This time, as Aurelius opened his eyes, he found himself back at the group's campout instead of the mysterious realm.
“Hey..” a familiar voice called out to him, the person he assumed had shaken him awake. It took Aurelius' sleep-addled mind a moment to recognize the voice—it was Lyra's.
“Lyra?” he responded.
“It's your turn to watch; I'm going back to sleep now,” she replied. Aurelius nodded, but then realized that she couldn't see him.
“Okay,” he said aloud, sitting up. It took a couple of minutes for Aurelius' eyes to adjust to the darkness around him. Surveying the area, he spotted a nearby rock from which he could keep an eye on the group and watch for any potential threats. Climbing onto the rock, Aurelius dutifully assumed his watch, listening to the gentle snores of his companions.
However, it didn't take long for Aurelius to grow bored. He decided to shift his attention to the blinking red notification at the corner of his vision.
You have killed
Level Up! You have reached level 6. You have been granted 2 Attribute points for allocation.
Aurelius was surprised by the amount of essence he had received. It was the largest single number he had obtained thus far, making the journey with the Lothern Academy students worthwhile.
Contemplating what to do with the essence, Aurelius considered the obvious choice of leveling up his chronomage and blade dancer skills to level 6. With ample unassigned essence available, he could enhance both classes and still retain a substantial amount. Deciding that this was the best option currently available, Aurelius allocated 1100 of his 1735 essence to these two skills ,leaving him with 635 essence remaining. Unfortunately, it was not enough essence to further advance either the chronomage or blade dancer class to level 7.
Aurelius wondered if he should instead invest the essence into his Arcane Artificer class, as Augustus had hinted at its potential when leveled up. However, there was no immediate urgency to do so, and Aurelius decided to keep the unassigned 635 essence in reserve.
Next, Aurelius pondered what to do with it to do with his 2 Attribute points he had gained from leveling up. Currently, his attributes ranged between 12 and 17, and he preferred to enhance stats that wouldn't naturally improve through level ups, namely Luck and Charisma.
Right away, Aurelius intended to invest one point into Luck. He didn’t know how much of an effect his luck stat had, but it certainly felt like a lot. He lost track of how many times he had survived a situation only because he was lucky. However, Aurelius was leaning towards distributing the other attribute point towards Charisma. Assuming Augustus correctly foretold the future and someone, somehow invited him to Lothern Academy, and assuming Aurelius accepted, which was a heavy if, he wanted to make sure he had some sort of charisma stat. Regardless, he recognized the significance of having a decent Charisma stat, especially for future negotiations and interactions with others.
Having made his choice, Aurelius allocated one attribute point to Luck and the other to Charisma. Content with his decisions, he shifted his attention to his status screen.
==========Stat Screen==========
Name:Aurelius LusamRace:High ElfAge:18Health:130/130
==========Level==========
Overall Level:6Overall Essence:3,935Attribute Points:0Unassigned Essence:635Next Level Progress:Essence (1135/1190)
==========Classes==========
Chronomage
Level:6Progress:0/730Description:Harness the power of time and spaceAbility:At level 6, you can teleport yourself 17 feet away for 20 manaAttributes:Each level grants +1 to Intelligence and +1 to Wisdom
Arcane Artificer
Level:0Progress:0/100Description:Carve mystic symbols into objects, granting the objects enhanced abilities and elemental effects.Ability:At level 0, you can expertly carve and empower common-level runes onto objects.Attributes:Each level grants +1 to Constitution and +1 to Perception.
Blade Dancer
Level:6Progress:0/730Description:Develop an innate aptitude for wielding bladed weapons and gain the Blade Dancer’s Intuition, allowing for precise strikes and heightened combat proficiency.Ability:At level 6, bladed weapon strikes possess a 10% chance of landing critical hits, inflicting double damage.Attributes:Each level grants +1 Strength and +1 Agility.
==========Attributes==========
Strength:16Constitution:13Intelligence:17Wisdom:16Agility:17Perception:13Luck:15Charisma:13
==========Mana==========
Mana:170/170Mana Regen:1.6/sec
==========Skills==========
None
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Aurelius took a moment to appreciate his progress and the potential that lay ahead. With his classes leveled up and attribute points allocated, he felt more confident in his abilities. However, he also knew there was still much to learn and discover.
As he continued his watch, Aurelius couldn't help but reflect on his encounter with Augustus. The god's words had left him with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The thought of being chosen by a god for entertainment purposes seemed unsettling. He also contemplated Augustus' advice about the Lothern Academy. The idea of joining the academy intrigued him, especially if it could provide him with valuable experiences and opportunities for growth. But he also had to consider the downsides of such an action.
As the night wore on, Aurelius remained vigilant, his mind swirling with thoughts and possibilities. He watched over his slumbering companions, waiting for the sunrise.
