Chapter 9 - Skill Bootcamp
After the banquet, life at the farm improved by leaps and bounds. The lords counted the days to when Rowan would turn 16 and join the Royal Academy. With the connection with Earl Cedric. Rowan's blessing. His brother had gotten accepted already. It was sure he would pass.
For Bryn, the entire month after the ritual was the best since being reborn. He spent his time focusing more than ever on any task he performed to try and get another skill. From what he realized, he could train the current skills he had with repetitions.
His father helped him with Farming since their job demanded a big part of the day invested in it. It took another week for him to gain a level of the skill. Sylas was inspired by his son's dedication and hunger for knowledge during that time. Together with him, Sylas was able to increase his Farming level by one as well.
The next thing was to focus all his energy on Physical Improvement Beginner. MMORPG had strange skills with vague descriptions. They were either horrible or terrific. Physical Improvement Beginner was one of these skills, but it also had a status bonus. And lots of it. As someone who had not figured out how to level up, skills with status bonuses were a gold mine.
Bryn knew that when performing exercises, he should alternate the activities. Power, stamina, and core strength, there were many relevant aspects. He tried to use all he remembered from his previous life to help him. He found a way to incorporate trees for him to climb on the training regiment. By the end of the second week, he had improved on Climbing and Physical Improvement Beginner.
His goal was to achieve Climbing level 4 and Physical Improvement level 3. After getting those bonuses' status, he would focus on learning anything new. That would guarantee him four precious status points.
Since the ritual, Bryn tried getting closer to some guards to ask for advice. But on the chief's orders, none were friendly with the faun.
Those who had nothing against him were too scared to go against the chief's wishes. Still, many were impressed by Bryn's dedication. When they crossed paths, they saw Bryn training. He would repeat an action as many times as necessary to increase his proficiency on that task or train his body.
The guards had orders to report every development to the chief. The faun's activities brought him headaches. He had doubts about taking the reports to the lords. Aric had grown past his resentment with the fauns. But Lady Isolde was hung up on breaking the faun's spirit. Because of Sylas's upgrade, there was no way for him to hide the reports anymore.
In a week, Lord Aric would come back from Lumiur. As in previous rituals, he would ask for a full report on everyone's activities. Aric was a Lord in a faraway area from the capital, but he knew there could be an opportunity right after the ritual. Youngsters would focus on improving their skills and status. After the status of an individual appeared, there were four variants.
The first would go wild on trying to increase status points and skills.
The second were the skill fanatics, who focused on gaining every skill possible.
The third was like the second but focused on status and level alone.
The fourth and most disappointing were those who ignored what happened.
Since only the guards and hunters could hunt on the farm, servants had only the skill route. Still, that route was all right. Many skills had a quick and perceptible increase on the task at hand. Butchering, Cooking, Cleaning, Organizing, among others. They were all helpful in daily tasks or creating a base for the person to develop.
The last time there was a ritual on the farm was a few years prior. At that time, lots of children had shown significant development. They were later chosen to train under someone at the farm. Aric used the ritual as a succession plan for relevant positions. That way, he could avoid buying servants with high skill levels.
The opposite was also true. Those children and families in the fourth category would get sold shortly after. That way, the farm brought in fresh blood, and a new cycle would begin.
Day after day, Bryn's development was rapid. Using appraisal gave him an idea of how fast his skills improved. From time to time, there were out-of-the-ordinary developments. He deduced that he would get a bonus when he learned something new and relevant to the skill.
Physical activity skills and extra experience came from doing something for the first time whenever a new round or level of exercise is completed.
"Judging my learning speed, I should level up on another two to three weeks. From then on, I'll be able to comprehend more the impact of small status upgrades. I'll also start to incorporate new abilities to work on the training regiment..." Bryn thought.
Before Bryn's levels increased, Lord Aric returned from Lumiur with exciting news. He was almost finalizing Evelina's engagement with Adrian. Should they go through with the marriage, the Wycliffe would go up on the noble ladder.
His first reaction was to go to Isolde as fast as possible and share the great news. Aric and Isolde were still at the office when the guard's chief arrived to report everything to his lord.
"Lord Aric, Lady Isolde. I'm here to report on the last three weeks since the ritual, my lord," he said, bending his knee to his lords.
"Please, chief, go on. We are celebrating; I hope you bring me good news." said Aric.
"It is not like the servants can improve that much, honey. What are you excited about?" said Isolde.
"Let's rear the man, Isolde."
The chief's eyebrows furrowed when he noticed the look between the lord and his wife.
"As I thought. The lady is going to hate this… Since there is no way to sugarcoat the faun's dedication, I'll tell the truth." thought the chief.
