Over the next three weeks he was training with Sagenfeld on his techniques. Specifically he was focused on speed, performance and strength. He made remarkable progress in that time. Of course that didn''t show in the first few days.


    "Just follow the tune! It will show it self"


    "That''s so easy said from your perspective" said Ker with sweat pouring down. He was at the same exercise for hours, relentless training the motions. Still he could not feel any improvement at all. It was to grind one''s teeth.


    "Maybe we should change exercises"


    "No, I can match that strike with my feet movement, I know it"


    "Fine, then again, follow the tune follow it along"


    It resulted in more frustration for Ker and he knew it was all because he was headstrong. But he didn''t want to give up. He wanted this technique to work and it should work right now.


    It didn''t.


    It helped Ker to get exhausted which was a first for days. He definitely had an increased stamina since evolving. Not to say that other areas, like strength, lacked behind, but it felt for him like they didn''t improve that much.


    In the end Ker had to end the training on an upset note and continue the other day. The next day Sagenfeld didn''t even ask to repeat the technique from day before. He moved swiftly on to the next training, improving Ker''s strength management. That was also easier said than done. Addressing it was a pain in the neck for both of them. Ker didn''t want to hear that strength could be applied in different forces, while Sagenfeld tried to get Ker to limit the strength in his swings. That way, the tutor''s logic, he would apply exactly the amount needed and not try to split a boulder every time.


    All things considered Sagenfeld was a patient tutor. He was insistent at times but never overbearing and especially not commanding. Ker learned actually a lot more under him than under the previous teacher. He would also rather trust the string plucking sword-teacher than the militaristic strict teacher recommended by the guild. If it was the familiarity to his family or just hoe he was as a human, Ker couldn''t tell.


    Still he didn''t trust him enough to entrust him the secret of his evolution. The question was if he could keep it a secret long term. He decided that he rather kept things going how they were now, it was weird thing to think about changing anything. He was happy after all. He also could delay his leveling since he was in a safe environment.


    One of the unexpected benefits of the training was the measurements of his growth. It wasn''t just that he became better at techniques, he really became stronger, a bit faster and tiny bit more flexible. But at times it also felt like his speed would stagnate, while his body strengthened in magnitudes. Another observation was that he was tough as nails or rather iron. One time he was so frustrated about his slow pace that he smashed a hand into and right though a brick stone. That was relative unordinary even for people in their 20th level. Than again most people didn''t focus on strength and durability.


    If this continued he would grow far beyond what others could achieve through training and stats alone. He wondered if it was him growing. Not in the sense that he was growing up but in the sense that he was growing into the evolution traits he chosen. It sounded plausible to him.


    ?──?─?─?──??


    He met Jenna at the plane outside of the city. The plane that was used as slime hunting ground. It would probably not yield much result, much like the times before, but it would show him Jenna''s capabilities. In comparison to him she was not afforded a teacher, had barely any fighting lessons at all and would definitely not go on an adventure to level up most efficiently. Her chances at becoming an adventurer, one of those that survive their adventures, was right now minimal. She did not have a class right now and a class upgrade would be near impossible this way.


    But Ker was unperturbed from all this. He was determined to help his friends. He set this entire day for it after all.


    "Ok, we will go to the slime hunting ground. Are you ready?"


    "Sure" came an unmotivated response "It will be like always"


    "Maybe, but that is only because the slimes are low-level. No worries I will make certain you get your class today"


    First Jenna looked irritated at his unwavering statement then she smiled slightly but said:"But don''t have to high hopes"


    They came across three small slimes. Obviously low in level. Ker nodded to Jenna, she drew her dagger and her kitchen knife. It reminded Ker that not everyone was fortunate to have a family that sponsored him. She attacked the first with a downward piercing attack. It connected and dealt considerable damage to the slime. She than cut with the knife the second slime and thrust both her weapons in the first. The first slime died in a low gurgle, while the second readied itself for an attack. She defended herself with an elbow, but it still seemed to hurt. She grimaced and cut and stabbed the second slime to death while avoiding the third. The last slime was a simple exercise in the end.


