The next morning Layla Palmer and Lucas had breakfast. Followed by a morning run. Afterwards, Layla Palmer did her Mage and Warrior training. However, the training time was 3/4ths shorter than normal in order for her to conserve her energy and mana.

" Prepare yourself. In 10 minutes we are going hunting. If you fail to catch anything today. You eat nothing."

" Nooo, you can't take my precious meal away from me."

" I'm not. You just need to make sure you kill something."

" I see. I will differently hunt my target." Layla Palmer said with her eyes brimming with determination."

After this Lucas walked out the safe zone and went to a nearby tree. " System, show me my current stats."

Name: Lucas Lightningstorm

Title: None

Level:14 (2800/2900)

Class: Mage

Health points: 650/750

Mana points: 840/840 ( 20% increase due to blessing)

Mana recovery: 70 hourly (100% increase due to blessing)

Attributes:

Strength – 28

Dexterity – 29

Intelligence – 32

Wisdom – 26

Charisma – 4

Luck - 8

Skills: F Rank Fireball, F Rank Ice Chamber, F Rank Acarne Ray, F Rank Time Skip, F Rank Invisibility, F Rank Zone Creation.

Skill points: 19

Ability points: 381

Equipment: Ring of Kunderoite, Wind's Affection, Ring of Invisibility.

Bloodline: None

Blessings: High harmonization with mana (upgradable, active). High affinity to elemental magic (upgradable, active). Decrease in cast time, increases in hit rate (upgradable, active)

Passive Skills: Anti enslavement (non-upgradable, active):

System-level: 2 (14/15)]

Lucas was shocked to see some stats had increased without him putting attribute points in. He wasn't surprised to see his AP had so many points considering he had been using spells left right and centre. Helping Layla Palmer learn them but also killing creatures every night for dinner.

[ Although you can increase your strength through SP you can also increase your stats by practising. However, this method won't be as effective as manually putting stats into your attributes. You got these stats by training alongside Layla Palmer. Also, your body underwent some changes after you ate the apple of longevity]

Lucas was puzzled on how to use his attribute points and skill points. So he decided to keep them. Lucas had yet to face a strong opponent so he did not know where he lacked and how he could compensate for it. After Lucas was done preparing he went to the safe zone and called Layla Palmer telling her it's time.

Lucas and Layla Palmer began walking. They eventually left the beginners section and was now venturing deeper in the forest.

" Lucas isn't this too far?"

" No, the only creatures we will get in that section will not be able to test your current strength."

" Okay if you say so."

" System, activate combat mode."

[ Combat mode activated]

Immediately all the levels of all the creatures and plants were available for Lucas to see. Lucas was curious what Layla Palmer's level was. So he looked at her and saw that she was level 11. Lucas wanted to know her stats.

[ Stats view is unavailable at this level]

Lucas kinda figured that it would be the case but it was worth the try. So Lucas brought back his focus and looked for a suitable creature to kill. Lucas used the zoom mode to look. While he was looking he saw a lot of level 10 creatures. Once he found a suitable level 10 target Lucas turned left and began heading towards it.

Layla Palmer noticed that all of sudden we were turning right. She guessed that it was almost time to fight. So her speed of walking decreased. Not on purpose but subconsciously she was scared and this affected her walking speed. Despite noticing her nervousness Lucas said.

" We need to walk faster. Otherwise, we might lose the creature." As Lucas said that he started walking faster. Layla Palmer, of course, did not want to be left behind so she increased her pace too. Eventually, they got close to the creature when Lucas stopped moving.

" Why are we stopping?"

" Any further and we risk alerting the creature of our presence. For this creature I want you to learn how to launch a surprise attack. So try to kill it using arcane ray from here."

Layla Palmer sighed with relief when she heard Lucas's plan was not to take it head on but by surprise. This meant she did not have to fight it. She immediately started prepping her mana and looked at the creature 15 meters away from her. She began compressing her mana and soon 5 arcane rays were made. All of them were spinning too. Five was currently the most she could make if she was focusing on quality, not quantity.

" Aim for its vitals and send them there."

" Okay."

