"Now then, thank you for the ice cubes but you really must fine tune your control of the spell's output. No, I'm not mad that one of my cups was broken while you made the ice cubes. You did mend it after all. I would have been offended if you hadn't..." the Headmaster went on as they conversed a while over lunch.

After their lunch, they continued with their lessons.

The Headmaster pulled two long thin metallic objects out of thin air, most likely his inventory, before placing them onto his arms.

"Bracers?" Dante asked bewildered but the sudden change in tactics.

"Yes, from the spell's description it is more effective on people wearing metal armor. These bracers, while made of conductive metal, have been enchanted to attract and then mitigate lighting damage. Now that I think of it..." the Headmaster paused for a moment considering something.

"...Perhaps I could reweave the enchantment to include this Shocking Grasp spell as an additional means of attack. Perhaps even the ability to increase its damage output by redirecting the energy the bracers absorb. Might have to add gloves to them though..." The Headmaster stood there a moment almost oblivious to the world lost in his musings.

"Sir, you've gone on a tangent again." Said one of the Headmasters bodyguards as they stepped up to place a hand upon his shoulder. The Headmaster immediately darted his head left to look at the person who had interrupted his train of thought only to relax after a few seconds. Turning to Dante he spoke.

"Forgive this old man his thoughts, Dante. So, now then..." He paused, bringing his bracers up to protect his face.

"...Shall we begin?" They both asked, each having a wry smile.

------------

Mana manipulation has leveled up! Lvl. 21->28...

Mana Sense has leveled up! Lvl. 16->21...

Student of Magic has leveled up! Lvl. 8->14...

Physical Fitness has leveled up! Lvl. 6->14...

Running has leveled up! Lvl. 7->12...

Unarmed Fighting has leveled up! Lvl. 1->4...

You have leveled up! Lvl. 18->20!...

Affinity Progression...

After all was said and done Dante laid sprawled out on the training ground exhausted. He tried to move, to stand, but doing so only made the feeling of his muscles being on fire all the worse.

Even though he hadn't taken more than a few hit points of damage from this or that he had managed to bottom out his mana and stamina several times over the 6 hours it took to get the spell right. His power only increased over that time.

He had more than overexerted himself, he had pushed himself rather quickly finding the limits of his new capabilities. Only for him to keep pushing once he hit them. Even when his stamina was empty, he still swung a hand out, feebly trying to hit an opponent that even holding back moved like wind and was just as fast.

Though his movements slowed when his moment ran out he didn't quit. He kept going a little slower, allowing his stamina to regenerate before hammering back into the training.

The Headmaster stood over him not showing even a hint of fatigue from the several hours of non-stop practice fighting, still with that wry smile on his face.

"You continue to amaze. Most low level people stop when their stamina gets close to or hits zero. But for you it hardly mattered. Why?" He asked, his smile being replaced by a look of curiosity and what he might call concern.

Turning his head Dante looked to the setting sun. Seeing this motion the Headmaster did the same.

"I'm going to be fighting monsters soon..." he said, pausing as he tried to lubricate his dry mouth with what little spit he had. The Headmaster said nothing, but continued his careful observation, eyes seeing everything.

The pause stretched on as Dante contemplated why he trained so hard.

"...In this new world people need strength or they will be subjected to the whims of others. I want the strength to keep myself and those I care for safe from that. I want to be able to fight against what is to come. And if I have to bend, break and bleed to make that a reality...so be it...I refuse to die...I refuse to let them die...I refuse to be powerless!" his voice grew bitter towards the end, the Headmaster looked down and saw a familiar look upon the boy's face.

A look of streaming tears and a running nose, that said he was recalling a most bitter memory.

With a sad smile he reached down and placed a palm upon Dante's chest speaking not a word.

Without a sound soft white light emitted from his palm and though he felt an ache in the ancient bones beneath his skin he continued.

An ability meant to take the life of others flipped on its head to give life.

He felt as his health, mana, and stamina slipped away into that skill he hadn't used for many years now.

He liked this one. He was tenacious.

A small smile raised the corners of his lips only a bit.

Dante took a deep breath as he felt a flood of cooling relief wash over him. He turned his head to look upon the Headmaster kneeling over him with a hand upon his chest, soft white light radiating from the man's hand into him.

In the corner of his vision he saw his stamina and mana quickly refilling. He smiled at the Headmaster and he too smiled back in turn.

It was then that he saw something there in the man's eyes. Then something in his mana sense told him that something was strange.

He tilted his head in confusion as just for a brief moment the world seemed to hang. He felt something replenishing his resource pools but couldn't place what it was. Likely some skill of the Headmaster, but it was when he truly looked the man in the eye that he saw something he hadn't noticed before.

