Victoria began her morning by stretching her sore limbs. Each movement was deliberate as she worked to ease the tension in her muscles. Her parents had woken her for breakfast, and she shuffled out of the barracks where she had spent the night, still brushing off the last remnants of sleep.

During breakfast, Victoria recounted the details of her trials and her new quest. While answering questions about her experiences, she realized she hadn't yet explored her chosen path or reviewed all her notifications. Watching Sinclair assign tasks to the group with practiced ease, she silently acknowledged his growing leadership skills. He's stepping into this role better than I expected, she thought as the conversation wrapped up.

Once everyone had completed their assigned duties, Victoria changed into more comfortable training clothes and headed to the training area Sinclair had established. The setup was efficient, with dedicated spaces for sparring and skill practice. Finding a quiet spot, she opened her quest screen. Seeing the Tutorial quest marked as complete, she exhaled in relief. Navigating to her rewards, she began reviewing the results of her efforts, eager to uncover what her trials had earned her.

Quest Complete: Freyja's Call

Goals:

Protect a sacred site under attack.

Heal those in need without sacrificing your defense.

Hold the line against an overwhelming foe.

Rewards:

New Path

: Path of the Valkyrie

Experience x 86,250

New Blessing

: Freyja's Blessing

New Blessing: Freyja's Blessing (Minor)

Description: Freyja, the goddess of love, war, and fertility, blesses those who embody her balance of nurturing and ferocity. This blessing enhances the Valkyrie's ability to protect and heal while granting the strength to punish those who threaten the vulnerable. It weaves the warmth of life and the searing intensity of divine flame into a harmonious force.

Effects:

Healing Warmth

: Healing spells restore an additional 5% health.

Flamebound Fury

: Damage dealt by fire-based abilities increases by 10%.

Valkyrie's Resilience

: Incoming damage is reduced by 5% when actively healing or shielding allies.

Why a minor blessing? What is the difference between a minor blessing and just a blessing? Yeah, I can see why Sinclair was so frustrated by the system early on.

New Path: Path of the Valkyrie

Description: The Path of the Valkyrie is one of balance, strength, and devotion. Guided by Freyja's wisdom, this path transforms its followers into warriors of divine purpose. Valkyries are tasked with protecting the weak, healing the wounded, and bringing justice to the battlefield. Their abilities weave together the nurturing warmth of life and the searing fire of righteous fury, embodying Freyja's dual nature as both a protector and a fierce warrior.

Tenants:

Flame of Renewal:

Grants enhanced healing abilities that combine restorative magic with protective fire, shielding allies from harm.

Guardian's Grace:

Improves mobility and defensive capabilities, allowing for quick positioning and strategic defense.

Searing Retribution:

Attacks against enemies who harm allies are imbued with fire, dealing bonus damage.

Divine Favor:

Freyja's presence enhances Valkyrie's charisma and influence, strengthening their ability to lead and inspire others.

This path calls its followers to serve as unyielding guardians of life and justice, wielding Freyja's blessing to protect and defend while standing resolute against any threat.

When she got through her notifications, she saw the experience from the quests add-on, granting her three more levels. Doing quests on hard mode is worth it… if you survive. She thought to herself.

She would now be a level 11 once she applied her saved points. However, Sinclair had told her to train and hold off on those. Glancing over at her still open quest, she sighed.

Quest Update: Journey to Fólkvangr

Goals:

Trial of Compassion

: Heal or aid at least 50 individuals across various challenges.

(Complete)

Trial of Courage

: Face a powerful foe on your own without assistance.

(Complete)

Trial of Balance

: Successfully mediate a conflict or navigate a scenario requiring intellect and empathy.

Victoria pushed aside the swirling questions about her trials and blessings, focusing instead on training her stats. She told herself the answers would come in time, but there was work to do for now. Standing in the training area Sinclair had set up, she decided to push herself beyond her usual limits.

Instead of focusing on a single exercise, she combined them to strengthen her body and multitasking ability. She began with burpees, each jump reaching high before dropping back into a push-up. In her left hand, she held the large book she had borrowed from her parents, its cover embossed with the title Principles of Settlement Management. She flipped a page between each set, squinting to catch the text as she moved.

