From Real to Realm

“That was a surprise,” Dolf said, chuckling.

Irina stood, clapping.

“You looked like a natural for a moment there,” she called out.

Cyrus smirked, nodding once. “Exactly. You stopped thinking and just acted. I bet you have more instincts just waiting to show.”

Val smiled, gripping the haft tighter. “Let’s keep going, I don’t want to lose any momentum.”

The next hour blurred by in a rhythm of stumbles, falls, and near-wins.

Val’s movements sharpened as she continued, but she missed more than she landed. Her reactions were getting more precise and she was learning how to adapt on the fly.

Instinct drove her as she struggled to handle Dolf and Cyrus in one on one spars.

Val found herself lying on her back once more, panting heavily.

“Don’t give up now,” Cyrus said, panting as well. “You’ve got more in you.”

Val pushed herself upright, swaying as she stood.

Zennia narrowed her eyes. “Val, don’t tell me you skipped breakfast?”

Val nodded her head.

“I needed to get here before the sun rose,” she said, panting. “Didn’t have time.”

Irina stood up. “You can’t be putting your body through this without food, dummy!”

Dolf had lowered his guard, shaking his head.

“Why don’t we head to Axeman’s Hall?” he asked, looking at Cyrus. “It’s hearty food and should be perfect for energy.”

“Food sounds good,” Val chuckled. “I’m so hungry.”

Cyrus shook his head. “You can’t be doing stupid things like that. Don’t let me catch you doing that again.”

Val nodded as she put the halberd back on the rack.

When everyone was ready, they left the training grounds.

As they passed through the gate, the same guard gave them the stink-eye. They all ignored him, as if he could do anything to begin with.

The sun was fully out now, and the streets were already growing busy.

Val followed Dolf as he led the group through the streets.

To her surprise, the Axeman’s Hall was only a few minutes away.

As they approached, she could figure out why. Every person she saw had weapons and armor on.

“Big adventurer hot spot?” she asked.

Dolf nodded. “It is. They treat us really well, so a lot of us tend to spend our coin here.”

As a group they pushed through the doors into the busy tavern.

It wasn’t rowdy, but had plenty of people eating, drinking, and conversing. Dolf guided them to a big table on the side of the room, claiming his seat. Each of them followed in turn, Val sitting last.

She scanned the room.

Dozens of adventurers filled every seat. Laughter, stories, and the clink of mugs filled the air.

“Well I’ll be. Looks like the hunk decided to pay me a visit,” came a deep female voice.

A large woman built like a fortress approached the table.

She had broad shoulders, thick arms, and a chest that strained against a flour-streaked apron. Her skin was sun-bronzed with salt-peppered hair pulled back in a no nonsense braid. Her deep brown eyes took the group in as she saddled up to Cyrus, a big grin splitting her face.

“Morning Myra,” Cyrus replied.

“Ohoho—look at you, bringing a cutie in here today, huh?” Myra asked, winking at Val.

Irina couldn’t help but giggle.

“These knuckleheads aren’t putting you through the wringer are they?” she asked.

Val shook her head.

“She didn’t eat breakfast before training with us today,” Zennia said, crossing her arms.

Myra scowled. “Now what kind of idiot does something like that—huh?”

She crossed her arms, shaking her head. “Now, I’m going to have to whip up something extra energizing for you.”

Crash!

A chair suddenly crashed against the bar as two men stood face to face.

Myra turned, her face getting red.

“Watch this,” Cyrus whispered, elbowing Val.

“Hey!” Myra stormed over to the men.

When she reached them she grabbed each by the hem of their shirts and held them off the ground.

“You don’t break shit in my tavern! If you do then I break your ass!"

She glared between both men, demanding their attention. “Now who’s paying for a new chair?!”

Both men went pale before rifling through their clothes to find their coin.

Each offered more than they probably needed to but Myra didn’t care.

Without a word she dropped them both to the ground, causing them to fall on their asses.

Then she snatched the coin from their hands.

With a swift kick, she sent them sprawling.

“Get out and don’t come back for a week!” she yelled.

When neither of them moved, or responded to her she turned back around.

“Do I need to beat that into your heads?! GIT!”

Both men rushed out of the tavern, tripping over each other.

