"As I said Linda, Matthew needs experience if he wants to become an adventurer. For that, he needs proper training. That includes Monster interactions."
Travis and Linda were arguing in the courtyard while Matthew was scrubbing the latest stain from the floorboards of the inn.
"It's only been a month since Matthew came here Travis. While he does seem to be getting stronger, that is only to the standards of a 'Rank 0'."
"That's why I will be keeping a close eye on him, ready to jump in when things get dicey."
Matthew listened to their conversation. He had told Travis a few weeks ago that he had wanted to become an adventurer. Travis seemed delighted at the decision and said that he would take Matthew, once he had been through the basic training, out to face a monster known as a 'Slime'.
"Linda, it's only a slime. It's a monster that a 5 year old child could beat with a stick. Matthew has his Mana unlocked and has a proper sword," Travis said.
"I still don't understand why you gave him that thing. He's going to hurt himself," Linda said.
"He's not a child Linda. Matthew's 17. He's already well above the age of adulthood."
From what Matthew had learnt in the past month he had been on Raistus, was that the age of adulthood was considered to be 13. In some cities the age could be as high as 16, or as low as 10. Once a child reached the age, they would be allowed to even leave their home and do what they want.
If they had the money to do so, they could enter one of the Adventurer Academies. These Academies taught the basics of Adventuring, trained promising students skills, and even took their students on supervised monster hunts.
People who attended the Adventurer Academies are usually more equipped with the knowledge to do well as an Adventurer. The only problem they had was attitude. Usually, it was the rich Sons and Daughters of Nobles that attended the Academies due to the high cost. This causes these students to believe themselves to be more superior than normal adventurers.
But what the normal adventurers lacked in knowledge, they made up with experience.
Students had to spend a minimum of 3 years in the Academy, but a normal adventurer can become an adventurer the second they reach 'Rank 1', which is when one absorbs enough Monster Core's to Rank all their Stats up to 'Rank 1'.
Students were technically adventurers, but with rules that every student had to follow. Those found breaking such rules were expelled and barred from becoming full adventurers until the time they would have spent at the Academy was over.
Matthew had decided that he wanted to become a Student at the Adventurer Academy. With what he gathered from the usage of his skills over the past month, was that his loot power had the capability of allowing him to gather enough pieces to afford the enrolment fee. What he needed though, was experience, and that required Monsters.
"The only way I am going to allow this is if Matthew can prove himself capable enough to defeat a slime," Linda said, finally, but reluctantly, giving Travis a condition to let Matthew go with him.
"Hey Matthew!" Travis yelled out.
Matthew exited out the back to the courtyard and faced the two.
"Let's show Linda what you've got," Travis said, grinning.
Matthew lifted a wooden sword on the table, focused his mind, and let out a deep breath. His sword slowly coated itself in a hazy blue hue.
During the past month he had also been training with Travis, learning the basics of controlling Mana. Once you unlocked Mana, you were able to control it, though the amount depended on your rank. A 'Rank 0' who has had their Mana unlocked is able to cover themselves in a simple Mana Barrier that has some minor defensive properties against monsters of the same rank. Likewise, They are able to also cover their weapon or fists in a Mana Coating, which can increase the damage slightly, to be more effective against monster of the same rank, or one higher. The Coating and Barrier aren't strong enough to block attacks or bypass defenses completely, but they did help him slightly.
Matthew swung his sword in a dance that Travis had taught him. His movements were still a little rigid, but it was good enough to receive a slight nod from Linda. Travis then threw a few logs towards Matthew, which he sliced in half, which took a little effort.
"See," Travis said pointedly, "He's fine."
"*Sigh* Fine," Linda said, finally giving in, "But I swear to the God of Truth, Travis, if Matthew comes back hurt, you'll be next..."
Travis and Matthew grinned towards each other.
.
Travis and Matthew made their way through the trees.
"We're almost there Matthew. Slimes were spotted by some of the Villagers around this area a few days ago."
Travis had convinced Linda into letting him take Matthew to kill a monster known as a Slime. They were 'Rank 0' monsters that even a child could kill.
"The most common type of slime is a Blue Slime, which have the properties of Water. The next is a Red Slime with the properties Fire, Brown Slimes with Earth, White with Lightning and Grey with Air. Slimes don't spawn with elements outside of the basic 5. Study's have shown that Monster Cores from a monster with an element can have an effect on the type of Magical Skill you get."
Matthew noted that the first monster he had killed, a Goblin, didn't have an element.
"Not many people go for a Slime Monster Core, as you can only replace a Core that has been Linked to a stat once, and those that do have said that the pain is worse than ranking up and even worse than when you unlock your Mana. It's essentially you ripping something out of your soul and forcing a new piece that doesn't quite fit into the hole you created. It will take time for the new piece to change it's shape to fit the hole, and that process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks. The longest I've heard was 3 years. During that time you are unable to use abilities from that stat, though the others are still good to be used."
Matthew pulled up his new ability he had received after absorbing the Monster Core from the Goblin.
-[Soul Bound: Rank 1]
You are able to absorb the souls of enemies that you have defeated. Souls that you have absorbed are able to be summoned as familiars. Each soul is able to grant you an ability depending on the rank of the ability [Soul Bound] and the stat that the familiar is linked to. You are able to use the Aura of any souls absorbed with this ability.
The Ability [Soul Bound] has linked to the [???] Stat
Current Souls: 0/5.
Current Mastery of Skill: 0/100%.
Increase your Rank to absorb more souls. Rank needed to upgrade [Soul Bound]: Rank 3 -
.
If Matthew was to absorb the Slime's Monster Core, he would be able to summon it as a familiar. He would also obtain a skill from it specifically as well.
"Stop," Travis whispered.
Matthew looked over the shoulder of Travis and saw a... Green Slime?
"Green, what the hell is that?" Travis said. There was no mention of a Green Slime in any of the books Travis had ever read. He looked nervously at Matthew. Misinformation was the cause of many deaths with adventurers. He had heard many stories of adventurers taking contracts that had to do with killing minsters seen in near populated areas, only to be killed when the monster was different to what was listed.
"I don't think it's that dangerous, it's a Slime, and all Slimes that we know of have the same aspects. Low Health, Low Attack, Low Speed and Low Strength. The only thing you will need to look out for is the elemental spit they have. It isn't enough to kill you, or even hurt you that badly, it might sting, but you'll be fine."
Travis gave Matthew a thumbs up with a 'You Got This' look. Matthew rolled his eyes and stepped out.