The early morning chill seeped into the tent, a reminder of how far north they were. Sael stirred, his eyes heavy from the lack of sleep. Despite his exhaustion, his mind refused to stay idle, tugging him toward the book he’d picked up in town. Carefully, he reached into his pack, doing his best not to disturb the others, and pulled out the aged tome.

  The book's cover glimmered faintly in the dim light filtering through the tent. Its pages were crammed with an incomprehensible jumble of runes and intricate mechanical diagrams. Sael flipped through, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of the designs.

  “What does any of this mean?” he muttered under his breath, tracing a particularly dense cluster of runes with his finger.

  As he sat there, engrossed in his struggle with the book, a soft rustling broke the silence. Lyra stirred from her bedroll, her antennae twitching as her purple eyes blinked open. She noticed the book in his lap and tilted her head curiously.

  “You’re up early,” she said, her voice low and groggy.

  Sael glanced at her, slightly startled. “Couldn’t sleep. Figured I’d try to make sense of this.” He held the book up for her to see.

  Lyra leaned closer, her eyes scanning the pages. She frowned, her expression shifting between intrigue and mild confusion. “This… makes a little more sense to me,” she admitted, “but only because I’ve studied magic longer. The runes are clearly tied to spellcraft, but these mechanical designs?” She tapped the edge of a diagram featuring a crystalline structure encased in gears. “This is beyond me.”

  Sael sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I thought maybe if I looked hard enough, something would click. But it feels like I’m missing half the equation. Maybe I need to learn more about magic to bridge the gap.”

  Lyra smiled faintly, sitting up and stretching. “That’s a good idea. The more you know, the easier it’ll be to piece things together. Why don’t we go out and hunt something small? I can help you practice a bit before breakfast.”

  Sael nodded, closing the book and tucking it back into his pack. Together, they stepped out of the tent, greeted by the crisp morning air and the faint rustle of leaves. Lyra extended a hand, casting a soft, golden light that rippled outward like a pulse.

  “Let’s start with this,” she said, her tone instructive. “This is Guiding Gleam. It’s a light-based spell that reveals the presence of nearby animals by sensing their energy.”

  Sael watched as the golden light spread across the forest floor, faint glimmers appearing in the distance.

  “Once we know where they are, I’ll use Luminous Outline.” Lyra cast another spell, sending thin streams of light that wrapped around the faint shapes of several small creatures in the underbrush. “See those? Now you’ll know where to aim.”

  Sael grinned. “You make it look easy.”

  Lyra smirked, her purple eyes flashing. “It is for me. You, however, need to work on your aim. Let’s start with earth magic. Try Boulder—it’s a basic spell, but it’s good for learning control. Just focus on gathering earth, shaping it into a projectile, and launching it.”

  Sael nodded and took a deep breath, raising a hand toward the ground. He muttered the incantation, and a small pebble wobbled into the air before shooting off wildly to the left.

  “Again,” Lyra said, crossing her arms as she watched.

  For the next hour, Sael practiced relentlessly. Pebbles zipped in every direction but the one he intended, yet he kept trying, his frustration tempered by Lyra’s occasional corrections.

  “Good effort, but your focus is too scattered,” she said after his latest miss. “Let me show you how it’s done.”

  She knelt and murmured the spell, forming a fist-sized rock from the earth. With a flick of her wrist, the rock sharpened into a jagged point before launching at high speed toward a small, horned rabbit hiding in the brush. The creature let out a brief squeal before collapsing.

  “See?” Lyra said, brushing her hands off. “It’s all about precision and intent. You’ll get there.”

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  Sael stood, panting slightly but smiling. “I guess I’ve got a long way to go, but that’s why I’m practicing.”

  System Message: Earth Magic has leveled up! [Earth Magic: Lv.3]

  Lyra grinned. “You’re getting stronger already. Let’s take this back and make breakfast. Rhea’s probably starving.”

  They carried the rabbit back to the camp and Rhea got to work, the sun rising higher as the smell of freshly cooked food soon mingled with the sounds of the waking forest.

  Rhea had taken charge, her movements efficient as she worked over the fire. "Eggs and meat this morning," she said without looking up, a small smile on her face. Sael and Lyra joined her, appreciating the quiet moment as they shared a meal together.

  Sael opened his system interface, to review the skills he had accumulated so far. The familiar glowing text appeared in his vision, detailing his progress:

  System Skills:

  [Blunt Weapon Mastery - Lv.1]: Increases proficiency with clubs, maces, and other blunt weapons. Slightly improves attack speed and impact force.

