Waking up with a groan, Freya could already feel the aching pain in her legs and hips, "W-what time is it."
"Early, now start packing up. We leave in exactly five minutes," Mordecai said as he stood over Freya. Flinching, Freya sat up, but Mordecai only turned around, ignoring her.
Standing up after yawning, Freya put away her cloak before pulling out a tightly packed bundle and unwrapping it to reveal a block of crumbly bread. Tearing off a chunk, Freya lamented that she had drank all her water the day before and began to chew the incredible dry bread numbly.
Hearing the leaves above her rustle, Freya looked up as Fenrir nimbly dropped down from his perch in the tree and landed next to her, "Can I get a piece?"
Not bothering to reply, Freya tore off a larger chunk of bread and passed it wordlessly to Fenrir, who sniffed the crumbly bread before he started to eat, "Why is it so dry?"
As Mordecai promised, five minutes later, they were running. As they got further away from established land, the road changed from paved to a wide dirt path in the middle of a heavily wooded forest.
While Freya had never been this far outside her village before, she knew they should end the day in the neighboring town, 'I might be able to refill my water at the town's well.'
Freya's throat was parched, but she didn't complain and could only hope she wouldn't pass out from heatstroke. Luckily, the road was constantly covered by the shade provided by the large trees overhead. Still, when noon came around, not even the canopy could keep out the sun high in the sky, and even Fenrir was covered in a slight sheen of sweat.
Fortunately, just as Freya felt like she was about to drop, Mordecai's constant pace stopped. Freya didn't hesitate to hunch over, panting, trying to catch her breath, "We have been running nonstop for one hour and thirty minutes. Both of you haven't had any water since yesterday and will undoubtedly start to dehydrate in a few hours. Your second lesson is to find fresh water."
"If we find water, can we have a fire tonight?" Fenrir asked as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. Surprisingly, Mordecai seemed to consider it momentarily, "If you manage it in under half an hour, then I'll think about it."
"Why do we even have to find water in the first place?" Freya asked, her frustration beginning to boil, "There's a town that can't be more than an hour away. Let's just get water from there."
"Oh, and what about when you're lost in the wilderness on your own, with no supplies and on the brink of death." Mordecai said evenly, meeting Freya's wild eyes with his own, "You have until sundown to find water. I strongly suggest you don't disappoint me."
After his ominous warning, Mordecai's figure flickered with static before he disappeared in a flash of blue light, leaving Freya and Fenrir alone in the middle of the dirt path.
"I can't stand that guy!" Freya shouted through gritted teeth, "How the hell are we supposed to find water in the middle of nowhere? We are going to die of thirst way before sunset."
"If you're concerned about dehydration, you should probably stop shouting. Your heart is pounding like crazy." Fenrir advised as he walked up next to Freya.
Gritting her teeth, Freya wanted to rebuke Fenrir, but she took a moment to calm herself down, "Could you stop saying weird stuff like that."
"Weird stuff like what?" Fenrir asked, looking at Freya curiously.
Feeling her anger spike, Freya glared down at Fenrir, "You keep talking about how you can hear my heartbeat. It's a weird thing to lie about."
"But I can hear your heart," Fenrir stated plainly, "Just like I can hear water about five hundred feet in that direction."
Fenrir pointed over his shoulder, and Freya only stared at him blankly, "I'm getting sick of you lying all the time. Seriously what's with you, did all that magic you absorbed knock a screw loose!"
"It's not my fault your senses are dull," Fenrir said uncaringly with a shrug before turning around and walking towards the tree line.
"Where are you going," Freya asked, spinning around to watch Fenrir walk away.
"To get a drink and then hopefully make a damn fire to cook an actual meal," Fenrir shouted back, not turning around or slowing down.
After a moment, Freya let out a long sigh before running to catch up with Fenrir, "Alright, say that I did believe you had super hearing. How could you explain it?"
"It's not super hearing," Fenrir said with a roll of his eyes, "You're just out of touch with nature, which is kinda weird seeing that your magic can make plants grow,"
Freya's nose twitched as he struggled to control her urge to scream at Fenrir, "You know what? Forget it I don't even know why I-"
Freya's tirade was cut short as the sound of a slow-moving stream cut through the silence of the forest. Freezing in her place, Freya almost didn't want to believe it, "You weren't lying."
