Ignoring the youth beside him, Max asked, "Mr. Rossif, I have some doubts regarding the steps for Skill usage."
The instructor, who had been about to walk toward his chair, turned around upon hearing Max's voice. However, before he could acknowledge Max, his gaze landed on the youth standing beside him.
"Ethan, do you need something?" Rossif asked.
"Yes, Mr. Rossif. I wish to challenge this person to a Duel," Ethan stated, pointing his finger directly at Max.
'This bastard,' Max cursed inwardly after hearing the youth's declaration, elevating a mere brawl into a serious Duel challenge.
The youth must have been deeply offended when Max mentioned his mother. Perhaps he had brought this upon himself for involving a family member.
Max inwardly prayed that Rossif would refuse the Duel, considering the Dungeon Expedition was a mere two days away.
However...
"Very well. If it is a Duel, we can conduct it right now," Rossif stated as he shifted his gaze toward Max. "Max, what is your decision? Do you accept Ethan's challenge to a Duel?"
Max was completely dumbfounded by Mr. Rossif's sheer decisiveness. How could he possibly suggest arranging the Duel for today?
'Argh, maintaining a sophisticated image is truly difficult.'
If he were to refuse the Duel now, his image would instantly crumble. Everyone present on the training grounds had heard him ask for a duel earlier; if he backed down at this moment, his reputation would be damaged beyond repair.
"There is no problem on my end, but I cannot do it today. I must attend a special training session for Archery. I suggest we conduct the Duel the morning after tomorrow," Max declared.
Upon hearing Max's response, Rossif gave him the exact same look he displayed whenever he instructed the students, a look filled with absolute doubt regarding his abilities.
"Ethan, what do you say?" Rossif asked.
"Mr.Rossif, the fight will finish within five minutes. We do not need to stall for two days; let us do it today." Ethan cast a scoffing look at Max.
After hearing Ethan's words, Rossif cast a sideways glance at Max. He pondered for a moment before announcing, "Let us hold it on the morning of the day after tomorrow. Max might have to attend different practical classes today."
Ethan directed a mocking snort at Max, nodded, and walked away toward the practice dummies.
Max stood there and inwardly sighed. He had escaped immediate humiliation and defeat, but it would eventually arrive regardless.
While Max was contemplating how to resolve this Duel issue, Rossif interrupted his thoughts.
"Max, what doubts did you wish to ask about?"
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Max snapped out of his deep thoughts and looked at Rossif's face, only to find the exact same look of doubt still present.
'This guy...'
Max discarded his other thoughts and proceeded to ask his question. It was a genuine inquiry that had arisen earlier while he was practicing his Skills.
"Yes, Mr. Rossif. I have a doubt regarding the first step: Intent," Max stated. "Does Intent mean the desire to activate the Skill, or does it mean focusing on the enemy's defeat? What exactly does this Intent entail?"
"It is the intent to activate the Skill, not to defeat your enemy. Do not tell me you were unaware of this until now?" Rossif was visibly surprised by such an obvious question.
"No, I have actually been utilizing that exact meaning. It is just that it did not yield any results, so I merely thought of asking if there was any other hidden meaning behind the first step," Max explained.
He had learned the meaning behind these steps since he was thirteen years old, yet nothing had ever worked for him.
However, when he was attempting to use the Skill earlier, frustrated by his own fruitlessness, his mind had suddenly surged with anger. He had genuinely wanted to hurt the dummy, and at that exact moment, he felt a distinct change in his attack.
That was the sole reason he asked the question.
If there was no other hidden meaning behind the first step of Intent, then what exactly was that sensation?
"Now, go and practice," Rossif stated as he walked toward his seat.
Max slowly walked toward an empty dummy.
He needed to quickly complete his sword practice; afterward, he had to transition to his practice session for the Healer Class, followed by the Archer Class in the evening.
Max alternated between standard sword swings and Skill practice for an hour and a half before departing for his next session, located two buildings away from the Swordsman training grounds.
The Healer practice room consisted primarily of young women, as the Healer Class was naturally well-suited for females. In fact, throughout the entirety of the first-year classes, only three male Healers existed.
The class had already commenced, and the students had begun practicing their Skills on insects and domestic rodents.
The Healer instructor remained seated, her gaze shifting toward Max the moment he entered the room. Having practiced his swordsmanship so intensely, Max's entire figure appeared exhausted and unkempt.
He walked directly toward the instructor and asked, "Ms. Frances, what should I practice?"
She shot him a casual glance, gesturing with her head toward a specific direction.
Tracking her signal, Max noticed a few young women attempting to transform dry twigs into vibrant green ones.
This was one of the training methods Healers underwent to increase their casting speed and the output of their healing on severe wounds.
The twigs were not completely dead; they had merely been severed from their branches a few days prior, causing them to wither and dry over time.
From that withered condition, a Healer had to restore the half-dry twig into a freshly cut state, and even force the twig to sprout new leaves through the sheer use of Healing Skills.
The young women of the Healer Class stood side-by-side, each possessing their own individual twig.
Observing the results, a few had already succeeded in revitalizing their twigs to resemble branches that had just been cut a minute ago, while others were still struggling.
He would soon have to join in on this struggle.
Max picked up a single twig as he walked toward the two male students who were practicing separately.
Upon noticing him, Max offered a brief nod.
They acknowledged him with nods of their own before returning to their tasks.
Placing the mostly dried twig onto the table, Max examined it for a moment.
He did not believe he could achieve the objective of this practice session, as he was equally devoid of talent in the Healer Class.
However, complaining about his circumstances would only take him so far.
He needed to progress at his own pace without overcomplicating matters.
Looking at the twig before him, he prepared to utilize one of his Healing Skills.
[Divine Miracle]
Description: Instantly restores all injuries, removes all negative conditions, and fully replenishes the health of the target. The skill can only be used on a single target.
First, Intent to use the Skill; second, Mana Channeling; third, Action.
Max inwardly recited the steps as he positioned both of his palms above the dry twig.
He focused all of his concentration on attempting to restore the withered branch, yet absolutely nothing happened.