The girl sighed as she selected the skills, it read

SKILLS

Aether skill 2 ( Corrosive balls)(3/10)

Aether skill (Spectral insight) (1/10)

Swordplay (45/100)

Theft (88/100)

Archery ( 20/100)

Shadow veil (80/100)

She braced her achievements with a sense of pride, as she had almost even mastered shadow veil.

The system tab was dismissed as the girl who was still drenched in sweat from the previous spar plooped on the floor as she awaited her second instructor.

Boriath had been missing since the day he talked to her and warned her to run away, she had pondered his words since then and asked about him from his instructors, but never really got any legible answer on the whereabouts of the giant man, she stared into empty space as her second trainer arrived. 

The lesson was quite brief as the blue woman only helped her formulate strategies and effective ways to fully use the effects of her corrosive balls and constantly improve her aim, since that was the only form she could use it in, the lesson finally ended.

As she left the dungeon and furthered down a grand hall, the place was like a maze, very huge and complex in it's layout. The little girl stopped and took a look around before completely darting in an opposite direction. 

Her footsteps echoed softly in the dimly lit corridors of the Veil as she made her way through the labyrinthine passages. Her path ventured deeper into the heart of the ancient structure. She glanced nervously over her shoulder, ensuring that no one followed her.

Guided by a combination of memory and , Alicia navigated the twists and turns of the Veil's inner sanctum. She passed by hidden alcoves and forgotten chambers, her heart pounding with each step. 

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of cautious movement, Alicia found herself standing before a nondescript section of wall. 

To the untrained eye, it appeared no different from any other part of the Veil's ancient stonework. But she knew better. With a practiced touch, she pressed her hand against a seemingly solid stone, feeling for the hidden mechanism that would grant her access to her desired destination.

With a barely audible click, the wall slid aside, revealing a narrow passageway that disappeared into darkness. Alicia hesitated for a moment, her heart racing with excitement, but she drove onward.

Steeling herself, the deathforged wanderer stepped into the darkness, the passage enveloping her in its cool embrace. The air grew stale as she ventured further into the depths of the Veil, her senses heightened by the anticipation of what lay ahead.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of winding corridors and hidden traps, the girl emerged into a small chamber bathed in dim candlelight. At the center stood an empty chair.

For a moment, Alicia stood frozen in place, unsure of what to say or do. As a vague figure lunged at Alicia from behind, she reacted at the last second, avoiding the impending danger and swiftly sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding a deadly strike. With a graceful pivot, Alicia turned to face her assailant, her brows furrowed, showing a mix of confusion and silent rage.

The entity, caught off guard by Alicia's agility and quick reflexes, staggered momentarily before regaining composure. 

 They launched into a relentless assault, their movements fluid yet precise as they sought to simply kill.

But Alicia surprisingly was no ordinary opponent, she met the person's attacks with equal ferocity, her movements a blur of speed and precision as she countered each strike with calculated efficiency.

The clash between them sent shockwaves reverberating through the chamber, the sound of their blows echoing off the ancient walls of the Veil. With each exchange, Alicia pushed herself to the limit, tapping into reserves of strength and resilience gained over the past few months .

As the fight raged on, Alicia's resolve remained unbroken, her pure need to survive and protect herself driving her forward. With a final burst of energy, she unleashed a devastating combination of strikes, her fists and feet moving in perfect harmony as she delivered a powerful uppercut that almost sent her opponent crashing to the ground.

The person staggered but quickly, regained his footing, the pale, lanky form of the individual came into shape, his hairstyle of choice was a ponytail.

With a swift motion, he lunged forward again, his movements fluid and calculated as he sought to regain the upper hand in the battle.

Alicia, undeterred by the man's renewed assault, met his oncoming strikes with a combination of evasive maneuvers and precise counterattacks. With each exchange, she focused on exploiting the pale man's vulnerabilities, searching for an opening to turn the tide of the fight in her favor.

The chamber reverberated once again with the sound of their clashing blows, the tension thick in the air as the two adversaries engaged in a deadly dance of combat. Alicia's movements were a blur of speed and agility, her small body helped, driving her forward despite the odds stacked against her.

The man's skill and experience evident in every strike, he continued pressing the girl with his punches, knees and kicks, his movements calculated and methodical as he sought to wear down Alicia's elusive defenses. But she refused to yield, drawing upon every ounce of strength and resilience within her to withstand the onslaught.