The entire tavern burst into laughter.

“Sorry bout that,” Myra said, walking back over. “Sometimes we have jackasses who don’t respect my place.”

Val wiped a tear away from laughing. “It’s okay. I get it.”

Myra leaned down, the scent of woodsmoke and flour flooding Val’s nose. Her chest pressed against the wood of the table as she looked Val up and down.

“You’re lucky I’m busy sweetheart,” she said, voice smooth as iron. “Pretty thing like you’d have me breaking my own rules.”

Val’s face turned bright red, eyes going wide.

“Hey now, no hitting on the new girl,” Cyrus chided. “You’re going to make her melt.”

“Oh I’ll show her melting,” Myra said, winking at Val.

Val took a moment to regain her composure while Cyrus and Myra bickered back and forth for a minute.

This woman was intimidating in the best kind of way. Val couldn’t help but take a moment to look her over once more.

If she wanted to, she’d drain me dry…

Myra turned back to the group as a whole. “So, what can I get you?”

“How about some of your stew for Val,” Cyrus suggested. “She’s going to need the energy for training today.”

Myra nodded, looking over the rest of the table. “And? For the rest of you?”

“Maybe a few loaves of bread?” Irina asked. “We all ate breakfast, Val’s the only one who needs a full meal.”

“Coming right up.” Myra turned to head into the kitchen, giving Val a great view.

Cyrus elbowed her, giving her a knowing look.

“Myra is a huge flirt. If you don’t watch it she’ll have you sweating,” he chuckled.

Dolf shook his head. “I swear she gets excited just watching people squirm.”

Everyone fell into smooth conversation amongst themselves after that.

A few minutes later Myra brought a few steaming loaves of bread. Val took a few pieces herself with permission, of course.

When she bit into it she couldn’t help the moan of approval. It was crisp on the outside, buttered perfectly with a soft fluffy interior. The bread was gone in minutes, a good snack for all.

The stew was brought out later and placed in front of Val.

Myra winked. “Here ya go.”

It looked amazing, and smelled even better.

Various vegetables were mixed in with plenty of meat chunks as well. Val scooped a spoonful and took a slow bite.

Myra stood there, arms crossed in confidence as the rest of the table awaited Val’s reaction.

She chewed slowly, swallowed, then finally said: “This. Is. Delicious!”

Myra laughed. “Of course it is, why else do you think I’m always so busy?”

Val enjoyed every spoonful as she ate more of the stew.

Myra had to handle other customers so she wasn’t able to stick around for long. Occasionally she’d check in on everyone though.

Once Val was finished with her bowl Zennia suggested they relax for a bit longer.

Cyrus and Dolf were planning on working Val good today. Getting back to it too soon after eating could cause her to get sick. It was a good point so Val conceded to enjoying another loaf of bread and hydrating.

However, she wasn’t aware that Lynesia happened to be walking through the market just outside the tavern.

Lynesia never expected to stop by this particular market today. She needed some groceries and her usual spot was closed for the day.

It had been a while since she walked through this particular market so she was flying blind.

“Excuse me, are there any carts with vegetables or meat you’d recommend?” she asked someone.

The older frail woman with pottery nodded.

“Of course. In front of that tavern over there.” She pointed down near the furthest corner. “Look for Malic, he’s got dark brown ears, hard to miss.”

Lynesia bowed slightly. “Thank you so much.”

With a direction she started walking down the wooden path between carts and stands.

Dozens of people tried peddling their wares but she wasn’t interested.

When she reached the corner she noticed the tavern and its name.

“Axeman’s Hall? Interesting name for a tavern.”

Just as she turned to find Malic, her eyes saw something familiar.

She froze. “V—Val?”

She was sitting at a table in front of the window with a group of people.

Lynesia didn’t recognize any of them—maybe new friends? Two men, and two women who were admittedly attractive, especially the blonde.

Lynesia felt her cheeks burning at the realization Val was spending time with other women.

Wait—are they wearing armor?

Lynesia walked closer, noticing the weapons and armor those sitting with Val were wearing. She noticed the same thing about the other people within and around the tavern as well.

“What is she doing there?” she murmured.

Dolf elbowed Val. “There’s some brunette staring a hole through you.”

