Chapter 8: Using old Skills
Coal, Gwen, and Gary woke up fully refreshed, grateful for the comfort of a soft bed after weeks of sleeping on the ground or in hard wooden carriages. The sound of knocking on the door interrupted their peace, and upon opening it, they found Korr standing there with a tray of bread and eggs. "Morning, lads! I brought you some breakfast," Korr announced cheerfully, eager to start the day on a positive note.
"I'll be waiting for y'all downstairs, so don't take too long," Korr said before leaving the room. The trio quickly dressed themselves and ate their breakfast, eager not to keep him waiting. As they made their way downstairs, they found Korr deep in conversation with the innkeeper. Upon noticing their arrival, Korr signaled them over, and after saying their farewells to the innkeeper, they all left the Fire Boar Inn and Tavern together.
As they walked through the bustling streets, Korr suddenly turned to the trio and asked, "Hmm, I don't think I've explained to you three how things are ranked, have I?" Coal, Gwen, and Gary exchanged puzzled glances before Gary finally replied, "What kind of things?" Korr elaborated, "Well, certain skills, spirits, and even certain traits." Intrigued, the three friends listened attentively as Korr began to discuss the intricacies of the ranking system.
"Well, your skills start at nil, meaning you likely have no skill besides basic knowledge of it. From there, they progress through Novice, Beginner, Competent, Intermediate, Proficient, Expert, and finally Master levels," Korr explained. "You can get certified in certain skills so that your rank in them is recognized, opening up new opportunities and experiences. A high enough rank will let you officially start a school to teach others in the kingdom."
"Now, let's discuss Traits. Traits are more like blessings and natural affinities, and they have different ranks compared to skills. These ranks start at Small and continue through Minor, Intermediate, Advanced, and finally Blessed. Each of you likely possesses Small blessings or traits relating to your current affinities, but once you acquire spirits, your traits will develop further."
As the trio absorbed this new information, Coal suddenly felt a tiny shock in his mind. It seemed as if the "stats" he had inherently known about since birth had undergone a change. He wondered if this newfound understanding of ranks and traits was causing some kind of internal shift or evolution. With a quick thought it popped up in his mind, even though he could view them with a mere thought he hadn't really checked it often. His stats had gone up and now ranks appeared next to his skills and traits.
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Name: Coal
Race: 99% - Human, 1% - ???
Class: N/A
Titles:
Farmer’s Son - Learns farm-related things easier (+1 Strength/Endurance)
Mana/Qi/Aura: 25
Strength: 17
Endurance: 16
Intelligence: 20
Willpower: 15
Skills:
* Speech - Competent
* Farming Tools - Competent
* Agriculture - Competent
* Hunting - Novice
* Archery - Nil
* Spearmanship -Nil
* Swordsmanship - Competent
* Earth Skin - Novice
* Fire Burst - Novice
Traits:
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
* Blessed by Earth (Small)
* Blessed by Fire (Small)
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Looking over this new information, the group eventually made their way back to the adventurer's guild. To their surprise, the place was still packed even early in the morning.
Undeterred, they walked over to a bulletin board that displayed quests specifically for G ranks. Each of them scanned the available options, eager to find a suitable quest.
As the trio studied the available quests, they realized that there weren't any quests that involved combat. Disappointed but still eager to make progress, they shifted their focus to herb gathering quests as an alternative.
These seemingly mundane quests were not only beneficial for their rank but also provided valuable knowledge about the local flora. Coal, Gwen, and Gary quickly discussed their options and agreed on a suitable herb gathering quest.
Korr simply stood aside, allowing Coal, Gwen, and Gary to make their decision, his primary role being to watch over them and ensure their safety during the quest.
Once they had made their choice, the trio approached the reception desk to officially accept the mission. In order to participate in the quest as a group and share the rewards and points, they needed to form a party.
After a brief discussion, the trio took some time to settle on a name for their newly-formed party. They laughed off a few silly suggestions before finally deciding to name their group "Dthic," inspired by their village.
This name was fitting, as it symbolized something that was both durable and flexible, traits that the three of them hoped to embody in their adventures together. With their party officially formed, the group eagerly embarked on their first G rank quest.
The excitement of embarking on their first quest together propelled the trio through the kingdom at a brisk pace, each of them eager to complete this mission and take on another, potentially more challenging, task.
Once they passed beyond the kingdom's gates, they ventured into the nearby forest, their eyes scanning the natural landscape for any signs of the common herbs they sought.
These particular herbs were essential ingredients in the creation of medicinal pastes used to halt bleeding, adding another layer of practical value to their quest.
Using knowledge from their farming days, Coal, Gwen, and Gary were able to efficiently locate areas abundant with the desired herbs. Their familiarity with the land and natural intuition surpassed expectations, as the quest required them to gather only a couple dozen herbs, but they managed to collect almost two hundred.
Not only did they collect much more than the quest required, they also handled the herbs with care and familiarity. Bundling the herbs carefully for transport and storage, the trio made sure their efforts would not go to waste.
As they began to walk back to fulfill their quest, Coal suddenly felt a gentle warmth on his shoulder. Turning his head, he was surprised to see a very tiny being that seemed to be made of mud, which had seemingly taken an interest in their efficient herb gathering.
The little being, resembling a mud turtle, tilted its head curiously at Coal, who couldn't help but be entranced by its curious nature. A cute squeak escaped its mouth, somehow producing a sound despite appearing to be made entirely of earth. It began nuzzling against Coal, evoking an unexpected sense of comfort.
To Coal's astonishment, he realized the tiny mud turtle was a spirit of the earth, seemingly drawn to him by their proficiency in gathering herbs. As the spirit's mana mixed with his own, he sensed a request for a contract forming between them.
A bond with an elemental spirit would greatly enhance his abilities, opening up new and exciting possibilities for their future adventures.
With anticipation coursing through him, Coal eagerly directed his own mana towards the spirit, solidifying the contract between them. The little mud turtle let out another adorable squeak, its approval evident.
Moments later, the spirited creature vanished from sight, but Coal could still sense its presence, now feeling it as a concentrated ball of mana just above his navel.
As the spirit settled within him, Coal noticed a palpable change in his senses and connection to the earth. His awareness of the surrounding environment seemed to sharpen, providing insights into the very essence of the land itself.
With this newfound ability, Coal could now somewhat detect the presence of herbs and other lifeforms from a greater distance, and even predict changes in the terrain.
Korr, Gary, and Gwen all gathered around Coal, offering their congratulations on his new bond with the earth spirit. The group, feeling triumphant and closer than ever, began their journey back to the adventurer's guild.