The chill of the morning still clung to the air as they finished their meager breakfast, the warmth of the previous night's fire a fading memory. Before the sun had fully cleared the horizon, Robert tasked Anya with dismantling the camp. "Leave no trace," he instructed, his voice firm but not unkind. "A ranger must move through the world as a whisper, not a shout." He watched as she meticulously erased their presence, scattering the ashes of the fire, restoring the ground where their bedrolls had lain, ensuring no stray piece of cord or other sign betrayed their passing.
Once the campsite was returned to its pristine state, they began the day's true work: spellcasting. Robert knew this would be the most challenging part for Anya. Her mana reserves were still quite limited, like a shallow well compared to the deep aquifer of a seasoned mage. And while mana potions existed to replenish one's reserves, Robert considered them a crutch, something to be avoided, especially at this stage of her training. He believed that true strength came from pushing one's own limits, from learning to manage and respect one's inner resources. So, he offered no potions, no shortcuts. Anya would have to learn to work within her current limitations, to feel the strain and understand the cost of each spell she cast. Only then would she truly appreciate the power she was learning to wield.
The rest of the day was a blur of focused effort. Anya threw herself into mastering each spell, casting them over and over until her magic felt raw and her limbs ached. Then came the agonizing wait for her mana to replenish, a slow, crawling feeling in her veins. She filled those empty moments by searching the woods around us for any sign of movement, or sending arrows thudding into the target Robert had set up, the rhythmic thwack a counterpoint to her simmering impatience. By the time the sun began to dip below the trees, she'd gotten the hang of the three spells, a small thrill of accomplishment warming her despite the exhaustion. There was no time to try the fourth, but Robert reassured her it was okay, that she'd made incredible progress.
The Inn buzzed with a celebratory atmosphere, but beneath it, a current of anticipation thrummed. Tomorrow's objective hung heavy in the air: Anya's ascension to level 10 and the unveiling of her first class. Sleep offered little respite, haunted by visions of power and the unknown. Dawn found them at the dungeon's entrance once more, a silent vow passing between them. Anya delved into the depths, each encounter a step closer to her destiny. Finally, amidst the echoes of battle, Anya called out "I just hit Level 10." Robert congratulated her and they headed out of the dungeon. The journey back to town was fueled by a desperate impatience, the promise of transformation awaiting them.
A wave of warmth washed over Anya as they stepped into her home. Her parents were waiting, their faces etched with a mixture of pride and apprehension. Robert caught their eyes and offered a reassuring smile. "It's time," he said, his voice gentle. "She's hit level 10. Let's see what she's made of, shall we?" Anya's heart hammered in her chest as they settled in the living room. The silence felt heavy, expectant. "Robert," She whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "Do you... do you really think I'm ready?" He smiled, a comforting hand on her arm. "You are, Anya. More than ready. Just focus on the Ranger classes, sort through them, and when you find the one that feels right, you'll know." Anya nodded, took a deep breath, and began. The minutes stretched on, each one an eternity, until finally, a smile bloomed her my face. "I got it," I breathed, relief and excitement flooding through her.
Verdant Warden(E)
The Verdant Warden is a protector of the untamed wilderness, a warrior who has forged an unbreakable bond with the natural world. They are a master of the bow, capable of unleashing a hail of deadly arrows with unparalleled precision. But their true power lies in their command over the very essence of the forest. Roots rise from the earth to bind their enemies, thorns erupt in a whirlwind of nature's fury, and the whispers of the ancient trees guide their path. They can vanish into the foliage, move with impossible speed through the undergrowth, and mend their wounds with the lifeblood of the forest itself. The Verdant Warden is a walking arsenal of nature's might, a guardian of the wild, and a terror to those who threaten the balance of the natural world.
+2 Dex
+1 Str/Con/Wis
+2 Free
Ability: Heart of the Forest(Passive): Regenerates health and mana faster while in natural environments.
