After a long rest and a protein-packed breakfast to keep him fueled for the day, Kael did his usual routine of heading back to the shop. The early morning air was cool and refreshing as he made his way down the familiar path toward the little store that had been in his family for generations. As he arrived, he couldn’t help but appreciate how much more peaceful it felt after the chaos of the previous days. But that peace wouldn’t last long; he knew that.

Entering the shop, Kael was greeted by the soft creak of the door as it opened, and the familiar smell of wood and herbs filled the air. He hadn’t had much time to rearrange the shelves from the night before, but he was sure the place looked good enough for now. He made his way behind the counter and quickly organized the items he had brought in from the forest the day before: the herbs, the monster parts, and the tusks, claws, and venom sacs. All of them were sorted neatly, ready to be sold. He was eager to see if anyone would stop by to make a purchase.

It wasn’t long before the first customer entered. An elderly woman, wearing a faded cloak, shuffled into the shop, her eyes scanning the shelves with curiosity. She paused in front of the section with the herbs, her fingers gently grazing the bottles and jars. Kael stepped forward, offering her a polite smile.

“Good morning, ma’am. How can I help you today?” Kael asked.

The woman looked up at him, squinting slightly. “Hmm, you’re the new owner, aren’t you? I’ve heard a lot about you. Some of the local farmers are talking about how you’ve been venturing into the great forest”

Kael raised an eyebrow, surprised by her knowledge. “I suppose word travels fast around here. Yes, I’ve been gathering some things that might be of interest.”

“Hmm, yes I would be, can I have a look at your [sliver root]collection, of course ill offer a fair amount of coin”

Kael’s eyes flickered toward the shelves where the [Silver root] was carefully displayed. He had collected quite a bit of it from his recent trip into the forest, and it was one of the more valuable herbs for its properties in strengthening bones and joints, a highly sought-after item for many of the region’s laborers and adventurers. The elderly woman seemed to know exactly what she was after, her wrinkled hands reaching for the jar with practiced ease.

"Of course, ma'am," Kael replied, trying to mask his curiosity. "I’ll be happy to sell you the [Silver root]." He gestured to the shelf. “I’ve got quite a bit, but I’ll make sure you get the best quality. How much would you like?”

The woman’s eyes gleamed as she picked up the jar and inspected the contents with care. “I’ll take all of it,” she said with a nod, “and I’m willing to pay a fair price, as I mentioned. The Silverroot will be used for some important work I’m doing. I trust you know the value of a good herb.”

Kael hesitated for a moment, his mind weighing the offer. It wasn’t often he had this much of a single herb on hand, and parting with all of it at once didn’t sit well with him. If he sold out so early in the day, it might make his shop look poorly stocked to other potential customers, and that could hurt his business. He needed to maintain a steady flow of goods, not just sell everything to one person.

“No, ma’am,” Kael said, his tone polite but firm. “I’m afraid I can’t part with all of it. However, I can sell you a large quantity if that suits you.”

The elderly woman’s eyes flickered with a hint of annoyance, but she quickly masked it with a small, tight-lipped smile. “I suppose that will have to do then,” she replied, her voice taking on a slightly colder edge. “I’ll take a fair amount, but don’t expect me to return if you’re stingy with your stock in the future.”

Kael nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "Of course, ma'am. I'll set aside a generous portion for you. I'm sure you'll find it useful."

He quickly measured out a sizable amount of the [Silver root], wrapping it carefully in parchment before placing it on the counter. The woman eyed it, and after a brief moment of inspection, she nodded in approval.

"That will do," she said, her tone softening a little. "I’ll take it for the price you’ve set, but know that I’ll be keeping an eye on your stock.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Kael offered a polite smile, though in his mind, he was already tallying up the cost. The exchange wasn’t quite as smooth as he’d hoped, but it was still a sale. He accepted the coins she handed him, his fingers brushing lightly against hers as they passed the payment.

"Thank you for your purchase. I’ll be here if you need anything else," Kael said, trying to hide the lingering unease in his chest.

