Limits

After couple of minutes, Nick finally returned to the reality and said "You will not understand what it means, even if I explain it to you". I didn't really care, I was more interested in other stuff, he would teach me. I asked "So, what else will you teach me?". Nick replied "There is one last thing, I'm going to teach you. That is, the Art of Stealth". I thought for a while about it, and asked "You mentioned it as a last skill, or Art. Is it because, that is your least important or most important skill?".

He said "All of them are important, you small bastard. Don't pick and choose!". He then continued "You think that the skills, the late roommate of yours told you about, are even comparable? They are just petty tricks, no wonder she got caught in the first place!". I kind of expected that answer. I nodded my head, and Nick continued "What I'm going to teach you, is the Art of Stealth. I'm not as experienced with it, as with the other two. Therefore, I can only teach you that much". He then melded into shadow of the room, I couldn't see him at all. I was astonished 'He just disappeared, as if by magic'. I was sure that, if I went to the shadow, I wouldn't find him there. Nick then appeared out of nowhere, standing in the same place, he used to stand.

Only one word escaped my mouth "Wow!". Nick smiled and said "So, you finally see the greatness of my Arts!". He then continued "These are the 3 Arts that I'm going to teach you. From now on, I will refer to them by their names". I asked Nick "So, when do we start?". He answered "You will need constant supply of food in order to regain your strength first. You will also need to rest couple of days". He then thought for a while, and continued "I'd say, after 4 days of doing nothing and eating, you should be back to your condition from before. Therefore, we will start your training in 4 days".

I nodded my head, while Nick continued "You will still do your daily tasks, so only when your tasks are done, will I teach you. Don't worry though, it will not be here. I will teach you at your house. It would be suspicious, if you stayed here after doing your task". I knew what he was talking about. I also figured that no one else besides us, knew about our relationship. I also had no problem with him coming over to my house. With the advancements in his Art of Stealth, I doubted that anyone in this village, could actually find him.

Nick said "Good, it seems that you can walk now. You don't have to come tomorrow. In 4 days time, I will come to you myself. I will bring some food to you personally. Now that you are able to walk, go back to your own house and rest". I nodded my head and left his house. I was feeling much better than before. That was all thanks to the food, that Nick gave me.

I returned to my house, and took the quilt with me outside. I had to wash this blood off my quilt somehow. I didn't want to sleep in blood all the time. I went to the well and draw some water, then I put the quilt into the bucket. Using my hands, I did the laundry. I had no soap. My only solution, was to scrub it for a long time. The stain was still there in the end, but at least the collected dirt and smell was gone. I squeezed out as much water as I could, and returned to my house. I didn't want to hang it outside. It was autumn already, so rain was not unusual, but more importantly, someone might just play a "prank" and steal it. It wouldn't even be a prank, someone would do this, in order to make my life more difficult.

That night, I went to sleep without my quilt. The nights weren't that chilly yet, so sleeping without a quilt was still acceptable. Next morning, I woke up and felt hunger. When I looked around, I noticed some food laying on my table. It was meat dish and some bread, as well as the usual porridge. The quantity was abnormal, compared to what I used to get. I devoured the food, in a matter of few minutes.

I didn't go out anywhere that day. I stayed at my house and rest properly. Nick occasionally popped in to give me more food. I always received some meat, when Nick brought the food. This went on for 4 days. My strength returned, and even surpassed my previous state. I did nothing for couple of days and received a lot more food, my body recovered very well. I was still very skinny but my skin looked healthy now and there were no wrinkles anymore. I would even go as far as to say, that I looked younger than previously. My wounds, courtesy of Nick, also healed very well. I could now run, swing my arms and so on, just like any other healthy person.

It was time for me to return, to my daily work. I got up from my bed, ate the breakfast provided by Nick and went out to do my job. When I started water carrying task, I felt that the bucket, was as light as a feather. It was a welcoming change, compared to the days, I started out as a slave. I felt like, I could throw it 20 metres into the air. With this light warm up, I went to the woodcutter's lodge, to start my woodcutting task.

I was surprised, at how easy it was for me to split the wood. It felt like I was splitting butter. I still took usual breaks and faked being tired. I didn't want anyone, especially the one that monitored me, to find out my true strength or abilities.

After this task, I went back to my house. This time when I arrived back at my house, I noticed that the breakfast was there. I guessed 'They will provide me with food, now that I started to work again. Good, I can gain my strength back sooner'. After the breakfast, which was the usual porridge and bread, I went to the blacksmith's workshop.

I was surprised again, to see the blacksmith Grond waiting for me. I wondered 'What type of task, will he change it to now?'. I soon got my answer "Kid. today, I will show you how to refine the steel even further. This will be your task from now on". I nodded my head and watched in silence.

Grond took two lumps of iron ore and threw that together with the other ore. When that melted, he poured that into a bar mould and worked on it. He did 3 repetitions of the usual process, but then, he completely melted the bar, and added one more lump of iron ore, and another lump of the other ore, to the mix. When that melted, he again poured that into a bar mould, and worked on it. He then did 5 repetitions of flattening one end, then curving it on top of the other, and pounding till flat.

It took him well over an hour to just make that one ingot. I still had about an hour of time left, so I went to work. I knew that I could do the same ingot no problem. With my current strength, I would even do it faster. In the end, I managed to create one such ingot. The blacksmith's eyes shone like rays of sunlight, when he saw the bar, I faked being seriously tired not to arouse suspicion. After examining my ingot, he said that I can go, therefore I left.

After my lunch break, which was provided by Nick, I went to see him for my next task. Inside his house, I was treated as usual, as if nothing changed. I wasn't stupid and immediately knew that this was a cover up, so I played along. I treated the patients with light injuries. Only when someone with severe injury came over, or was carried in, I would call Nick over. He would then tend to the injured person.

The day soon finished and I returned to my house. I noticed some food on my table. 'This should be my dinner, that I receive from the village'. I ate my dinner in peace and awaited Nick's arrival. After a while, I heard a voice "You seem a lot better now".

I was startled by Nick's voice. He didn't use the doors and startled me... or maybe he did, and I didn't even notice. The window was closed and so dirty that no one could see what is inside the house. I never did any real cleaning, hence the dirt. I asked in amazement "How did you enter?". Nick appeared out of nowhere and said "That, you will learn soon".