[NR] A Little Training - Chapter 729

Peter shrugs, “So yeah, I’ll take you through your forms a few times. Make sure you haven’t fallen into any bad habits. Then I’ll leave. Though it wouldn’t be strange if I end up coming back around again if Andrew has any follow-up questions.”

Rosha nods, “It would be nice to have someone visit every once in a while. Shame that the only other travellers that seemed to live around here got driven out by us for being dirty food raiders when the settlement was attacked.”

Peter laughs, “The idiots. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t get a little forced into things as well. It wouldn’t take much to narrow down the ‘sensible’ options to banditry. Not that this would excuse them. They still chose that path.”

Jason shrugs, “There will always be people who when push comes to shove, decide that they should do some shoving as well. I won’t go as far as to claim it is some inherent property of people in general. However, it does seem to be inherent to some people.”

The group continues to talk on the subject for a while longer, but eventually everyone heads off to bed. Peter being directed to the guest hut. Which technically was the overflow storage hut. Jason had simply made sure to keep a cot in there despite not needing it for storage quite yet.

Rosha is woken up early the next morning by Peter knocking on her door. “Heyo! Time to get up for your review. I’ve planned a few things so we need to be up bright and early to fit it all in.”

That, of course, was a lie. Oh, not that he had a lot planned for her. Rather, the “bright” part was a lie. There was nothing bright about the time he was waking her up at. It still being well before dawn.

Whatever the case, Peter dragged a blurry-eyed Rosha out of her room and into the forest. All while Courtney and Jason both looked on. Not that they had been up and about or anything. Courtney simply had excellent maid training and so was up the moment Peter knocked on Rosha’s door, while Jason had been meditating and so not unaware of the world.

The two exit their rooms and go check on the fire pit. This early the embers are still quite active, and so they easily restart the fire to make breakfast.

Jason chuckles, “Well, I don’t think Rosha expected quite this early of a start.”

Courtney nods, “I won’t say she hates waking up early, but it definitely isn’t a preference. Though I do have to wonder why this early? He didn’t require it previously.”

Jason shrugs, “Eh, he likely just wants to run her through things when still tired to make sure his previous lessons stuck. You can do that by simply running someone ragged with regular training. However, that’s a bit of a trope by now and expected. Better to grab them when it is unexpected so you get a proper look.”

Courtney nods, “That could explain it. Though there is also the possibility that he simply treats the Deep Wilds differently than back in NeoRealm proper.”

Jason, “That is true, however he seems like the kind of person to train how he intends to act. Which I agree with. If you only ever train while fully rested, you’ll fail the first time you have to do something while tired.

“Luck and Fate are rarely kind enough to make sure you always face your problems on a full night of sleep.”

The two putter around the clearing until proper dawn show up, at which point they begin to prepare breakfast. Not that they believe the two will be back in time. Just that they wanted breakfast. A simple enough affair of steel-cut oats and herbs.

Said meal also works for Lily, though for her, the ratio of oats to greens is flipped. This provides more of a salad with oats experience. Though Jason also adds some hay to her mix as well for a better balance.

Peter and Rosha don’t show up for the meal, as expected, so Courtney packs away their portions. Having kept the herbs and oats separate meaning that they will store better. At least, for the day.

With that out of the way, she doesn’t really have anything to do. Jason, of course, is off to work more on his path and sure, there is always cleaning that can be done. Though you have to admit to your limits when dealing with a bunch of buildings out in the middle of the wilderness.

Courtney sighs, at least the buildings are proper houses now. Not that there was anything wrong with the log cabins from before. There is just something neater about using planks. At least, to her mind.

And so the day progresses past noon and dusk begins to approach before the other three return to the clearing. Jason first, another portion of the path finished. Then Rosha and Peter show up.

Though it certainly seems to take quite a bit of effort on Rosha’s part. While she looks clean enough, that was likely from some form of spell. Because otherwise, she looks destroyed.

Her feet are dragging and not even attempting to keep up with Peter’s pace. Arms to the side, hanging down without any effort to move them. Rosha’s face looks hollowed out, eyes slack and the bags under her eyes are quite advanced.

Peter laughs, “And look! We’re back! That wasn’t too hard, was it?”

Rosha makes no effort to respond. Instead, slowly lowered herself onto the ground and laying herself out flat.

Courtney walks over, “Well, looks like you two had a successful day. Should I get dinner ready?”

Peter pulls out a haunch of some deer-adjacent creature. “Here! Make something with this. A bit of meat in the diet after a decent exercise tastes all the sweeter!”

Courtney nods, “Well, with this we’ll still be a good bit out from dinner being ready. If you want, there’s still a couple servings of breakfast to tide the two of you over till then.”

Peter smiles, “Wonderful! We’ll take it.”