After being beckoned over to take a bowl of the admittedly delicious-smelling stew, Klarion made sure to carefully place his weight into each step he took over to the cooking fire. Though he was trying to put up a brave front, he still felt the aftereffects of the hurricane of pain that had raged through his entire body. When he had started holding the orb, it had felt more like buzzing than pain all over his body. After a minute or so, the feeling had gradually transitioned into something similar to pins being slowly pressed into every square inch of skin on his body. That hadn’t been so bad, given the suffering he could still clearly remember from those last days in the hospital bed back on Earth.
But it hadn’t stopped there.
He had begun losing track of time when the pins had given way to thick needles and then to rusty knives. The only thing that had kept him going at that point was grim determination. After all, Rolfun had said that even the youngest nobles of the Empire had used similar means to work on their stats. Though he knew he had a wide range of disadvantages compared to them, that just meant he would have to push himself as hard as he could to get to their level. Thankfully his determination had been rewarded, for just when he was thinking he would have to let the orb drop from his hands, the pain suddenly had cut off altogether.
Alesin handed him a bowl piled high with some sort of vegetables and a lot of small pieces of meat. The smell was even better up close. With how thick the bowl was, he could barely feel the heat of the still piping-hot stew. Better give it a few minutes to cool down before his first bite.
“How are you feeling?” Rolfun asked, reaching out to take his own, considerably larger, bowl from Alesin. Though he asked his question casually, for a second Klarion thought there was some undercurrent of concern in his voice. Probably just imagining things.
“Like someone just spent an hour sharpening knives against my flesh.” Klarion said somewhat truthfully, not expecting the looks of horror to appear on both of their faces. “But don’t worry,” he hurried to add, “the pain is already fading. In the next few minutes I’m sure it will be gone altogether.”
“That is…good,” Alesin said, staring hard into his face. She shook her head and cleared her throat. “Anyway, as you are waiting for the stew to cool, why don’t you take a look at your stats and tell us if any have changed?”
Not needing any further encouragement, as he was curious himself, Klarion called up his character sheet.
Name: Klarion von Sturmwacht
Race: Human (Noresyn)
Class: TBD - Level 0
Profession(s): TBD
Essence(s): TBD
Faction: Treverorum Empire - House Blacksword
Rank: Scion - Unlanded
Strength: 13=>14
Dexterity: 10=>11
Vitality: 15=>20
Endurance: 20=>21
Intelligence: 17=>18
Wisdom: 8=>10
Charisma: 7
Luck: 4
Traits: Greater Soul Oath (Unknown - Hidden)
Skills: N/A
Abilities: N/A
Based on what his character sheet was showing, he had gained a single point in Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, and Intelligence, two points in Wisdom, and a total of five points in Vitality. Klarion hadn’t realized that he was speaking out loud until Rolfun started violently coughing after taking a big mouthful of the stew. While he pounded on his chest, Klarion shot a questioning look at Alesin, who had paused in eating as well.
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“The fact that you have gained eleven stat points in such a short session is nothing short of astounding,” Alesin said, jumping straight to the point. “It’s an indication that you have massive potential, and if the range of stat gains is anything to go on, you also will likely have a range of classes that you might be able to unlock at the Imperial Academy.”
“Don’t expect them to keep improving like this, though,” Rolfun added, finally having gotten his coughing attack under control. “It is possible you will continue to get some growth through training in your stats right now, but for the vast majority in the System these gains will slow to a trickle pretty quickly. From that point, levels will be the main way for you to continue increasing your attributes.”
“I understand. So, is it time to talk about my training?”
“Easy there,” Alesin said, a grin on her face at how excited Klarion clearly was, even in spite of the hellish pain he had so recently experienced. “Why don’t we eat first. Then we can talk over our impressions.”
Without another word, all three dug into their meals. For Klarion, the still-hot stew that Alesin had prepared was a welcome comfort after the long day. Its rich, savory aroma filled the campsite, the scent of slow-cooked meat and earthy herbs mingling in the air. Klarion wasn’t sure how she had done it, but Alesin had infused each bite with the smokiness of the fire. While the meat was tender, his favorite bites were those filled with something that tasted awfully like potatoes. Actually, they were potatoes. While the exhaustion of the day still rested heavily on him, the meal he shared with Alesin and Rolfun was a nice way for the day to end. Before he knew it his bowl was empty.
“I think the System got your class wrong, my love,” Rolfun rumbled as he finished his last bite. “Surely cooking skills this good means you should have been a Chef!”
“Flatterer,” Alesin smacked her husband playfully on the head. “If you want more, you don’t have to ply me with compliments. I made plenty.”
“Simply recognizing your skill,” Rolfun replied, though he did reach for the ladle to get a refill for his bowl.
Rolling her eyes, Alesin set her own empty bowl aside and turned to Klarion. “Alright, if you are done eating, why don’t I get us started. I think its fair to say that I speak for us both,” Rolfun grunted in agreement off to the side, a massive mouthful of food preventing him from speaking, “when I say that we both see some massive potential within you. Your stats are currently low, but given the growth we have seen already, we think if you focus hard on training, you should be able to survive the challenges of the Imperial Academy.”
“Do you have any advice for how to get stronger? While I think I have begun getting a handle on things, the System itself is still a little confusing.”
“Confusing or not,” Rolfun chimed in, setting his bowl aside, “the System does not care, and it will continue to push you whether you are ready for the challenge or not. The Imperial Academy will be the same. The key to your survival is to take things slow, as tha—”
“But I can’t take it slow. There are too many relying on me for that. I need to—”
“What my husband meant to say was, don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk,” Alesin interrupted. “It is one thing to work hard in training and your classes, but another to stir up problems that will increase the chances you will fail.”
“Would that we could be there to help guard your back, but unfortunately, House Blacksword has need of us elsewhere once we have escorted you to the portal hub,” said Rolfun. “Until then, however, we will make sure to do everything we can to help prepare you for the Imperial Academy.”
Klarion nodded in response. Despite not knowing his escorts for very long, he already found he was growing to trust them with his life. They had already shown more kindness and support than he had expected. The fact that they did not treat him like a noble or a pawn in some game by House Blacksword, but as someone they seemed to genuinely want to help. Relaxing a bit, Klarion was not able to prevent the yawn that snuck up on him.
“Alright, I think that is enough tonight. We can go over the particulars tomorrow. For now, get a good night’s sleep.”
Alesin pointed out which tent he could use and reassured him that she and Rolfun would take the watch tonight so he could get a full night’s sleep. While part of Klarion pushed him to at least offer to share part of the watch, the rest of him said he was both too tired and too untrained to be anything other than a source of risk if he did.
While the tent itself was simple, the bedding inside was some of the softest he had ever felt, even if it was lying on the ground. Not even bothering to take his clothes off, he laid down and buried himself underneath the blanket. Given its size, it might well have been Rolfun’s. The last thoughts he had before sleep took him were about what he might experience tomorrow.