Chapter 45: Test Of Strength

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Test Of Strength

"It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer." — Albert Einstein

The spring air gradually gave way to the warmer, biting heat of early summer.

Over the next two months, Riven’s life settled into a relentless routine. His days were divided between three things: magic training, swordsmanship, and adventuring.

Each demanded something different from him, and none allowed him much time to rest.

Every morning, he visited Vesper’s workshop.

The first few weeks were particularly difficult. Even after learning to circulate his mana properly, he struggled to maintain the shape of Umbral Needle. The spell required him to gather shadow mana into a dense mass, rotate it, and compress it into a stable projectile.

Whenever his concentration slipped, the spell collapsed.

Sometimes it dissolved into smoke. Other times, the mana scattered before it could even take shape.

Vesper was rarely patient with his mistakes.

"Again."

Riven tried once more.

"Too much mana. You’re trying to force it into shape."

He adjusted his flow.

"Better. Now keep it steady."

The headaches that had plagued him during his first attempts gradually became less frequent. His control improved, and he learned to recognize when he was pushing too much mana through his channels.

Eventually, he could form a small, swirling mass of shadow without much difficulty.

The next challenge was compression.

Vesper made him repeat the process hundreds of times, correcting the smallest mistakes. Riven spent entire mornings trying to hold a stable shape for just a few seconds.

It was frustrating, but he refused to give up.

By the end of the first month, he could reliably form the projectile. However, making it hold together after leaving his hand was another matter entirely.

That changed during one particularly exhausting morning.

Riven stood before a wooden target dummy, his right hand extended. A small mass of shadow mana gathered in his palm.

"Don’t rush it," Vesper reminded him.

He focused on the spell, carefully rotating the mana and compressing it into a sharp point.

The mass trembled.

For a moment, he thought it would collapse again.

Then the shape locked into place.

A jagged black spike formed above his palm.

"Now release it," Vesper ordered.

Riven pushed the spell forward.

The projectile shot across the workshop with a sharp hiss and struck the wooden dummy. It punched through the target’s chest, leaving a narrow hole before breaking apart into wisps of dark smoke.

Riven stared at it.

He had done it.

Vesper crossed her arms, looking at the damaged dummy.

"About time."

Riven turned toward her.

"Did I do it correctly?"

"You formed the spell, maintained its structure, and released it without losing control. So yes."

She walked over to inspect the hole.

"Your aim needs work, and you wasted more mana than necessary. But it’s a proper cast."

Riven couldn’t help feeling pleased.

After weeks of failure, he had finally managed to use the spell.

It wasn’t particularly powerful, but it gave him something he had lacked before: a way to attack enemies from a distance.

And that could make a considerable difference in the field.

His afternoons were spent at the Adventurers’ Guild training courtyard.

Aiden continued to oversee his swordsmanship, often pairing him with other lower tier adventurers. Riven had already spent plenty of time fighting Jora and Kael, but their sparring sessions had become considerably more difficult.

He was no longer allowed to rely on quick reactions alone.

Aiden constantly reminded him to watch his opponents rather than their weapons.

"Your opponent’s weapon is the last thing you should be watching," the veteran told him during one session. "Pay attention to their shoulders, hips, and feet. Those will tell you what they’re about to do."

Riven took the advice seriously.

Against Jora, he learned to recognize the movements that preceded the man’s heavy strikes. The larger adventurer still had a considerable advantage in strength, but Riven became better at avoiding his attacks and moving into positions where the club was difficult to use.

Against Kael, he focused on the spear user’s shoulders and footwork. The man’s reach remained troublesome, but Riven gradually learned how to approach without stepping directly into the path of a thrust.

His new boots also proved useful.

They weren’t capable of making him completely silent, but they reduced the noise of his movements. Combined with his improving footwork, they helped him reposition without immediately drawing attention.

Aiden made sure he didn’t become too dependent on them.

"Those boots won’t save you if someone knows where you are," he warned. "Learn to move properly without relying on a piece of enchanted leather."

Riven understood.

He practiced without them whenever Aiden ordered him to, focusing on balance and controlling the sound of his steps.

His swordsmanship improved steadily, although he still struggled against experienced opponents. He could win against some of the Guild’s weaker members, but anyone with a significant advantage in strength or experience could still overwhelm him.

