Levi hiked through the forest covered in thick mud to mask his scent. His every move avoided most of the twigs and dried leaves on the ground, making as little noise as possible. Doing so required a lot of mental effort, but Bram had taught him remaining unseen, and undetected was the essence of hunting.

And it wasn’t only the necessity of hunting that forced him to take care with every step. It was survival. There were others hunting him, too. For all he knew, the ape had the same idea as he did. Levi was injured, but so was the ape. Maybe even more so. He’d take advantage. All he needed was mana, and because of Meditate, he had that in buckets-full.

Making his way through the incredibly varied landscape and fauna, Levi entered a land where even larger trees took sprout. Levi craned his neck up, gazing at the tree canopy far above. He placed his hand on the rough bark, and focused on it.

Birthright Ingredient (Uncommon) — Primordial Tree: An ancient tree that has survived the aeons. It is incredibly resilient and can resist the most apocalyptic of events.

| Class: Warrior

| Path: Druid

Druid? Levi thought. He saw a lot of them in games from before he travelled here. Druids were in command of nature magic and could transform into various different animals. From what he understood, they were incredibly versatile. For anyone, it would be an amazing Ingredient.

Levi decided to test it. He grabbed his kukri and chopped into the tree. It was a mistake. An intense vibration assaulted his palm, and shot up into his arm. He had to let go of his weapon as it thudded to the ground.

Massaging his hand, he incredulously inspected the tree where he had cut. There was barely a scratch. Damn, so that’s why then? Levi thought. It was no wonder people didn’t have this. He focused more on the bark this time.

Birthright Ingredient (Common) — Primordial Tree Bark: The bark of a Primordial Tree. It is incredibly resilient and can resist the most apocalyptic of events.

| Class: Warrior

| Path: Defender

Now it’s Common? Levi thought to himself. But still, it was durable. As a defensive Ingredient, it was cheap. And yet he hadn’t seen anyone with this power. Not yet, at least. Thinking about it more, people would have to venture out here, risking against the monsters of the outside. For him it was dangerous, let alone regular people that hadn’t awakened any powers yet.

Levi attacked the tree again, enhancing his attacks with the power of fire. Yet after hacking away for 5 minutes, ignoring the amount of noise he was making, he couldn’t even chop a fragment of bark away. In fear of attracting too many beasts, he gave up. He was hoping to make a little money, but it seemed it wasn’t to be.

No wonder they’ve lasted so long, Levi thought. Especially with titan-like monsters that once roamed this land hundreds of years ago.

He heard chopping. It was so loud, it reverberated throughout the gargantuan field of trees. It sounded like metal striking metal, like a blacksmith and his anvil. Urged on by curiosity, Levi sneaked his way toward the location of noise.

He approached a tall bush and peered through. Levi froze. A tall man, around 6 foot 6, chopped at one of the trees shirtless. His muscle was like bundled steel wire and every move of his expanded and contracted that muscle. But it looked strange. He was rigid, and every move he made was almost… Levi shook his head. It appeared that he was a puppet, being guided by his master. Even his muscles groaned and creaked, like a tree in the wind.

“It’s not nice to stare,” the man said, his voice low and gruff.

Levi remained silent, until the man with a long white beard and bald head looked straight at him, through the bush. “The moment you entered this forest, you walked into my domain.”

He must be a Druid? If he’s chopping these trees, then he must have them as his Ingredients, Levi thought. With that in mind, the man obviously has a way to communicate with the trees here.

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Levi got up, his heart beating fast. He walked out of the bush. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just heard the noise and was curious as to what it was.”

“And what if it had been a monster?” He asked, his voice softening, like speaking to that of a child. “One that you couldn’t run from the moment you neared.”

Levi paused. He was right. Something that could make that level of noise, wasn’t some normal creature. Feeling bad that he had just referenced the man akin to an animal, Levi said in embarrassment. “Well, I didn’t think that far ahead.”

“You have to be careful,” the woodcutter said. “Some monsters lure in the curious. You get close, and bam—” He sent his axe against the primordial tree and a resounding clash rang out. Levi flinched. “—they attack.” Seeing Levi jump, he laughed.

“So,” Levi said, changing the subject. “What are you doing here? Is this your job?”

