After finishing the massage, Cassian returned to his room with a complicated expression. He now had a rough idea of how to become a first-circle warrior, but rough ideas weren't enough. Mana-gathering techniques were out of reach—too expensive and rare, even if he had the money. The only option left was to develop a domain field.
Lady Katherine had mentioned that developing a domain was even harder than obtaining a mana-gathering technique, as most people acquire the technique first.
Lying in bed, Cassian pondered how to progress in his strength. He had been training daily for months, and while he could now confidently swing his sword and had even started sparring with Nahir in the past few days, but it wasn't enough to develop a domain.
Lady Katherine hadn't told him exactly how to develop one, other than implying it involved facing death and surviving. "But how?" he murmured in frustration, his eyes drifting to the wooden sword leaning against the room's walls.
He was right to be frustrated; Katherine had forgotten to tell him that he also needed to learn a sword technique to develop a domain.
[ding]
At that moment, a system of voice echoed in Cassian's mind.
[Congratulations, Trainee Cassian, on completing one month of training. A reward will be granted upon completion.]
[Reward: Training Field Function Unlocked.]
[Training Field: This is a specialized area within the system space where trainees can train. The advantages of using the Training Field include increased training efficiency, no physical fatigue, and time flowing at half the rate of real-time.
Note: Actions performed in the Training Field will not affect your status or count towards completing training tasks.]
Cassian's eyes widened with excitement as he read the description of the Training Field. The idea of a space where he could train without physical exhaustion and with time moving slower, was incredibly enticing. A smile spread across his face as he imagined the possibilities.
However, his enthusiasm quickly dimmed as he read the last part of the announcement. The fact that training in this field wouldn't increase his status or count towards his training tasks dampened his excitement. He frowned and muttered under his breath, "What's the point of having such a function if it doesn't help with status or tasks?"
He paced around the room, frustration bubbling up. "Why give me something so useful if it's not going to contribute to my progress?" he grumbled, shaking his head. He glanced at the wooden sword leaning against the wall, his earlier determination now tinged with irritation.
[You can still increase your proficiency in skills by training in the Training Field, and it will help you understand the sword better. If you want to boost your status, you can do so by turning off the stamina recovery function. However, please note that progress in the Training Field will not count towards your training tasks; those must be completed in real time and real space.]
Cassian's frustration melted away as he read the updated message from the system. A smile spread across his face. "Now that's something useful," he said aloud, his excitement returning.
He stood up, the wooden sword in hand, and walked over to the corner of his room where the system had indicated the Training Field would be accessed. The prospect of honing his skills with no fatigue and at an accelerated pace was invigorating.
He mentally prepared himself, ready to make the most of the opportunity. Just as he began swinging his wooden sword, a knock at the door startled him. He was certain the dinner must be long over by now, as it was well past midnight. With a hint of confusion, he asked, "Who is it?" tightening his grip on the sword.
"It's me..." came the response from a woman outside. He opened the door with a surprised look. "Miss Laureen?"
Standing there was Katherine's personal maid, Laureen, with her light brown hair and rosy cheeks. She was still in her maid uniform. She looked at him with a hint of disappointment and asked, "Why didn't you come to Sumina's farewell dinner?" Without waiting for an answer, she pushed past him and entered his room, taking a seat on his bed. Cassian felt a twinge of annoyance but allowed it, unsure of how to respond to her unexpected intrusion.
"I just finished up with some of the lady's tasks," Cassian said, closing the door behind him.
"What kind of tasks? Massaging her feet?" Laureen asked with a mischievous smile. She got comfortable on the bed, slipping off her shoes and lounging fully on the mattress.
Cassian wasn't surprised that she knew about the foot massages, but he was taken aback by her casual tone. He nodded and replied, "The lady likes her massages to be quite lengthy."
"Yes, she does," Laureen said with a knowing smile. "I also enjoy them, but alas, no one massages my feet. I've heard you're quite skilled—would you like to give my feet a try?" She smirked at his surprised expression as she lifted her skirt slightly, revealing her feet. Her feet, unlike Katherine's, were slender and had a soft, milky whiteness with a subtle pinkish hue, shining slightly in the light.
Cassian's annoyance grew as Laureen's request became clear he really wanted to check system's new function, but he sighed, knowing he needed to maintain a good relationship with her. "I can only do it for a few minutes," he said, trying to sound as accommodating as possible. "I need to wake up early tomorrow."
Laureen's wide smirk grew even more pronounced as she shifted to make herself more comfortable on the bed. "A few minutes will be just fine," she said with a teasing tone. "I'm sure you can manage that much."
Cassian gave a resigned nod and moved closer, readying himself for the task. As he positioned himself at the edge of the bed, he focused on his technique, trying to suppress his irritation. Laureen raised her skirt slightly, offering glimpses of her pale, white legs, adding an extra layer of distraction to the task at hand.