That was fine.

He wasn’t expecting to become unbeatable in two months.

He only wanted to become harder to kill.

His third responsibility was adventuring.

Whenever he needed money or wanted to gain experience outside the training yard, Riven accepted E tier contracts from the Guild.

Most were relatively simple.

He gathered herbs, cleared small monster nests, escorted merchants along the safer frontier roads, and hunted beasts that had begun threatening nearby settlements.

Some contracts were little more than tedious work. Others forced him to fight in unfamiliar environments, where his training was put to the test.

He learned that fighting in the courtyard was very different from fighting in the wilderness.

The ground was rarely even. Monsters didn’t always attack in predictable ways, and a single mistake could leave him injured or dead.

He also learned to manage his mana more carefully.

Casting Umbral Needle was useful, but it consumed a noticeable portion of his limited reserves. He couldn’t afford to waste it on every enemy he encountered.

Instead, he began using it to create openings, interrupt attacks, or deal with enemies that were difficult to approach.

His sword remained his primary weapon.

By the time early summer arrived, Riven had developed a routine that left little room for idleness. He trained in the morning, sparred in the afternoon, and took contracts whenever he had the opportunity.

His body grew stronger from the constant exercise. His movements became quicker, his balance improved, and he could endure longer fights without exhausting himself.

He was still small, however. His age and size remained a constant disadvantage, especially against larger monsters.

But he was no longer the helpless child who had first arrived at the Guild.

One evening, after returning from a contract, Riven sat alone in his room and opened his status.

A familiar window appeared before him.

[STATUS]

Name: Riven

Age: 5

Core: Level 1 (Deeply Blooming)

Affinity: Shadow

[SKILLS & TECHNIQUES]

Shadow Veil: 74%

Basic Swordplay: 82%

Umbral Needle: 29%

Riven studied the numbers for a while.

His progress in swordsmanship had slowed somewhat as he divided his time between several different forms of training. Still, he was satisfied with the improvement.

The real surprise was his core.

It had been blooming for some time, and the faint warmth inside his chest had grown more noticeable. He could feel the mana within it more clearly than before, almost as though something was slowly changing.

He still hadn’t reached Level 2, but he was making progress.

Riven closed the status window.

There was no point obsessing over numbers. He needed to keep training and let his core develop naturally.

However, he had another goal in mind.

He wanted to test his new equipment and spells against something more challenging than the usual E tier contracts.

The next morning, he headed to the Guild.

The common hall was already busy when Riven arrived.

Adventurers crowded around the bounty board, discussing contracts and arguing over payment. Riven ignored them and began looking through the available jobs.

Most were familiar.

Small monster hunts, herb gathering requests, and escort missions.

Then he found one that caught his attention.

A larger Goblin nest extermination job.

Riven studied the notice.

The cave system was far enough from the settlement that the Guild had received few reports about it. According to the description, the goblins had been raiding nearby travelers and stealing supplies.

The bounty was higher than most of the contracts he had taken recently.

It was also a chance to test his new spell in an actual fight.

He pulled the notice from the board and brought it to the counter.

The clerk looked at the paper, then at him.

"Planning to take this one alone?"

"Yes."

The clerk raised an eyebrow.

"It’s a fairly large nest. You sure about that?"

"I’ve handled goblins before."

"That doesn’t mean these will be the same."

Riven didn’t argue.

He had already decided.

After registering the contract, he collected his equipment and left the Guild.

The journey took a little over an hour.

The trail gradually narrowed as he moved farther from the settlement. Trees and thick brush gave way to rocky hills, and the air grew noticeably warmer beneath the early summer sun.

Eventually, he found the cave.

Its entrance was wide enough for several people to walk through side by side. Damp stone surrounded the opening, and a foul smell drifted out from the darkness.

Riven stopped outside and examined the entrance.

He could hear faint noises coming from deeper inside.

Goblins.

He checked the straps on his leather vest, made sure his short sword was secure, and adjusted the position of his spatial bag.

Then he drew his weapon.

His left hand remained free, ready to cast magic.

He took a breath and entered.

His Silent Step boots muffled his footsteps against the damp stone. The cave was dark, but he had brought a small lantern in his storage bag. He didn’t need it yet. A faint glow from a crude fire deeper inside provided enough light to see the passage ahead.