    "That wasn''t so bad" murmurer Ker.


    "Yeah, but I still didn''t get another'' level. It gonn'' need forever this way"


    Overall the performance was actually pretty acceptable from his point of view. Of course it was much slower than his fights were and she couldn''t even muster an ounce of his strength, but for her level it was good. Now he wanted to test something.


    "How about we go to a hunting ground"


    She just looked perplexed at him. "We are at a hunting ground. What d'' you mean?"


    He just smiled. "No matter you will see."


    They needed some time to get near the woods. In the end Ker had to carry Jenna and run there himself.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Yeee, that is fun. Thanks'' for lette'' me ride"


    "Yeah, but this is an exception ok. Can''t let everyone see that I take you with me via piggyback."


    As they arrived he even needed a moment to take a breath. But that was all he needed to be move on. Jenna needed a moment longer, rather to calm her down from excitement. Afterwards they entered the outer parts of the forest. It was similar to the place Ker took his last quest. he wanted to find something stronger than the slimes, but weak enough for Jenna to handle on her own.


    Of course the first beast he encountered was a special version of a hog. A hog with weird horn like bones protruding out. This was not a good sign. So he slowly backed away and signaled Jenna to sneak back. That is what they did undisturbed. They had to look further to find a fitting foe.


    Some time alter they found a rabbit beast. Maybe even one of those that disturbed the farmers a few day back. Ker could not other than smile. He motioned for Jenna to get ready. She positioned herself on the path of the rabbit beast, drew her dagger and knife and slowly closed the distance. Ker was also ready since this was a potential dangerous situation, even if more so for Jenna than ever for him.


    Naturally the rabbit picked up on the scent of the stalking person. That did not help much since it just turned towards Jenna while she jumped at the chance. The rabbit seemed to register in the last moment that its decision was a fatal one but all struggling was useless. It had already leapt off ground and could not hinder the impact of a dagger and a knife driven by the weight of a jumping adolescent person.


    The rabbit was heavily injured and Jenna just needed to drive the dagger in its throat to end it quickly. "I would have said that they look cute, but... I know how hostile beasts are to us humans."


    "That''s true. They are also hostile to each other by the way."


    "Really, how so?"


    "I encountered feral squirrel beasts... they were very volatile"


    "Mhm, did they also looked cute?"


    "Well, they were nearly as tall as you and had a lot of very sharp teeth..."


    "Oh" She widened her eyes at the acute description of squirrel beasts.


    However successful the first hunt was, it did in fact not give her another level. Just for one level they had to hunt three more low-level beasts. Two of them were rabbits and one was actually a plant, a level 2 vine. From her description it was named as arsenine vine lvl 2 (0). It was the first beast or rather plant that was under the first evolution. We only noticed it thanks to its strange behavior. A stem that moved on its own with leaves and a developing bud. It reacted to our presence, Jenna thought that to be a really strange plant and prodded it with her dagger, the plant lashed out and Jenna retorted by ramming the dagger in the sprout, killing the plant.


    She also got a title. "It just says neophyte control. I don''t know what it means"


    "And what is the description of the title?"


    "Let me see... ''you helped to control an invasive species: quest pending''. Weird, don''t know about it, did your parents tell you something about this?"


    "Nope, I have no idea too. We should ask them when we come back. I don''t even know what this vine beast was."


    "Oh..."


    "What is it?"


    "I got classes to chose!"


    "What? Really, finally, what did you get?"


    "Well the first is rogue, there is a (common) behind it"


    "That''s the description of the rarity. If you don''t want to sneak and stab things from behind you don''t want to chose rogue, it''s not a usual choice for an adventurer. What else?"


    "Then there''s ''black marketeer'', I don''t want it. I don''t like the black market. It is ''uncommon'' by the way"


    "Okay, the tell me what''s next"


    "Next is ''wildness gardener'', it''s ''rare''. But I''m not a gardener"


    "A rare class is really good, you know. You should really think about it."


