THE MOMENT
The practice courtyard was full of amateurs with a handful of respected trainers dispersed among them. Blades were being swung wildly and Tessa noted a flying dagger as she approached. She wasn't nervous; but, she wasn't going to let her guard down with the amount of steel flailing to-and-fro. Fortunately, she didn't have to be there long. As far as she understood it, she was only there to talk to one person. She surveyed the field and spotted him standing in the back. He was behind a counter and talking to someone else. Once she set her course toward him, another dagger flew past her.
She took the long way around without cutting through the action. However, she was more in a hurry than trying to be careful. She did not want to risk getting pulled in as a training partner on the spot. As a member of the guild she would've been obligated to participate if they asked her to, so it was better to avoid that possibility altogether. She made her way around the outskirts and finally reached the man she was looking for. He was a burly, bearded man standing in the shade, and he was alone again by the time she reached him. She thanked her luck for small miracles and began a conversation.
"Hi," she said the minimum.
"Hello, young novice," he nodded at her with a smile. "How may I guide your rise through our ranks?"
"Skills," Tessa answered flatly. His smile dimmed only slightly and he tilted his head at her.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what that means...?" he replied with a shrug.
"Abilities?" Tessa asked. His smile still hadn't returned and he repeated himself at her.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what that means...?"
"Ugh..., I should've asked...," Tessa grumbled to herself. Technically, she could still ask at any time; but, she didn't want Victoria to think she couldn't play a simple game.
"Oh, regeneration?" Tessa looked at the bearded man, and his smile had returned. But, before he could say anything a flying dagger flew by her ear and impaled itself in his chest. Tessa smiled because it looked like she was on the right track. But, he didn't say anything. He stood there with a broad grin and a silvery knife handle protruding out from the front. She waited for a moment; but, she didn't have the patience to try and challenge his. "Knife," she said as she gestured at it.
"It's fine," the man spoke again as he pulled the knife out. He let it fall to the floor; but, Tessa watched it disintegrate before it landed. He dabbed at the blood on his shirt, then chuckled. "Believe it or not, this happens more often than you'd think."
"Doubt it," Tessa giggled to herself. But, he was already on the right conversation and he continued.
"See? Look at that, all better," he gestured at the healed wound beneath the torn and bloodied shirt. "As a Berzerker, you're going to get hurt a lot," he chuckled. "But, whether it's self-inflicted or a tough enemy, you're going to need this Regeneration Skill to keep up," he said as he placed a purple gem on the counter in front of him.
"Got it," Tessa nodded and took the gem. She got a notification that it was transferred to her inventory, and the bearded man shimmered in front of her. In an instant, he was wearing a clean shirt with no sign of a wound. She was about to leave; but, another player came over to talk to the trainer. Tessa got out of his way; but, stayed close enough to get one more chuckle. She stood off to the side and waited until she heard him say it.
"M'Lord! How can I learn to heal my body like you? Please, teach me the secrets of regeneration!" the player enjoyed his interaction; and, Tessa enjoyed it too. He looked like a teenager a little older than her, and he gasped in surprise as the dagger flew by him and impaled itself into the man's chest.
"M'LORD! ARE YOU WELL??" The player dashed around to check on the NPC, and Tessa giggled as she finally walked away. She heard the last of the trainer's dialogue as she left.
"It's fine," he said. "Believe it or not, this happens more often than you'd think."