He moved carefully.

After several minutes, he reached a bend in the tunnel.

Two goblins were crouched near a fire pit, arguing in their harsh, grating language. Their crude weapons rested nearby, and neither appeared to be paying attention to the entrance.

Riven stopped just outside their field of vision.

He raised his free hand.

Umbral Needle.

Shadow mana gathered in his palm, forming a jagged spike.

He released it.

The projectile crossed the short distance in an instant and struck the first goblin in the throat.

The creature collapsed beside the fire.

The second goblin jumped to its feet with a shrill screech, reaching for its weapon.

Riven was already moving.

He closed the distance with a quick step, his short sword coated in a thin layer of shadow The goblin barely managed to raise its weapon before Riven struck.

The creature fell.

Riven immediately checked the tunnel behind him.

No other goblins appeared to have heard the brief commotion.

He wiped his blade and continued deeper into the cave.

The two bodies could wait.

The passage widened as he approached the main chamber.

Riven slowed when he heard the noise ahead.

There were far more goblins than he had expected.

He stopped at the edge of the opening and peered inside.

The chamber was large and filthy. Bones, broken crates, and scraps of cloth littered the floor. A crude fire burned in the center, surrounded by several goblins eating what looked like the remains of an animal.

Others sat near the walls, sharpening weapons or arguing among themselves.

Riven counted fifteen.

He considered retreating.

The number was concerning, especially in such a confined space. But he had already killed two goblins without raising an alarm, and the chamber offered several places he could use for cover.

He had his sword, his armor, and a ranged spell.

He could do this.

Riven stepped into the chamber.

The nearest goblin spotted him almost immediately.

It shrieked.

The others turned toward the entrance.

Within seconds, the entire nest was moving.

Several goblins rushed toward him with rusted short spears, while others grabbed crude stone hatchets and began throwing them from farther away.

Riven immediately moved backward.

A stone hatchet struck the wall beside his head.

Another hit his chest armor with a heavy thud.

The impact knocked the air from his lungs and sent a jolt through his ribs, but the reinforced plates held.

He stumbled back a step before regaining his balance.

Aiden’s lessons came to mind.

Never commit too far.

Keep your weight balanced.

Control the pace.

Riven lowered his stance as the first goblin reached him.

Its spear thrust toward his stomach.

He shifted to the side, allowing the point to pass, then struck the goblin across the chest with his sword.

The creature fell.

Another rushed in from his left.

Riven pivoted around a damp stalagmite, forcing the goblin to change direction. As it stumbled, he swept its legs out from under it and drove his blade into its body.

He pulled the sword free and immediately retreated.

The remaining goblins were beginning to spread out.

They were trying to surround him.

Riven couldn’t allow that.

He moved toward a narrower section of the chamber, forcing the goblins to approach from fewer directions. A crude spear scraped against his sleeve, tearing the fabric and grazing his arm.

He ignored the sting.

A goblin lunged.

Riven stepped aside and struck its weapon arm, knocking the spear away. Before he could finish it, another goblin rushed in from the opposite side.

He raised his free hand.

Umbral Needle.

Shadow mana gathered rapidly in his palm.

He compressed it and released the spell at close range.

The projectile struck the leading goblin with a burst of force, throwing it backward into the creature behind it. Both crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs and weapons.

Riven didn’t wait.

He moved forward, cutting down the nearest goblin before the others could recover.

The fight became a blur of movement.

He dodged, struck, and retreated whenever the goblins tried to surround him. His Shadow Veil strengthened each sword strike, while his improved footwork allowed him to avoid several attacks that would have caught him only a few months earlier.

The goblins were relentless.

One swung a stone hatchet at his head. Riven ducked beneath it and drove his sword into the creature’s side.

Another tried to stab him from behind. He heard the movement just in time, turning and deflecting the spear with his blade.

The impact jarred his wrist.

He stepped back, allowing the goblin to overextend, then struck its throat.

A third rushed him before he could recover.

Riven retreated, keeping his sword between them.

His mana reserves were beginning to run low.

He had already used Umbral Needle twice, and the constant use of Shadow Veil was draining him as well.

He needed to finish the fight soon.

The remaining goblins continued to press forward.

Riven waited until two of them approached together.

Then he moved.

