Lia hesitated for a moment before nodding, her eyes narrowing in concentration. She extended her hand over the burn on her arm, her fingers trembling slightly. A soft, golden light began to emanate from her palm, growing brighter as she focused.
Ethan watched in fascination as the glow enveloped the injured area, the angry red burn fading gradually into smooth, unblemished skin.
When the light faded, Lia pulled her hand back and stared at her arm in amazement. "It's… gone," she whispered, flexing her fingers as if testing the healing's completeness. "I actually did it."
Ethan smiled, relieved. "See? That's what I'm talking about. Your class isn't just for show—it's already proving its worth. You're tougher than you think."
Her cheeks flushed, a small, tentative smile breaking through her earlier uncertainty. "Thank you, Master," she said softly, her voice carrying a mix of pride and gratitude. "I'll remember to use my abilities right away next time."
"Good," Ethan said, giving her a quick nod. "But seriously, Lia, no holding back if you're hurt. Promise me that."
She nodded earnestly. "I promise."
"Alright, then," Ethan said, glancing back toward the forest. "We should continue but before that can you tell me what other skills you have?"
Lia nodded. "This is actually weird, Master. I wanted to ask you but most of my skills don't make sense. Only the minor heal skill is usable."
"What do you mean?"
"The two other skills I have are Minor Speed Enhancement and Minor Strength Enhancement. I cannot apply these skills to me or you. I can only apply them to summons but Master, as your faithful servant why are my skills related to a summoner class?"
Ethan smiled and Lia understood. "I didn't get a chance to tell you before but class is a summoner class." Ethan looked around and let out a sigh. It was still early morning and they were the only two people here so he might as well start his business.
He summoned the latest entry to the team, the slime he had just killed.
Lia gasped softly as a faint shimmer of light appeared before them. The glowing mist swirled and coalesced, taking form. Within seconds, the very same slime Ethan had killed earlier stood quivering on the forest floor, its gelatinous body pulsating slightly in the dappled sunlight.
"You… you summoned it?" Lia asked, her voice a mix of awe and confusion. She took a cautious step back, instinctively gripping the dagger at her side.
Ethan smiled, holding up a hand to reassure her. "Relax, it's under my control now. See?" He raised his hand and the slime reacted instantly, bouncing slightly in acknowledgment.
"Summoning is part of my class. I can call back creatures I've defeated—at least certain ones—and have them fight for me."
Lia's wide eyes flicked between Ethan and the slime. "That's… incredible," she murmured. "But… Master, I have never heard of something like this. How does that even work?"
Ethan shrugged. "Honestly? I'm still figuring it out myself. It seems like the system lets me bind certain creatures to me after defeating them. It's not perfect—there's a limit to how many I can summon, and they're not exactly invincible. But they're pretty handy for survival and fighting."
Ethan also brought out the cat and the bird. "Try applying your buffs on them." He did not want to bring out the whole team as they were completely exposed at the moment and anyone could walk in on them. The goblins would instantly give away everything and put a mark on his back.
Lia's eyes widened as Ethan summoned two more creatures—a sleek, black cat with luminous green eyes and a small, sharp-beaked bird with iridescent feathers.
Both appeared beside the slime, their forms shimmering briefly before settling into place. The cat stretched lazily, its tail curling as it observed its surroundings, while the bird perched on a low branch, tilting its head curiously.
Lia stepped closer to the summoned creatures. Her hand trembled slightly as she extended it toward the cat first. "Minor Speed Enhancement," she murmured, focusing on the glowing energy that began to radiate from her palm.
The golden light flowed toward the cat, enveloping its lithe form in a brief shimmer.
The cat twitched its ears, its green eyes sharpening as the buff took effect. In a sudden burst of motion, it darted across the clearing, its movements nearly a blur as it scaled a nearby tree in seconds. Lia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "It's… so fast now."
"Nice!" Ethan said, clearly impressed. "That's a big boost. Try the strength buff on the bird."
Still amazed, Lia turned to the bird, which watched her with curious, beady eyes. She repeated the process, her hand glowing with golden energy as she cast the Minor Strength Enhancement.
The bird ruffled its feathers as the light settled around it, and Ethan quickly tossed a stick into the air to test its newfound strength.
With a swift motion, the bird launched itself into the air, its beak striking the stick mid-flight and snapping it cleanly in two. The broken pieces tumbled to the ground as the bird circled back to its perch, chirping triumphantly.