Making sure the four silver and sack were put away Thomas turned and walked towards his room at the Rose dormitory. The Rose dormitory was a program that was started by the orphanage he grew up in. After you reach the age of adult hood at sixteen years old you could apply to get a room at the rose dormitory. You would be allowed to stay for at least two years. It was a basic room but was incredibly cheap, violating any of the rules would get you fined at the minimum. Luckily, he still had at least a year until he was going to be asked to leave to make space.

The program was made to help out any orphan who needs it. To give orphans more time to land a stable income by becoming a decently paid apprentice or something of the sort. Once you find a stable income and you are able to support yourself it’s expected that you will leave to open up space for those who need it. Fortunately, the orphan population in Les is rather small so the Rose dormitory will work with most people.

Thinking about the fact he only had a year left before he would have to find a new place to live only fueled his motivation to get better at adventuring. Adventuring is a dangerous but lucrative profession, so hopefully in a year he will be financially stable enough to live on his own.

He was roused from his thoughts when the elongated two-story building came into view. The Rose Dormitory wasn’t the prettiest building but was clearly well cared for. The white painted building had a clean exterior and a well maintained garden.

Walking up the steps, pushing open the front he was greeted with the site of old man Hue with hands clasp over his large gut, leaning back in his chair. The desk in front of him had a papers scattered across it, like he stopped doing work halfway through. It didn’t matter the time of the day, but it always seemed like the buildings caretaker was relaxing or sleeping in his chair. The bald old man with the outrageously large white beard looked like he had no worries in the world and could fall asleep at any moment. Unless you came to him with an issue then he was attentive and serious and would help resolve it in any way possible.

“Hey old man Hue, here is next month’s rent. You got any other tips for my body strengthening magic than what you already told me?” Thomas asked while putting the fifty copper coins on the desk.

With a large smile and chuckle Hue said, “no matter how many times you ask the answer will be the same. You’re not ready for anything more advanced, keep doing what you have been, and you will be fine. I see you are bandaged up and can smell Madam Plumbs on it, make sure you fully healed before taking another quest alright? Thanks for the rent, you are all good.”

With a sigh and nod saying thank you, Thomas opened the door on the left that went to straight into the fifty-person male dorm. Passing the communal kitchen, he went down the hall until he found his room, number twenty-six. The room was small but comfortable, a single bed with a desk, chair, and a cabinet to store cloths and such.

Taking off his “armor” which was just a sturdy leather jacket since he can’t afford anything better yet. Looking at the gash that is in its side knowing he will either need to sew it back together himself or try and find something better.

After putting down his gear Thomas went back out towards the baths. The warm bath was needed and the tension he had built up throughout the day finally bled away. Wanting to get everything done before bed, Thomas didn’t linger too long.

Before going to bed Thomas needed to get some upkeep done so he got to work. Sewing the cut back together was the first on the list. Sadly, the brown heavy jacket wasn’t keeping up with the level quests he was doing now. When starting out it was sturdy and strong enough to protect him from smaller monsters. Now that he will be fighting goblins and probably larger monsters more regularly an armor upgrade is needed.

Moving on to his favorite item, his sword. The beautifully crafted blade was the most expensive thing he owned but it something he never regretted buying. The almost three and a half foot blade was made to be used as either a single or double handed. It was a straight blade that could be used for slicing or piercing. Making sure it was cleaned and maintained Thomas moved on to the last thing on the list.

Meditation was next, following his meditation technique was simple. Breathing in letting the mana flow through him like he has done every night since his core was awoken and he was taught it. Only able to truly stay awake long enough for a few rounds of cycling, Thomas lay down and went to bed. Knowing that tomorrow would be another busy day.

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The next morning, a little before the sun even was up Thomas was already awake. The wound on his side was still red and raw but there was no blood on the fresh bandage be put on before bed. Doing morning stretches to try and relieve some of the tightest he felt.

It would be at least another day before he was back to normal. Leaving the bandage there just to make sure it didn’t open back up Thomas moved onto the next thing on his list.

Meditation again in the morning, sitting on the chair closing his eyes Thomas breathed in the basic pattern he was taught. His core was already full, but the theory was cycling your mana daily would increase the total amount you had.

