and as he had these thoughts he began to drift away.