Early morning in spring was a time of rejuvenation, a veritable symphony of nature with the crisp mountain air acting as a conductor, invigorating the senses and bringing a renewed sense of energy to every living creature. The morning dew clung to the blades of grass, glistening like a field of diamonds in the early light, evidence of nature's overnight masterpiece.
As the sun rose slowly over the horizon, the sky transformed into a delicate shade of pink, like a watercolor painting coming to life.
The air was cool and refreshing, with a playful breeze rustling through the trees, tickling the leaves and carrying the heady scent of fresh grass, blooming flowers, and the earthy aroma of damp soil.
A lone figure, moved with purpose through the forest, surrounded by towering trees that stood like sentinels, casting dappled sunlight on the ground below.
The sound of birdsong filled the air, a harmonious choir of ember finches, slither robins, and water sparrows creating a soothing symphony that accompanied Osric's rhythmic steps.
Osric maintained his breath as he ran along the mountain line.
As Osric maintained his breath while running along the mountain line, each step marked another milestone on his journey to build endurance, one of the cornerstones of his plan. With weeks of training behind him, his progress was palpable, a testament to the time spent on body improvement.
Endurance was a critical component that would enable him to sustain his physical performance over an extended period. In a fight, the person with higher endurance could maintain their speed, power, and technique, even when fatigue threatened to overwhelm them.
Although Osric had could pushe his current body to its absolute limits, he knew that those limits were too low. He needed to build up the potential of his body, so he could utilize it to the fullest extent.
As he inhaled with his nose for two steps and exhaled out his mouth for the other two steps, he focused on maintaining a consistent pace and keeping his breathing under control. The rhythmic pattern served as a calming metronome, guiding him through his run.
He would also occasionally see other people training along the mountain path. Since it was closer to the village, it was fairly safe, remaining a popular exercise spot.
***
The afternoon was bathed in a golden haze, casting a warm and tranquil feel over the surroundings. From the vantage point of a sunlit window, one could observe the subtle changes in the landscape as the day progressed, with the once-vibrant green leaves of the trees outside gradually taking on a golden hue as they basked in the sun's gentle rays.
Osric's arm shook with effort, beads of sweat forming on his brow, and his breaths came in short, ragged gasps. Despite the fatigue, he made sure to maintain proper form, engaging his core to keep his body stable and his elbows close to his sides to target his triceps. The burn in his muscles served as a reminder of the progress.
After several sets of push-ups on the well-worn wooden floor, Osric moved on to pull-ups, his biceps and back muscles working hard to pull his body up to the sturdy iron bar. He could feel the strain on his forearms and grip as he hung onto the bar, and his abs and glutes engaging to keep his body aligned and stable. The sound of his breathing and the faint creaking of the bar filled the otherwise quiet room.
He completed several sets of pull-ups, each one challenging his body and pushing him to his limits.
His arms moving on to dips, his triceps and shoulders bearing the brunt of the strain as he lowered and raised himself on parallel bars that had been a fixture in the room for years. He felt the burn in his muscles building up and causing his arms to tremble with effort, but he continued to push through the discomfort.
As he moved on to further exercises like handstand push-ups and bodyweight rows, he could feel the strain on his body intensifying. The wooden beams overhead creaked as he worked through his regimen, adding a rhythmic soundtrack to his efforts.
He felt his muscles contracting and expanding, working together to perform each movement with precision and control. As the days rolled on, the freedom of movement he had gained became more apparent
He completed the workout with some movements from Black Caiman Spiral, making sure to work on his flexibility as well. The slow, deliberate motions allowed him to cool down while simultaneously maintaining focus on his body and the intricate dance of muscles and sinew that had carried him through his workout.
***
"I've memorized all the fauna and animal wildlife of the mountains. Their locations, characteristics, and their method of harvest."
For alchemy, the plants found near the Darkhold Mountains used were different, a vast array of mystical flora that was vastly different from his time. However, despite the differences in the botanical ingredients, the underlying fundamentals for their application in alchemy remained the same. There were three basic goals of alchemy.
Enhancement. Taking a bark of lavender oak, which when eaten made people hungry. Using that as a main substance and adding many minor ingredients like the dew of stone ivy, or a pair of eyes from a triforce baboon, to enhance that effect. This would result in a powerful hunger potion capable of inducing ravenous cravings in those who consumed it.
Another was inversion. To arrive at the opposite of the initial effect of the main substance. Like adding the sharp basilisk rooster beaks, and popping poppy seeds, to make a satiety potion. Poison and medicine constantly fluctuating in this realm, a delicate balance that only a skilled alchemist could maintain.
Third, creation. Combining multiple main substances and various minor additions to create something completely different. This could be achieved by using energy to manipulate each ingredient, altering them to create another unique substance. This level of alchemy required immense knowledge and exceptional skill, often only attainable through dedicated study and practice in the alchemist pathway.
Currently, Osric only had access to the enhance and inverse aspects of alchemy. Yet, he was very experienced with the process, having spent countless hours honing.
"I have also exhausted the amount of usable information in the library. Unless I can get higher access, I no longer need to come to the library."
This closeness with the librarian helped him immensely as he exploited his friendship to learn more in-depth information than what was written.
"Now I can move on to the next phase of my timeline. I've accumulated enough."
***
"How's his training going?" Markus inquired while absentmindedly sifting through a disorganized pile of important documents. He sat perched on the edge of his cluttered oak desk, the dim lamplight casting warm shadows across his furrowed brow.
"Finn's struggling, attempting even. He's on a good pace," grumbled the impressively large, burly man. He was an intimidating, towering figure, his formidable muscular frame drawing the eye despite the conspicuous absence of one arm.
"He's stubborn. I know. Work him mercilessly. These few days before the ceremony are absolutely crucial to ensure he's in his optimal form. Take some blindwater lotus saliva from the storage and give him some for recovery.""Understood. Anything else?"
"Send some to that Osric kid as well."
The burly man's steely gaze widened in mild shock, "The talk of the village spoke of you not liking him"
"I had to take certain measures for reasons; it doesn't mean I derived any pleasure from doing it," Markus explained, his eyes meeting the man's with quiet resolve.
"I am, after all, an esteemed elder of the village. My duty is to look out for the entirety of the village. He just happened to become an unfortunate victim in the end. If only he had accepted my offer of purchasing his house at the beginning of spring, I wouldn't have had to resort to employing a ruse," he sighed heavily.
"I even offered him a 10,000 essence stones for the house, but he stubbornly refused."
"That's pretty expensive for a house that size too." the man exclaimed in disbelief
"From his perspective, yes. But in the grand scheme of things, they are merely the standard. The real estate prices listed are nothing more than arbitrary placeholders, so the market doesn't experience fluctuations."
"Wait, what does that mean?"
"Ever since the devastating beast wave, the demand for the inner zone houses have skyrocketed. We're incapable of meeting the demand; only a finite number of houses exist. If all the villagers were to discover that the price for inner houses surged, the outer zone prices would follow suit. This would inevitably lead to pandemonium and instability within our village, which is the last thing we desire. So, to prevent that, the council and the elders have controlled the prices of the houses. The price from the outside has only marginally increased, ensuring the market remains stable. Until we can construct additional dwellings, we must maintain this charade."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"It's an open secret among the high-ups in the village. You were destined to uncover it sooner or later Damine, since you were recently promoted to Rank 2. "
"Alright," he acquiesced, turning to walk away.
Markus, with a quill in his hand, continued to sign and write documents once again, taking care to properly dip the tip into the ornate inkwell before carefully etching his signature onto the parchments.