Cyrus laughed. “Not even delving yet and you’re getting all kinds of attention!”

A brunette?

Val’s heart sank.

It couldn’t be.

The entire group turned in their chairs, but no one was there staring.

“I don’t see anyone?” Irina said, confused.

“Well when Cyrus’ big ass got in the way I lost sight of her,” Dolf grumbled.

Val was getting worried. “What did she look like?”

Dolf shrugged. “Eh, I didn’t get the best look before she ran off.”

Val sighed.

The chances of it being Lynesia were slim, but not impossible.

In the moment it didn’t matter. It was time for them to head back to the guildhall anyways.

Myra stopped by one more time to say goodbye.

Val smiled. “Thank you for the meal.”

Myra grinned. “Of course, hun. You can come back any time.”

As they stepped back into the warmth of the sun Val looked around, trying to see if she could catch a glimpse of whoever was staring earlier.

The bustle of the market was too much for her to see anyone that stood out to her so she turned to follow Cyrus.

Lynesia peeked from behind a hanging cloth next to a vegetable stall.

She didn’t call out. Didn’t move. Just watched—silent—as people blurred past between them.

One by one, they passed, until Val’s silhouette was broken apart, swallowed by the market crowd.

By the time they all arrived back at the guildhall the sun was high in the sky, beating down on them.

It was time to get back to the grindstone and Val was ready.

Training blurred by as Cyrus barked constant demands from the sidelines.

Dolf tested Val constantly, forcing her to internalize stances, footwork, and grips. This was less about sparring, more about building her foundation.

She’d proven she had the instincts earlier—now she needed fundamentals.

“Watch your footwork!” Cyrus barked.

Val found herself on her ass more times than she cared to admit.

However, Dolf never hesitated to help her up before continuing.

Her shirt was soaked through while damp sand clung to her skin. Her hands felt raw, blisters forming from her tight grip.

After a few more hours it was time for her to test herself once more.

She faced Cyrus now.

He was ready to test her while Dolf took a break. He held a wooden tower shield and longsword, a smirk on his face.

Val rolled the haft in her hands—the weapon felt twice as heavy now.

“Well, come on now. Show me what you’ve learned—so far.”

Val didn’t hesitate.

Unlike with Dolf, she was on the attack this time.

She closed the distance in a few long strides. The collision of wood on wood echoed through the training grounds once more. Strike after strike missed their mark as Cyrus proved how strong his defense could be.

Val was out of breath, but refused to back down or give in.

She was recovering faster from blocks and parries, but her arms were heavy. Exhaustion was setting in, affecting her performance.

One solid hit!

She dashed to the right, swinging wide from the side, but Cyrus anticipated it.

Just one!

However, for a split second she saw it, an opening.

She placed all of her weight on her right foot as she landed, bending her knees.

Then, with all of her strength she dashed directly at Cyrus.

He raised his shield in anticipation of her direction of attack.

That meant he couldn’t see when she changed her direction at the last second.

Irina and Zennia jumped up.

She pulled back just enough to avoid hitting him too hard, but her halberd hit true.

With a thrust she slammed the tip into his abdomen from under the bottom edge of his shield.

He winced in pain as Val stumbled back, eyes wide with shock.

“Fuck that hurt,” he grumbled. “Good reaction!”

Val stood there, panting.

I did it! I fucking hit him!

Cyrus grinned. “Think you can do it twice?”

Val grinned back, nodding.

Without hesitation she pressed forward on the offensive once more. However, she was getting sluggish and sloppy.

Her hits still had weight, but they weren’t as precise. More than once Cyrus was able to just grab the haft and yank her to the side.

He swatted another wide attack causing Val to stumble.

“Stop,” he said. “You’re gassed. You need a break.”

Val sank to the ground, resting the haft across her knees.

She panted, sweat dripping from the tip of her nose as she nodded.

Dolf walked up placing a hand on her shoulder and winking. “Mind tagging me in?”

Val chuckled. “Sure, he’s all yours.”

She slapped Dolf’s extended hand before struggling to her feet, leaning on the halberd for support.

“Oh? You want another try?” Cyrus asked, laughing.

“Always,” Dolf replied, popping his knuckles.