"Everything has been as expected, sir. With the blessing of speed, the kid started to work with the hunters. He is improving in Butchering and Cooking. He will become their help until he starts to go for proper hunts…"
As the chief went on about every family participating in the ritual, Aric and Isolde were not impressed. This year, the kids and families had very few improvements. They usually performed the ritual every 2-4 years at the farm. This time, four years have passed since the last one because the number of kids didn't justify the efforts. Aric had higher expectations since some were already teens.
Reaching the end, the chief's mouth became dry, and his words sounded croaky. After a cough, he continued.
"The last family on the list are the fauns, my lord. Lady Isolde's stimulation, combined with the ritual, worked well. They were what they needed to regain their dedication to the farm. In the last three weeks, Sylas gained a level of Farming. Bryn learned Farming, Climbing, and Butchering level 1 as well. There was no change in Freya's status, skills, or activities. With that, the report on every person and family in the ceremony is over."
The chief could tell his predictions had become a reality from their face. Aric was happy and answered right away.
"I knew it! Sylas was already one of the best farmers in the region; now, he might even have the highest level of farming around here! This is good news; next year, we'll have the best harvest in the decade... Bryn's skills were all expected. The cook told me he helped before the banquet by butchering the cattle and the rabbits. The other two were a matter of time. Fauns have their mountain bonus on the Climbing skill. Also, helping Sylas would increase the speed of learning Farming. Did any servant have a status change during this time? Were we able to find jewels hiding amongst them?" he asked.
"Only Bryn, my Lord. He gained the +1 dexterity from learning climbing. All statuses are still the same otherwise." said the chief.
Since the chief only read the reports, he had not seen Bryn for a long time. The status increase from Physical Improvement Beginner was missing from his records.
"Focus on helping those who can improve their skill. Allow the servants to work under our best people. Give the kid with the speed blessing the right to hunt and eat with the guards. That will increase his development. Also, allow Sylas and his family two rabbits a week. Dismissed." ordered Aric.
Upon hearing "dismissed" coming from his lord's mouth, the chief turned as fast as he could, not looking back.
Lady Isolde was mute during this whole time. Her jaw clenched a few times, and a vein on her forehead pulsed with every word said by the chief.
"Isolde, let's toast tonight. We had the good fortune this month. First, our son's blessing. Then, Evelina and Adrian are getting closer and closer. Now, we'll improve our harvest by another percentage point! We will be able to rise amongst the lords and ladies and become a viscount and viscountess!"
Isolde's silence interrupted Aric's happy response. Her lips were now tighter than before, and her breathing was out of pace.
"What is happening, my love? Aren't you happy with the news I brought from Lumiur?" Asked Aric.
"Of course, I'm ecstatic for her! It is exactly what our Evelina deserves!" said Isolde, turning her face away from her husband. Too many things were happening at the same time.
"Then, what is troubling you?"
"Those freaking fauns are what troubles me!!! If you must know... We put them in their place not so long ago, and now one of them dares to brag about how many skills his son has. He already had a blessing, now getting the skills… They do not comprehend that they are inferior to us, Aric!"
Looking at his wife's eye and clenching his fists, Aric responded.
"ISOLDE, stop with this tantrum right now! What happened to my cold and calculating wife? Where is the woman who would draw plans about our rise to power? That woman would not allow herself to do this petty thinking. This matter is over. We are going to bed now."
His words hit Isolde like a train she had never seen coming. Her mind was in turmoil from the anger she felt taking over her. Now was the time for her to consider her options.
Aric had told the chief to give two extra rabbits to the fauns. It was a clear sign of his desire to amend their relationship. She would have to wait a while to go for their necks.
That night was the first in a long time the Wycliffes had such a strong disagreement.
The following day, the guards delivered the news to each family. Sylas and Freya's shock was noticeable when receiving the two rabbits. When the guard told them there would be two rabbits a week, their and Bryn's eyes lit like a Christmas tree.
"Finally, the tables are turning. I can train my butchering skills with those two rabbits. Now, I can train every skill I already have. And only one more week, I'll start to focus on new skills!" Bryn thought.
Sylas could tell his son's grin had nothing to do with eating the rabbits. That was his face every time they talked about training.
As the guard left, Bryn convinced his father to allow him to butcher the meat. He considered asking his mother to cook, but that was not necessary.
Day after day, They cared for the fields, animals, and horses. Bryn became a master of implementing physical exercises into his routine. Appraisal helped as well. He used it before and after work. Soon, he realized that only a specific daily development was possible for each skill. Currently, there is a limit to how much physical improvement could evolve. Climbing and farming had no limit. As long as he kept working, the percentage points on those would rise.