Next, she added lunges to her routine, alternating legs while holding the book steady. She attempted to read a passage about resource allocation, which caused her to grow bored and stumble simultaneously due to a lack of attention. Her movements were determined but unsteady, and the weight shift often threw her off balance. Every time she stumbled, she cursed at the ground or whatever random rock seemed to have gotten in the way and resumed what she was doing.

Not one to be discouraged, Victoria adjusted her approach. She placed the book on a low bench, using it as a reference between sets of kettlebell swings. The weight arced overhead as she powered through each swing, straining her muscles. Between sets, she leaned over the book, scanning a section on taxation policies and grumbling at the dense prose. How, in all the gods' names, do Mom and Dad read this for hours on end and not die from boredom?

Feeling adventurous, she moved to a plank position, holding herself steady while turning pages with one hand. Her core burned as she tried to balance, her elbow buckling slightly as her focus split between the exercise and the words on the page. The inevitable happened, and she collapsed to the ground with a frustrated groan.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling. But after a moment, she pushed herself back up, brushing dust from her hands. "I'll get it. I just need to focus… on everything at once."

Her routine continued in this chaotic but determined fashion, blending squats with reading, push-ups with note-taking, and jogging in place while reciting passages aloud to commit them to memory. Each stumble and misstep only fueled her determination; the occasional slip-ups were punctuated by even more colorful curses that echoed through the training area.

By the time she finished her first break at the two-hour mark, her muscles ached, her mind buzzed with half-remembered passages, and her pride had taken a few hits. Still, she felt the progress—however messy it had been. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Victoria glanced back at the book and smiled. "Okay, maybe next time I'll tackle one thing at a time… Or maybe not."

Victoria approached the Market Crystal, her gaze fixed on the glowing orb as she rested her hand on its surface. Her mind raced with possibilities, searching for a more effective way to advance her training. Pausing, she frowned. "What was the name that Mom and Dad said their trainer was? Kaelyn something… Stormhart?" she muttered. Instead of scrolling aimlessly, she typed the name into the search bar.

The results narrowed instantly, and a single entry caught her attention:

Trainer: Kaelyn Stormhart

Level: 92

Description: A veteran of countless battles, Kaelyn specializes in bladed weapons, ranged combat, mobility skills, and physical training. Her methods are intense and designed to challenge and refine students with precision.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Cost: 23 Gold per hour

Victoria checked her available gold. "Six hours," she said under her breath. "That's all I can afford, but it should work." She selected the trainer and confirmed the purchase, watching as the crystal pulsed brighter in response. How did no one else think to search for this option?

The air shimmered as Kaelyn Stormhart materialized in the training area, her form solidifying with a practiced air of authority. She looked Victoria up and down, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if appraising her before she spoke.

"You look like some other Hagersons I met a while back. Any relation to Amelia or Bruce?"

Victoria straightened instinctively under the trainer's gaze. "That's my mom and dad. They mentioned you and spoke highly of your training skills. I need to catch up with my brother and his team. I only have six hours' worth of gold, so I was hoping you could help me as much as you helped them."

Kaelyn arched an eyebrow, glancing around the empty training area. "This world sure does seem to be in a hurry," she muttered. "Where is everyone else?"

Victoria shifted slightly. "Everyone else? It's just me. My brother and his Direwolves are off scouting, his friends are gathering materials, and my parents are inside studying."

Kaelyn's expression shifted subtly, a flicker of understanding crossing her face. "Ah, I see. Training services are usually offered in large groups. That's what keeps the price so low. Twenty-three gold an hour each for a group of a hundred. One-on-one training would normally cost thousands."

Victoria's face fell. "Oh… I didn't realize that. The System let the transaction go through, so I had no way of knowing."

Kaelyn let out a short sigh, her gaze softening slightly as she studied Victoria's forlorn expression. "Yeah, the System's bad about stuff like that." Her tone was matter-of-fact but carried a faint edge of sympathy. "Normally, I'd head back or demand more money. But let me guess—this is a newly integrated world, and that's all you have, right?"

