The first part of the Wynthorne Trial had left Cedric restless and the atmosphere in Wynthorne Castle's great hall had been tense after Cedric's meeting with his father. Words unspoken hung in the air, leaving Cedric with a heavy heart. His father's challenge to prove his worth in the trial weighed on him like a boulder strapped to his back. "You'll finish the trail tomorrow. Prepare yourself," his father had said, his cold eyes boring into Cedric's.
Though his father's words had been cold and dismissive, Cedric knew it was only the beginning. The trial had only just begun, and the hardest part was yet to come. His father had given him a day off to recuperate, with the next part of the trial starting the following day. Without another word, his father dismissed him, leaving Cedric to go and recover. With the rest of the day ahead, Cedric knew he needed to prepare. He turned to leave the training grounds, his mind already working on the choices he needed to make. The system had given him a lot to think about since he had completed the first part of the trial, but there was one thing he had yet to do: Choose his class. The clearing in the woods near the barracks would be the perfect place to train. It was quiet, a secluded patch of land where Cedric could focus without distractions. As he made his way there, the sound of his boots crunching on the dirt seemed to match the rhythm of his thoughts.
What class will best suit me?
He had been avoiding the question, but now that he had time to think, the decision was unavoidable. The system had offered him a chance to choose. A choice that would define his path. When he reached the clearing, Cedric stood still for a moment, gazing at the trees that surrounded him. He opened the system's interface, watching as the various options for classes appeared before him.
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Warrior: A class focused on strength and endurance, providing powerful physical skills.
Rogue: A class built on agility, stealth, and precision. Excellent for surprise attacks and quick strikes.
Mage: A class that harnessed magical abilities, focusing on spellcasting and elemental manipulation.
Knight: A balanced class that combined both physical and defensive capabilities.
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Cedric scrolled through the options, trying to feel the potential of each. He had already demonstrated his physical strength during the first part of the trial, but there was still much to learn. He wasn't an expert swordsman, but the Rogue class intrigued him. Stealth, speed, and finesse—attributes that could allow him to strike before his opponent even saw him coming. Cedric scanned his stats. His agility and dexterity were decent, though his strength left much to be desired. He lacked the intellect to dive into magic just yet, but the Rogue class seemed like a natural fit for his nimble, unrefined style.
"Rogue it is," he muttered, selecting the class.
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The system responded immediately:
[Class Acquired: Rogue. Skill Unlocked: Quick Step – Temporarily increase movement speed for dodging or closing distance. Duration: 3 seconds.]
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A faint surge of energy coursed through Cedric's body, though it felt less like power and more like a subtle adjustment.
"That's it? Guess I'll make it work."
Cedric ventured deeper into the forest, dagger in hand. The trees stood tall and imposing, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. He found a suitable target—a sturdy tree—and began practicing his strikes.
Cedric's mind was focused, his thoughts on the task at hand. The dagger felt unwieldy in his hands at first. He wasn't used to the weight of it, nor the precision needed to land an effective strike. His movements were clumsy, each strike falling short of its target. The dagger would only be effective if he could learn to use it quickly and efficiently, and that would take time. Hours passed as Cedric worked, practicing against trees and branches. His hands grew sore, but he refused to stop. He activated Quick Step several times, testing the limits of his ability. It was helpful for evading strikes, but without the proper technique to follow up, he couldn't use it to its full potential yet.
Cedric was working up a sweat when a rustle in the bushes caught his attention. He spun around, dagger raised, his senses alert.
A low growl broke the silence, and from the underbrush emerged an adolescent wolf.
Its dark fur bristled as it bared its teeth, its yellow eyes locked onto Cedric. It wasn't a fully grown wolf, but it was large enough to be dangerous.
Cedric's heart pounded as he slowly backed up. "Not exactly what I had in mind for training…"
The wolf lunged, forcing Cedric to dive to the side, activating Quick Step to put distance between them. He rolled to his feet, his breathing ragged as he raised his dagger defensively.
The wolf snarled and circled him, looking for an opening. Cedric took a deep breath, trying to steady his shaking hands.
The wolf attacked again, swiping with its claws. Cedric managed to dodge the first strike but stumbled on the second, a claw grazing his arm. Pain flared, and he bit back a cry, retaliating with a wild slash of his dagger that missed its mark.
The battle was messy, each exchange leaving Cedric more exhausted. He managed to land a few shallow cuts on the wolf, but it only seemed to enrage the beast further.
As the wolf lunged for his throat, Cedric ducked low, thrusting his dagger upward with all his strength. The blade found its mark, sinking into the wolf's chest.
The beast let out a pained howl before collapsing, its body twitching before going still.
Cedric stumbled back, falling to the ground as he gasped for air. His arm throbbed where the wolf had scratched him, and his entire body felt heavy. Remembering the minor healing potion he had received from the system long ago, he reached into his system inventory and pulled it out. Immediately uncorking the vial and drinking it quickly his body began to heal, the pain fading as the potion worked its magic.
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The system chimed softly in his mind:
[XP Gained: 35. Level Up: Rogue – Level 2.]
[Notification: Reward Available for Completing Stage One of the Wynthorne Trial. Choose one of the following items:]
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Cedric breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the fatigue start to lift as his body healed. The reward from completing the first half of the trial was also ready for him to claim.
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1. Cloak of Evasion (Uncommon tier): A cloak that enhances the wearer's agility, increasing evasion by 5% for a short time after combat.
2. Magic Grimoire (Uncommon tier): A basic book of spells, teaching a simple fireball spell and basic elemental control.
3. Enhanced Dagger (Uncommon tier): A dagger with a minor magic enhancement, improving its cutting power.
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Cedric frowned, his eyes flicking between the options. Each had its merits, but he needed something practical for his current abilities.
"The dagger," he decided. "I'm not ready for magic yet, and the cloak won't help much in a duel."
The system materialized the weapon before him. The dagger was sleek, its blade faintly glowing with an amber hue.
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[Item Acquired: Enchanted Dagger (Uncommon tier) ]
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Cedric tested its weight in his hand and nodded. "Much better."