The rest of the day was ruined, though not he wouldn't let it become a complete waste. Linus immediately opened one of his recent and more successful experimental vintages, pouring himself and Archie a glass. A large gulp later he turned to Archie, who had already put down his glass and moved towards the previously packed luggage.

"What are we going to do Archie? We can't possibly follow along with my father's plan." Linus lamented, slumping into one of his favorite overstuffed chairs.

"Sir, I don't think we have any other choice. The Duke made it clear that it was straight from the King and likely our best bet for survival."

"Ugh, no need to side with him Archie. And drink up!" Linus exclaimed as he finished his first glass and poured another generous glass for himself. The mutation he'd made on this particular grape imparted a fizzy sensation that went straight to his head, enhanced by his [Altered State] skill in addition to [Inebriation].

If only he'd been able to pick up one of the classes offered when the skills reached their level 5 cap, they'd have grown and had an even greater impact on him. Of course his father would've killed him if he was ever caught with a class like [Wine Connoisseur] or the ever tempting [Party Animal].

While Linus finished off the bottle, including Archie's untouched glass, Archie had finally finished unpacking all the bags and had started on the much more difficult task of repacking.

"Sir, we can't possibly fit all these robes in one bag, and you only have two in total."

"Archie what kind of mage would I even be without robes? No one will respect me and I wouldn't even blame them." Whined Linus.

"And it's sensible for a [Plant Mage] to have 7 different silk robes that would become impossibly stained if they ever encountered soil or a watering can?" Archie deadpanned.

"That's just uncalled for."

"Mhm. Don't forget that we'll need to include any plant cuttings, seeds and alchemy equipment."

"Damn it, I didn't even think of that!" Linus swore, sighing as he reached for another bottle of wine. "Surely we can bring a few extra horses or a cart." Archie just frowned in response, prompting Linus to lever himself out of his chairs and make his way over to the pile of clothes. It was definitely going to be a long night.

After a second full bottle of wine to himself, a rather heated argument with the stableman about additional horses (that naturally got broken up by Manfred), several precarious trips ferrying glassware from his personal lab to his room for sorting and selection, an embarrassingly easy negotiation for one of Archie's two saddle bags and a third bottle of wine he actually managed to share with Archie, Linus was finally packed.

It had taken most of the night and the wake up call from none other than Manfred came much too soon. Poor Archie was so drained from the previous evening that even he was jolted awake by Manfred.

"Wake up, wake up! You are supposed to be leaving in the next 10 minutes. The Duke will be there to see you off any minute!"

"Shut up Manfred" Linus grumbled as he crawled out of bed. "You don't have to be enjoying this so much. Did we set out clothes for today Archie?"

"Ugh" groaned Archie, far from his usual articulate self. "We must have forgotten, I know there is traveling clothes somewhere in this pile." Several frantic yet sluggish minutes later both Linus and Archie were dressed and on their way to the stables.

As Manfred had threatened the Duke was indeed there to see them off.

"Seriously Linus, you couldn't refrain from drinking for even one night? I'm glad you aren't going anywhere near the front lines and will dry out on your trip." His father's words shattered Linus' world, though not in the way intended.

"Archie, we completely forgot to pack any wine! How will we survive the trip without anything to drink."

"You remembered last night sir, there just unfortunately isn't any room. I think that's when you opened the third bottle if my memory serves me."

While Linus lamented, Archie consoled and the Duke glowered as both their bags were packed on their horses and the third member of their group arrived. Even if his father hadn't said he would be a Ranger, Linus would've been able to tell. Both the man and his horse were lean, nondescript and mostly brown. The man was decked out in light leather armor, stained in browns and greens designed to blend into the forest, with a bow over one shoulder and several quivers resting along his saddle.

"Good morning sir" he said to the Duke. "Is everyone from your group ready to depart? We've got a strict schedule to keep."

"Well met Luke. Yes my son Linus and his manservant Archie are both here and ready. Once again you have my thanks for joining them in this endeavor." With that the niceties were over and the three of them set out.

Not far outside the capital Linus pulled off to the side, followed by Archie.

"What are you boys doing?" Asked Luke. "We aren't even close to taking a break, at the pace you two are moving we won't even make it to our intended campsite in time without breaks."

