Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

His steps slowed, and an uneasy feeling settled in his gut. He could sense that if he didn't hurry and leave the area, something was bound to happen.

Trying to avoid any interaction, Asher altered his path slightly, hoping to slip away unnoticed. But before he could make his escape, Ciara's sharp eyes caught sight of him.

"Hey, Asher! You seem like you're in a hurry," Ciara called out, waving at him with a bright smile.

Asher forced a polite smile, mentally cursing his luck. "Yeah, I'm on my way back to my room," he replied, hoping the hint would be enough for her to let him go.

Ciara wasn't so easily deterred. She motioned for him to step away from the girl she was with, taking him a few steps aside for a more private conversation.

Asher reluctantly followed, sensing that this wasn't going to be a simple chat.

"Oh good, you're not busy then," Ciara said with a grin as she held his hands, her touch warm and familiar. She then pointed back at the elf girl she was with, who stood a short distance away, looking rather disinterested in the whole situation. "Do me a favor and spar with her."

Asher blinked, caught off guard by the request. "Why me? Isn't she already ranked higher than me at the moment?" he asked, glancing at the girl who appeared more bored than eager. 'She doesn't even look like she wants to be here,' he thought, noting her indifferent expression.

Ciara's expression shifted to one of pleading, her eyes practically sparkling as she tried to convince him. "Come on, Asher. It would really help her out. I'll even put my ranking on the line too, just to make it interesting."

Asher hesitated, not liking the direction this was going. The offer was indeed tempting, especially with the possibility of improving his rank, but the attention it would draw was the last thing he wanted.

"Tempting offer, but I still have to decline. My spot is already good enough for me, and I'd really love to keep the attention off myself," Asher said, shaking his head.

Ciara pouted slightly, clearly disappointed, but she didn't push further. Asher gave her a polite nod before turning to leave, grateful to escape the situation without further complication.

"But you really can't say that someone as attractive as you won't get attention," Ciara said with a teasing smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Asher shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of his own popularity, which was more a byproduct of his looks than any desire for attention.

Despite his reluctance to be in the spotlight, he couldn't deny that his striking features had made him somewhat of a local sensation just like his peers. Still, he had no interest in leveraging that popularity for unnecessary engagements.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, princess, and 'no' is a 'no,'" Asher sighed, his tone firm despite the underlying frustration.

Ciara's smile didn't waver. "Come on, I'll just have to keep asking until you say yes."

Asher rolled his eyes, knowing all too well how persistent she could be. He weighed his options, contemplating the quickest way to extricate himself from the situation. He was already mentally preparing for the worst, trying to come up with a plausible excuse but he knew who he was up against.

"So if I say yes, you'll stop bugging me?" Asher asked reluctantly, trying to make sure he wouldn't be pressured further.

"Yes," Ciara replied with an enthusiastic nod, clearly eager to get her way.

Enjoy new adventures from m-v l'e|m,p| y- r

"Alright, I'll do it," Asher mused with a resigned sigh, knowing it was the only way to end the conversation.

"Yay! I'll leave her with you then. Gotta get to class," Ciara said cheerfully before practically skipping off.

Asher watched her go, feeling a mix of annoyance and resignation. He felt a bit used, but he was determined to get the sparring session over with as quickly as possible. He turned to the elf girl, who had been quietly observing the exchange with a raised eyebrow.

"Come with me," Asher gestured, heading toward the training hall. The girl followed him with a reluctance that was almost palpable, her posture stiff and her gaze distant.

"Why come all the way here? We could have ended this back there," she asked, her tone slightly pompous, as if she considered the whole affair beneath her.

Asher shrugged, not in the mood for pleasantries. "I prefer to keep things straightforward. Let's just get this over with."

The girl gave a faint sigh but said nothing more as they continued toward the training hall. Asher's mind was already shifting to the best way to handle the sparring session and wrap it up efficiently.

"If you must know, I don't want to show off to potential enemies," Asher said with a straightforward tone, trying to be as clear as possible.

The elf girl's expression hardened, clearly dissatisfied with his response. "So you're scared then? I guess I didn't expect much from a human anyway," she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain.

Asher's gaze remained fixed ahead, his face a mask of indifference. "Stop trying to provoke me, missy. I'm only doing this because your princess begged me to. You're definitely not worth my time."

Her eyes narrowed, and her temper flared. "What the hell… I'm going to make you eat those words. My princess would never beg the likes of you, especially not a weak human," she said with annoyance, her voice rising.

Asher raised an eyebrow, internally bemused. 'And you get provoked by something that trivial?' he wondered, though he wasn't particularly invested in the exchange. "We'll find out when it's over then," he replied, his tone cool and detached.

