As the night wore on, Kael lay awake in his bed, his mind racing with thoughts of the recent events. The encounter with the Umbra cult members had been harrowing, but they had emerged victorious. Now, with Marc safe and sound, Kael felt a sense of relief wash over him.In the dim light of the room, he could see Marc sitting at the edge of his own bed, lost in thought. Kael knew that Marc must be going through a lot, having been separated from them for so long. He decided to join him, hoping to offer some comfort."Hey, Marc," Kael said softly, taking a seat beside him. "How are you holding up?"Marc looked up, his expression weary but grateful. "I'm okay, Kael," he replied. "Just trying to process everything that's happened."Kael nodded, understanding. "It must have been tough out there on your own," he said. "But we're all here for you now. You're not alone anymore."Marc smiled, a flicker of warmth returning to his eyes. "Thanks, Kael," he said. "I'm glad to be back with you guys. I don't think I could have made it without your help."Kael clapped him on the back, a gesture of solidarity. "We're a team, Marc," he said. "We look out for each other, no matter what."As they sat together in the quiet of the room, Kael felt a renewed sense of determination.The next day, Kael woke up early, the anticipation of the upcoming mission fueling his every move. He made his way to the mission hall, the corridors of the academy still quiet as most students were still asleep. As he entered the hall, he noticed a group of students gathered around a notice board, murmuring excitedly. Curious, Kael approached the board and saw a poster announcing a hunting mission to get an Inferno Drake heart for 10000 credits.The Inferno Drake was a fearsome creature with scales as hard as steel and a breath that could turn stone to molten lava. Its heart was a valuable commodity, sought after for its potent magical properties. The mages in the academy needed it to create a lesser fire resistance potion, a crucial tool for those with a fire affinity.Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to earn points for his training, Kael wasted no time in applying for the mission.
Kael needed the points for various purposes within the academy. One primary use was to purchase weapons and equipment from the academy's stores, which offered a selection of high-quality gear suitable for training and missions. Additionally, the points could be used to gain access to the inner part of the academy, where the gravitational influence of the gravikon beast enhanced training by increasing gravity's pull. This environment was ideal for training, especially for individuals like Kael seeking to improve their control over their elemental affinities and it cost 1000 credits for every day spent in there.Furthermore, the points could potentially be used to access special training programs or tutors, providing Kael with additional resources to advance his skills. Overall, accumulating points was crucial for Kael's progression and development as a warrior within the academy, offering him the means to enhance his abilities and achieve his goals.
The mission coordinator, a stern-faced man with a scar running across his cheek, looked Kael up and down before nodding approvingly. "Good choice, kid. The Inferno Drake won't be an easy target, but if anyone can handle it, it's you Academy types."With his application approved, Kael returned to his dorm room to prepare for the journey ahead. He packed his essentials: a sturdy sword, a few potions for emergencies, and his trusty map of the Gravikon biome. The journey to the outer region would be treacherous, but Kael was determined to succeed. This mission was not just about earning points; it was about proving himself and pushing the limits of what he can do as he needed to be strong if he ever wanted to meet the god who brought him to Aetherium. But first things first Kael made his way to the market, a bustling hub of activity with vendors selling all manner of goods. He sought out a merchant known for selling durable and spacious sacks, ideal for storing animal parts. After some searching, he found the merchant's stall, which was stocked with a variety of bags and containers."Ah, young warrior! Looking for a sturdy sack, are you?" the merchant greeted him, a friendly smile on his face."Yes, I need something durable and spacious. I'm going on a hunting mission and will need to store animal parts," Kael replied, examining the sacks on display.The merchant nodded knowingly. "I have just the thing for you." He reached under his stall and pulled out a large, rugged sack made of thick canvas. "This should do the trick. It's strong enough to withstand the rigors of the wild and spacious enough to hold plenty of animal parts."Kael inspected the sack and was pleased with its quality. "This looks perfect. How much is it?"The merchant smiled. "For you, as a new member of the academy, your first purchase is free."Kael was surprised but grateful. "Thank you! I'll make good use of it."With his new acquisition in hand, he felt ready to embark on his hunting mission. He thanked the merchant and made his way back to the academy, eager to begin his journey into the wilds of the gravikon biome.
As Kael left the academy grounds, he felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him and a change of pressure in his surroundings as he was no longer close to the gravikon beast. The air outside was crisp, and the sounds of the forest filled his ears. He took a deep breath, savoring the freedom of being out in the wild.The journey to the outer region of the gravikon biome would not be an easy one. The path was treacherous, with dense forests and steep cliffs blocking his way. But Kael was determined. He had a goal, and he would not be deterred.As he walked, he kept a keen eye out for any signs of the fire-affinity beast he was tasked with hunting. The creature was known to be elusive, and tracking it down would require all of Kael's skills as a hunter.Kael's encounter with the metal-affinity bear was brutal and unforgiving. As the beast charged, its claws gleaming with a metallic sheen, Kael leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly swipe. With a quick, fluid motion, he drew his katana and launched a counterattack. His blade met the bear's hide, but the metal affinity made its claws incredibly tough to penetrate.The bear retaliated with a ferocious roar, swiping at Kael with its razor-sharp claws. Kael danced around the beast, using his agility to avoid its attacks. With a swift strike, he aimed for the bear's weak spot, a gap in its armor. The blade found its mark, and the bear let out a deafening roar of pain before collapsing to the ground.As Kael ventured deeper into the forest, he encountered a pack of wolves with wind affinity, their leader crackling with lightning element. The wolves moved with incredible speed, darting around him in a blur of motion. Kael found himself struggling to keep up, their coordinated attacks pushing him on the defensive.Despite his best efforts, Kael was quickly overwhelmed. The wolves' speed and agility were unmatched, and he found it difficult to land a solid blow. In a desperate move, Kael unleashed his Pulse of Slowness, trying to buy himself some time to regroup. The effect was immediate, the wolves slowing down just enough for Kael to counterattack.With his newfound timing, Kael managed to land several decisive blows, taking down a few of the wolves. But their leader, with its lightning element, proved to be a formidable opponent. It darted around Kael, its claws infused with metal element, making each strike deadly.Kael focused on dodging and blocking, waiting for the right moment to strike. As the leader lunged forward, Kael timed his Pulse of Slowness perfectly, causing the wolf to freeze in mid-air. With a swift and precise strike, Kael delivered the finishing blow, taking down the leader.Breathing heavily, Kael looked around, the rest of the wolves retreating into the forest. He had emerged victorious, but the fight had taken its toll. He knew he needed to find the fire affinity beast quickly before he ran into more trouble. As Kael pressed deeper into the forest, he finally caught sight of the fire affinity beast he had been hunting. The creature, known as an Inferno Drake, was a majestic but dangerous creature, its scales shimmering with the intensity of its fire element.The Inferno Drake noticed Kael's presence and let out a deafening roar, flames spewing from its mouth as it was eating the corpse of a Liotard which can be described as a lightning element beast. Kael knew he had to be careful; one wrong move could result in serious injury or worse.