Pag sat at a grand wooden table in the study of Lord Adrien’s estate, flipping through the pages of an in-game tome while Eryk leaned over his shoulder, eyes scanning the text with furrowed brows. Across from them, Darleyn was cross-referencing information on a glowing parchment, her fingers tracing the written lines as she muttered calculations under her breath.

"Geomancy has strong defensive and utility capabilities," she mused. "But I need something that expands my offensive reach."

Eryk tapped the book in Pag’s hands. "This section talks about class evolutions. Maybe there’s a progression tree that would let you branch into something more versatile."

Pag nodded, flipping to the relevant page. "Earth magic has a few hybrid pathways. There’s the Seismic Channeler—focuses on concussive force and tremor-based AoE attacks. Then there’s the Petramancer, who can manipulate stone in highly specialized ways. But if you're looking for pure synergy, something that enhances both defense and offense... how about the Terra Conduit?"

Darleyn looked up. "That one sounds promising. What’s the trade-off?"

"More power, but at the cost of mobility. You’d be rooted when casting high-tier spells unless you have an external force to counterbalance the effect." Pag tapped his clawed fingers against the wooden table. "It’s a heavy commitment, but if we build the right composition, we can cover for that weakness."

Eryk crossed his arms, thinking. "Let’s not lock ourselves into just one idea. What if we think beyond the obvious combinations? Earth has connections to gravity, magnetism, even metalworking. What if Darleyn pursued a class that incorporated metallic manipulation or gravitational control? A Gravity Shaper or Oreforger could allow her to influence the battlefield in ways that go beyond just shaping terrain."

Pag's reptilian eyes gleamed with interest. "That could work! And if we go that route, my Infernal Vanguard class could take a different path too. Instead of just lava, I could lean into something like Ember Knight or Ashen Reaver—something that combines fire with residual heat manipulation, maybe even combustion-based skills."

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Darleyn grinned. "A combination like that would let us manipulate both the terrain and the energy surrounding it. We’d have the ability to control positioning and create devastating chain reactions."

Eryk nodded. "That’s the kind of tactical advantage we need. Let’s dig deeper and see what else we can uncover. Maybe there's even a way for Pag’s class to evolve into a Phoenix Herald, allowing for fire-based regeneration, or a Scorched Sentinel, which enhances resistance while feeding off sustained flames."

Pag smirked. "Now that sounds like a class worth mastering. Let’s keep searching."

Pag, Eryk, and Darleyn looked up as the heavy wooden doors of the study swung open. Lord Adrien entered, his imposing figure clad in dark blue and gold robes, the embroidered crest of his lineage prominent on his chest. His sharp eyes swept over the table, taking in the scattered books, glowing parchments, and the intense expressions of the three adventurers.

“I see you have been busy,” he remarked, his deep voice filling the chamber. “Tell me of your preparations.”

Pag straightened, his scaled hands resting on the tome before him. “We’ve been researching class evolutions, my lord. Darleyn is considering a shift towards a Gravity Shaper or Oreforger, which would give us greater control over the battlefield. As for myself, we are exploring paths beyond lava-based evolution, such as Ember Knight, Ashen Reaver, or even the Phoenix Herald, which would allow for fire-based regeneration.”

Adrien stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Interesting choices. You have a month until the tournament. Have you devised a strategy beyond class synergy?”

Eryk nodded. “We are considering training methods that will refine our coordination. A controlled sparring match will allow us to test these class evolutions in practice before committing fully.”

Darleyn added, “If we can refine how our abilities interact, we’ll have an edge over teams that rely purely on individual strength.”

Lord Adrien regarded them for a long moment before nodding. “Very well. I shall arrange for an elite trainer to oversee your sparring. You must not only know your own strengths but anticipate those of your enemies. Be prepared, for the tournament will not be forgiving.”

Pag’s reptilian eyes gleamed with determination. “We will be ready.”