“Inquisitive and brave,” He said, smiling. “You remind me of my son. Yes, you could say this is my job.”

“Are you rich?”

“Rich?” he laughed. “Monetarily? No. I don’t earn anything. But I am doing it as part of my job.”

Levi glanced at the fallen trees around him. He noticed one fallen tree in particular start sprouting seedlings from its bark. There were around 16 felled trees in total. The one he was working on would soon be the 17th.

“Why are you working if you don’t get paid anything?” Levi asked. Was the man so powerful that he no longer needed money, or was he some sort of recluse. It was probably both, Levi noted as he was in the middle of a forest packed with vicious monsters.

“Who says payment has to only revolve around money?” The woodcutter said. “Acting out my job is the biggest payment of all.”

Levi nodded, and then said, “What?” Acting out his job? How did that make sense? Was he some sort of cosplayer?

“I can feel the powerful mana within you,” he replied cryptically. “A level of mana only those at the 2nd tier can reach. Which family do you belong to, huh?”

“I don’t share information with strangers.”

The older man laughed, slapping his thighs. “No, you shouldn't, I suppose. I apologise for my manners young lad. It’s been a while since I’ve spoken to, well, anyone.” He stretched out his hand. “Alaric Lancastar.”

Levi hesitated for a moment before shaking Alaric's hand. “Levi.”

Alaric rose his brows. “It’s rude not to introduce yourself.”

Levi looked around. “That’s easy to say in a position of power.”

“You’re a strange boy, Levi,” Alaric said, resting on his axe. “Tier 2 at, what, 12 years old? Maybe 13? That would place you in the top 10 of your generation within the Imperial City.”

“You mean the top?” Levi asked. From what he understood, there wasn’t anyone else at Tier 2 at his age. Not for many years, at least is what Gregory had told him.

“Arrogant.”

“Truthful,” Levi replied.

Alaric flashed a knowing smile. “Top 10.”

He obviously knows something I don’t, Levi thought, then he changed the subject. “So… why are you out here again?”

“Acting,” Alaric replied as if it was normal. “I’m a Druid. Not of any order, but I follow its teachings, you could say.”

“Acting,” Levi repeated. “Acting as a tree chopper?”

“Yes and do. You see these trees are no normal trees. They are of the primordial family. They have been here since the lost era. This is the only place they remain, so here I am.” Alaric pointed to one of the fallen trees that was sprouting a little plant. “My pathways are all to do with these trees. My first Seed was fed with the bard. The second was nourished with the leaves, and then the fruits. The third was fueled by the roots, the bees that inhabit the tree, and finally, a tree itself. Because of that, it grants me various boons and gifts that wouldn’t normally be open to me. You could say that I am one with the tree. And they are one with me. It’s a symbiotic relationship. I cut the tree down so others can grow.”

“That’s amazing,” Levi said truthfully. “I didn’t know you could do that. Dedicate all your Birthright Seeds to one type of Ingredient, I mean.”

“That’s common knowledge in the big city. You see some people dedicate their entire lives around one type of Ingredient. Many believe it to be the best way to truly reach the peak. Can’t master everything, after all. Just what kind of teaching have you had, anyway?”

Levi ignored the question, enraptured by the fact the man had dedicated his entire body and future to the tree. “So this acting? What is that for?”

Alaric touched the tree bark. The tree of which he had almost chopped down. “Druids follow the belief that feeding Brithright Seeds is guided by the inner workings of a stomach. You have to ‘digest’ the Ingredients you give your seed. The way to do that is by ‘acting’ the roll your path has given you once you reach the third Tier.”

“And this works?”

“It does,” Alaric said. “But many people believe that it is a hoax nowadays. When you reach the third tier, give it a go. ‘Act’ the way your path wishes for you to follow. In my case, it is tending to the trees. And it has rewarded me so—”

Alaric grabbed hold of his axe. He swung it back. And then in a savage arc, brought it toward the tree. His movement was so slow that Levi thought he was just acting the part. He wasn’t truly going to strike it–and then the tip of the axe met with the primordial tree's bark. It was like time paused then resumed. His axe glided through the tree, and the air split apart under the might of his supernatural strength.

Levi’s jaw hung in shock as the air tumbled his hair and forced him sliding back in the earth. He ground to a stop and glanced at Alaric in horror.