As their breathing steadied, Kael quietly stepped out of their room and made his way to his own. The moment he entered, he felt the weight of exhaustion settle deep in his bones.

  He carefully removed his armor and id his gear out on the wooden floor. That was when he noticed the state of his weapons.Some of his throwing axes had bent handles, their once-sturdy grips warped from repeated use. The edges of the bdes were chipped, dulled from constant impact. His main battle axes weren't much better—though they were still usable, he could see the wear starting to show.He sighed, running a hand through his red hair. "Looks like I'll need to visit Old Orm tomorrow."Orm was one of the best bcksmiths in Dragnir, a gruff, no-nonsense man who had been forging weapons for years.

  Kael had bought his current axes from him, and he knew Orm would have something to say about the state of his gear.After setting his weapons aside, Kael reached into his pouch and pulled out the small cloth bag that held his earnings from today's hunt. He opened it, letting the mid-sized blue gems spill onto his palm.Eighteen in total.His eyes widened slightly. This much already? If he had been selling them instead of saving them for magia cultivation, he could have made a decent amount of money.

  But strengthening himself came first. Gems were necessary to refine his magia flow, and while he had read about the process before, he knew it wasn't something he should attempt alone.I'll have to talk to Mesha about this.The old librarian had a vast knowledge of ancient texts and magical practices. Though Kael had studied enough books to know the basics, he needed proper guidance—someone with more experience to ensure he was doing it right.Another task for tomorrow.With that thought, the full weight of exhaustion finally crashed down on him. His muscles ached fiercely, every bruise and cut from today's battle pulsing with dull pain.

  The soreness seeped into his very bones, but he welcomed it. It was proof of his growth, of the battles he had fought and survived.Slipping into bed, he exhaled slowly, letting his body sink into the comfort of his worn mattress.Tomorrow will be another busy day. But for now… I'll sleep this pain away.With that final thought, sleep overtook him, pulling him into the depths of much-needed rest.The morning sun filtered through the small window of Kael's room, casting warm golden streaks across the wooden floor.

  He stirred awake, the soreness from yesterday's battles still lingering in his muscles. Stretching his stiff limbs, he exhaled sharply. Still sore… but better than st night.After washing up and putting on a fresh tunic, Kael headed to the dining table, where his parents and younger siblings were already seated.

  Aiden and Lyra perked up as he sat down, their faces filled with excitement."Big brother! Did you sleep well?" Lyra asked, swinging her legs under the table.Kael smirked, grabbing a loaf of bread and tearing off a piece. "Better than expected.""You didn't wake up screaming in pain?" Aiden teased, grinning.Kael narrowed his eyes pyfully. "You want me to show you real pain?" He reached out to ruffle Aiden's hair, but the boy ducked away, ughing.Their mother, Evelina, chuckled as she pced a bowl of stew in front of Kael. "Eat up. You'll need energy for whatever you have pnned today."Darius, their father, gnced at Kael while chewing on his own breakfast. "Are you heading to the dungeon again?"Kael shook his head. "Not today. I have a few things to take care of first."His father nodded. "Good. You shouldn't push yourself too hard every day. Your body needs time to adjust."Kael didn't reply but continued eating, enjoying the warmth of the meal. After finishing his breakfast, he grabbed his pouch and strapped on his light armor before bidding farewell to his family."See you ter!" Lyra waved enthusiastically.Kael simply waved back as he stepped out the door and made his way toward the city.The streets of Dragnir were already bustling with activity. Merchants shouted their prices, customers haggled over goods, and the ever-present scent of freshly baked bread from the market district filled the air. Kael navigated through the crowd, making his way toward the public library where he had worked for years.The moment he stepped inside, the familiar scent of aged parchment and ink washed over him. Feels like home, he mused, though today, he wasn't here to work.At the front desk, Victor, the old vice-librarian, was scribbling notes in a ledger. The moment he noticed Kael, he adjusted his spectacles and greeted him with a nod."Ah, you're here," Victor remarked, setting his quill down. "Didn't expect to see you quitting diving already?"Kael ughed and leaned against the desk. "You're kidding, I'm just visiting today. Is Mesha inside?"Victor hummed, flipping a page in his ledger. "She's in the Magia Studies section, going through some old books."Kael nodded in thanks and made his way toward the designated section. It didn't take long before he spotted Mesha, the elderly head librarian, hunched over a wooden table, her wrinkled hands carefully flipping through the pages of an old tome.Kael approached and cleared his throat. "Morning, Mesha."She looked up, her sharp, knowing eyes immediately scanning him from head to toe. "Hmph, so you're not dead yet. That's good."Kael chuckled. "You sound so disappointed."Mesha smirked. "Not at all. I'm just surprised you're walking without limping." She closed her book and gestured to the chair opposite her. "So? What brings you back so soon?"Kael took a seat, leaning forward slightly. "I need your advice… on Magia Cultivation."Mesha arched an eyebrow, folding her hands together. "Ah. So, you've finally decided to take the path seriously?"Kael exhaled through his nose. "I figured it's about time."Mesha studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. Tell me what you know so far."Kael recounted the knowledge he had gained from books—how magia required a strong physical foundation, the importance of absorbing magia through crystals, and the need to circute it properly to strengthen both the body and mind. Mesha listened patiently, nodding at intervals.

  Once he finished, she tapped a finger on the table. "You have the theory down, but theory alone won't get you far. The real challenge is control. If you absorb too much magia without proper body refinement, it will either damage your body or become completely useless."Kael frowned. "So how do I refine it properly?"Mesha smirked. "About that you need to train your body first to contain the magia properly."

  She reached under the table and pulled out an old leather-bound book, pcing it in front of him.

  "This is a beginner's guide to Magia Circution Techniques. Study it well before starting absorbing Gems and you'll need to begin practical exercises soon before absorbing any gems."Kael took the book, running his fingers over its worn cover. And read the title, ‘Quomodo Deus Fiori’. He didn't understand the meaning of it but thanked Mesha anyway.

  She waved him off. "Just don't get yourself killed trying something stupid."

  Kael chuckled. "No promises."

  After stopping for a few seconds he asked.

  "Umm Mesha what is the meaning of this books title?"

  "That? its in another nguage, it means.." She deliberately stopping for a moment and thinking then continued.

  "Its called 'Dragons Breath' or something."

  "Its quite me, but thanks anyway."He stood, book in hand, and gave her one st nod before heading out.Next on his list—visiting Old Orm to repair his weapons.Leaving the library, I tucked the book Mesha gave me securely into my pouch and adjusted the strap of my axe. The streets of Dragnir were still lively, merchants calling out deals while the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread lingered in the air.

  Normally, I would take my time, maybe even grab a snack, but today, I had a more pressing matter—my weapons were in bad shape.The bent handles and chipped bdes of my axes were proof of how brutal yesterday's battles had been. If I pnned to keep diving into the dungeon, I couldn't afford to wield damaged weapons. Old Orm's forge was the best pce to get them fixed.I made my way through the city's craftsman district, where the sound of metal cshing against metal rang in the air. The bcksmiths were hard at work, sweat glistening on their backs as they hammered steel into shape.At the far end of the district stood Orm's Forge, an old but sturdy workshop with bckened walls from years of constant fire and metalwork. The pce smelled of burning coal, hot iron, and oil, a scent I had grown familiar with over the years.

  Bear Paw.