The morning sun barely touched the city skyline as Arin and Kai prepared for a new adventure. They’d just returned from the Awakener Association, pockets heavier from selling crystals, yet Arin couldn’t shake a feeling of missed opportunity. The memory of his best friend Leo’s hopeful expression lingered, sparking a fresh determination. He would get Leo a chance to awaken an ability, no matter the odds.

Without a second thought, Arin and Kai set off for the Dungeon Zone, hoping to find another skill or ability book—even though they knew the odds of such drops were slim.

The Zone was quiet, patrolled only by Association guards who glanced up as the two young awakeners approached. Arin flashed his Level 3 Awakener ID, and Kai did the same. The guards nodded, allowing them to pass through the checkpoint and head toward a nearby dungeon marked with a Level 3 recommendation. A low, foreboding hum emanated from the dungeon’s entrance, a constant reminder of the challenges within.

Crossing the threshold, they felt the familiar dampness and heavy air of the dungeon close around them. Flickering torchlight illuminated jagged stone walls, casting shadows that danced and twisted, and the faint smell of decay hung in the air. The atmosphere felt different this time—more intense, as though the dungeon itself sensed their purpose and intended to test them.

“Let’s stick close,” Kai murmured, shield already in hand. “We’re not just fighting for ourselves today.”

Arin nodded, his gaze sharp. “We’re bringing something back for Leo, no matter what.”

They hadn’t walked far before the sound of scraping and shuffling grew louder, and goblins emerged from the shadows. These weren’t the slow, clumsy goblins they had encountered before; these moved faster, more coordinated, darting toward them from every angle with an unsettling agility.

Arin quickly swapped Enhanced Reflexes for Howl, letting out a fierce roar that made his muscles surge with newfound strength and speed. Together, he and Kai moved as a synchronized unit, fending off the goblins with skill and efficiency.

Kai’s Shield Mold proved invaluable, allowing him to shape his shield into curved walls and protective barriers that corralled the goblins, making them easier targets. Each time a goblin fell, it dissolved into mist, leaving behind a small, pulsing crystal. Arin and Kai collected them, the growing weight in their bags a comforting reminder that they were making progress.

They cleared several rooms, their coordination sharpening with each encounter. The thrill of combat fueled them, but the thought of helping Leo pushed them onward.

After passing through several winding corridors, an eerie silence settled over the dungeon. They reached a large chamber, empty but for a single figure at its center—a goblin, but not like the others. This one wore a tattered hood, its eyes gleaming with a sinister intelligence. Several knives floated around it, spinning in a slow, menacing orbit. It was another Goblin Blademaster, like the one they had encountered in a previous dungeon.

Arin smirked, ready for the challenge, but Kai looked wary. “Another one? We got lucky with the drops last time, but there’s no guarantee…”

Arin nodded. “I know, but we’re here for a reason. Let’s take this one down and see what we find.”

They moved in, their strategy already honed. The goblin launched its knives with deadly precision, each one aimed for vital points. But Kai’s Shield Mold held strong, adapting to each strike as Arin advanced. His Howl-enhanced speed allowed him to sidestep and dodge with ease, landing precise strikes that chipped away at the creature’s defenses.

Finally, after a tense exchange, Arin saw his opening. He leaped forward, plunging his blade upward through the goblin’s chin and into its skull. The creature froze, its eyes widening before it dissolved into dark mist.

As the mist cleared, they saw two shimmering objects on the floor where the Blademaster had fallen: a skill book and an ability book, along with a larger crystal than they had ever seen before.

Arin and Kai stared in shock.

“No way,” Kai whispered, crouching to examine the drops. “Two books from the same monster? That’s practically unheard of!”

Arin picked up the ability book, feeling its weight in his hand. Unlike the usual skill books they’d encountered, this one glowed faintly, the cover marked with an unfamiliar sigil. Neither book had any description; their contents were wrapped in mystery, waiting for someone to activate them.