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We crowded around the window, mesmerized by the glowing script detailing Anya's new class. "Epic," Orin exclaimed, his voice a mixture of pride and disbelief. "My baby girl has an Epic class!" A hint of melancholy touched Robert's features. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low. "If only we'd had more time... perhaps Legendary was within reach." Orin stared at him, then a broad grin split his face. He clapped Robert on the back, hard enough to make him stagger. "My friend," he boomed, "you've worked a miracle! Epic? My wife and I are just Uncommon! We dared to hope for Rare for Anya, maybe, with a lot of hard work. But this... this changes everything. You don't see anything higher than Rare in this town. You've given our daughter the chance at a life we never could have imagined. We owe you everything."
Robert nodded, accepting Orin's gratitude with a small, self-deprecating smile. "Alright," he said, turning his attention back to Anya. "Take a few days to really understand your class. Read everything you can about it. Elara and I will be busy settling into our new home and getting that set up. I also need to start looking for a shop. After that, we'll run White Stone Dungeon a few more times, then move on to Twin Falls until you hit level 20. Then it's time to register you with the Adventurer's Guild. I'll also start putting out feelers for a good, low-level team for you to join," he added, glancing at the guild's direction. "I'll see what they have available."
Elara frowned, a confused look on her face. "A low-level team? What do you mean?" Robert smiled patiently. "You won't be able to grow effectively if you're always with me, Elara. The level difference is just too great. You need to be challenged by people closer to your own level, to learn and grow alongside them. Think of it like this," he added, seeing her still-uncertain expression, "I can teach you the fundamentals, but you'll truly master your skills through your own battles, your own experiences with a team that relies on you as much as you rely on them. Trust me on this."
Anya nodded slowly, processing his words. "That makes sense," she conceded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You need to grow too, and you can't exactly do that if you're stuck running low-level dungeons with us." She turned to him, her voice filled with gratitude. "Robert, thank you. You helped me achieve my dream, and it turned out even better than I ever imagined." Robert smiled warmly. "You did the hard work, Anya. You earned every bit of it. I just nudged you in the right direction. Now go spend some time with your family." He turned to Elara. "Come on, Elara, let's go check out that house the city recommended. If we like it it's going to be your home too." Elara gave Anya a quick, hug. "See you soon," she whispered. Robert clasped Orin's hand in a firm handshake. Then, they were gone, leaving Anya to the warmth of her family's embrace.
On their way out, Robert took Elara to see the house he'd been offered. As she looked around, a smile spread across her face. "It's perfect," she agreed. The house was a charming two-story home. Upstairs were three bedrooms, while the first floor boasted a cozy sitting room, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. There was a basement, too, though it was mostly for storage, along with a handy cold room. While not overly spacious, it was more than enough for the two of them, with room to spare for Anya when she came to train. Robert admitted it would have been ideal to have an extra room he could use as a study or workspace. However, they both knew that finding a home like this, in a quiet town like Oakhaven, was likely a rare find.
Since it was still relatively early, they decided to head over to the town hall to finalize the purchase of the house. They made their way to the appropriate office, where Robert filled out the necessary paperwork and paid the 45 gold pieces for the home, along with the single gold piece for the annual property tax. With that important task completed, they turned their attention to furnishing their new home. Fortunately, Oakhaven boasted a skilled carpenter with a shop full of handcrafted furniture. They eagerly placed an order for three bedroom suites. Robert also selected a handsome dining table with matching chairs, and for the living room, two comfortable sofas and a pair of elegant armchairs. Having already amassed a well-stocked kitchen, Robert began transferring supplies from his seemingly endless inventory into their new kitchen cupboards. He carefully organized his considerable stores of food and other staples in the cool, dark confines of the cold room, ensuring they would be well-preserved.
With their earlier tasks completed and time still on their side, they decided to investigate the storefront that had been offered to Robert. It was a cozy, well-maintained space, featuring a modest sales floor at the front and a practical storage room at the rear. The true gem, however, was upstairs: a spacious room that seemed tailor-made for crafting. Robert was instantly smitten. He returned to the town hall without delay, eager to make the building his own. After parting with 80 gold pieces, plus 5 gold for the first year's taxes, the shop was officially his. He hurried home, excited to share the news with Elara, and then set about preparing dinner. Once they had finished their meal, Robert made his way back to the Inn. He needed to let Orin know that their new home was ready, and they would be moving on.