He slipped past the first goblin’s clumsy swing, stepped inside its reach, and struck it with his sword. The second tried to take advantage of the opening, but Riven turned and drove his shoulder into its chest.

The goblin staggered.

He finished it with a quick thrust.

The others hesitated.

For the first time, some of them seemed uncertain.

Riven took advantage of the pause.

He advanced, forcing them to retreat toward the far wall. One goblin tried to escape through a narrow passage, but he intercepted it before it could disappear.

The final few fought desperately.

Riven kept his movements controlled, refusing to let them draw him into a reckless exchange. He avoided their weapons and struck whenever they left themselves exposed.

Eventually, the last goblin fell.

The chamber fell silent.

Riven stood among the bodies, breathing heavily.

His chest hurt where the hatchet had struck his armor, and his arms trembled from exhaustion. The graze on his arm stung, but it wasn’t serious.

He checked himself for other injuries.

Nothing appeared to be broken.

His armor had held up well, and his sword was still in good condition.

Most importantly, he had survived.

Riven took several minutes to recover before beginning the cleanup.

The Guild required proof of extermination, so he worked methodically.

He collected the ears from each goblin, then extracted their small, cloudy mana cores. The process was unpleasant, but he had become accustomed to it.

He also searched the chamber for anything worth taking.

Most of the goblins’ belongings were worthless, but several crude iron weapons were in better condition than the rest. He gathered the most useful ones, including a few hatchets and spiked clubs.

His spatial bag made carrying everything considerably easier.

At least, until he reached its limit.

After placing the ears and cores inside, he began loading the weapons.

The first few fit without trouble.

Then the bag stopped accepting anything.

Riven tried again, pushing another hatchet toward the opening.

It refused to enter.

He frowned and examined the bag.

He knew it had limited capacity, but he hadn’t realized how quickly he would reach it.

He managed to fit five crude weapons inside before the spatial cavity became completely full.

The remaining tools would have to stay behind.

Riven looked at the pile of discarded weapons, annoyed by the wasted value.

There wasn’t much he could do about it.

He secured the bag and left the cave.

The walk back to the settlement was quiet.

The sun had begun to set, and the early summer heat gradually faded as the evening air cooled.

Riven was tired, but he kept a steady pace.

His body ached from the fight, especially his arms and ribs. Still, he was pleased with how things had gone.

He had handled fifteen goblins without suffering any serious injuries.

His new armor had protected him from a potentially dangerous blow, and Umbral Needle had proven useful in a real battle.

It wasn’t perfect.

He had nearly been surrounded, wasted mana during the fight, and discovered that his spatial bag couldn’t carry as much as he wanted.

But now he knew his limits.

By the time he reached the settlement, the streets were already growing dark.

He headed straight for the Adventurers’ Guild.

The common hall was bustling when Riven entered.

Several adventurers looked up as he pushed through the doors, some glancing at the blood on his clothes and the bulging spatial bag at his side.

He ignored them and headed toward the material exchange.

The clerk looked up as he approached.

"Back already?"

Riven placed his bag on the counter.

"I completed the goblin nest contract."

The elf clerk raised an eyebrow.

"Alone?"

"Yes."

Riven opened the bag and began unloading its contents.

Fifteen goblin ears spilled across the counter, followed by fifteen small mana cores. He then placed the five crude iron weapons beside them.

The clerk stared at the growing pile.

"Fifteen?"

Riven nodded.

The clerk began inspecting the evidence, counting the ears and checking the cores. She examined the weapons as well, separating the ones that could be sold from those that were too damaged.

After a few minutes, She finished the assessment.

"Not bad for a solo run, kid."

He gathered the items and began counting out the payment.

"Your bounty, the cores, and the recovered weapons come to eighteen silver and fifty copper."

He slid the coins across the counter.

Riven collected them and placed them in his pouch.

The weight was reassuring.

He had spent a considerable amount on his new equipment, but the contract had already earned him a substantial return.

More importantly, he had finally tested his new abilities outside the training yard..

Riven thanked the clerk and left the counter.

He was exhausted.

Tomorrow, he would return to Vesper and continue working on his magic. After that, Aiden would undoubtedly find another way to make him regret showing up at the training yard.

For tonight, however, he wanted a meal and a few hours of sleep.

He headed back toward the inn, already thinking about what he needed to improve before his next contract.