"I'm not going to lose to an arrogant human like you," she declared, her hand gripping her sword with determination as she pointed it directly at him.

Asher moved to a corner of the training hall, pretending to stretch as he mentally prepared for the sparring match.

'Come to think of it, the majority of the elves I've seen really do have it out for humans,' he mused, considering the underlying tensions. Deciding to address the issue, he called out, "Is there a reason you keep emphasizing the human part? It's becoming a bit disrespectful and annoying."

The elf girl's expression flickered with surprise, but she said nothing, her focus remaining sharp as she waited for the match to begin.

Asher's mind was already racing through strategies, trying to figure out the best way to handle the situation while keeping his own interests in check.

"Because humans are weak, selfish, and everything wrong with this world. Humans don't even deserve to suck up to us elves," Tina spat with venom. "And there's no way I'll lose to a human like you."

Asher let out a sigh of relief, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "So that's what this is all about. Damn it, Ciara." He couldn't help but think, 'She's making me do her dirty work. How cruel can you get?'

"Don't you dare say her name!" Tina's voice echoed through the training hall, thick with annoyance and a simmering rage that only intensified her resolve.

Just then, the instructor on duty, a stern-looking man with a seasoned warrior's aura, entered the training hall. He had been asked to supervise the match, ensuring it would remain somewhat controlled despite the tension between the two.

As the instructor took his position, Asher turned his attention back to Tina.

"Before we do this, can I get your name? I'm guessing we'll be seeing you often since you move with Ciara, so it'd be weird if I don't know what to call you," Asher explained, his tone casual yet respectful. "Plus, there's this thing where warriors give out their name to their opponents as a sign of respect. Doesn't really apply to assassins, but I'll make an exception."

"Tina. Remember it, because that's the name of the girl who'll be putting you in your place. Too bad there won't be anyone here to witness it," she boasted, her eyes narrowing as she gripped her sword tightly.

Without another word, Tina lunged forward, her blade slicing through the air in a powerful vertical slash aimed directly at Asher. But Asher was quick on his feet, sidestepping the attack with ease.

Tina didn't let up, immediately following up with a series of rapid strikes, each one more aggressive than the last. Her movements were sharp and precise, but Asher's agility and experience allowed him to evade each blow effortlessly.

The clang of metal against metal echoed in the training hall as Tina's sword struck the ground, walls, and air, but never Asher.

He moved fluidly, dodging and weaving with a grace that only frustrated Tina further. Her attacks were relentless, but Asher's calm demeanor only seemed to mock her efforts.

'She's fast, but she's letting her emotions dictate her movements,' Asher observed, his mind already working out a strategy to turn the tide in his favor. He could see the frustration building in her eyes, and he knew that her anger would soon lead to mistakes.

As Tina prepared for another assault, Asher remained cool, waiting for the perfect moment to counter. The instructor watched closely, noting the contrast between Tina's fiery aggression and Asher's calculated calm.

This was no ordinary sparring match; it was a clash of ideals, with pride and prejudice fueling every strike.

"Hold still, you bastard!" Tina snapped, frustration lacing her voice as she continued swinging her sword with increasing speed and force.

"And why would I do something that dumb?" Asher replied, his tone almost playful as he effortlessly dodged each of her attacks.

The only sound that filled the training hall was the sharp whoosh of Tina's sword cutting through the air. Her strikes were powerful, but they kept missing their mark by mere inches, the metallic hum of the blade the only evidence of her relentless effort.

"I'm no sword expert, but I'm pretty sure your technique still needs some work," Asher quipped, his voice calm and unbothered as he evaded yet another swing.

Annoyed by his mocking tone, Tina activated her skill, [Wind Blessing], boosting her speed to an almost blinding level. With renewed vigor, she lunged at Asher, her sword aimed directly at his chest. But just as she thought she had him, Asher vanished, teleporting out of her reach in the blink of an eye.

"That's a really cowardly skill," Tina remarked bitterly, her eyes darting around to locate him as she prepared to strike again.

"There's no such thing as a fair fight," Asher countered, reappearing behind her with a swift motion, ready to land a decisive blow. But just as his strike was about to connect, an invisible force slammed into him, sending him flying across the room.

"Well, that was unexpected," Asher muttered as he picked himself up, dusting off his clothes. He looked up to see Tina standing with a confident expression, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"I just took a page out of your book, wise guy," she said smugly, readying herself for another attack. "I bet you don't have enough MP left to pull off that teleportation trick again, so this is checkmate."

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Thanks for making it this far