"Yes, yes" replied Linus flippantly. "We'll be on our way in just a moment." At that Linus closed his eyes and activated two skills, first [Minor Heal] to address his throbbing head and disgruntled stomach. After the pale gold light circles those and a few other problem spots it subsided. Next came [Invigorate], an even dimmer golden cloud shimmered from his head to toes and flooded him with the energy of a great night's sleep. Once complete for him, Linus repeated the same two skills on Archie.

"I take back every disparaging remark I've ever made about you wasting an [Apprentice Life Mage]'s skills on hangover cures" Archie said.

With that both turned their horses back onto the trail and continues on the way, leaving Luke to catch up as he muttered "fucking nobles" under his breath.

As they rode conversation about trip logistics and other more personal topics started.

"We should reach the outpost in just under a month if the weather and the roads hold up, longer if we hit a lot of mud or a late snow." Luke told them.

"You can't be serious" responded Linus. "A month by horse? No wonder we couldn't take a carriage, the war would be over by the time we got there. So what town will we be stopping in tonight?" Luke and Archie exchanged looks before the Ranger broke first.

"Surely you were made aware we would be camping for the majority of the trip." At that Linus suffered an involuntary eye twitch or ten.

"No, my father and manservant both failed to mention that. Pray tell, did you know and pack for this?" He said turning to Archie.

"I didn't explicitly know but assumed we'd be camping at least part of the time. Don't worry I packed us excellent bedrolls and a fantastic tent for you." At this point Linus was praying for a miracle to rescue him or at least a meteor to put him out of his misery. Instead the unpleasantness continued.

"So I knew you were a [Plant Mage] but apparently you are also an [Apprentice Life Mage], any other classes or skills I should be aware of? Any combat classes or skills to help keep you alive during this trip?" Even though Linus knew he had nothing combat related it had been awhile so he pulled up his status.

Status Name: Linus Class Slots: 5/7 Tiers: Top - 2, Total - 7 Classes and Skills Noble Progeny Gardener (Tier 2) Plant Mage (Tier 2) Leadership (6/10) Plant Lore (16/20) Growth (18/20) Precision Pruning (15/20) Enrich (8/20) Germination (4/20) Mana Manipulation (11/20) Improved Yield (12/20) Mutation (4/20) Amateur Alchemist Apprentice Life Mage Extract (9/10) Minor Heal (6/10) Concentrate (4/10) Invigorate (8/10) Non-Class Skills Napping (5/5) Persuasion (5/5) Sneaking (4/5) Writing (2/5) Repartee (5/5) Mental Resistance (5/5) Analyze (5/5) Arcane Lore (5/5) Inebriation (5/5) Mana Blade (5/5) Altered State (5/5) Increase Potency (3/5)

"Nope, nothing other than [Plant Mage], [Apprentice Life Mage] and of course a deadend noble class." Linus lied to Luke, it wouldn't do for him to know all of Linus' capabilities and he definitely didn't want his unusual number of class slots getting out. Not even the Duke knew Linus had 7 instead of the typical 3 to 5. "Of course I've got a smattering of non-class skills as well, but nothing particularly helpful." Luke grunted in response then turned towards Archie.

"I also don't have any combat related classes or skills, though I have a few defensive skills I can rely on in a pinch." Archie said. An awkward silence extended as Luke waited for Archie to expand on his capabilities but Archie was a manservant of a noble house, discretion was a principle he lived both for his employer and himself.

"Well then do either of you have a spare slot and a maxed out skill that could generate a combat focused or adjacent class? I don't know what your intended builds are but the Duke didn't inform me I'd be the only combat classer on this trip. I'm not too concerned for myself but I can't guarantee the whole group's safety the entire time if I'm the only one contributing." Archie refused to even look in Luke's direction with that latest inappropriate question. These things were hardly discussed outside of close friends and family, let alone with a practical stranger. Linus looked over at Archie before shrugging and responding to the Ranger.

"I'm close to maxing a skill that could get a combat adjacent class, I'll start grinding it now." Looks like I'm going to have to start [Sneaking] around again Linus thought to himself.