"Yes," Victoria admitted quietly, looking down momentarily before meeting Kaelyn's eyes.

Kaelyn crossed her arms, considering. She thought of Amelia and Bruce, their grit and determination in their training sessions. This kid, willingly choosing her as a trainer, spoke volumes about her character. Most wouldn't dare, and Kaelyn had no patience for the soft or entitled. But something about Victoria's resolve stirred her.

"I'll tell you what," Kaelyn said finally. "I'll do it anyway. Call it a favor. Keep your gold."

Victoria blinked, her surprise evident. "Really?"

Kaelyn's lips twitched into a rueful smile. "Don't make me regret it. Now, how hard do you want this training to be?"

Victoria swallowed, the weight of her choice pressing on her. She thought of the difficulty she had selected during her tutorial, the pain, and the rewards that came with it. Setting her shoulders and lifting her chin, she steadied her voice. "I need to survive, but I'm not afraid of pain. You have six hours to do whatever you can to make me stronger."

Kaelyn's smile widened slightly, though it carried a hint of warning. "Kid, you're brave—a little foolish, maybe. But remember that resolve when you start to doubt your choices here."

Inside their study, Bruce and Amelia sat across each other, books and scrolls spread over the table. Bruce's faint humming provided a backdrop as they sifted through materials about fortification designs and resource management.

A loud thud broke the quiet. Bruce glanced up from his notes. "What was that noise?"

Amelia barely looked up, flipping a page. "Sounded like something heavy got dropped. Victoria's outside training, so it's probably just her."

Bruce shrugged and returned to his work, jotting down notes as the two immersed themselves again in their studies. Minutes passed, and then another bang reverberated through the air, louder than before.

Amelia's head shot up. "That wasn't normal."

More noises followed—sharp bangs and crashes, accompanied by muffled grunts and shouts. Bruce stood quickly, his expression hardening. "Something's wrong. It could be something that got past the alarm boundary."

Amelia nodded, already equipping her weapon as they headed for the door. Together, they rounded the corner of the house, their weapons ready for whatever threat awaited them.

The scene that met their eyes left them stunned. In the open training area, Kaelyn Stormhart—their trainer from the tutorial—was locked in a fierce fight with Victoria. But this wasn't sparring. Kaelyn grappled, punched, and tossed Victoria in full combat mode with precision and force. Victoria, battered but unyielding, fought back with everything she had.

At one point, Victoria picked up a nearby barrel and smashed it over Kaelyn's back. The older woman barely flinched, pivoting smoothly to grab Victoria's arm and twist her into a brutal hold. While it was clear that Kaelyn was holding back, the ferocity of the exchange made it evident that Victoria was fighting for her life.

Bruce's mouth opened and then closed. "How did she get here?"

"I have no idea," Amelia replied, her voice tight. "Should we intervene? They're getting dangerous. What if she accidentally kills Victoria?"

Bruce shook his head, suggesting they wait, when Kaelyn intercepted Victoria's failed kick and grabbed her leg with one arm. With a quick pivot and a burst of raw strength, she hurled Victoria through the side of the barn. The wooden boards splintered with a deafening crack as Victoria disappeared inside.

Both Bruce and Amelia froze for a split second before rushing forward. Whatever this was, it had gone too far. Weapons in hand, they sprinted toward the chaos, ready to intervene.

Victoria groaned as she climbed to her feet, wincing as pain shot through her battered body. She wasn't about to admit it aloud, but after a couple of hours of Kaelyn's relentless training, she regretted her decision. The regret crystallized as she flew through the air, crashed into the barn, and then through the barn. For a moment, sprawled in the debris, she wondered if she'd bitten off more than she could chew.

The session started innocently enough with fundamental strength and agility assessments. Kaelyn pushed her hard, but within reason, measuring her capabilities with precision.

Eventually, the trainer deemed Victoria strong enough to handle modified combat training without "dying immediately." That was when the real fun began.

