Time passed, and one month had gone by. Luca spent his days completing missions, training during the day, and practicing Luminis at night. The effects of the herbal paste he had used earlier had completely worn off. To continue his progress, Luca went to the shop and bought a stronger potion, one that was known to enhance the strength of Essence Flow stage practitioners.
Luca drank the potion and began to meditate. Almost immediately, he felt warmth spreading from his stomach to the rest of his body. As Luminis flowed through him, he experienced that familiar sensation of his body strengthening.
After an hour, he opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. The potion had noticeably enhanced his physical condition.
Luca thought, "I spent all my savings from the missions on this potion. It's effective, but it was too expensive. Looks like it's time to take on harder missions."
The next day, Luca headed to the mission hall. He approached the soldier behind the desk and asked, "Sir, are there any missions that offer more rewards?"
The soldier glanced at him and replied, "Well, there are a few missions available. You can check the notice board and choose one."
As Luca scanned the mission board, one notice caught his eye. It was a mission that seemed both important and rewarding.
Mission: Gather the Nightshade Fruit in the Lightwoods
Reward: 40 silver and 4 military merits
Details: The Nightshade Fruit is rare and grows deep within the Lightwoods. When near the fruit, it emits a pleasant smell that can be used to find it.
Luca decided to take the mission. He walked up to the soldier behind the desk and handed him the notice. The soldier quickly took it and then pulled out a small, round object wrapped in cloth from beneath the counter.
"Here," the soldier said, handing it to Luca. "This is a light-emitting device. If you run into any beasts while you're out there, this should help you. Just open it, and it will give off a bright light, enough to keep most creatures at bay."
Luca took the cloth-wrapped object with a nod of thanks, but before he could speak, the soldier added, "That'll be five silver coins." Luca felt a moment of irritation but quickly handed over the silver. Still, he appreciated the soldier's help.
Luca felt the mission could be dangerous, so he bought a sword from the market and packed his things. With his sword strapped to his side and the light-emitting device safely tucked into his bag, he boarded a carriage that would take him to the Lightwoods.
The Lightwoods were vast, ancient, and full of mystery. The trees were tall and thick, their leaves a deep, vibrant green that seemed to glow with an otherworldly light.
Luca walked deeper into the forest, following the subtle trail of the sweet scent of the Nightshade Fruit. Along the way, he picked herbs he recognized and carefully placed them into his basket. The deeper he went, the more the smell of the fruit grew stronger.
After hours of searching, Luca finally spotted it: the Nightshade Fruit. It hung from a vine, its dark purple skin shimmering like a pearl in the dim light. The fruit looked delicate, almost unreal, as if it could vanish at any moment. Luca approached carefully and gently plucked it from the vine, making sure not to damage it.
With the fruit in his hand, he began to head back. But just as he was about to leave the deeper part of the forest, a rustling noise broke through the stillness. Luca froze. A creature stepped out from the shadows.
It was a wild boar, larger than any Luca had seen before. Its fur was dark, almost black, and its tusks were long and sharp, curving outward menacingly. The boar's eyes were full of rage as it snorted and stamped the ground. Luca could feel the tension in the air, the weight of its presence as it prepared to charge.
Luca's heart raced. This was his first real fight against a creature. His hands gripped his sword, but a cold fear gripped his chest. The adrenaline coursed through him, and for a moment, he hesitated.
Then, he remembered the words of his instructors. He took a deep breath, focusing inward. He drew the energy of Luminis into his body, feeling its warmth spread from his stomach to his limbs. The warmth flowed through him, and with it came a surge of confidence. His fear began to fade.
The wild boar charged with a roar, its tusks aimed straight at Luca. He quickly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the beast's deadly charge. The boar spun around, readying for another attack. Luca's feet moved faster now, his body lighter and more agile, thanks to the power of Luminis.
Luca's sword hummed with the energy of Luminis as he swung it, using the energy to enhance the strength of his blows. His movements were quick and precise, and he could feel the sword cutting through the air with newfound power. The boar rushed at him again, but this time Luca was ready. He evaded the creature's tusks and slashed at its side, drawing blood.
The boar let out a fierce cry of pain, but it didn't back down. It charged again, more frenzied now. Luca ducked and dodged, his sword flashing as he parried the boar's tusks. He could feel his strength growing with each passing moment, his connection to Luminis sharpening.
Finally, with a swift, well-placed strike, Luca thrust his sword into the boar's side. The creature let out a final grunt before it collapsed onto the forest floor.
Luca stood over it, his chest heaving with exertion. The two locked eyes for a moment, both of them breathing heavily. The boar's eyes held a wild, stubborn look, one that Luca could understand. He lowered his sword and spoke softly, "Don't make me kill you."
The creature snorted, as if understanding, and slowly backed away. It didn't turn its back to him, but instead retreated into the shadows, leaving Luca standing alone.
Luca took a moment to catch his breath, then collected his belongings and started to head back. As he walked, he suddenly realized something. He had been so focused on the fight that he had completely forgotten to use the light-emitting device the soldier had given him.
He had let his fear and adrenaline cloud his judgment. He tucked the item back into his bag, telling himself that he would remember it next time.
After another hour of walking, Luca finally made his way back to the edge of the forest and found a carriage back to the camp.
As Luca sat on the ride back, he reflected on the fight. It had been his first real battle, and thought how he could have performed better. First he could have avoided the fight by using the light-emitting device. Then, when he saw the boar, he should have immediately started drawing Luminis.
In the evening, he arrived at the mission hall, exchanged the Nightshade fruit for the reward, and then went to his tent to get a good sleep, since it had been a tiring day.