It is wiser to traverse the journey in solitude than to accompany the fool.

- Quassian Aphorism.

While keeping myself revitalized with the Drain spell, I had borne watch for most of the night. It was only in the very early hours of the morning that Kidu relieved me of my duties to allow me a few hours. Throughout the night, the repeated use of the Drain spell allowed me to keep my Mana almost full. Moreover, my unwavering focus had elevated the spell's level and augmented my Intelligence by a single point. Fortunately, no one broke into our room during the night to steal our belongings. I considered this to be a much-needed triumph.

Much of the night was spent in contemplation of the book's contents, particularly the enigmatic diagrams that tantalized my imagination with their intricate designs. I recalled that the Identify scroll I had absorbed contained comparable patterns in certain areas. The pages were adorned with mathematical equations in a paradigm I struggled to comprehend, and much of the text was marred by damage.

Despite this, I was able to glean a rough overview of the workings of magic in this realm. It seemed that the manipulation of Mana could influence the fabric of reality, though the level of difficulty was determined by the magnitude of change required. From the incomplete manuscript, I deduced that the casting of powerful or intricate spells necessitated a greater expenditure of Mana to bridge the chasm between the caster's "intent" and the present reality.

Indeed, a fireball would indisputably have a more discernible impact on reality than a mere spark. Similarly, conjuring a blade of water in a parched desert would prove far more arduous than in a damp, marshy environment. This incongruity led me to question why my own magical abilities always had the same cost in Mana, fluctuating solely in correspondence to the spell's present level and potency. The previous night had left me with a multitude of unresolved inquiries about the enigmatic nature of this realm.

Filled with stolen energy and lost in the contemplation of these musings, I was far too excited to find sleep. I lay there on the bed awake and staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling, simply thinking. Once I felt that sufficient time had passed, I roused Elwin from his slumber a few hours later.

The man slowly got up, still bleary-eyed from his rest. Despite his grumbling, I expressed my sincerest gratitude for his gift, the old primer on magic, an act he dismissively shrugged off as inconsequential. As it was still early, we opted to forgo the customary morning meal and instead dined on our travel provisions of tough, dried Laur meat. As I gnawed on the leathery jerky, memories flooded my mind of the time when the very same creature had attempted to devour me. Survival of the strong, I thought to myself, as I washed the meat down with some water that had long since grown stale.

Our meal complete, we decided upon a plan for the rest of the day. Elwin would take care of selling the smaller ‘higher end’ bits and pieces we had acquired from the charcoal burners, while Kidu and I would sell the rest of the larger, less valuable equipment and search for work or other means of earning coin. It had also been decided that we would make a stop at a blacksmith or armorer to purchase some new gear.

Kidu had expressed the need for a decent bow, while I desired a better helmet. Although my current helmet had proven its worth time and time again, aesthetics was still important to me. After all, a helmet was one of the most vital pieces of protection, but that did not mean it could not look good. I now understood why the ancients paid so much attention to the decoration of their armor. It was also as good a time as any to check my character sheet.

STATUS

Calling: Gilgamesh Level 10 Paladin of Avaria / Reaver

Strength: 24

Dexterity: 19

Constitution: 34

Intelligence: 19

Wisdom: 17

Charisma: 11

Luck: 16

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SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES

Pain Nullification (lvl.2)

Power Strike (lvl.2) 10

Endure (lvl.3)

Stealth (lvl.1)

Rest (lvl.3)

Backstab (lvl.2)

Dodge (lvl.3)

Polearms (lvl.2)

Dual Wield (lvl.2)

Critical Hit Mastery (lvl.2)

Mining (lvl.2)

Unarmed Combat (lvl.3)

Hammers (lvl.2)

Flails (lvl.1)

Maces (lvl.1)

Shields (lvl.1)

Medium Armor (lvl.1)

Heavy Armor (lvl.1)

Axes (lvl.1)

Daggers (lvl.2)

Throwing Weapons (lvl.2)

SPELLS & MAGIC

Heal (lvl.5) 5

Rust (lvl.3) 1-2

Identify (lvl.2) 1

Silent Casting (lvl.1)

Mana Regeneration (lvl.2)

Purify (lvl.2) 3

Greater Heal (lvl.1) 10

Holy Aura (lvl.1) 2

Decay (lvl.1) 1

Drain (lvl.2) 2

Entropic Aura (lvl.2) 2

GIFTS

Curse of Entropy: -20% to all starting attributes.

Mark of the Paladin: 10% resistance to Dark/Holy magic. 5% resistance to Physical.

Touch of the Void: 10% reduced resistance to Holy/Fire magic, 20% resistance to Mental Effects, 15% immunity to Mental Effects.

Experience to next level 2447/2583

Health: 230/230

Stamina: 53/55

Mana: 12/13