"We team up."

Sael and Rhea made their way back to the tavern as the evening crowd thickened. The warm glow of lanterns softened the rough edges of the cobbled streets, a breeze drifting through the cool night air. Inside, adventurers sat at heavy wooden tables, sharing stories over plates of steaming food. Laughter and the clink of tankards created a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

Rhea took the lead, heading straight for the bar. She flicked a coin to the innkeeper. "Room for two. Two beds."

The innkeeper, a broad-shouldered man with graying hair, caught the coin and nodded. "Top floor, last room on the right."

Sael raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"

Rhea smirked. "I’m a regular. Besides, you’re broke. Someone’s gotta cover for you."

Sael sighed, but he wasn’t about to complain about free lodging. They climbed the stairs to their room, which was simple but comfortable. Two wooden-framed beds sat opposite each other, separated by a small table. A single lantern flickered on the wall, casting a warm glow over the space.

Sael sat on the edge of his bed, exhaling. "Long day."

Rhea tossed her cloak over the back of a chair and flopped onto her bed. "Get used to it. Every day’s a long day when you’re an adventurer."

Sael leaned back, staring at the ceiling. His mind kept circling back to the grimoire. If magic was as difficult to learn as Rhea claimed, then the book could be a huge shortcut. But at the same time, he had no idea how much of an advantage magic would actually give him compared to improving his crafting.

He sat up. There was only one way to find out.

Closing his eyes, he focused inward, searching for that faint warmth he had sensed earlier. It was there—subtle, like a flickering ember just beneath his skin. He exhaled slowly, willing it to take form.

A tiny spark danced at his fingertips.

He stared at it, half in awe. The ember wavered, then fizzled out. Not exactly a fireball, but it was something.

Rhea had been watching from her bed, her ears perked up. "Wait. Do that again."

Sael frowned but tried again. This time, the ember lasted a little longer before vanishing.

Rhea sat up, her golden eyes locked onto his hand. "That’s actually impressive. Most people can’t manifest anything without training."

Sael blinked. "You’re serious?"

She nodded. "Dead serious. Here, watch."

She held out her hand, furrowing her brow as she tried to mimic his actions. A long silence stretched between them. Nothing happened.

Sael raised an eyebrow. "Uh…?"

Rhea scowled. "Shut up. I’m trying."

Another few moments passed, and finally, the faintest wisp of heat rose from her palm before sputtering out completely. She groaned, shaking her hand as if that would help. "See? Nothing. And I’ve been around magic users my whole life."

Sael leaned back, letting that sink in. He had assumed magic would be difficult, but if even Rhea, with her experience, could barely make anything happen, then maybe he had something rare.

Rhea crossed her arms. "You definitely have an affinity. Most people spend months just learning to sense mana. You’re already manifesting it."

Sael glanced at the grimoire on the table. If he used it, he’d probably unlock his first real spell immediately. Firebolt. A solid, offensive spell. With it, he could take on stronger monsters and get better materials faster. But if he sold the book, he’d have enough gold to buy a stockpile of crafting components and experiment with his skills.

Rhea seemed to read his expression. "Magic is powerful, Sael. A single well-placed spell can turn a fight in your favor. But it takes time to master. And let’s be real—right now, I can handle most fights for us. You don’t need magic to survive."

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Sael exhaled. "But I do need better gear."

She nodded. "Exactly. Selling the book would give you a huge head start. You could flesh out your crafting skill, make some real weapons and armor. Play to your strengths."

Sael ran a hand through his hair, his gaze fixed on the book. The choice loomed before him—embrace magic now and commit to mastering it, or sell the book and double down on crafting, a different potential edge in this world.

Whichever path he chose, it would shape his future as an adventurer.

A familiar chime echoed in his mind, followed by the flickering glow of the system’s interface. A new prompt appeared before him.

Quest Available: Path of Fire or Steel

The world demands specialization. Which path will you walk? Choose now, and receive the first boon to aid your journey.

* Path of the Mage: Learn Firebolt immediately and gain increased mana regeneration.

* Path of the Crafter: Gain a starter crafting kit and rare materials to forge your first advanced weapon.

