Training

The next morning started with a brighter mood. The village looked cleaner than previous day thanks to the villagers who worked hard despite being clueless of what Alex was going to do to them. After they had their breakfast, they marched toward the meeting point. There, they see Alex and his peers were already on their place.

“Morning, fellas! I see you’ve been doing a terrific job in executing my commands,” praised Alex. “For that, you have my deepest gratitude. For today, I would like you guys to prepare yourselves in case the demons attacked again.”

“But the demons had been expelled already…” responded one of the villagers. He looked like he was in charge of the people there. “I don’t think they will come again anytime soon.”

“True, but that was only because me and the gang were around,” replied Alex, countering the chief’s argument. “We are heroes of justice, but you people are not the only ones who need us. We can’t be here forever. It’s about time to stand up for your own good.”

The villagers nodded in approval. They found truth and logic in Alex’s reasoning.

“Open your ears well, folks! Basically, we’re going to divide ourselves into various kinds of teams in order to hone the skills and potentials already laying dormant inside you people,” explained Alex. “Our goal is to create a defensive troop strong enough to repel any kind of hostile foreign forces.”

“Sir Hero, I’m sure you’re aware that we are just a mere non-combatant. We never had any relevant battlefield experience, let alone facing enemies,” complained one of the villagers.

“Fret not, for I have foreseen that as well! Consider yourselves lucky, because as you can see, you have the best mentors in the entire land at your service!” answered Alex, presenting his companions who looked as dumbfounded as the civilians.

“Oi, brat! I never heard about this!” opposed Gremio. “Just when we were about to acknowledge you, you make another outrageous thing again!”

“Rasheed thinks Alex is getting ahead of himself,” criticized Rasheed. “Rasheed is doubtful of Alex’s plan.”

Alex paid them no mind and continued his speech.

“Gremio will gather the able-bodied men and teach them how to fight and show them there’s another use for their axes beside for cutting woods,” declared Alex. “Gremps, hold no punches back and don’t get intimidated just because they’re taller than you, you hear me?”

“Cut the body-shaming part! I’ll have you know I mowed down enemies thrice my height without breaking any sweat!” retorted Gremio.

“That’s our Berserker for you!” replied Alex proudly. “Now, Alex wants Rasheed to join the old dwarf and tutor the people using the spear.”

“Rasheed considers that as unwise, but Rasheed hears and obeys,” agreed Rasheed half-heartedly.

“Alex applauds Rasheed for being a good boy,” said Alex. “Hmm, physical stuff has been taken care of, now we move on to more elegant stuff.”

“Sal, tell me if I’m being ridiculous, but I wish you to find us persons who are fortunate enough to receive your mentoring,” spoke Alex. “I know Bard is a very rare class, so don’t mind if you can’t find anyone, just teaching them some minor support skills will do for now.”

“Senor, you flatter me,” responded Salieri gleefully. “Leave that to me, for sure I will not let you down!”

Alex was satisfied to see at least a member of his trusted his decision, now he set his sight on the voluptuous Witch.

“Alright, now Pan, come closer. I know you have a vast array of elemental destructive spells, but seeing the time we have, I require you to focus on teaching them with magic affinities for support,” requested Alex.

“I’m afraid I can’t be as optimistic as Salieri, my dear,” answered Pandora. “But you need to know that I will try my best to please you, little hunk.”

A little bit aroused by Pandora’s alluring remark, our Hero turned to Helene for a change of nuance.

“Hel, the village maidens will be under your instruction to unravel the art of healing and whatnot. They who are not compatible with magic will study how to make potions, either for healing or stat boost,” pleaded Alex to the Saintess. “Remember the demons’ body parts we collected earlier? That would be your secret recipe.”

“Sir Hero, I never had the experience of teaching, especially to these large groups of people,” said Helene in self-doubt. “And I don’t know if I could use those grotesque ingredients.”

“Helene, as this kingdom trusts you as its Saintess, I also have the same faith that you can lead these people uncovering their potential,” convinced Alex while looking at Helene’s azure eyes, making the Royal Saintess blushing.

While those two were lost in their own little world, a certain Elf was not very pleased to know that she had been left behind.

“Ahem, I am sorry to disrupt your romance flick, but aren’t you forgetting someone here?” asked Stella, breaking through the romantic aura which enveloped Alex and Helene.

“Ah yeah, sorry for that,” replied Alex flustered. “As we don’t have bows and arrows yet, you will be responsible of making those together with the ladies. After that, the youths of the village will be your archers in training.”

Stella just looked at the villagers upon hearing Alex’s orders, and from her expressions, Alex could catch a sense of uncertainty from her.

“I myself will supervise the manufacture of the weapons in general. Actually, it would be great to have some people wielding swords, but alas our resources are not infinite. The irons we have will be better to be used for armors, arrows, and spears. Those consume less irons than swords, so we can distribute it to more people,” analyzed Alex further. “Right now, quantity over quality. I want everybody’s armed!”

Helped by the villager’s blacksmiths, the villagers started to create their own weapons, utilizing what they possessed at the moment. The first day went by just like that.

The following days were filled by harsh training. At first, grumblings and complaints dominated the atmosphere. But as people always said, practice makes perfect. Before a week, some major progresses had been shown by the civilians.

Alex knew that it was still to early to rejoice, but seeing the awed expressions of his peers who witnessed the villagers’ growth was already enough to satisfy him at the moment.