Outside, Kaelyn watched as Bruce and Amelia rushed toward the commotion, weapons drawn. A smile tugged at her lips as she straightened. "Bruce, Amelia, it's good to see you again."

Amelia bypassed her entirely, hurrying to her daughter's side.

Less distracted, Bruce stopped short of the trainer, his expression a mix of confusion and frustration. "Kaelyn,… not to be rude, but why the hell did you throw our daughter through the barn?"

Kaelyn raised an eyebrow, her tone unbothered. "She didn't tell you? She hired me to train her. And when she chose the harder route, let's just say it involved more than what you two went through."

Bruce glanced toward the barn, watching as Amelia helped a shaky Victoria to her feet. He turned back to Kaelyn, frowning. "Don't you think that was a bit much?"

Kaelyn shrugged, brushing some dust off her armor. "I might've gotten a little carried away. I was having fun. But trust me, she wasn't in any mortal danger—yet. I can see her health status and would've administered aid immediately if needed. Perks of being a System-designated trainer."

Amelia approached, supporting Victoria, who leaned heavily on her arm. "I think she's done for a while," Amelia said, her voice firm.

Victoria straightened immediately, brushing her mother off. "No, Mom. I have a healing skill. I'll be fine in a few minutes. I need this."

Amelia sighed, recognizing the stubborn resolve in her daughter's tone. Changing Victoria's mind now would be a waste of energy. Instead, she guided her to sit down for a moment to regain her composure. While Victoria activated her healing skill, Amelia stood close by, watching with concern and a flicker of pride at her daughter's determination. She'd never tell her that, though.

The group sat under the shade of a tree near the training area, their conversation turning from training to the world around them. Bruce and Amelia recounted what they had learned about Sinclair and his connection to Odin, explaining his role as a rising Wolf Lord. Kaelyn listened intently, her usually calm demeanor giving way to a look of surprise.

"You're not kidding," Kaelyn finally said, her piercing gaze flicking between Bruce and Amelia. "A Wolf Lord under Odin. That's... rare. Almost unheard of. And you're saying this is Midgard?" Her tone sharpened, laced with disbelief.

Amelia nodded, her voice steady. "It is. The System reconnected here recently, but there's much left to fix. Sinclair's role seems to be central to whatever's happening."

Kaelyn leaned back slightly, her arms crossed. "Midgard had been missing for centuries. Its absence nearly killed the entire part of the System tied to this realm. Without its power structure, things have been withering away, unstable." Her expression hardened, though intrigue glinted in her eyes. "If Midgard is truly back, then everything changes."

Victoria, still nursing the aches from training, watched the exchange quietly. She felt the weight of Kaelyn's words but didn't dwell on them. After a brief pause, Kaelyn stood, her focus returning to the young warrior. "You've rested enough. Let's get back to it."

With her healing skill taking care of the worst of her injuries, Victoria pushed herself through more training, the grueling pace interrupted only by breaks for food and recovery. Even during those moments, Kaelyn drilled her on combat theory, detailing stances, tactics, and the importance of adaptation. The hours blurred as Victoria struggled to keep up, her muscles screaming and her mind reeling from the intensity.

Unbeknownst to her, they had gone well beyond her planned six hours. Nine hours into training, a System notification pinged. Victoria froze mid-swing and quickly opened her chat to see a message from Rose: "A Myrkr has taken Ed."

Heart pounding, Victoria relayed the news to Kaelyn, her voice taut with urgency.

Kaelyn's expression darkened as she listened. "I must go then. The System forbids me from involving myself in local matters. I can't defend this place or attack aggressors. I'm sorry."

Victoria nodded, her disappointment tempered by understanding. "Thank you for everything today. The gains I made were phenomenal."

Kaelyn gave her a slight, approving nod. "Call on me again if you or your family needs my skills. We'll work out payments later. Good luck getting your friend back."

With that, Kaelyn stepped back as a glowing portal materialized behind her. She disappeared through it without another word, leaving the air faintly shimmering in her wake.

Victoria wasted no time. She sprinted to the gate, her training forgotten in the face of Rose and Alice's message. Every step was driven by urgency; her mind focused on what lay ahead.

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