Alex followed behind Kai and Rich. Behind him were Taylor and Eric. Together they had returned to their regular schedule of hunting monsters and trying to prepare for the next floor of the Tower.

Little was known to them about the next floor. Other than what they had seen from the Tower incursion the adventurers who had gone ahead to floor 2 were quiet about its features. Soon they would have to get to the next floor regardless of the level of monster they encountered. Fewer and fewer of them were level 14 and almost no monster they found was level 15. Like Taylor had told Alex before they hoped to get at least one of them up to level 15 before the attempted the challenge of the next floor.

Alex checked his XP bar. Level: 13 (73%) He knew it would take a while longer to get to level 14 because he could not effectively use his magic to fight it limited his damage output and XP in turn. He understood that reaching level 14 would be a time-consuming task, especially given his current inability to effectively wield his magical powers in combat. This limited his damage output and, consequently, the rate at which he gained experience points.

They continued their hike searching for the destination. Rich had claimed a few bounties for the team to do during their hunt. The members of the Golden Doves, their guild, alternated between gathering necessary materials and completing objectives. Rich hoped that their efforts during this foray would yield some of the items required to fulfill the bounties. In exchange, they would be awarded Tower Points and Guild Points.

Guild Points, in particular, held a certain allure as they could be redeemed for items obtained or crafted by fellow guild members. It contained crafted armor, weapons, potions, and enchanted trinkets. Some of the most popular enchanted and magical items were those that replicated the functions of items on Earth. When travelling or camping heated and clean water was needed or at least readily wanted. It functioned as a members-only marketplace, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual support among the group. As members put in items and resources they could take out what they had earned. Rich had set his sights on one of the higher-tier rewards available through this exclusive system.

Several seasoned adventurers, including Cedric and a handful of other high-level guild members, had already ventured to the second floor and returned. Upon their return, they created an information guide detailing the process of accessing the next floor. The guide was available for purchase by guild members, providing a valuable resource to those who sought to follow in their footsteps.

They fought against mutated eagles and other birds perched high in the mountains. Their feathers are prized as a great crafting resource for archer’s arrows and as ingredients for specialized potions. They spent most of their morning searching for the nesting grounds and spotting the bird’s travel paths.

Rich cleaved through the nearest eagle. He kept his shield up to protect against their talons. Taylor in the meantime used rapidly growing flowers to ensnare the eagles and keep them trapped near the ground. The eagles struggled and fought back but Kai’s high-powered beam of water cut through their defenses quickly.

Alex stayed near Eric, and they tag-teamed some of the eagles that were tied to the ground. Eric’s body moved quickly in a flash as he darted closer and used his reach to avoid the attacks from the monsters. Alex more carefully watched the bird’s movements and used his practiced techniques to score hits until they were down.

He let his magic fall behind because he was rarely close enough to do damage using it when he could be using his dagger instead. Alex kept control of the few sparks around himself and continued to test the distance they could go from his hands. He had to be careful because if they went out it was harder and harder for him to summon the sparks each time. Since he had first started Alex had watched his control of his sparks grow a little bit each day. From just beyond his fingertips the distance had grown to a full arm's length past his arms. When they went past that limit the magic holding the sparks together fell apart and dissipated in the air.

“I did it!” shouted Rich. “Finally. Level 15 let’s go! And a new ability as well.”

“Congrats,” said Eric. He patted Rich on the back. “What did you get?”

“A major change to my main power. I can now go berserk for longer and set aside the side affects for longer. I can also now empower my downward strikes with more force than should be normal.”

“I want to see that next time we spar together. You are becoming a real beast,” said Eric.

The group continued to trek through the dense forest, their eyes peeled for any monsters that could give them the precious experience points and the bounty they needed. As the sun began to dip lower and lower, the party decided to take a break by a small stream.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Alex sat down, leaning against a tree trunk, and couldn't help but overhear Rich and Eric discussing their future plans. He knew this was the perfect opportunity to bring up the topic of lightning magic training courses he'd been eyeing.

"Hey, Rich," Alex began hesitantly, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Rich glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "What's up, Alex?"

"Well, I've been thinking about my magic, and I have looked through the Gavros’s training courses for lightning magic," Alex explained, his voice filled with excitement. "I think they could really help me become more effective in our battles, especially as we move on to the second floor. You see I need to be able to do more damage and have more options at ranged and I can do that with the courses."

