Humming to myself I recover my knives. The one stuck in the painted softwood target as well as the other one that hit it hilt first and clattered to the ground as a result. I check them briefly to make sure neither has suffered any serious damage. I don't worry much about the one that stuck in the target, but the other one is a different matter. Well, at least the floor up here, behind the fake shop fronts, is wood too. I probably would have to worry much more if it had hit stone tiles at a bad angle.

Once I'm satisfied I get back to my initial position. Except, in the end I decide against throwing from there again. I suspect that the one knife bounced off the target because I might actually have been too close. I'm really not sure, but I decide to give another spot a little further from the target a try.

Turns out this will be more tricky than anticipated. I have to mind several beams supporting the fake shopfronts from this angle. I decide to give it a try anyway. You tend to grow with challenges you overcome after all. And these words of wisdom might be even more true now than ever.

I weigh the weapons in my hands for a moment, their weight still not quite as familiar as I'd like it to be. Then, after taking one last deep breath, I throw them, using both my main and my off hand again. If anything, that [Ambidextrous] skills needs more training than any other. I suspect getting it to a high level might be beneficial for more than just combat too.

This time around both of my knives stick in the boards making up the target, although that isn't saying much. Neither sticks within the humanoid outline painted onto these boards after all. I'm rewarded with a whole series of notifications anyway.

[*Ding!* Your skill Ranged Weapons has leveled up to level 4!]

[*Ding!* Your skill Throwing Weapons has leveled up to level 3!]

[*Ding!* Your skill Ambidextrous has leveled up to level 2!]

[*Ding!* Your skill Ambidextrous has leveled up to level 3!]

That's pretty good once more. Equal progress for both of my classes too. And, as if that weren't enough already, I'm pretty sure that my [Blades] skill has progresses a little too. It's too bad that it'll be another little while before that one will level up again. Even better though, my agility and thus my attack power improves too.

If only all levels could be as easy as these first few levels. Oh well, never mind, I'll just have to put in more hard work. And most importantly, I'll have to seriously improve my aim. In the long run throwing these in the general direction of my enemy will not be good enough. No, not by far. A disabling strike with pin point accuracy instead of just a distraction would be preferable. Very much so in fact.

It makes me wonder. Could I possibly combine my new ranged attack with my [Thread the Steel] skill if I get good enough? Now that would be really sweet! To get there, I'll have to practice more though! Much, much more. With fresh resolve bolstering my steps I go and grab my weapons from the target.

Instead of going straight for another set of throws I check them over thoroughly again instead. It seems I need not worry though. The edges and especially the tip are still in good shape. I might have to show them some care, love and attention later on, but for now they are still good to go. Just as well. I really hope to earn myself another level up notice or two before either Matylda or Sylwia shows up.

Who knows, maybe I can even still make enough progress today to level up one of my classes, the masked mediator one probably. My scoundrel class is getting close to the halfway point too, but it'll still be a while, even if I keep going like this.

This time I move to the first spot again, closer to the target. I don't throw with both hands either this time around. Instead I take a moment to get a better feeling for my throwing movement with my main hand in an attempt to improve my aim overall.

My brows furrow slightly as I think about it some more. I change my grip and try something different.

The throw where the knife keeps rotating is easy to learn, its what intuitively came to me initially after all. It really only works if you know the distance to the target though. If I manage to perfect a throw though where the knife doesn't rotate I should be good on just about any distance, especially with moving targets. The latter is essential. I'm not learning this to perform trick throws for a few coins at the tavern after all.

Thus I grip the knife more like I would a hammer. And as I finally launch it at the target I do so with a little extra push from the wrist. The throw is good, or at least good enough anyway. I might have to find a way to improve my strength a little in the long run, but that's another topic. For now I'm immensely pleased that it's much easier to aim this way. As a result the knife lands well within the painted outline on the boards this time around. Not with pin point accuracy yet, but accurate enough.

[*Ding!* Your skill Throwing Weapons has leveled up to level 4!]

The reward for my efforts, which counts as progress for my masked mediator class, follows immediately in the form of this notification. Even better, this one improves my strength too. It's not much, but it's a first step for sure. And, of course, my [Ranged Weapons] and [Blades] skill keep improving little by little too.

Well, doing it once is nice and all, but I need to be able to perform these throws consistently. So, let's do it again Viviona! I shift my other throwing knife to my main hand to do just that. I throw the other knife, just like I did before, aiming for the same general spot on the target in an attempt to cluster my hits close together.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I'm excited to note that all my relevant weapon skills, [Ranged Weapons], [Throwing Weapons] and [Blades] benefit, even if not much. I'm very glad that my second knife didn't collide with the other one already sticking in the target, as I belatedly realize that that might just happen. That is something I'll have to keep in mind. And of course I'll have to keep practicing.