Sael stared at the glowing text, his heartbeat quickening. This wasn’t just about the book anymore. The system itself was offering him a choice. One that would define his growth moving forward.

He exhaled slowly. "Well… that changes things."

Sael barely had a moment to process the glowing text before Rhea’s ears twitched, her sharp eyes narrowing on him. “Hey—your system’s doing something, isn’t it?”

Sael hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, it just gave me a quest.”

Rhea’s expression flickered with surprise. “A quest? Like a real, system-given quest?”

He turned the interface so she could see. The golden glow of the words reflected in her eyes as she scanned the details. Her tail flicked in disbelief. “Sael, this is—quests like this almost never happen. Most people go their whole lives without getting one, and when they do, it’s a turning point. Something that changes their life forever.”

“That’s... kind of what this feels like.” Sael swallowed, rereading the options. “It’s asking me to choose between being a mage or a crafter. If I go the magic route, I’ll get Firebolt immediately and better mana regen. If I go the crafting route, I get materials to make some serious gear.”

Rhea folded her arms, considering. “Magic is powerful, sure. But crafting—crafting is stability. Power in a different way. What are you leaning toward?”

Sael didn’t have to think long. “Crafting.”

The moment he spoke, the system reacted.

Path of the Crafter chosen. Rewarding materials…

A shimmer of blue light filled the room, and suddenly, a collection of items materialized before them. Rhea’s jaw dropped as a large, salamander-like creature thumped onto the floor, its hide thick and scaled, with long, hooked talons. Next to it lay the massive body of a dire wolf, its fur a deep, midnight black. A third creature followed—a small, mystical kitsune, its delicate form surrounded by a faint, eerie glow.

Then came the materials. A large mirror-like slab of an unknown metal, chunks of shimmering opal and mythril, and bundles of silver spider thread.

Rhea let out a low whistle. “You got all this just for choosing crafting?” She crouched beside the salamander, running a hand over its thick hide. “This stuff is valuable. You could make some serious gear with it.”

Sael exhaled, overwhelmed by the sheer quality of the materials. “I’ll figure something out in the morning. Right now, I just need to sleep.”

Rhea smirked. “Fair enough. But I’m calling dibs on helping when you start.”

Sael shook his head, amused, and climbed into bed. As he drifted off, his thoughts swirled with possibilities. The materials he had were beyond anything he’d ever worked with—this was a real chance to push his crafting skills to new heights.

----------------------------------------

The next morning, Sael wasted no time. He set up in the small workspace the room provided, rolling up his sleeves and laying out the materials. Rhea perched nearby, watching with bright-eyed curiosity.

“Alright,” he muttered to himself. “Let’s start with something practical.”

He took the salamander hide, its surface warm to the touch, and combined it with a sturdy wood slab to create a basic kite shield. The hide’s natural resistance to heat made it ideal for defense against fire-based attacks. He reinforced it with some of the mirror-like metal as studs for added durability. As he worked, the system chimed softly.

Salamander Kite Shield created. Grants resistance to fire damage.

Rhea tapped the shield’s surface, her tail flicking with approval. “That’s impressive. Salamander hide is tough, and you paired it with the right materials. This thing could save your life.”

Encouraged, Sael moved on to the dire wolf pelt. He fashioned it into a midnight cloak with a hood, shaping the ears to resemble the wolf’s. As he fastened the cloak around his shoulders, the system chimed once more.

Midnight Wolf Cloak created.

Rhea let out a laugh. “Oh, this is too good,” she grinned. “Now we match.” She flicked one of her own wolf-like ears for emphasis.

Sael rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “I suppose I’ll blend in with the pack now.”

Rhea let out a small howl as a joke. "Awooo."

Finally, he turned to the kitsune corpse and the silver spider thread. Carefully, he crafted a fox-shaped mask, the delicate silk reinforcing the already mystical properties of the creature. When he finished, the system reacted again.

Threaded Kitsune Mask created. Slightly enhances magical abilities.

Rhea picked up the mask, inspecting it with a newfound respect. “That’s some serious work, Sael. You’re really getting the hang of this.”

He nodded, feeling more confident than ever. He still had materials left, but for now, he was armed, protected, and ready to see where his crafting would take him next.