“We did it,” Arin murmured, excitement swelling in his chest. “Leo’s going to have a shot.”

Later that day, they returned to the Association to trade in their crystals for money. As they placed their loot on the counter, the clerk’s eyes widened when she saw the books.

“A skill book and an ability book? Both from the same dungeon run?” She shook her head in astonishment. “Ability books are incredibly rare; most awakeners go their entire careers without finding even one.”

Arin smiled proudly, sharing a look with Kai. “Guess we got lucky.”

The clerk returned the smile, handing them their reward. “Lucky, or talented. Either way, you’ve got something truly special here.”

That evening, back at their apartment complex, Arin’s excitement grew as he entered his room, eager to tell Leo. But as he walked in, he was surprised to see Leo already there, sitting on the edge of his bed. Leo looked up, grinning, but Arin couldn’t shake a pang of regret; he realized he should have given Leo the book right away.

“Hey, Arin!” Leo greeted. “How was the dungeon?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Arin hesitated, an idea forming. He would keep his promise, no matter what. If he couldn’t give Leo the book now, he would find another way. Kai entered, sensing the tension, and nodded as he read Arin’s expression.

“We’re going to get you that ability, Leo,” he said with a smile.

As Leo looked between his friends, a hopeful grin spread across his face. For Arin, the mission wasn’t over yet. Their journey had only just begun.

Arin and Kai watched as Leo examined the books laid before him, his face a mix of awe and hesitation. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and touched the ability book. Almost immediately, a prompt materialized before him:

“Do you wish to learn the ability contained within this book? (Warning: This book will disappear after use).”

Leo glanced up at Arin and Kai, who nodded encouragingly. Steeling himself, he accepted the prompt, and as his finger pressed down, the book in his hand began to dissolve, turning into shimmering particles that swirled around him, sinking into his skin.

The second book pulsed with an inviting glow. Leo took it in his hands, and once again, a prompt appeared:

“Do you wish to learn the skill contained within this book? (Warning: This book will disappear after use).”

Without hesitation, Leo confirmed, and the book disintegrated as the first had, imbuing him with newfound knowledge. Information flooded his mind, and he gasped as he realized what he had gained.

“It's called... ‘Sage,’” he murmured, a touch of wonder in his voice. “And this skill… ‘Basic Magic.’”

Arin grinned, sensing the depth of Leo’s excitement. “What does Sage do?”

Leo’s eyes gleamed as he tried to explain. “Sage enhances my magic control and power. It’s like I can feel the energy flowing through me, clearer than before.” He raised a hand, and a faint glow appeared around his fingertips.

“Let’s test it out tomorrow,” Kai suggested, patting Leo on the shoulder. “Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll see what you can do.”

That night, the trio exchanged stories and plans, the bond between them deepened by this new chapter in Leo's life. As they settled in, each of them looked forward to tomorrow—when the true extent of Leo’s awakened powers would be revealed.

The next day, Leo woke up early, eager to explore his new abilities. The magic he’d awakened wasn’t just a single spell—it was a skillset with five elemental branches: Simple Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Divine Magic. Each of these allowed him to control and summon the corresponding element in basic forms.

Arin and Kai joined him in the empty lot behind their apartment complex, where they often trained in private. Today, though, it was Leo’s turn to take the lead.

“Alright, show us what you’ve got!” Arin encouraged, crossing his arms with a grin.

Leo nodded, feeling both excited and slightly nervous. He extended his hand, focusing on the warmth building in his palm. Simple Fire came first—a small flame flickered into existence, dancing above his hand. The fire wasn’t overwhelming, but it was enough to feel the heat and see the glow.

“Not bad,” Kai said with a nod. “Let’s see another one.”

