William, watching the preparations unfold, felt a surge of conflicting emotions. He was desperate to join the expedition, driven by a complex mix of loyalty to Julia, a thirst for knowledge, and a burning desire to test the limits of EMMA. He also knew, with absolute certainty, that EMMA, his unique data-visualization magic, would be invaluable to the party. He could provide real-time analysis of combat situations, identify enemy weaknesses, predict their movements, optimize their strategies – capabilities that no one else in Aver, perhaps no one else in the world, possessed. He could also use the journey, the perilous trek through the Tallenwood and the potential encounter with the elves, as an opportunity to further hone his skills, to expand his understanding of magic, to unlock the full potential of EMMA. The lure of Lumenar itself was also very strong, that EMMA would significantly improve in the presence of elves. The elves could provide him with two opportunities to boost his mana source. The first being they hold the secrets to mana storage in magical artifacts and the second being Lumenar was much richer in mana when compared to Aver which could halve William’s required practice time while also doubling the gain.
But Julia's initial resistance, her concern for his safety, her doubt in his abilities, stung. He understood her reservations. He was, after all, a novice, an outsider, a man with no combat experience, no formal magical training, thrust into a world of seasoned warriors and powerful mages. He was a liability, a potential burden, a weak link in a chain that needed to be unbreakable.
"Julia," he'd pleaded, catching her alone in a quiet corner of the Guild hall, "I know I'm not a fighter, not like Edward or Sir Roland. But I can help. I promise I won't be a burden. Think of how I landed a blow on Edward, even when I had just started training. I was also able to cast the light spell, and with repeated practice the last couple of days, my magic has also improved." He hesitated, reluctant to reveal the full extent of his abilities, to expose the secret of EMMA. "I also have... certain skills. Ways of seeing things, of understanding things, that others don't. I can be useful, I know I can."
Julia had looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and affection, her expression torn between her desire to protect him and her respect for his determination. "William, this isn't a game. This is a dangerous mission, potentially a suicide mission. We're going into the heart of enemy territory, facing unknown threats, dealing with a race that is notoriously unpredictable. It's not about proving yourself, it's about survival. It's about the fate of the kingdom."
"I know," William had insisted, his voice firm, his gaze unwavering. "But I'm not asking to be a hero. I'm asking to contribute, to use my abilities, however unconventional they may be, to help the cause. And... and I want to be there for you. You've helped me so much, taught me so much. I owe you. I want to repay that debt, in whatever way I can."
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That, perhaps, was the most compelling argument, the one that finally swayed Julia's resolve. She saw the sincerity in his eyes, the unwavering loyalty, the genuine desire to help, and she couldn't refuse him. But she also knew that Borin, the pragmatic Guildmaster, would never approve such a request without concrete evidence of William's capabilities.
"Alright, William," she'd said, her voice resigned but also tinged with a hint of admiration. "I'll talk to Borin. I'll tell him you want to join the expedition. But I won't lie for you. I won't exaggerate your skills. He'll want to see proof, a demonstration of your abilities. And he won't be easy to convince."
And so, the challenge was set. Borin, ever the shrewd tactician, had devised a test, a seemingly impossible task designed to weed out the weak, to separate the hopeful from the capable. William, the F-rank novice, would have to face a B-rank veteran, someone skilled enough to hold their own against a party of goblins, when William had trouble with just one. He wouldn't have to defeat the veteran, a feat that was clearly beyond his current abilities. He simply had to survive. For ten minutes.
Ten minutes. It seemed like an insignificant amount of time, a mere blip in the grand scheme of things. But in the context of a combat situation, against a vastly superior opponent, it was an eternity. Under constant pressure of relentless attacks, of dodging, parrying, and evading, with no respite, no room for error. In a fight where the skill gap is so large, even surviving for two minutes against such an onslaught might require a small miracle.
William, however, wasn't deterred. He was grateful for the opportunity, for the chance to prove himself, for the challenge that lay ahead. He knew it wouldn't be easy. He knew he was likely to fail. But he also knew that he had to try. He had to push himself to his limits, to utilize every skill he'd learned, to tap into every ounce of his potential. He had to show Julia, to show Borin, to show himself, that he was more than just a novice wet behind the ears, that he was capable of contributing, of fighting, of surviving in this new, dangerous world.
He requested the name of his opponent, a seemingly insignificant detail, but one that was crucial to his analytical mind. He needed information, data, anything that could give him an edge, a slight advantage in this seemingly insurmountable challenge.
"Yegun Fastblade," Borin had said, his voice devoid of any emotion, his eyes fixed on William, assessing him, measuring him, judging his worth. "He specializes in speed and agility. He's not a heavy hitter, but he's relentless. He'll wear you down, overwhelm you with a flurry of attacks. Don't expect mercy. He won't hold back."
William had nodded, absorbing the information, filing it away in his mental database, already formulating a strategy, a plan of action. He had one day to prepare. One day to transform himself from a novice adventurer into someone capable of surviving ten minutes against a whirlwind of steel.
