As Aiden brought the vehicle to a stop in the clearing, he was surprised to see that other travelers were already there.
Several fire pits had been set up throughout the area, almost as if the clearing was meant to welcome people passing through.
Thalia had said there was a campsite close by and that they should drive a bit farther to find it. Because of that, it was already dark by the time they pulled in.
Some people glanced over as the vehicle arrived.
Others simply continued poking at their fires and talking with each other.
As everyone stepped out, Aiden was surprised to see that Sir Braedon's preparations consisted entirely of laying his small bag on its side to use as a pillow.
Seeing the others setting up sleeping bags and preparing the vehicle for the night, Braedon for his part looked worried, like he felt he was not doing enough.
Aiden walked over with the Accel Spearmanship book in hand and held it out for him.
"Ah, Aiden," Braedon said, glancing over and taking the book. "Were you able to acquire the prerequisites?"
"Only Combo Star was for sale," Aiden said. "But I think I can learn the others quickly if you show me what to do."
Braedon nodded.
He walked with Aiden roughly three dozen paces away from the others, then looked around as if making sure nothing was in the way.
Then he turned back.
"Tell me, what are the three core foundational skills of Accel Spearmanship?"
Aiden was a bit startled by the sudden question and needed a moment before answering.
"Basic Spearmanship, Combo Star, and Accel Thought."
Braedon nodded and gestured for Aiden to sit.
Aiden did so, looking up in surprise as Braedon started gathering rocks. Soon, he had made a small pile of palm-sized stones.
Then Braedon sat across from him and tossed one.
Without thinking, Aiden's hand shot up and caught it.
He stared at the rock in confusion.
"Now toss it back," Braedon said, as if this were obvious.
Aiden did.
Braedon caught it, then tossed another.
They continued like that for several minutes.
Eventually, Aiden asked,
"What exactly are we doing?"
"You are still missing Accel Thought, correct?"
Aiden nodded.
Braedon began tossing the rocks faster, forcing Aiden to use both hands to keep up. After a short burst, Braedon stopped and gestured for Aiden to throw them back. Then they continued at the slower speed, gradually picking up the pace again.
"Accel Thought is a skill built around enhancing the body's ability to react," Braedon explained. "Catching a rock, dodging an attack, noticing an opening, all of it is counted the same. To teach you, the goal is to eventually keep six rocks flying between us at all times. For tonight, I expect we may be able to get at least two in the air."
Braedon spoke like it took no effort at all.
Meanwhile, as he kept speeding up, Aiden found his hands starting to lag.
The darkness around them only made it worse.
"If the plan was to throw rocks, why do this at night?" Aiden asked.
A rock struck his knuckle.
He winced and inwardly cursed as he shook out his hand before continuing.
"The dark forces you to work harder on thinking while also making you use more than your eyes," Braedon said. "In a fight, your ears are just as useful as what you can see. Sometimes more so."
Aiden could hear the wisdom in that.
His knuckles, however, demanded that he argue.
Still, Braedon had a point.
So Aiden did his best to focus.
Catch.
Throw.
Catch.
Throw.
As he continued, he found his mind drifting.
Almost as if Braedon could sense it, the knight would suddenly increase the speed, forcing Aiden to concentrate or get hit.
They practiced for around an hour before Braedon finally called for them to stop.
Despite Aiden's best efforts, he only managed to keep one rock in the air at a time.
When they returned to camp, Liora and the others were already asleep.
A small note sat by the fire, written in Selene's scrawled handwriting.
We are going to bed.
We can see your training from here, so we will not disturb you.
Someone from the camp came over to meet us.
Apparently, if you sleep here, you must select a time slot to take night watch.
Since you and Sir Braedon are already awake, we signed up for the earliest one.
Head to the middle of camp where the tower is.
"Nice," Will said, floating around in Aiden's head. "Looks like Selene's practice has improved. Maybe the energy potions have been helping her beyond just her condition."
No, Aiden thought. Let's not shame the hard work she has put in. This is all her.
He continued looking the note over, noticing the places where she had pressed the pencil too hard and others where the lines were too soft.
As he read, Sir Braedon looked over his shoulder and asked,
"What did they write?"
Aiden turned back.
Braedon was more than a head taller than him. He could have easily read the note over Aiden's shoulder, so Aiden was surprised by the chivalry of avoiding it despite his curiosity.
"They said we're on night watch for the camp and should head to the middle," Aiden said. "Sorry you got stuck on watch right after training."
"It is better now than waking up in the middle of the night," Braedon said. "Besides, I would be lying if I said I was not curious to ask some questions about you and your party."
Aiden was a bit surprised, but nodded.
The two started making their way through the different groups.
Some travelers had pitched tents. Others had vehicles like theirs. One group just had a strange door leading down into the ground like it was some kind of bunker, despite there being no sign of a structure anywhere else.
The wooden guard tower was simple. It stood around twenty-five feet tall, with a pair of travelers leaning on the railings and yawning. Beside them, a large alert horn was pinned to part of the railing.
They glanced down as Aiden and Braedon approached, then headed down the small spiraling walkway. It was more of a slanted slope than a staircase.
When they reached the bottom, Aiden saw that the two previous guards were an elven man and a younger human woman who looked no older than fifteen.
The pair walked over and handed Aiden a small piece of paper.
Then they silently gave a small wave and headed back toward what must have been their camp.
Aiden and Braedon walked up the tower.
At the top was a simple platform. A small roof sat on wooden beams in the corners, and each corner had a horn.
Braedon walked over to inspect one as Aiden opened the paper and read it.
Rules of Guard Duty
3-Hour Shifts
Keep your partner awake.At least one person must remain in the guard tower at all times.If you notice anything, blow the horn the respective number of times.
One blast: Potential danger.
Two blasts: Known danger.
Three blasts: Emergency evacuation.
Aiden finished reading, then lingered on the words "3-hour shifts."
He placed the paper on a chair and turned back to Braedon.
"We're going to be here for a bit," Aiden said. "And you said you had questions?"
"Yes," Braedon said. "And know that I mean no offense by this, but how did you end up with them?"
Aiden stared at him for a moment.
Then he sighed and leaned against the railing.
"Well, would you believe the mutt is the one who found me?"
"Jax, the pugilist?" Braedon asked. "He seems rather blusterous from what I have seen so far. I must say, I am surprised you stuck around him."
At that, Aiden could not help but laugh.
"Yeah. I was living on a mountain near Hopestone when Jax got his plate quest for something up there. The others were recruited over the month it took to complete the quest, and eventually, we became a party."
"I see." Braedon paused. "Is it actually true that fullblood beastkin are always seeking thumbs?"
"Oh yeah," Aiden said. "One of the first things Jax asked me when we met was about a potion for thumbs."
Their conversation continued through the shift.
Braedon asked questions, and Aiden answered them.
It was not anything fancy.
Just simple, idle chatter.
The kind that made both of them laugh from time to time.
Around three hours later, their replacements arrived.
Aiden and Braedon climbed down from the tower, returned to their camp, and went to sleep. At least Aiden thought he had.