As the sun rose, casting its golden glow over the camp, we all began to stir. The warmth of the morning light coaxed us out of our tents, groggy but rested. The fire had dwindled to embers overnight, but the familiar scent of the wilderness greeted us. We gathered around the remains of the campfire, discussing the tasks for the day.
"We'll get some fruits," I announced to the group as I stretched, glancing at Aki, Rick, and Zouno. They nodded, preparing to head out into the forest.
Meanwhile, the girls had their own plan. Using the system, they purchased some meat and spices, and with the help of their earth and fire magic, they fashioned a small stove to cook breakfast. It was impressive to watch as they molded earth into a makeshift oven and summoned flames with a mere flick of their hands.
"Magic is pretty useful, huh?" Aki remarked thoughtfully, watching as they prepared the food with ease.
"Yeah, well, since we all have MP bars, we can technically use magic too," Zouno chimed in, scratching his chin as if considering the possibilities.
Sara, busy at work with the meal, looked up and grinned. "You're right. We can teach you boys some basic spells if you're interested."
My excitement was hard to contain. "That would be really helpful," I said, eyes wide with anticipation.
Aki, however, cast a glance at Rick. "Well, Rick was the only one who tried to use magic so far. But, you know, his curse of mana…"
Rick gave a casual shrug, a slight grin playing at his lips. "Yeah, I know. But I can manage it."
"Are you sure, Rick? You know what happened last time," Aki pressed, his voice laced with concern.
Rick smirked. "Yeah, but this time I'm prepared. I'll control it."
"Control it?" I asked, intrigued. "How?"
Rick shrugged. "I've been practicing. It's not perfect, but I can handle a few basic spells now without losing too much mana."
Sara smiled, impressed. "That's great! Well, after breakfast, we'll help you boys learn some basics."
After a hearty breakfast of cooked meat and fresh fruit, the girls gathered us around and began teaching us the basics of magic—how to channel our mana, cast simple elemental spells, and control small amounts of energy for daily tasks.
"Start with something small, like summoning a flame," Sara instructed, her tone calm and patient. "It's all about focus. Feel the mana flow through you, and then direct it."
Aki closed his eyes and held out his hand, trying to summon a spark. "Come on... fire," he muttered, concentrating hard. After a few moments, a small flicker appeared in his palm.
"Hey, look!" Aki exclaimed, beaming with pride.
"Not bad," I said, giving him an encouraging nod. "Try water next."
Aki attempted to summon water, but instead of a controlled stream, a sudden gush of water sprayed out, drenching Zouno.
"Whoa! Careful!" Zouno sputtered, shaking the water from his hair.
Aki laughed sheepishly. "Guess I need more practice with that one."
"Well, at least you got the element right," Sara teased, grinning as she watched us struggle with the new skills.
Rick, on the other hand, was having trouble controlling his magic. Every time he tried, his mana fluctuated wildly, making his spells unstable.
"You okay, Rick?" I asked, noticing his strained expression.
"Yeah," Rick replied through gritted teeth. "Just… a little harder than I thought."
"Don't force it," Amaii advised gently. "Magic is about balance. If you try too hard, you'll lose control. Take it slow."
Rick nodded, taking a deep breath. After a few more tries, he finally managed to create a small, steady flame in his hand. "Got it!" he said, smiling triumphantly.
"See? You've got this," Aki said, patting Rick on the back.
"Alright, I think that's enough," Rick said after a while, his face showing a mix of satisfaction and exhaustion. "We can't learn more today anyway."
The rest of us nodded in agreement, still buzzing from the thrill of casting our first spells. It was a small step, but we knew magic would come in handy for more than just fighting.
"Well, time to head out," I announced as we finished packing up. We started walking, leaving the campsite behind. The morning air was crisp, and the forest around us seemed more alive than ever.
Rick, curious as always, struck up a conversation with the girls. "So, Sara, how did you all learn magic and level up together?"
Sara, walking beside him, explained their story. "Well, after we split up, we fought slimes. All the girls leveled up to 3 after that."
Rick nodded, intrigued. "What happened next?"
"We got closer to the forest ruins and found books—old tomes about elemental magic. That's where Amaii learned healing magic," Sara said, glancing back at Amaii, who nodded shyly.
Zouno spoke up. "Yeah, we came across those ruins too."
"That's also where we encountered three orcs," Sara continued. "Luckily, they were weak to magic. We worked together and managed to kill them. The experience was split between all of us, and we reached level 12."
The girls all nodded in agreement, and Sara smiled. "And the rest, well, you know—the handkerchief quest and the goblin chief fight. Now that we're level 30, things are a lot better."
"That explains why you girls were better at magic," Rick said, impressed.
"The ruins helped all of us break through the basics," Sara confirmed, clearly proud of their progress.
Suddenly, Zouno stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "Everyone... I sense a few monsters up ahead."
We stopped in our tracks, everyone on high alert. Weapons were drawn as we cautiously approached the source of Zouno's warning. He quickly used his skill to scan the area. "Wait… there are four humans ahead," he whispered.
"Humans?" Aki whispered excitedly. "Do you think they're from this world?"
"I don't know," I said cautiously, my instincts telling me to be careful. "We can't just approach them. They might be hostile."
Amaii nodded, her eyes wide with concern. "Let's observe first."
We carefully positioned ourselves behind the thick underbrush, keeping our eyes trained on the four humans in the clearing. At first, they looked like typical adventurers, but something felt off. Weapons stained with fresh blood lay scattered at their feet, and next to them were the bodies of two other humans—likely their victims.
"They're not good people," Sara whispered, her voice tense.
Amaii looked terrified but nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we shouldn't get closer."
"Guys, they're level 49," Zouno said, his eyes glowing blue with the skill he had activated. I couldn't help but notice.
"Zouno… your eyes?" I asked, concerned.
He shook his head, dismissing my worry. "It's fine. I bought a skill from the system—it's called Appraisal. Cost me 500 coins."
"A skill shop?" The girls seemed surprised.
"Wait, you guys didn't explore the system much?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sara sighed. "Yeah, we should've. But it's fine."
Rick, always the diplomat, quickly reassured them. "It's okay. We'll teach you what we know."
Just then, Zouno interrupted again. "I think this is a safe distance," he said, stopping us from advancing further.
We stayed hidden, observing the group. Just as we were about to back away, a dagger came flying through the air—aimed straight at Sara.
In a flash, I leaped in front of her, raising my shield just in time to block the attack. "Everyone, be careful! We're under attack!"
A large, imposing figure emerged from the trees, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Damn it," Aki muttered, his tone serious. "They must have someone with a skill like Zouno's."
"I can feel the bloodlust," I warned, my grip tightening around my shield.
The bandit leader laughed, his menacing gaze sweeping over us. "More prey," he sneered. "And look at those girls—they'll fetch a high price."
His henchmen cackled in agreement. "Yes, boss. Jackpot today."
Another dagger flew toward Zouno, but once again, I blocked it in time. "Told you not to let your guard down. They're level 49."