Leo concentrated again, shifting to Simple Water. A small sphere of water appeared, floating just above his palm. He shaped it, making it swirl in midair before letting it splash onto the ground. Next came Simple Wind, where a light breeze formed, ruffling his clothes and causing nearby dust to swirl. Then Simple Earth—a few rocks lifted off the ground, hovering before him. Finally, he attempted Simple Divine Magic, and a faint, gentle light formed in his hand, giving off a sense of calm and restoration.

Arin watched in awe, impressed by the variety. “This is amazing, Leo! You’ve got a whole arsenal at your fingertips.”

“And the best part,” Leo added, “is that with Sage, I feel like I have full control over each element. I can tell that, with practice, I’ll be able to make these spells a lot stronger.”

Kai smirked. “Looks like you’re going to be a powerhouse soon.”

As they continued practicing, Leo experimented with combining elements, seeing how fire and wind could create a small, controlled blaze, or how water and earth could form a slick, muddy surface. The possibilities were endless, and it was clear that with time, Leo could develop his skills even further.

The trio spent hours training together, each one more determined than ever to master their powers and grow stronger.

The following day, Leo eagerly returned to training, intent on mastering the fundamentals of his Basic Magic. With each movement, he focused on honing his control over the elements. He began with Simple Fire, finding it the most instinctive to manipulate. Small sparks danced at his fingertips as he experimented, feeling the flickering warmth as he visualized the flames taking shape.

After hours of trial and error, Leo finally succeeded. He gathered his focus, pulling the energy together, and launched a small fireball across the training area. It arced through the air and landed with a satisfying burst of flame. A rush of accomplishment filled him, and he immediately opened his status screen to see if his progress had been recognized.

Sure enough, a new skill had appeared beside his Basic Magic: Fireball, with its mastery marked at Level One. Leo couldn’t help but grin. This was the first step, a tangible sign of growth that made the potential of his powers even more real.

Over the next few days, Leo trained rigorously with Arin and Kai, pushing himself to explore the limits of his newfound abilities. His confidence grew with each skill he mastered, and he felt ready to face the dangers of a dungeon.

With fire, he had perfected his Fireball technique, capable of launching flames accurately and with control. For water, he discovered a versatile skill, Water Blade, which allowed him to form a blade of water. With a bit of focus, he could either wield it as a weapon or launch it forward like a projectile.

His wind training introduced him to Air Slash—a precise arc of cutting air that could slice through targets at a distance. Earth came with its own unique challenge, but he soon learned Rock Throw, a skill where he gathered mana into solid stone and propelled it forcefully toward his target.

Divine magic, however, proved trickier to understand. After repeated attempts, he finally unlocked Basic Heal, a skill that allowed him to channel restorative energy, mending minor wounds and restoring vitality. This new skill left him with a feeling of peace and calm, and though he had yet to understand all of divine magic’s potential, Basic Heal was an invaluable asset.

Feeling ready and supported by his friends, Leo looked forward to testing his skills in a real dungeon, eager to see how his magic would fare against the creatures lurking within.

After days of dedicated training alongside Kai and Arin, Leo felt prepared to join them in a dungeon. His Basic Magic skill had evolved considerably, especially with his Sage ability enhancing his control and efficiency. He had gained a selection of elemental skills:

* Fire: He mastered Fireball, hurling fiery projectiles with precision.

* Water: He developed a skill called Water Blade, which could be used either as a blade or sent forward as a slicing projectile.

* Wind: He acquired Air Slash, allowing him to cut through targets from a distance with sharp gusts of wind.

* Earth: He learned Rock Throw, a technique that let him create a mana-infused rock to launch at targets.

* Divine Magic: This had proven challenging, but with persistence, Leo learned Basic Heal, enabling him to mend minor injuries.

Thanks to Sage, Leo could use these skills without exhausting himself as quickly. His refined control allowed him to channel his power more effectively, using less energy for the same skill output.

With newfound confidence, Leo was ready to put his abilities to the test in a real dungeon, eager to contribute to the team’s success and explore what other potential his magic held.