Date: 7th October 2822,
Location: Residential Area, Commoner's Realm, The Empire of Wisdom
Time: 8:45 AM
Kalkin's House:
Kalkin's POV:
Someone turn off this alarm, I want to sleep some more!
Wake up, Kalkin, it's time, wake up!!"
"Ya, ya, give me some more time," I said while trying to pull my pillow closer.
"Hey, wake up! it's already, way past the original alarm you set up yesterday, and you will be late, you would already have 5 delays this month if not for Mr. Smith your boss, your job would already be over." my wife Aadya said realizing it's an everyday thing.
" Ya, ya, I am awake now but don't you know why he is so good to me, it's because I am the star employee," I said smiling trying to look cool, and pulling my wife closer.
My wife looked at me, not believing a single word, she said, "get ready fast, I won't be giving you a ride today to work, as I need to assist the doctor with an operation today, so I am leaving now, get ready fast, I have made the breakfast and it's on the dining table. ", as she broke out from my arms kissing me on my forehead and hurriedly picking up her purse and keys and waving me goodbye and saying "but I will pick you up after your work today" as she winked and left the room and the apartment.
She is always in a hurry, I smiled, just six months before we got married but we have been practically living together for years now. We both were orphans and we ran away from the Darkheart Kingdom as Kingdoms are not very kind to orphans cause of their Bloodline Supremacy policies. I wonder what Madam Kali is doing now, she assisted us and some other orphans to escape from the Kingdom but was betrayed by one of her colleagues, however, it was due to her efforts only that we both were able to escape but she got caught by the royal guards on the process. She only recommended we go to Mr. Smith as he was once her party member until she retired from being the hunter/adventurer and decided to join the rebel army in an effort to take a stand against the corruption and hierarchy of the DarkHeart Kingdom. Still, after years of that event I couldn't get hold of her or her whereabouts, some say she was killed in the prison, others say she died while trying to assist but none say that she ever escaped. Even Mr. Smith her old friend and the used to be a scout of the adventurer group hasn't received any information about her in years. And Mr. Smith, we both are secretly working to find some information about her.
" Ah! Man, look at the time now, it's almost 9 AM, now, well, I'll think about all the serious stuff later, I first need to reach the portal location, it's on the outskirts of the badlands, opposite the commoner's realm. So, first things first, I'll just open my maps. I picked up my index, it's a device we adventurers use, it's like a 2022's style smartwatch(ya, I mean most of the technological advances stopped after the emergence of magic and superpowers, and technology now, is mostly used to assist magical advancements, learned during my training days) but comparatively bigger, and embued with various magic stuff and technology since we Commoners cannot use magic, we are only given a "commoner" version of this index, it contains maps, some basic spells which need to be bought beforehand and stored in the index gallery, and other usual features of a watch. the basic spells included are some strength & speed enhancing spells for a small duration, and other common spells based on the job profile of the adventurer. Since I am a member of the extraction staff, so my spells are very limited in range. Anyways, so I'll just open the maps.
( A Hologram comes out of the index as Kalkin clicked on the Maps symbol in his index, it shows currently his location with a search bar on top and the current location symbol on the bottom corner, the option to also view the maps or as a globe is also there and some other options as well)
Ya, so I'll just enter the coordinates sent to me by the staff in yesterday's mail and press the search option,
Ok, So, its 2 hrs journey, via public transport, and I need to report and just look over at mineral extraction today, ok so, I'll be free around 5, Aadya's work will be over around 6:30, and she'll pick me up around 7 from the station perfect.
Technically, I should reach the place around 10 AM, but Mr. Smith will handle all that, so I don't worry much.
Yup, so everything is perfect, so I just need to be ready now. Maybe, I'll skip the bath, today, I'm already late so I'll just take a real quick bath.
...........................
Time: 12:05 PM
Location: Outskirts Badlands, Dawn Corps. Delta Team's portable base, The Empire of Wisdom
Mr. Smith's POV:
"This idiot of an adult, Kalkin, is late again, I mean I don't understand how hard it is to just report on time for once!"
