Mike was currently looking at the egg at his feet with his mouth slightly agape as he stared at the description from the system on the massive egg within his grasp.
...
Phoenix Egg
This is the egg of a Phoenix, a bird of pure flame which will be reborn from the ashes once it dies of old age or other means. The egg requires high-temperature magical flames to incubate faster.
Time till hatched: 6 months
...
Seeing this Mike was excited at the prospect of having a Phoenix as a pet since it would be a great help for him when it comes to fighting. Let's be real Mike did not have any training with a sword or any weapon for that matter, so all he could rely on was his limited magical abilities which were a bit better than his weapon training. However, a legendary magical beast would be a great help to him so Mike could utilize it to help him stay safe in battle.
With that done all Mike can do is stand up and put the egg back into his inventory before considering what to do for the rest of the day. Mike wanted to speed up the incubation process but he had no access to any magical flames plus if he did there would be a few problems that he could not get rid of if the phoenix hatched. One would be feeding the baby Phoenix until it was able to find and hunt on its own as currently, it would only drain his already meager funds. Another problem would be how to explain the origin of the egg and phoenix to people. Suddenly a major question appears in Mike's head prompting him to ask the system.
"System does time stop in my inventory"
'The user's inventory cannot stop any timer given from any of the system functions. Any external timers seen shall be frozen once placed in the inventory system. Only non-living items shall be allowed into the system with the exception being certain instances or things received as rewards'
'Well that was a complicated answer' Mike thinks as he heads to the door.
Upon opening it he sees that Dike was in the doorway and about to knock on his door. There is a moment of awkward silence between the two before Dike breaks the ice.
"Michael I just wanted to let you know that I just confirmed with my supervisor and you are now officially my (first) apprentice"
"You have a supervisor?"
"Yes he is the kingdoms Grand Wizard, captain of the royal wizards, and aid of the royal family Thomas H. Grosso all we need to do is get some paperwork done at the Wizard branch today and we will be set"
"Well I guess I should personally thank him for allowing me to join if I see him"
Dike nods at this as it would be the most polite thing that should be done in his mind, they both walk downstairs with Dike asking Mike if he was understanding the cantrips that he gave Mike. They both leave the tavern after a quick meal and start to walk down the street with Dike asking a few questions to Mike to get to know each other while Mike looks around the city as they move around while Dike leads Mike around. Looking around the street everything seems normal as people enter the various stores and look at the various goods and vendors selling goods and advertising products.
As they are walking Mike gives false responses to Dike that prompted him to roll to see if Dike believed what he was saying as they walk down the street before Dike frowns slightly and moves to an alleyway nearby. Mike follows behind however cannot help but feel the sense of uneasiness pervade his body as the dice rolls once again and a number appears once more.
18
Mike sees the number appear in his mind and he suddenly realizes that both of them are being followed by two men from behind in the shadows and that there were three others on the rooftops. Those on the roof had crossbows and daggers while those behind them had rapiers and daggers already drawn. As to how Mike knew this specific information he had no idea but he just chalked it up to that it was the intuition through the die roll.
Now the problem was trying to get rid of the people following them since they outnumbered them which was not good as their weaponry was enough to take down a fully armored knight so if he were to get caught up in a fight it would be the end of him at worst. Mike moved closer to Dike before whispering to him.
"Please tell me you know that we are being followed by men that could take out a full-on knight"
"Of course I know that is why I lead them here so they can be rid of without any problems"
"Alright, so how will we take them on?"
"Not we but you"
"Wait... what?"
Dike had a spell prepare so in a bright flash of light which temporarily blinds everyone who sees it as Dike finished the spell. When the light disappears Dike is no longer there but Mike did hear him say something before he disappeared.
"This is your first trial as my apprentice so don't disappoint me"
When Dike used the spell the people following the both of them became shocked once they see that their target disappeared in a flash of light so they realize that they had to get the accomplice before he escaped now at the very least.
'Ding'
...
An encounter has triggered a mission
Mission: [Apprentice's Trial] is now available
...
Apprentice's Trial
Your master has been targeted by a group of individuals. Your master intends for you to defeat the hitmen that the individuals hired to get rid of him as his first trial to see what you can do.