Fenrir walked past Freya with a neutral expression, "Why would I? There was no reason for me to lie. Now, I suggest you hurry up, or I might drain the river dry."
A few more steps had Freya break through the thicket of trees to stand on the mossy bank of a small stream cutting through the forest. Fenrir had already dunked his head in the crisp, cool water, and Freya was quick to join him.
Taking deep gulps of water, Freya drank until her stomach was near bursting before she came up gasping for air, "Well, that went faster than I thought."
Picking up her head, Freya stared up at Mordecai, who was standing on the opposite river bank staring down at her, "How did you-"
Freya cut her question short as she came up with the answer herself, 'Magic, of course.'
Fenrir came up with a gasp of air and blinked to clear the water from his eyes, "Does that mean we can have a fire tonight?"
Mordecai smirked, "I'll allow it, but first, we have a few more things to go over."
Freya groaned as she sat back and prepared for another long lecture, 'At least the moss is somewhat comfortable.'
"When you reach the Academy in a few weeks, you will receive a device called a Focus." Mordecai explained as he rolled up his sleeve and held out his wrist as a small black cube emerged from his skin, "A Focus is the greatest tool at an Adventurer's disposal. It allows an Adventurer to view information on any item or monsters they encounter. But it also displays personal information."
The black cube then projected an image in the air with boxes displaying a wide range of information.
[Name: Example Status Page]
Level: 1
Class: N/A
Traits: N/A
AC: N/A
[Skills]
Example Skill: Novice
Example Skill: Adept
Example Skill: Journeyman
Example Skill: Professional
Example Skill: Expert
Example Skill: Master
[Spells]
Example Spell I
Example Spell II
Example Spell III
Example Spell IV
Example Spell V
Example Spell VI
Example Spell VII
Example Spell VIII
Example Spell IX
Example Spell X
Example Spell XX
Example Spell XXX
[Abilities]
Example Ability:
Modifier Example Ability
Modifier I Modifier II Example Ability
Modifier I Modifeir II Modifier III Example Ability
"As you can see, there are many parts that make up an Adventurer's overall strength, which is judged by their level on a scale of one to one hundred. Levels can be gained by increasing the magical energy inside you through training, fighting, or other activities involving magic.
Classes describe the overall archetype of an Adventurer. At first classes are usually simple and broad. Such as mage, warrior, rogue, warlock, priest and so on, which you pick at level five. But as you become more powerful and gain further levels, classes become more specific, usually at intervals of five. A mage can become an elementalist or a psionic, and warriors turn into paladins and berserkers.
These evolved classes can grant traits, which are powerful perks that give potent modifiers. Traits can also be gained through certain achievements; many are fairly common among Adventures. Then there is AC or armor class, most often this is determined by what you're wearing but some evolved classes like monk or berserker grant traits that give armor for wearing fewer clothes. AC is one of the most valuable things to know when you're facing a monster or enemy.
Next up you have skills, things like sneaking, animal care, alchemy, blacksmithing, and weapon skills that are ranked from novice all the way to master. Each rank grants a permeate bonus that increases the effectiveness of your skills.
Lastly spells and abilities are both similar in nature as they can be learned in a variety of ways. Spells are first learned through scrolls and abilities through manuals. Both scrolls and manuals are single use items that most often only grant very weak spells and abilities. By training and experiencing countless battles these abilities and spells can be modified and grow stronger as you are able to contain more mana. Spells grow through tiers exponentially increase the amount of mana they use but also the damage or longevity of their effects. Abilities are a bit different as they gain modifiers changing what type of damage they inflict or variety of other effects."
Raising her hand Freya waited until Mordecai nodded at her before speaking, "Well what's your level class and such."
"Ah a very good question to ask," Mordecai said with a smile, "Because now I can tell you, it's considered the height of impudence to inquire about someone's class and level or attempt to analyze them without their consent. Information is power and is only shared amongst those with strong bonds and unbreakable trust. Understood?"
Freya and Fenrir nodded sheepishly and Mordecai smiled, "Alright then, we are ahead of schedule so the rest of the day is yours to spend how you see fit."
Fenrir nearly jumped to his feet the moment Mordecai dismissed him, "Alright I'll see you guys at dinner!"
Freya watched as Fenrir took off disappearing into the forest before turning back to Mordecai, "I guess I'll start the fire."