As I slowly open my eyes and stretch I think tomorrow is the day. I will be leaving the Starter Area with the Silver Thorns. They all should hit level ten today and we will leave tomorrow morning. This will also complete my second ten days of training with the Captain. I will be getting all my XP rewards. I am excited to see what level I will achieve. After a quick breakfast and potion of Iron Will I run over to the barrack. After meeting the Captain on the practice field, we start out with Minor Heal, then Shield, Fireball, and finally Ice Dart as I hit Expert in each. I complete each by lunch, so we continue practicing the others until dinner time, where I am practically jumping for joy despite being exhausted.

  The Captain says, “I formally complete your training. You are no longer my student.”

  A huge notification pops up.

  Holy crap, this is far more than I expected. I can’t resist looking at my character sheet.

  After doing a little dance while the Captain looks on amused I let the Captain know I am now level fourteen as I dump all my unallocated points into intelligence. The Silver Thorns, John, Cal, and I have been discussing the best investment of the points I have. If we encounter high levels fighters I am going to need to pour spells out like water to have a chance. My new Shadow Step skill may help. I will have to practice that tonight and tomorrow before we leave. If I can get Shadow Step to Beginner level I can take one other person with me. Also, I need less than 900 XP to get to the next level. If I can get Shadow Step to Beginner and Concealing Mists to Beginner should get me to level fifteen. I rub my hands together in glee thinking about the possible reward for getting another level in the starter area.

  After thanking the Captain for all the help, we part ways and I hit the bathhouse before meeting the Silver Thorns at the Tavern. I find the Silver Thorns already sitting around and enjoying drinks at the table as I enter the Tavern. I joined them at the table and they all looked at me expectantly as I said I made level ten.

  Justin said “Good. We are ready to leave after lunch then. We can meet in the morning at sunrise to practice in a raid group.”

  “I agree, but I have a new skill that may be helpful I want to drill with too.” I say with a wide grin.

  Justin just raised an eyebrow.

  “I got Shadow Step.”

  That caused an uproar with questions coming in left and right until Justin asked for quiet as he said. “Can you tell us how you got that skill?”

  “I am sorry, but that is related to quests I cannot discuss.” I felt slightly guilting, but with not knowing what will happen after we leave tomorrow I want to keep some things to myself. I also can’t afford for anyone to guess I have the Deck of Fate and a jump to level fourteen would be a dead giveaway.

  There are disappointed looks and muttering from the others, but no one presses the issue. I notice Nora appears to have a thoughtful look. Justin breaks the mood by calling John over to take our orders for dinner and to get us another round of ales. As we eat steaks we go over the plans for tomorrow, such as they are. The main problem of course is that anything could be waiting for us and there are a lot of ways for high level characters to disable us before we can make it to the outpost outside the starter area. I also voice a thought I had, since I can cast some area affect spells with a lot of damage, why don’t I just kill all of us as we exit the area? We would then respawn at the outpost. Justin says. “Unfortunately, there are some rare items that can temporarily change the respawn point within an area. We just can’t take the risk they will have one of these, because if you die within the area of effect of the item you will respawn wherever it is. So, they could kill us and then will have ten hours to move it somewhere else before we respawn.”

  “I see.”

  I finish my meal and get up to go practice Shadow Step. As I am leaving the Silver Thorns continue to relax and unwind. Justin jumps up as I am leaving and asks me to wait a minute and walks over as I pause in the doorway.

  Justin says. “I have a favor to ask.”

  “Sure, ask away.” I say intrigued.

  “If things go bad and you can get out please try to take Nora with you. If you get your Shadow Step up to Beginner you can take a second person and that may be just want you need to get away.”

  “You want me to abandon everyone else?” I ask surprised.

  “I am saying too much by telling you this, but I need to make sure you understand the importance. All of us in the Silver Thorns would give our lives to protect Nora, so yes save her if you can.”

  I sigh as I looks at his serious expression. “I promise I will do everything I can to save her, but I am not giving up on you all.” I say determinedly.

  Justin smiles saying thanks as he walks back to the group.

  First, I make sure my XP is not going to the Deck of Fate. Then I turn and start Shadow Stepping around the village. Most of the buildings have dim lights outside their front doors, which cast long shadows ideal for practicing my skill. After dump all my unallocated points in intelligence I have 860 mana and at thirty mana per Shadow step I can step about twenty-nine times before depleting my mana. After I run out of mana I sit and rest, which increases by regeneration rate by a factor of five. Within seven minutes I am full again and ready to start with only a slight remainder of a mana headache. It takes me three hours to get to Beginner, which earns me another 750 XP. Then another two hours casting gets Concealing Mists to Beginner earning me another 350 XP pushing me to level fifteen.

  That is a nice upgrade to my skill. It will greatly improve my chances of getting away or attacking people from behind increasing my chance to attack from stealth. I put my new unallocated stat point in intelligence. I look around the tavern as I enter to go to bed. The Silver Thorns have already broken up and must be in their beds as well. I wave to John as I take the stairs to my room. I have achieved Beginner in Shadow Step and will be able to take fourteen steps while taking another person along. I hope I don’t need to as I settle into bed and offer a silent pray to Vera. I have never been that religious, but there is no doubting the Goddess exists and hopefully she is watching over us. With that thought I drift off to sleep.