There in the Headmasters blue eyes, almost behind them, were two pinpoints of crimson light.

+3 Per...

Then the moment was over and the Headmaster stood, raising an arm for him to take.

Taking the offered hand Dante stood before doing some light stretching.

Dante for all his effort besides his skill levels read back the slew of notices detailing the growth he had achieved over the course of the training.

For your repeated depletion of your mana to zero your maximum mana has increased! +100 mana...

For your repeated depletion of your stamina to zero your maximum stamina has increased! +100 stamina...

Congratulations! Your stamina has surpassed 2,500!...

Calculating....

Fighting Proficiency I Road has opened to you...

"Status"

Dante A. Stone

Race: Human

Class: Wizard (3)

[Rank 2] Lvl. 20

EXP: 5,944/8,200

Gold: 232 small (gp)

Strength

74

Resources

Total

Regen.

Constitution/Vitality

74

Health

1,913

(82.3/min)

Endurance

90

Mana

4,593

(76.1/min)

Dexterity

71

Stamina

2,571

(97.55/min)

Willpower

50

Road Points

76

Intellect

81

Stat Points

0

Wisdom

97

Charisma

49

Luck

76

Perception

51

Spirit

58

Soul capacity 44.85/58

"Holy shit!" Dante exclaimed then began to chuckle. Seeing that his stats had risen quite a bit overall. Some had only risen by a few points while others had increased considerably. His health was over 4 and a half thousand and his wisdom was just 3 points shy of 100.

Seeing the Headmaster take an interest he showed the man his status seeing no harm in it.

"What kind of reward will I get when it reaches 100? Another road? Or a skill maybe?" He asked the Headmaster contemplatively.

"It could be either or both. Though you might be able to tip the scales in your favor if you invest a little more into luck before you get others to 100. I can still remember when my luck reached 100 all those years ago." The Headmaster spoke longingly while stroking his beard in quiet remembrance.

Then a thought struck him causing him to furrow his brows.

"Affinities." he said experimentally, a blue box appearing before him.

Affinities

Fire Affinity (C) Lvl. 1

Ice Affinity (R) lvl. 0 (56%)

Light Affinity (R) Lvl. 0 (82%)

Water Affinity (C) Lvl. 0 (45%)

'Well that answers a few questions...and raises a few more.' He thought with a small smile tugging up at the edge of one lip.

'Well it says I have 76 rp, wait a minute that's the same as my luck. Interesting, anyway let's spend some.'

"Roads."

Roads Road of Ice, (0/20) Fear's Road, (5/20) Wizards Road III, (10/50) Philosopher's Road II, (0/50) Planar Traveler's I, (10/50) Trainee Road (0/100) Athlete I Road, (0/25) Physical Improvement I, (0/25) Road of Water, (0/10) Fighting Proficiency I, (0/20)

Dante smiled at his accumulated roads for a moment before his eyes fell upon the Trainee road and its large Rp cost.

'I really wasn't expecting that one. It costs as much rp as the number of skill levels it took to get him this road.' He took a few deep breaths then more questions appeared in his mind.

"I'm assuming there are roads in this series higher than Trainee correct?" he asked as he showed the Headmaster his roads, pointing towards the one in question.

"Yes, there are...." The Headmaster paused his mouth open but he didn't speak.

"...It appears you aren't ready for the totality of that information yet. Let me try again. There are...three roads in that series I am certain you will see. Trainee, Apprentice, and Journeyman. You already possess the first. Apprentice you will gain at 250 total skill levels and Journeyman at 500. There are...higher versions but of them I cannot say." The Headmaster spoke with a regretful tone.

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure I'll get to see the more advanced stuff. Anyway, I was wonder why the road of lightning hasn't opened? In fact why didn't I get the road of light when I remade the Light or Dancing lights spells?" Dante asked the Headmaster a bit confused though he already suspected the answer.

"The para and quasi elements get ever harder to obtain for a variety of reasons. One of which being the increased complexity from multiple elements interacting. This is why it seems you have yet to gain those affinities or their related roads." Spoke the Headmaster.

Dante looked to him before nodding in acceptance. Then he turned to the sun that now had set behind the town walls. He thought for a moment before deciding he would only be doing his smallest roads today. The Road of Water and finishing Fear's road. He would do more in the morning after he got up. Then he thought a little more about it. If he wanted to up his luck before he got wisdom to 100, wouldn't it be wise to try and get it to 100? Maybe what the Headmaster was really doing was giving him a hint without revealing too much.