Next up I try something new again, right after checking the edges of my weapons for nicks or rolling, just in case. So far I have been standing still for every throw. That's not something I can do out in the city's back alleys or on it's rooftops. No, stopping to take aim is not an option out there. I'll have to be able to use these things while on the move.

I start slow, at a leisure walk if you will, but I throw both knives in quick succession this time, using my off hand again for a change. I manage to hit the board with both, but I wouldn't exactly call it a high precision attack. Only one of the two knives sticks within the painted outline.

I'm rewarded with a number of notifications whispered in the voice of Fox at the very back of my mind anyway.

[*Ding!* Your skill Ranged Weapons has leveled up to level 5!]

[*Ding!* Your skill Throwing Weapons has leveled up to level 5!]

[*Ding!* Your skill Ambidextrous has leveled up to level 4!]

More progress for both of my classes! More for scoundrel than masked mediator though. My [Blades] skill improved some more too. Damn, this training session is paying dividends big time! And the day is far from over yet! Call me names, but I'm actually a little proud of myself.

I could keep going for another little while. Some more practice certainly wouldn't hurt. I even get my weapons back. In the end I don't get the chance though, as I can hear someone else working one of the locks of the fake storefront with picks of their own. Curious. Very curious. That suggests they, whoever they are, already got into the training room without me noticing.

Eventually the lock gives and the door opens and Matylda slips through. She blinks owlishly for a moment before her eyes finally settle on me.

"Oh! Hey! There you are! Beldragor mentioned that you are up here. I'm not too early, am I?"

I shake my head and snort.

"Considering that you are the one getting me to join you for the evening's entertainment, probably not? Or are you just here to hang out?"

The dwarven con woman shrugs at first, but after a moment she shakes her head.

"As much as I'd love to, we probably shouldn't keep Sylwia waiting. She's already all dressed up and getting in character."

I won't argue with that. The way Matylda says it, makes it sound like a little more effort goes into the masquerade now that we know that this is not just a bunch of thugs running a fighting ring and that the stakes are higher. I pack up, putting my new knifes back into my pack, since I don't have sheaths for them yet.

Matylda's watchful gaze never leaves me, as I get ready. She is obviously curious. She does nothing to hide that curiosity as she finally speaks up either.

"Learning something new?"

I grin in response.

"Of course. Always. Can't exactly slack off and let others get an edge on me."

That response seems to get to her in some way. Maybe because she hasn't learned any new tricks in a while? I'm really not sure, since we aren't that close exactly. My knowledge of her capabilities is rather superficial so far. She quickly breaks out of that mood though.

"So, made good progress?"

I nod as I answer, but I'm rather vague concerning details on purpose.

"Sure. New skills. Plenty of levels. I'm quite happy with the day so far."

She tilts her head as I shoulder my pack.

"Skills? Plural? More than one?"

Ah, of course she has caught on to that little detail. I grin, as I slip out into the fake shopping street with its mannequins together with her. It's only when we are at the door and I'm about to lock up behind us that I answer though.

"Yes, several and I plan to branch out a little more too. I'd really like to get skills for specific weapons if I can."

Despite not being actually that much shorter than me she somehow manages to look up at me wide eyed.

"Are you planning to get a weapon master class?"

I shrug although the words get me thinking.

"I don't know. Is that an option? Well, I want one combat focused class for sure, one way or the other. And if it turns out to be a kick ass weapon master class I certainly won't complain."

Now she laughs out loud as we descend the stairs.

"Well, you do you. I'll try to get us through the night without an actual fight."

I put the key for the training room down at the counter. Beldragor pretends to be asleep, but he certainly isn't. Before I can even retract my hand the key rises again to float under the counter to its usual place. I wave to the dragon curled up on his hoard.

"See you around!"

Then I follow Matylda outside.

"you think we can avoid an actual fight? I mean beyond the fighting Sylwia will probably have to do in the ring?"

The young dwarven woman, now all serious, nods.

"For tonight at least. They'll let us win a little more today, probably. To lure us in deeper. To tempt us into betting more. They'll probably do their best to build Sylwia, or rather Sylph up as a serious contender. It's not just our money they are after. They want other people to bet it all on her next victory too."

I mirror her grim smile with one of my own, as I continue that line of thought.

"And once the tables groan under the weight of the coin placed on Sylph's next victory they'll make an offer we better not refuse."

"Yes. Just about. The only thing I'm uncertain about is if it'll be a bribe or a threat they'll use to make us comply. Or both."

I shrug.

"In all likelihood it'll be both. Carrot and stick. It doesn't really matter though. Once it's clear that we aren't playing along it'll be an all out fight anyway. First though, where are we going to pick up Sylwia? And could I leave my pack there?"

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