The morning came with an unusual clarity for Alex. After the adventure with Kaela, he had decided to devote the day to the study of magic under Selene's strict supervision. He felt that every moment he spent in this world brought him closer to his goal of surviving and, perhaps, thriving.
When he arrived at the arcane tower, Selene was already waiting for him, surrounded by floating books and with an impatient expression.
"I hope you didn't do something stupid last night," he said, not taking his eyes off the tomes.
Alex scratched his head, trying to look innocent. "Just a little practical exercise."
Selene looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "If you end up dead because of your 'practices,' it won't be my fault. Now, let's get started."
Selene took Alex to a private room inside the tower. The walls were covered with glowing runes, and in the center there was a magic circle traced on the floor.
"We're going to be working on reinforcement spells today," Selene explained. "They will not only protect you, but they can also improve your physical abilities or those of others."
"Like a buff? Alex asked, remembering terms from video games.
Selene raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what that means, but yeah, something like that."
Alex positioned himself inside the circle, following Selene's instructions. She began to recite words in an ancient language, while he tried to imitate her.
A golden light began to emanate from his hands, enveloping his body with a warm glow. Alex felt his strength increase slightly and his senses sharpened.
Learned Spell:
Minor Fortress
Effect: Increases physical strength and endurance for 10 minutes.
Energy Cost: Moderate.
"I made it!" exclaimed Alex, smiling broadly.
Selene nodded, though her expression remained neutral. "It's a good start, but you need to practice to keep the spell stable for longer."
"Thank you, Selene. Without your help, I would be lost."
She looked at him with a slight twinkle in her eyes, though her tone was still dry. "Don't get too excited. I'm only doing this because it's interesting to watch your progress."
After the training, Alex decided to stop by the training camp where he used to practice with Elia. The huntress was there, perfecting her aim with a longbow.
"Alex!"she greeted him when she saw him approaching. "It's been a while since you stopped by."
"I know, I've been busy with... other things," he said, avoiding going into details about Kaela.
"Well, if you're here, it means you have some time to train. Come on, I want to see if you remember what I taught you."
Elia put him to the test with a series of physical and basic combat exercises. Although Alex tried hard, it didn't take long for him to feel exhausted.
"You're getting better, but you're still lacking," Elia commented as she offered him a canteen.
Alex drank gratefully. "Thank you. You always know how to make one try his best."
Elia looked at him, mildly amused. "It's my job. I don't want you to die the next time you go out on a mission."
His words had a hint of mockery, but Alex noticed a genuine concern behind them.
Back at the inn that night, Alex found Lyria waiting for him at the communal table. He had prepared a small feast with what appeared to be his loot from the local market.
"What are we celebrating?"Alex asked, taking a seat.
"Nothing in particular," Lyria replied with a smile. "I just thought you needed some good food after all the craziness these days."
Alex relaxed as the two shared the meal. They talked about trivial topics, putting aside the worries of the outside world for a moment.
"You know," Lyria said after a while, "you're adjusting better than I thought. But don't forget that this world has no mercy. Trust in your abilities, but also in the right people."
"I'll keep that in mind," Alex replied, feeling the weight of her words.
When Alex went upstairs to his room later that night, he found a familiar figure sitting at the window.
"Kaela?"
She smiled at him, fiddling with a small knife. "I thought it would be fun to stop by. How was your day, apprentice magician?"
Alex sighed. "Busy, as always. And you?"
"Exploring, as usual," he said, shrugging. "But I thought we could talk about our next collaboration."
"Are you already planning something?"Alex asked, surprised.
"Always," Kaela replied with a mischievous smile. "But this time, it will be something big. Think of it as... a challenge. I want to see what you're capable of."
Alex couldn't help but laugh. "You never seem to take a break."
Kaela got up, approaching him. "Life is too short for that, Alex. If you want something, you have to take it."
Before he could respond, Kaela disappeared out the window, leaving him with a mixture of excitement and worry about what was coming.