The woman didn’t reply right away, instead giving him a long, appraising look before turning and shuffling out the door. The bell above the entrance jingled faintly as she disappeared into the street, and Kael let out a quiet breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

His instincts were telling him that something about this woman was off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. She was clearly more than just a regular customer, and her cryptic comments made Kael wonder if there was more to her interest in the [Silver root] than just its medicinal value.

It also made him wonder what he’d gain if he combined the rest of the her.

Finally, closing time arrived, and Kael let out a quiet sigh as he surveyed his shop. It had been another slow day, with only the elderly woman’s purchase to show for it. Maybe he should’ve agreed to her offer, but now it was too late to second-guess himself. Still, the lack of sales didn’t bother him as much as it should have. His mind was preoccupied with something far more intriguing.

He’d been meaning to experiment with his [Silver root] all day, and now, with some free time on his hands, he finally had the chance. The [Silver root] had potential—its ability to strengthen bones could be the key to improving his body’s resilience and even enhance his combat capabilities. Kael had a few ideas in mind, hoping to create something that could aid his physical endurance or perhaps enhance his fighting ability.

He gathered the remaining [Silver root] into a large pile on the counter, staring down at it thoughtfully. The challenge now was to shape it to his will. Kael concentrated, focusing all his thoughts on what he wanted to create. His breath slowed, his hands tingled with the familiar warmth of magic as he willed the roots to merge, shaping them into something more useful.

The air around him shimmered, and with a sudden burst of light, the roots on the counter began to condense, reshaping into something new. As the glow faded, Kael was left staring at an unfamiliar item resting on the counter.

[Rhino Beast Bone Marrow]

[Enhancement]

[Bone marrow from a great rhino beast of pure lineage]

Kael’s eyes sparkled this is exactly what I wanted, however he hadn’t heard of anything to do with enhancement before, maybe it was something that only powerful practitioners knew about or it was just too expensive to be know to the general public, however he was eager to see what it did and if it could help in his future visits to the great forest.

Theres only one issue though, just how on earth do I consume it? He had no clue Kael tried to use his will on it to no avail he tried to use essence however he couldn’t even control that yet, finally he came to a final conclusion that he would just have to eat the bone marrow. That was quite a horrifying thought as he didn’t know where it had been, well apart from inside this great rhinoceros.

After counting down from three in his head he threw it into his mouth then quickly swallowed not wanting to taste the marrow.

At first, nothing happened. Kael waited, hoping for some kind of reaction, but the marrow simply sat in his stomach like a stone. He closed his eyes, trying to stay calm, wondering if he had made a huge mistake. Then it started.

A sharp, searing pain shot through his body like lightning. It started in his stomach, a tight, gnawing pain as if his insides were being burned from the inside out. The sensation quickly spread, radiating out through his limbs and deep into his bones. His muscles spasmed violently, his skin felt like it was being pulled and twisted, stretched beyond its limits. He gasped for air as waves of agony coursed through him.

This is bad… Kael’s mind screamed, but he couldn’t even focus enough to think clearly. The pain intensified, his heart pounding in his chest as though it were trying to escape. It was as if his entire body was being reshaped, remade from the inside out.

His bones felt like they were cracking and reforming, the marrow working its way deep into his skeletal structure. The sensation was horrifying. It felt as though every bone in his body was being burned, shattered, and reforged all at once. Kael’s mouth opened in a silent scream, but the pain drowned out all his thoughts. His entire body was on fire, every nerve ending screaming for release.

The agony seemed to go on forever, though in reality, it was only a matter of minutes. But to Kael, it felt like an eternity. Finally, after what felt like the longest moment of his life, the pain began to subside. The burning in his bones dulled, the tightness in his muscles loosened, and his body finally began to calm. He collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath, drenched in sweat.

Kael’s vision blurred as his mind tried to process what had just happened. His body felt different—stronger, denser, like every part of him had been reinforced. He could feel the power coursing through his veins, an overwhelming surge of vitality. His bones felt harder, more resilient, and his muscles seemed to have gained a new level of strength.

He cautiously stood up, testing his limbs. His body felt heavier, more solid, but in a way that made him feel like he could take on a bull and win. His senses were heightened, and his strength had clearly been enhanced. Kael flexed his fingers, feeling the raw power in his grip

This, this is amazing it’s like I’ve jumped a whole rank!