Val shook her head with a smirk as she walked to the bench the girls were sitting on.

Zennia passed her a large water skin as she plopped down.

The look in the girls’ eyes spoke volumes. Approval, admiration, and genuine care. They had a front row seat to Val’s progress throughout the day and they liked what they had seen so far.

Val leaned back taking a few large gulps of cool water.

Something was starting to click for her.

At first, she hadn’t understood why anyone would put their life on the line for this.

Now that she was getting a deeper taste of things, she felt it.

Fear was there, you’d be stupid not to be scared of dying. However, she felt more—excitement, desire, eagerness.

She needed to get her class now, so she could join Lucia, Amarisse, and Mina.

I really think I was always meant to become an adventurer.

The spar between Cyrus and Dolf was an excellent breather.

It also gave Val a moment to watch two experienced adventurers in motion while she caught her breath.

It was obvious by their quips that this was a recurring event for them. Gone were the casual reactions when they were with Val. Now they were going hard—and Dolf was keeping Cyrus on his toes.

Even Zennia and Irina were getting more into their spar as well.

When it was Val’s time to get back into the ring she was ready.

Exhaustion was still setting in—heavily, but she wasn’t backing down.

Cyrus and Dolf agreed Val should keep sparring, this time with more personal feedback from whoever was watching. When something happened, they would stop while any of the three not sparring would make comments.

Suggestions were made, adjustments guided, and explanations given.

Before long the sun was beginning to set, coloring the sky burnt orange once more.

Cyrus and Dolf were soaked through the same as Val.

Irina and Zennia walked up to the group, handing out water skins for each of them.

“You made a lot of progress today,” Zennia said, smiling at Val.

Dolf nodded. “Definitely. You’ve got good instincts.”

“Your fighting style is all over the place,” Cyrus chimed in. “You refuse to get bogged down. It was rare for your grip or footwork to stay the same for long.”

Irina was tapping her chin as everyone was making comments.

She looked over at the sand that was displaced. She traced Val’s movements in her head, reviewing everything she’d seen.

“Hybrid?” she mumbled to herself.

“What was that Irina?” Zennia asked.

“I think Hybrid might be the best fit for Val.”

Everyone froze.

Val had considered Hybrid early on, but she didn’t have enough evidence to commit to it.

“Think about it.” Irina pointed to the Halberd in Val’s hand. “The halberd is a hybrid style weapon in and of itself.”

“Then like you said.” She motioned toward Cyrus. “Val is always changing things up—her grip, her stance. She doesn’t want to choose one fighting style, she needs to keep moving and changing.”

Zennia spoke up. “I think Irina’s right. You two were so focused on drilling basics, you probably didn’t notice. We watched as she took what you said and implemented it.”

Cyrus turned to Val. “That’s two in favor of Hybrid. How do you feel about it?”

Dolf pressed his fist to her leg. “Don’t make the choice on a whim right now. Take some time, dig deep, see how you truly feel.”

With the decision weighing on her mind, it was time for everyone to head home.

Val had a lot to think over tonight, though.

Zennia made sure to take the time to scold her once more and remind her to eat breakfast in the morning.

The walk home was slow.

Val’s body ached in places she didn’t know it could. The aches weren’t the kind she regretted, just proof she pushed herself.

By the time she reached her front door, the sky had darkened significantly.

Each step to the second floor was a reminder of her day.

By the time she was in a hot bath she didn’t want to move. The warmth soothed every bruise, but she couldn’t stay in forever.

After getting out and getting dressed she joined her family for dinner.

A few comments were made about how exhausted she seemed. It was hard to come up with a lie on the spot given how tired she was but her family didn’t press.

Dinner was just as hearty as the stew Myra made for her earlier in the day. She’d need it, considering she planned to train even more tomorrow.

This time she wouldn’t need to leave as early though, so she could eat breakfast.

When dinner was done, Val plopped onto her bed.

It took some effort to slide under the covers and get comfortable, though.

When she was finally relaxed she tried to go over the day’s events.

Hybrid makes the most sense… I was already considering it too.

She turned on her side, gripping the edge of her blanket.

There were still questions unanswered.

Still nerves. Still… Sleep claimed her before she could finish the thought.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!