Rich frowned, considering the suggestion for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't think that's a good idea right now, Alex. We're trying to gather resources to buy new armor and gear for the team. That's our priority. We have other things planned for what we need to take on the final first-floor challenge."

"But Rich, I'm barely able to contribute to our fights," Alex argued, frustration evident in his voice. "If I could learn to control my magic better, I could be a real asset to the team."

Kai, who had been listening silently, chimed in. "Alex has a point, Rich. His magic could be a game-changer if he can learn to control it."

Rich sighed, rubbing his temples. "I understand, but we just can't afford it right now. We need to focus on getting everyone geared up for the second floor. The challenges there are going to be far more dangerous than anything we've faced so far. We can get you the training then if you want. It will be even better than if you take a course in the city."

Alex felt his frustration growing. "I know that, but I can't help but feel like I'm holding the team back. If I could just get some proper training, I could be so much more effective. I’ve tried talking to the other mages in the Golden Doves, but they have either not helped me or haven’t found a way to help me. They have just told me to keep practicing or to just go to the experts in the Mage Guild. And that is what I am hoping to do before we get to the second floor."

Rich looked at him sympathetically but remained firm in his decision. "I'm sorry, Alex, but we just can't spare the resources for that right now. We need to focus on preparing for the second floor as a team. We are tight on points right now and can’t afford it. I have a timeline set for entering the second floor and I don’t want to delay it further. Already over a third of the guild has or will move on to the second floor by the end of the week. That doesn’t even include people from other guilds or crazy soloists that have already gotten there. I don’t want to fall behind. I don’t want us to fall behind. Mage training is not a priority right now."

The conversation drew the attention of the rest of the group. Taylor, who had been quietly sitting on a log, spoke up. "You know, Rich, I think Alex has a point. We all need to be at our best if we're going to conquer the Tower."

Kai nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and if Alex's magic can become a valuable asset, maybe it's worth the investment."

“Will be a waste of an investment if he gets himself killed on the second floor,” said Eric.

Rich clenched his fists, clearly growing annoyed at the questioning despite his answer. "I've heard all of you, but my decision stands. We need to prioritize our resources for the entire team, not just one person. Alex's magic, while useful, isn't the key to our success. Once we get to the second floor our daily average Tower Points will shoot up. Then we will be able to afford the training and whatever else we want to upgrade at that point."

Alex felt his heart sink, but he couldn't let it go without one final plea. "Rich, I know it's a lot to ask, but I believe this could make a difference. Can't we at least consider it?"

Rich's face hardened, his patience wearing thin. "No, Alex. Your magic is not the deciding factor for our success. We've managed just fine without it, and we'll continue to do so. You will stick with using your daggers to fight. The magic isn’t necessary. That's the end of this discussion."

The tension in the air was palpable as Rich's words hung heavy. Alex felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment and disappointment. He'd hoped to make a difference, to become a stronger asset for his team, but it seemed that wasn't in the cards.

The all fell silent and returned to other things while they waited to start back up on the hunting. Alex couldn't help but feel resentment bubbling inside him. He knew his magic had potential, but without proper training, it remained untapped.

The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The group, knowing they couldn't afford to waste any more time, got back on their feet, and continued their hunt. As they trekked through the forest, Alex fell to the back of the group, his thoughts consumed by the conversation. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being held back, that he could become so much more if only given the chance. He barely acknowledged the change in his system status as his XP ticked up and finally crossed the threshold into level 14.

He was unsurprised to see nothing else on his system screen change. All of his ratings were still stuck at G. Alex closed the screen down and returned to the activities of the afternoon. They had finished their hunt and were ready to head back to the city.

Alex followed behind the others, silently unhappy. He fought with his thoughts in his mind. He knew that getting to the second floor was important to all of them. If they wanted to progress in the guild they needed to be on the second floor and climbing levels. It felt like his goals were hampered and that there was nothing he could do.

He held his hand open and summoned the few sparks in his hand. Any more and he would feel sick. They moved easily through his fingers as fast or slow as he wanted them to go. It was the exact same as three weeks ago. No changes or system updates. The deepest corners of his mind offered no insight; his magic simply wasn't performing as he desired.