With each passing moment, the intensity of the fight grew, the stakes higher than ever as Alicia and the man fought for supremacy within the confines of the ancient chamber. Neither willing to back down, they clashed with a ferocity that echoed through the halls of the Veil, each determined to emerge as the victor in this life-or-death struggle.

As the fight between Alicia and the Watcher of the Veil raged on, despite her valiant efforts, Alicia found herself gradually being overwhelmed by the man's superior skill and experience. With each exchange, the relentless assault began to take its toll on Alicia, her movements and footwork growing sluggish as fatigue set in.

Sensing an opening, the Watcher pressed his advantage, launching a series of punches that Alicia struggled to defend against. It actually looked quite a comical sight for an eight year old to be fighting a grown man.

But despite her best efforts to evade and counter, she found herself unable to match the man. 

With a final knee, to her face, the man with rugged teeth sent Alicia crashing to the ground, she held her bleeding nose pathetically with her strength spent and body battered and bruised she lay there, gasping for breath.

The lanky man loomed over her, his expression inscrutable as he surveyed his defeated opponent.

As Alicia lay on the ground, holding her bleeding nose, Lance approached with a mischievous grin, his rugged teeth visible as he offered her a piece of cloth.

"Here, little princess," he said with a pat on her head, "can't have you ruining that pretty face of yours."

Alicia chuckled weakly, accepting the cloth and nodding her thanks. As she dabbed at her nose, the Watcher's playful tone broke the tension.

"Well, well, well, looks like you've got some fight in you after all," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I'll admit, you managed to land a few good shots. Not bad for a newbie."

Alicia couldn't help but grin at the Watcher's cocky demeanor, feeling a surge of confidence despite her injuries.

"Thanks for the compliment," she replied, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Next time, I'll aim for that big head of yours."

The lanky man laughed heartily, his jovial demeanor easing the tension between them.

 Despite the intensity of their battle, Alicia couldn't help but appreciate the man's playful banter, this was why he had become her most favorite person.

"Looking forward to it, kiddo," he quipped, assisting her to stand. "But for now, let's call it a spar, shall we? Besides, I know you've come to seek the knowledge of the great watcher."he concluded with his chest high and his hands on his hips. 

With a grin, Alicia replied him "wow, how'd you know." As Alicia sat up, still holding the cloth to her nose, the Watcher leaned against a nearby pillar with a playful smirk.

A twinkle of amusement could be seen in his eyes. "Why wouldn't I know the agenda of my secret pupil?"

Alicia rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress a grin at the man's words. "Of course you do, what? Can you read minds now too," she retorted, trying to sound nonchalant despite the throbbing pain in her nose. "I'm just here to check up on old watcher lance."

The Watcher chuckled, crossing his arms as he regarded her with amusement. "Hey, I'm not old. State your business kiddo, I'm a busy man"

Alicia giggled at Watcher's words. "You know, there's still so much you haven't told me" she replied, her tone teasing. "But don't get too ahead of yourself. I'm not here to stroke your ego, good sir."

The Watcher feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart in mock hurt. "Ouch, kid, that cuts deep," he quipped, his grin widening. " You speak so old for your age. Anyways, ask away, and I'll do my best to enlighten you with my infinite wisdom."

Alicia smirked, feeling a sense of mischief being with the Watcher despite their earlier confrontation. "Alright, sir," she said, her tone playful. "Let's start with something simple. What exactly is the Factions about, and the other groups inhabiting the world?"

The Watcher's expression turned serious for a moment, his playful demeanor fading as he considered Alicia's question. 

But before he could respond, a mischievous glint returned to his eyes, and he looked around before leaning towards her, crouching and arching his mouth with his hand.

Making Alicia move closer with her ear

"Well, princess," he whispered with a smile, "that's a story for another time. But for now, let's just say that some secrets are best left buried... or guarded by a charming rogue like myself."

Alicia's curiosity piqued as she delved into the topic of Boriath, the enigmatic figure who had once told her something. She shot the Watcher a probing look, her eyes alight with curiosity.

"So, talk, Watcher Lance," she said, her tone laced with intrigue. "What's the deal with Boriath ? Why is he so scarce, and what's he up to now"

The Watcher's expression grew more somber as he considered Alicia's question. "Boriath..." he began, his voice trailing off for a moment.