Base Rewards: +300 exp and one proficiency or skill from an enemy
Possible Tasks:
[Kill ten hitmen] +500 exp and +50 favorability
[Capture the hitmen captain] +one skill from the hitmen captain and +200 Dike favorability
[Capture the five hitmen] +500 Dike favorability, +600 exp, and two skills from the hitmen captain
Failure conditions: Your master has to step in to help you or you die
...
Looking through the quest real quickly Mike cannot help but sigh at his misfortune that just befell him as he takes out his newly acquired short sword and brandishing it. The men on the rooftops above take their positions as they aim their crossbows at Mike before the two men on the ground appear and start close in on him.
"Alright kid put away that sword before you hurt yourself and just come with us," One of the men on the ground says
"Very compelling, but I have to say no to that" Mike responds
Mike conjures an Ice Blast at the two men on the ground as he also casts another spell he learned [Tremble]. Tremble causes the ground to shake violently but won't cause any harm to the target unless it were to cause some leaning rock formation to crumble and bury the enemy alive. However, it was powerful enough to make the buildings shake slightly and cause the archers with crossbows to have an unsteady aim. [Tremble] would not last that long so Mike runs towards the two men who he hit with an ice blast so that they can act as a sort of meat shield for him and also as a way to take advantage of the ice blast he just used.
'Ding'
...
Mike used Ice Blast and dealt 3 frost damage to Jacob
Mike used the Ice Blast and dealt 3 frost damage to Richard
...
When Mike hit Jacob and Richard he was able to see an information sheet of them.
...
Name: Jacob
Level 3 Hitman
Race: Human
Health: 12/15
Skills: None
Weapons:
Shortsword (5-8 slashing damage)
Dagger (3-4 piercing damage)
...
Name: Richard
Level 2 Theif
Race: Shifter
Health: 7/10
Skills: Lookalike, Mimic, and Lock picking
Weapons:
Shortsword (4-6 slashing damage)
Dagger (3-4 piercing damage)
...
As Mike glanced at the information that he got from his first attack the frost effect of Ice Blast went into effect and since they did not have high speed to begin with or any defensive items against magic they were slowed down. Mike uses Dash to shorten the distance before striking at them with the sword he got. He stabs at Jacob since he was in the front and a number appears in his head as he tries to attack.
4
Mike tries to stab Jacob in the gut but even while slowed he still manages to dodge the attack Mike does. Mike then backs up a bit and assumes what he guessed would be considered a defensive stance, but it was laughable at the least. Attacking anyone would be a problem in the future if the dice rolled terribly would suffer some serious damage if he rolled a dreaded one. Fortunately, to counter this all he had to do was increase his proficiency with his weapon and the less likely chance of him being decimated in battle. Going off of D&D the higher proficiency with his weapon the better handling he would have which increases his rolls for hitting something.
Now Mike could not think about it too much as the effects of both the effects of his spells were about to wear off in a few seconds. So Mike uses Dash and attacks Jacob once more with another stab.
11
Mike barely stabs Jacob in the gut
'Ding'
...
Mike dealt 6 damage to Jacob
...
As Mike is pulling out his sword Jacob stabs at Mike intending to return the favor of how he felt as Mike stabbed his gut. He succeeded as Mike had no armor and did not have a single defense spell to use. Pain explodes across Mike's arm as the rapier raked across his arm.
...
Jacob has dealt 5 damage to Mike
...
"Ow, you bast-"
Twang!
A crossbow bolt goes flying past Mike who instinctively ducks at the sound of tension being released and a crossbow bolt goes sailing where his head was and almost hits Jacob. Using this momentum Mike strikes Jacob with the pommel of his sword.
13
'Ding'
...
Mike has dealt 7 non-lethal damage
...
Jacob crumples to the floor knocked out cold after his health points reach zero.
'Great one down 9 more to go' Mike thinks as he faces off against Richard now being the only remaining hitman on the ground level.
...
As Mike was fighting the hitmen in the alley Dike was watching what was happening from above the alley in the clouds on an invisible platform and he was nodding his head in approval of Mike's actions. Before he feels a vibration in his pocket and produces his badge which showed someone was trying to reach him as it was blinking. He accepts the request and a hologram of a small man appears on the badge.
"Grand Wizard Grosso to what do I owe the pleasure?" Dike says as he smiles at the figure