  [Basic Mana Manipulation - Lv.3]: Allows for minor spellcasting. Increases mana sensitivity and efficiency. Required for learning advanced magic. Improved precision and reduced mana cost for basic spells.

  [Journeyman Crafting - Lv.1]: Improved efficiency and quality when crafting intermediate-level items. Unlocks more advanced recipes and allows for greater customization in designs.

  [Shield Mastery - Lv.1]: Increases proficiency with shields. Slightly reduces the force of impact.

  [Creative Crafter - Unique Skill]: Your crafting seems to draw influence from another world, allowing for unique and unconventional designs beyond the standard blueprints of this realm.

  [Monster Crafting - Lv.2]: A specialized crafting skill focused on utilizing monster parts as primary materials, enhancing the functionality and adaptability of crafted gear. Increased durability and effect of crafted items.

  [Earth Magic - Lv.3]: Enhanced control over soil, stone, and terrain. Allows for larger and more precise manipulations with reduced mana cost. Improved proficiency in shaping projectiles like boulders and creating defensive barriers.

  [Shadow Magic - Lv.2]: Increased proficiency in manipulating darkness and illusions. Mana cost slightly reduced. Unlocks minor concealment effects in low light.

  [Rune Crafting - Lv.1]: Enables the creation of basic magical runes that can store, amplify, or cast spells. The complexity and potency of runes depend on crafting skill and mana control.

  Sael closed the system interface with a nod, feeling a mixture of pride and determination. Each skill reflected a step in his journey, a marker of his growth in this world.

  As they ate, a faint noise reached their ears—distant but distinct. The cries of monsters echoed from the direction of the mines. The three exchanged glances, the peaceful morning now tinged with unease.

  "Sounds like trouble," Rhea said, standing and brushing off her hands.

  Sael nodded, securing his gear. "Let’s take a look. Quietly."

  They made their way toward the mines, careful to remain unnoticed. The terrain grew more uneven, jagged rocks and sparse vegetation marking the path. Lyra took the lead, her magic already at work. She whispered the incantation for her Guiding gleam spell, a soft light radiating from her hand. The spell highlighted faint traces—footprints, claw marks, and broken branches—leading them closer to their target.

  As they approached the mine entrance, Lyra cast another spell, Luminous outline, to outline hidden shapes in the shadows. They were reptilian humanoids with sinewy, scaled bodies and elongated snouts. Their sharp claws and glowing yellow eyes gave them an eerie, predatory presence, and their jagged weapons looked like they were scavenged from wreckage. Their mottled skin seemed to shimmer unnaturally in the dim light, and their jagged weapons looked like they had been crudely fashioned from bones and metal scraps.

  Sael crouched low, preparing his Boulder spell. He shaped a fist-sized rock and launched it toward one of the creatures. It missed, skimming past the target and striking the ground nearby with a dull thud. The sound made the creatures snarl and turn in their direction.

  "Keep practicing," Lyra encouraged, her voice steady but quiet. She raised her hands, conjuring a sharpened stone with earth magic and propelling it at high speed. The projectile struck true, piercing through the chest of one of the monsters, which collapsed with a grunt.

  Rhea nocked an arrow, her movements fluid and deliberate. She aimed for one of the creatures that had begun to advance, loosing her arrow with precision. It found its mark in another monster’s throat, silencing it instantly as it crumpled to the ground.

  The remaining monsters charged, their guttural cries growing louder. Sael tried again, crafting another boulder. This time, the stone was slightly larger, and his aim improved. It struck one of the creatures in the shoulder, staggering it but not taking it down. Rhea quickly followed up with another arrow, finishing the job.

  Lyra stepped forward, her magic surging as she unleashed a series of sharpened boulders. The speed and accuracy of her attacks were impressive, each stone finding its target with devastating effect. The last of the creatures fell under her barrage, their weapons clattering uselessly to the ground.

  As the dust settled, Sael exhaled, a mix of frustration and determination etched on his face. He had made progress but still had a long way to go. Rhea and Lyra approached him, offering reassuring smiles.

  "You’re getting better," Rhea said, patting him on the shoulder.

  "It’s all about practice," Lyra added. "You’ve got potential."

  They regrouped, surveying the quieted entrance to the mines. The air was heavy with the aftermath of their skirmish, but the path ahead was clear—for now.