If he got luck to 100 by doing the Road of Water and finishing Fear's road then he would only have 1 leftover for Wisdom. He could put that point to charisma to make it an even 50 and put 5 points into something else. A few seconds of thought later he decided Physical improvement would do nicely for those last few points he would need.

10 points went into the Road of Water.

Dante found himself sitting alone upon a cliff. Before him the ocean stretched all the way to the horizon. He took a breath of the salty air and felt the calm wind at his back. He watched the first notice roll in.

As the sun rapidly rises you find yourself upon a cliff overlooking the sea. Hearing the distant peel of thunder you look to find a storm brewing on the horizon. +2 Perception...

He looked but saw no storm upon the horizon. For a moment he was confused but then he saw the shadows moving. He felt the sun upon his back warming him. Looking back he saw the sun much higher than...holy shit that was moving fast!

Behind him he saw the sun rising high into the sky. Crossing sections of the sky in seconds that should have taken hours.

He felt the heat of the sun bearing down on him as the sun approached noon and then he saw something on the horizon. Rapidly he watched as clouds began to form over the ocean as he recalled something from grade school.

"Is this showing me the water cycle?" Dante asked with bemusement. He saw a near instant flash of light and a second later a peal of thunder. Followed near instantly by another and then another.

'That's fast.' He thought as he watched.

The storm has come in. You are drenched in the freezing rain...

The rain came and it was indeed freezing. He wanted to get up and find shelter but he suspected he shouldn't. That doing so would divert this road from what it was trying to show him. So, he decided to stick it out.

Bringing his elbows to his knees resting them there he interlaced his fingers and upon them rested his chin. He watched as all too quickly the lightning and thunder raged in front of him and in less than a minute it was on top of him.

...but you take this moment in stride seeking to observe. +2 Wis, You have obtained the affinity, water...

Dual affinity progression...

'Oh shit...well I suppose I should have thought that these roads might increase my wisdom. I wonder if water affinity increases wisdom...no probably spirit. Well too late now. I've already spent my points. What will be, will be.' He thought as a smile began to draw upon his face.

The storm rages around you, yet you feel no fear. Instead you find this moment a comfort. You marvell upon Nature's fury. +2 Spirit...

Affinity progression...

The lightning and the thunder were near constant around him. Several times he saw lightning strike the cliffs near him, but never seemed to strike within a certain distance of him. He watched waterfalls cascading down the cliff sides. Water had evaporated and become clouds, come down as rain, and now made its way to the ocean. The cycle was complete and yet never ending.

The sun sets and the storm has passed you by. You watch the sunrise and marvel upon the beautiful sight. +2 Cha...

The clouds parted and the storm dissipated as the sky was filled with the fiery red of a sunset. The second the sun touched the horizon however it seemed to take on a normal speed. So, Dante sat there for a few moments a bit cold and soaked but at least he got to watch a beautiful sunset. A small heat began to fill his chest helping him with the uncomfortable cold. He smiled and took a deep breath enjoying the view.

No sooner had the sun vanished beneath the horizon then did night descend like a ton of bricks. The moon rose up into the sky and just as quickly began its descent.

The stars looked so beautiful and clear tonight.

Now that he thought about it did he even recognize any constellations? Was this even...The sudden notice shaking him from his amazement.

You look upon the vast night sky in search of the familiar constellations of him, but find only unfamiliar stars. +2 Per...

Congratulations! You have completed the Road of Water I! +2 to all regens...

The Road of Water II has opened to you!...

Was it that this world was running fast and he was normal or that he was running slow and the world passed him by at normal speed. He may never know.

This Road had been different from the other's he had walked before. But it had, mostly, been a pleasant experience.

Another notice greeted him as he came back to himself.

Congratulations! Your stamina regen has exceeded 100!...

Tireless I Road has opened to you!...

'Huh...well I don't think I should do Fears road now. Let's just run through the Physical improvement road and it should be enough and shouldn't give me points in wisdom. Hopefully...' He thought, careful not to invite ill fortune by voicing his concerns.

Before he walked the next road though he decided to distribute the 10 he had right now since he would be doing the Physical improvement road.

Staring at his status he made every odd number even all save for the 99 in wisdom.

1 to Con, Dex, Int, Cha, Per and 5 to End.

He actually only needed 5 more points to get both Wisdom and Endurance to 100. How about that?

He was about to put 5 points in when he remembered the advice he had been given and why he decided on the original plan. Though he was rethinking which road to take besides Physical improvement.

Screw it he would just pick something random and throw 5 points in after he got luck and Wisdom to 100.

25 points went into the Physical Improvement I road.