If Kali would see him today, she would kill him with her own hands, she was so strict and punctual, I mean even our Captain Sir Jack was scared to be late while she was a part of our Group. I just miss those days, I mean when Kalkin and Aadya came to me with a letter written by kali herself, I couldn't believe it, at first I thought he was her child but now when I see him, I know he cannot be, he is just her opposite, so laid back and never on time. Those kids are now all grown up and even married, and I am still single! does it even makes any sense my God, oh! you stupid, God of Mischief, its because of you only that I am still single, every time, every time I try to be in a relationship with someone, you have to play your tricks right, Oye, I am speaking to you!, Oye you foolish God of Mischief!
"Hey, don't shout I can hear you, you stupid follower, I told you when I lent you my powers that the after-effect is that I can gain control of your body for some time whenever I like!
" But does it have to be always on when I am on a date with someone"
"Ya, it's funny that way you know"
I was about to say something when I heard someone knocking on my office door, it was none other than Kalkin.
" Look, who finally decided to show up today, just 2 hr and 5 minutes late! care to explain yourself?"
" Sorry, Mr. Smith, you know that my alarm failed, and even Aadya didn't wake me up on time you know!" Kalkin tried to explain himself.
"Ya, she called me before and I only told her not to wake you up, you need to start taking your responsibilities a little more seriously Kalkin, I won't be able to save your ass every time, and I am not just talking about your job only"
" I know that, and I am serious about our mission you know, but like I am just not a member of extraction staff/miner you know, Mr. Smith, I am more of a frontline killer machine! "
" Kalkin, remember, one thing, first of all, you are not a killer machine, you are an idiot, Secondly, you are not just a miner, you are more of a survival trainee which is the most necessary skill for you who do not have any God's blessing, Champions and emblem holders can survive even in the harshest of situations thanks to the blessing, however, you on the other hand, need to gain the necessary knowledge to survive if you even in your dreams want to think of going into the dungeons as a frontline. Do you know, why adventurers with no blessings die the most even though they are not allowed to fight in the front lines? It's because they lack the necessary skills and knowledge of a miner. Tell me what the different types of stones and minerals found in the dungeons are and how can they be used"
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"You are not serious right now, right? I mean that's basic knowledge that I had to cram for the hunter's examinations! said Kalkin not believing me!
" Ya, I am and if you won't I am not gonna save your ass for being late today!"
"Ok, So just by answering your simple question, I am done right ?" asked Kalkin, I could see him a little excited now!
"Yup, you will be"
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Kalkin's POV:
"So, here I begin Mr. Smith :
Many types of stones can be found in dungeons. They can be broadly categorized as Common stones, Dungeon Specific stones, and Unique stones based on their occurrence and availability.
The Common Stones: these stones can be particularly mined out from any dungeon, some are even available on our earth itself like diamonds, pearls, rubies, etc. The sub-categories within the common stones are :
1. Normal stones: These are stones and metals that can be found on earth too but are quite abundant in dungeons like diamonds, pearls, etc. They do not possess any specific effects other than the fact that they are commonly used for making pieces of jewelry.
2. Mana stones: Typically, purple but can vary based on the amount of mana they contain, can be used to make mage's wands, or can be used to store/extract mana. Mana is present everywhere, however, it's not very concentrated. These mana stones can be found in dungeons, they are present even more inner than the Normal stones and need to be mined using special drill machines. The monsters that are hunted contain the mana cores which are extremely concentrated forms of mana, even we humans also contain mana inside us but when we die the mana disperses from our body, unlike the monsters in the dungeons. This field is an active area of research. We cannot directly consume these mana stones, as it contains impurities and secondly it's also quite condensed mana which taken directly can be harmful to our veins. Thus, it's extremely necessary for a researcher to properly analyze the condensation and purity percentage of these mana stones as then only can they be subjected to various purification and industrial processes. Today, mana stones are utilized in lots of industries as power sources.