    "I don''t know anything of gardening at all. Is it really that good"


    "You know, every adventurer starts with some class and the rarity is super important, because you get better stats and better skills for a rarer/better class. I got a rare class and I had to work years for it. The grueling training, the different topics I tried and failed at, you can be lucky that you can just jumper over all those hurdles." Ker thought at his very unsuccessful mage training and the hours spent chanting with no visible conclusion.


    Jenna pouted. "Ok, I took the class, what now. Do I have to plant things now or what do I do?"


    "Oh, congratulations! You have a class and a rare one at that. And no, I don''t think you need to start planting plants, but it might help. So how about we return and celebrate your success."


    "Sounds good. Oh wait, you gonna carry me back" She git starry eyes at that and Ker had to sigh. Then a loud deep grunting disturbed their talk. He turned around to see a wild hog in gallop at him. Ker crouched down in a defensive position since there was no time and took the charge head on. He stemmed against the forest floor, but was dragged on regardless. Then he was lifted up from the ground a hauled back against a tree.


    Getting thrown with your back against a tree hurt, a lot. Jenna screamed something and hurled herself with her weapons at the hog. It simply shrugged her off. She was still thrown to the ground and unrolled. The hog, more annoyed then hurt, shift its focus back at him.


    Ker knew a second charge against the same tree would not be a good idea. So instead of unsheathing his sword he leaped to the hog and grabbed its head with both hands. The feet were firmly planted on the ground. He could tell the hog was strong, but without a charge it had difficulties getting rid off him.


    Jenna tried a second and third attack with barely any result. The hide had now streaks and that was it. The hog then did something weird, it made itself smaller. Just to leverage his size and movement to throw Ker off. Even by his strength he had still been pushed back before. Now it made a small charge-leap from down under which was simply the wrong angle for him. So Ker let go of it and moved to its side.


    He gave it a good measured punch in the side which made it squeal in turn. It was furious. Steam rose from its hide, curled around in the wind and dispersed. The steam became thicker and the air around the hog hotter. Ker knew about evolutions and their strange perks. He also that they just managed to inconvenience it more. There was no major damage visible.


    And so Ker made the one useful decisions out of two. He turned around ran towards Jenna. "Jump on me and hold tide, we''re running" Jenna did just that. Ker halfway throw her over the left shoulder to be able to see forward. Luckily the edge of the forest was close. As he reached it he started run along the forest, not minding to look back. Behind him loud aggressive grunts could be heard. Those followed them for a short while and then became quieter.


    After they ran for over an hour they slowed down to catch a breath.


    "That was something" Ker acknowledged their situation. That hog had been far above him in evolution, he just knew it instinctively.


    "Yeah, that hog bogged you around."


    "Haha, very funny little grain back over my shoulder"


    "I would kick you for that, but since you''re carrying me back..."


    "Yeah, I hear you, what do you want to tell me"


    "I mean... thanks, for the class"


    "No worries, that''s what i do for a friend"


    On the way back they discussed more about her class. What it could mean and why she would get that kind of special class. Two of her stats were automatically distributed to Dexterity and Wisdom, A weird combination from Ker''s perspective. Dexterity was also weighted. She got two points for every point allocated in it. That was a huge advantage.


    Then again he could evolve his body and potentially even change it, not that he ever wanted that. There were so many open questions and only less answers he had. So he would definitely ask his parents. Also she should look to get a gardeners profession. When your actions determined your class and helped to further develop it, then it was only making sense to align the profession with it.


    "What do you mean, I should ask a gardener to take me in as apprentice. I got through all this trouble to become an adventurer. I finally can earn money that''s mine."


    "Okay ok, hear me out. Your class literally says gardener, maybe you can learn something from a real gardener and then somehow apply that as adventurer"


    "That sound far fetched, you know"


    "Well yes. Just give it some thought, you can still be an awesome adventurer, ok?"


    "Ok! maybe"