===
***
===
With the first light of dawn painting the sky, Aurelius roused his companions from their sleep. The group, still weary from their recent fight, set off on their journey back to Silverleaf. On their journey back, the forest around them seemed quieter, as if nature itself was recovering from the disturbance caused by the battle.
Aurelius, for the most part, stayed quite this time, his senses heightened and alert for any signs of danger. For some reason, he couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched, but he reassured himself that it was just his imagination playing tricks on him.
The idea of joining the Lothern Academy lingered in his mind, and he wondered if it could provide him with the knowledge and training he was currently lacking. Specifically, he wanted a deeper understanding of his Arcane Artificer class and the Chosen in general. Furthermore, he would always be surrounded by people like Lyra and Gareth, which could either be good or bad.
The sun was dipping towards the horizon when the familiar sight of the city's towering walls came into view. A wave of relief and tiredness permeated throughout the group, thankful that the journey back was uneventful. The group entered Silverleaf, greeted by the bustling sounds of daily life and the comforting embrace of the townsfolk.
Aurelius and his companions returned to the place where they had first met, intending to part ways. Lyra offered Aurelius the reward of five silver coins, causing his eyes to nearly bulge out of his head when he saw the amount in his hand. He profusely thanked Lyra for the reward and the opportunity to join the quest, while the rest of the group expressed their gratitude for his contribution. However, before Aurelius could leave, an imposing figure in a dark cloak approached them.
The four Lothern Academy students turned towards the figure, seemingly anticipating its arrival. As the figure reached the group, they pushed back the hood of its cloak, revealing their face.
Once the figure's face was revealed, all four academy students displayed similar expressions of shock, with bulging eyes and flustered bowing. Aurelius found it quite amusing that these supposedly "esteemed" students from the prestigious Lothern Academy would become so flustered. He would have laughed at the scene if it weren't for the piercing gaze of the figure, which seemed to penetrate right through him.
Under the intense scrutiny of the figure, whom Aurelius now recognized as a man, he began to wonder if there was something on his face. He turned around, double-checking to ensure that the figure wasn't staring at someone behind him.
Just then, Lyra broke the awkward silence that had begun to settle. "He-Headmaster, please forgive us. We had no idea it was you who was overseeing our mission," Lyra blurted out.
"Well, yes, I was the closest staff member from the academy, so I was assigned to oversee it. Excellent work, by the way. You all passed." The supposed headmaster finally diverted his gaze from Aurelius and scanned the Lothern students with a smile. He casually tossed what appeared to be a badge to the group.
"Here is your completion badge," the headmaster said after tossing them the badge. He then turned his attention back to Aurelius, still smiling. "And what might your name be, young man?" the headmaster asked, as if he didn't already know the answer.
Aurelius locked eyes with the headmaster, attempting to mirror the level of scrutiny that had been directed at him. Seeing Aurelius’ actions, the headmaster’s smile widened even further, which, in turn, caused Aurelius to smile. He couldn't help but wonder how the Lothern Academy students perceived the sight of their headmaster beaming at a young and unfamiliar individual whom they had encountered just a few days prior.
After a brief pause, Aurelius finally replied, keeping his voice steady and composed.
"My name is Aurelius."
The headmaster nodded, his eyes filled with interest. "Aurelius," he repeated, appreciating the name's uniqueness. "It's a name that carries significance. You've piqued my curiosity, young man."
Aurelius felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as he stood before the headmaster. He had heard of this moment from his Augustus, who had spoken highly of the academy. However, he couldn't help but wonder if he truly belonged here.
The headmaster's smile grew, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. He extended a welcoming hand towards Aurelius.
"Well, Aurelius, it's a pleasure to meet you formally," the headmaster warmly continued. "Your talents during the quest have left a lasting impression on both your companions and me."
Aurelius shook the headmaster's hand, feeling a sense of validation.
"Considering your remarkable abilities and the way you handled yourself, I would like to extend an invitation to you, Aurelius," the headmaster said. "I would be honored to have you join the Lothern Academy."
Upon hearing the invitation, Aurelius contemplated his decision. The academy had always intrigued him, and Augustus had spoken highly of the learning opportunities. However, he couldn't ignore his concerns entirely.
"Headmaster, I'm deeply grateful for this opportunity," Aurelius began humbly. "However, I must admit that the cost of tuition might be beyond my current means. I fear attending the Lothern Academy could be financially challenging."
The headmaster nodded understandingly.
"Aurelius, I see great potential in you," the headmaster said reassuringly. "The Lothern Academy values talent and passion above all else. We have scholarships and financial aid options available for deserving students. Money should never be a barrier to education."
Aurelius felt a glimmer of hope, realizing that the headmaster genuinely cared about nurturing talent.
"Thank you, Headmaster. That gives me hope," Aurelius replied gratefully. "In that case, I accept your invitation."
The headmaster's smile widened. "Wonderful! Tomorrow, at sunrise, you'll join me and the other four academy students as we return to the capital."
Aurelius couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and gratitude for the opportunity that lay ahead.