Now, the 2nd Category is Dungeon specific stones: As the name suggests, these stones are particular to the dungeon they are found like ether stones or dracores( called so as they are found specifically in a dragon's lair, and resemble a lot to a dragon's mana core. The stone contains healing properties so lots of stones are crushed and ground together into a fine powder and sold. They are a fundamental part of healing potions and even beauty creams.)
Some other stones are also found but have either limited usage or are used in very specific industrial processes or research.
The 3rd and most important Category is Unique stones: As the name suggests these stones are very rare. This includes adamantite (the world's strongest metal), sorcerer's stone, etc. The location of these stones cannot be predicted, they can be found randomly in any dungeon. the quantity is also very limited. There are several individual stones in this category and each is unique in its sense. For example, admantite can be used to make indestructible swords, however, only a few swords used by the highest of the highest level Champions are ever made. It's simply impossible to wield this metal to make it into a sword or any weapon. However, in the dungeons only, next to the ore of the Unique stone, one often finds weapons, instruments, and armor made of those stones, so as of right now, maybe the humans are not able to make such weapons of unique stones but it is possible to use them. It can also be seen as other civilizations being more advanced than humans that were able to mold and create stuff from stones that humans cannot, so there are also various theories regarding the dungeons but with no proof. But, these stones are a definite clue and so, much-advanced research is being conducted on these stones to gain information like how old are the stones, how were they made, their composition, etc but it's still a long road ahead.
So, here you go Mr. Smith, I have answered the question, see ya later!", I said finally taking a deep breath after my monologue.
" Hmm, it's good for a newbie researcher like you. Ok, you can go now, and observe the extraction process of mana stones, since Aadya requested to let you off without any penalty today, I am forgiving you, starting tomorrow you are going to assist me in the dungeon on the other side of the portal, you can leave, now!" said Mr. Smith as he waved me to leave.
"Thanks, for today Mr. Smith!"
I came out of his room, and finally, I can now go and sleep while observing that boring extraction process.
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Time: 5:10 PM
Location; Outskirts Badlands, Dawn Corps. Delta Team's portable base, The Empire of Wisdom
Kalkin's Pov :
Finally, I can leave for today, woohoo, another boring day is finally over!
"Hey, if isn't the guard dog of the deltas, Hey Kalkin!, we both started at the same time going into the portal but you are still a commoner while I was chosen by Sir Paul himself, he made me a follower while you'll always remain a commoner! I feel pity for you, brother" said none other than Ranvijay Singh. This guy knows how to get on my nerves.
"I was never in competition with you, Ranvijay, I am a miner, and you were recruited to fight, given your nuts size brain", I said while trying to not get involved with him.
"Hey, what do you mean by that, you took the same course as me, back during the training days, and I couldn't beat you back then, now I am far ahead than you will ever be," said Ranvijay trying to provoke me.
It's true though back then I was actually training in secret to become a front liner because Mr. Smith enrolled me as a research trainee, with the help of his connections I cannot let Ranvijay ever know this.
" I was a miner trainee, while you were a frontline trainee, so you need to get at least an emblem otherwise you will be in extreme danger in the dungeon while I don't need one to become a miner. Secondly, it was just one survival training course that we had together, rest we both had totally different courses and classes and I won cause of the knowledge of various minerals, materials, and things found in the dungeon thanks to my miner training so I easily passed the survival training course while you were just a new trainee back then and look, still, we both graduated at the same time, so you won technically, Now if you'll excuse me, I am leaving"
"Ya, I am definitely great but I couldn't beat you back then but this time I will, since I am a part of Sir Paul's team for an expedition in the portal tomorrow, don't worry I'll keep you safe until I beat you," he said proudly.
" I definitely feel good hearing that, so let's meet tomorrow", Luckily, I was way past him by the time he finished speaking, I actually didn't know he will be in the frontline team tomorrow! when will I get an opportunity, God's choose me as your Champion once and I won't let you down. If that idiot can be a frontline, I can be one too! and I will become one.
Anyways, I need to hurry, I don't want to be late!
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