The golden morning light settled over the clearing behind the cabin as Robin scampered off toward the porch, his wooden sword tucked under his arm and his spirits higher than they had ever been.
Arthur stood up from his kneel, dusting the dirt from his trousers. He turned toward the porch, where Martha was waiting with a steamy mug of herbal tea. The soft breeze blew a strand of grey-streaked hair across her face, but the gentle, radiant smile she wore remained unbothered.
"He believes in you, Arthur," Martha said softly as he stepped up to the wooden deck. She handed him the mug, her fingers brushing against his. "And... so do I."
"I meant every word," Arthur said, taking a warm sip. The earthy tea soothed his throat. "I'm not leaving this hearth."
Martha’s eyes softened, a faint flush touching her cheeks before she turned her attention to his gear hanging by the doorway. "Your armguards are worn, and your coat has a tear from that ravine brush. Let me mend them while you rest your arms."
"Thank you, Martha."
Leaving Martha to her sewing and Robin to his chores, Arthur walked around to the side of the cabin where the shadow of the tall pines provided cool shade. He set his mug down on a flat stump and closed his eyes, drawing his focus inward.
StatusNameArthurLevel16 (EXP: 120 / 1,500)ClassMagic Swordsman(Class PassivesDual Channeling, Mana-Muscle Conversion)Title{Wandering Transmigator}HP1,320/1,320MP650/650AttributeBaseStrength62Agility55Vitality55Intelligence43Mana AffinityFire / Physical AugmentationUnique Skill[Ancestral Synergy: Lv 1] (Angel's Blessing)Skills[Fire Magic: Lv 2], [Body Reinforcement: Lv 1], [Mana Barrier: Lv 1], [Flame Blade: Lv 1], [Haste: Lv 1], [Iron Recovery: Lv 1]Unallocated points: 0
Arthur inspected the numbers carefully. The hard-earned level had brought his vitality and pool capacity to prime condition, but looking at [Body Reinforcement: Lv 1], he knew his physical conditioning needed serious refinement if he intended to push for higher-tier contracts. Get faster updates on novelping.com.
He raised his right arm, opening his palm.
“Let's check the stability,” Arthur thought.
He triggered [Body Reinforcement: Lv 1]. A blue-gold pulse of compressed mana surged through his forearm, tightening the muscle fibers and density of his grip. Simultaneously, utilizing his class passive [Dual Channeling], he ignited a small, controlled ember of thermal mana in his open palm with [Fire Magic: Lv 2].
The flame flickered steadily without destabilizing his physical buff. The synchronization between his physical reinforcement and elemental channeling was becoming second nature, though the mana drain required continuous concentration.
He deactivated both skills with a calm exhale, feeling the faint residual warmth leave his skin. Toggling [Iron Recovery: Lv 1] ON for a brief thirty seconds, he watched as a tiny trickle of baseline stamina flushed the minor muscular tension from his forearm before toggling it back OFF to conserve energy.
With 60 silver coins in his pouch from the viper venom and stalker hide haul, his gear being mended by Martha, and his Level 16 status locked in, Arthur turned his eyes back toward the dirt road leading into town.
It was time to head back to the Adventurers' Guild, meet with Elena, and officially review the requirements for the D-Rank Advancement Trial.