Not everyone had the same size core or, so he was told by the elderly mage that conducts the mandatory lessons for anyone who awakens their core. The kingdom didn’t want people to accidentally hurt themselves or others because they didn’t know the basics.

Breath in the ambient mana, cycle the mana from his core throughout his mana channels. Letting the ambient mana convert into his mana type. Combine the mana from his core and the newly converted mana that he breathed in. Forcing it to spread throughout every inch of his body, then sending the mana back to his core. Trying to put more mana in than what he originally had. Then breathe out whatever mana was left and repeat.

Not even thirty minutes after he started the process was done. That was the mana cycle he was taught. Thomas always tried to keep it up until the core just above his navel felt almost sore, like an overused muscle.

He was taught that apparently meant the walls of his core were slowly stretching and growing hence the soreness. It didn’t matter if you had the normal four element, the rarer light and dark, or the rarest of them all a variant mana type like he supposedly had this should help core growth.

Moving on to the next thing he did after he completed a quest, Inventory.

Pulling out his pack, it was inventory time. First checking his saving there were three gold, sixty-three silver and eighty-two copper. Which had steadily grown over the year of adventuring. That was almost as much an average couple could make in a year. The average person in Les only made about two gold a year.

The fact that Thomas was closing in on four gold meant that all the hard work was actually showing making him smile. Maybe he could think about getting some actual armor or at least see how much it would cost.

Thinking about his big expensive purchases, beautifully crafted sword, a small smile appeared on his face. A solid long blade that he managed to get for a gold and fifty silver that had a durability enchantment on it. He only had the blade for about a month now and it was a large change, compared to the smaller short sword he used to rent from the guild when he took hunting quests.

It was his favorite purchase he ever made even if there was an unfortunate reason why he could afford it. The person who commissioned it died before they could pick it up. The smith only charged Thomas for the remaining balance on it. Pulling out the blade and inspecting it, finding nothing wrong with sword he put it away.

Moving on to his pack, pulling out items to inspect all the items in the bag. First was his small knife he uses to skin and gut any animals or monsters he kills. If they had valuable parts or mana stones inside them. His dried rations are still fine and good, only having two torch scrolls left so put those on the buy list. The three inch by three inch paper was expensive but always good to have on hand.

The change of clothes stuffed in the bottom were still good. He would need to go to Madam Plumbs and get some more bandages, luckily his container of ointment was still mostly full. The small pouch of herbs and plants he collected on his way back to the city she would buy from him for a decent price.

The Rune light was another of the more expensive items he owned. It produced steady light when mana is put into it. It also slowly stores mana when not being used so it can run completely on its own once turned on. It lasts for a solid hour before needed to be supplied by him.

The tarp that he can use to make a tent, blanket, and rope were still in perfect condition, so nothing needed to be done with that. The water container that was hanging off the back of the pack was in perfect shape as well. The spare bags he had were also in a fine condition.

Lastly his hygiene package. Everything was still in order there, toothbrush, tooth paste, soap, and an enchanted cloth he got from Madam Plumbs that would erase his body odor in case he couldn’t bathe. Honestly, Thomas didn’t know who got the better deal when he traded for it.

On a quest he found a large patch of plants he thought he saw in Plumbs shop. When he brought them to her, she offered to trade the cloth for the plants. The thing was amazing and always made sure it was safely stored in his pack.

Changing into a fresh set of clothes, a pair of durable pants, clean short sleeve gray shirt, leather jacket and boots. Thomas made a quick breakfast in the communal kitchen with the food he bought previously. Sausage, potatoes, and slightly stale bread since the eggs ran out the day before.

After breakfast was done and cleaned up, without seeing any of the other men on his floor. Which wasn’t a surprise since all of them had apprenticeships or jobs that either started earlier or later than dawn like it was right then. Thomas went back to his room strapped his sword on. He checked his small coin pouch and topped it off at ten silver and fifty copper in case of any surprise purchases. Stopping by old man Hue who is always at his desk, asking if anyone from the guild has asked for him receiving a no, he stepped out. Going to the guild first to see if they would need him today was his first stop.