Without deliberation, Layla Palmer aimed at its vitals and sent the arcane ray in. Soon five spinning arrows were racing in the sky. The creature instinctively felt something approaching it and leapt forward dodging 2 of the arrows. The rest pierced it in the leg and the body.

" Lesson one, observe your enemy first. Haste makes waste."

" Yes, Lucas." Layla Palmer said frustrated that she could not kill the creature in one go.

" It's injured and on guard. Go kill it."

" It's expecting. I can't kill it now!"

" You can. And you do know that failure means sleep for dinner..."

" Okay, okay..."

" Look at what spell you have. What can you do to kill him? Be creative. All chivalry disappears as soon as you enter the ring. Nothing is considered cheating."

With that, Layla Palmer started looking around and actually looked properly at the creature. It was creature the size of a lion. It had black fur and green eyes. Its tail was made of snakeskin and had a giant spike ball on the end. She finally realized that this creature's speed was going to be a problem. She wondered how she was going to deal with it. It finally hit her that she had an ice spell that could freeze or at least slow down targets. She also had an invisibility spell that she could use to close in on the creature.

Layla Palmer began prepping her mana. She cast her invisibility spell on herself. She started walking to the creature that was looking around to find what shot it. It was on high alert so Layla Palmer was walking very slowly. Afterwards, she prepped her mana again and began the ice chamber spell. Once she was done she walked to a ten-meter distance. This was the perfect distance for this AOE spell, any further decreases the effectiveness of the spell. This only happens with rank F spells. At rank, E distance is no longer an issue.

Once Ice Chamber was ready she released it. A giant magic circle appeared under the creature. Immediately afterwards the creature was frozen by the legs. It couldn't move at all. Shortly after Layla Palmer sent her Arcane rays into the head and heart. It died instantly.

Lucas walked to Layla Palmer and said. " Well done. Always have a plan going in. Do not make hasty moves. Not to take anything away from this moment. But if this creature was stronger than you, you would be dead..."

" No, I understand you just want what's best for me. I will not grow complacent and I will keep pushing forward."

" I am glad you said that. Since it's your kill you are carrying it home. Also, we'll be doing this again tomorrow."

Lucas and Layla Palmer returned home. Layla Palmer continued with her Mage and Warrior training. Afterwards, Lucas went to wash up followed by Layla Palmer. Lucas cooked dinner and then they started talking again before they went to sleep.

" I am confused as to which class I want to become."

" I suppose so since you are showing the same promise in both classes"

" Yeah, I love Warrior training as much as I love Mage training."

" You still have a bit of time left before we leave. The entrance exam for Mage academy only starts in a month and a week. So don't rush your decision. Just stick true to yourself, you will find your way."

" How are you so sure?"

" Because I believe in you."

" If I didn't know any better I would say you are flirting now."

" But you do know better and know I'm just that friendly. There is a thin line between friendly and flirting that has troubled many before"

" I do, and I have grown used to it."

" Anyways good night Layla. Don't let the bed bugs bite. I mean literally, I saw the bite marks on your arms." Lucas said while laughing.

"Oh shut up. There is nothing I can do about it. It happens when I sleep. I can't help that they think I'm a snack (1)."

" The double entendre." Lucas nodded his head in acknowledgement, "Word play (2). But goodnight for real now."

" Good night Lucas."

They both went to their sleeping place, closed their eyes and went to sleep.

1. Snack- The literal meaning is that a snack is something you eat. But in today's society, a snack can also be a reference to a pretty girl. Example- "Bru did you see Amanda in that purple dress. She looked like a snack."

2. Wordplay- Alliteration, double entendres, rhyming and more is considered wordplay. When you play with words in a clever and witty way. This is the literal meaning. Lucas, however, split the word into two. So instead of wordplay, he said word play. The word " word" is usually used in an informal context as an agreement/acknowledgement to something. Example Person 1 " Amanda looked like a snack today." Person 2 " Word". So person 2 agreed by using the word "word". So when Lucas said word play he meant that he acknowledges the play that she made. He acknowledged her use of a double entendre while using one himself. Lucas and Layla Palmer where engaged in high-level banter.