Morning had arrived. The 23rd morning. Upon logging into RR for the first time you had a 1 month confinement within the city walls with exceptions of going out for quests only. I could try to get one of those quests to try and level up and train my skill proficiency levels but I could also go to the intelligence guild and submit the recommendation letter I got from Monarch.

Ah what the hell nothing like making a life changing decision early in the morning.

I went down to grab my pantry for some breakfast first. While I was grabbing some toast and milk, Elena came in and stopped me.

"Hold it right there son. Monarch came to tell me about what he gave you last night while he was having a drink here. Today's a special day for you and I want to help. I know how much this means to an aspiring adventurer such as yourself so let me make you breakfast instead. Treat it as a gift for working so hard in place of my assistant."

She walked off into the kitchen and I could hear the jingling of pans and frying of the oil. Before she was even done with the food, a strong aroma that I could smell from way out atop the bar counter drove itself into my nose. It was the first time I had seen Elena cook. Usually the cooks are the one responsible for the food while Elena manages the counter so she can supervise the floor and assign rooms. Needless to say her skill in cooking should be at a godly level for me to be able to smell the food before it was even presented in front of me.

She came out shortly with what looked to be a burger with scrambled eggs at the side.

"Dig in. It should help you before you go to the intelligence guild."

What sort of burger and scrambled eggs can have an aroma which one could detect from more than 10 meters away?!

My first bite of the burger gave me the answer i needed to know. The buns were perfectly steamed with sesame seeds in them. The added crunch by the sesame seeds complemented the smooth meat and dressing inside the burger. The meat was undoubtedly the store specialty, boar's meat. (Thus the name of the inn) But the way she had prepared the meat was so different compared to the usual roasting. I did not know what godly technique she had used but the meat was firm and smooth but the moment i bit down on it, savoury juices were overflowing in my mouth. The dry cold lettuce then helped to absorb some of the overflowing moisture and the honey mustard in it added a tinge of sweetness and sourness the meat itself couldn't provide. It was paradise in my mouth.

I quickly took a bite from the scrambled eggs, half in shock due to overwhelming taste bud stimulation. The seemingly normal scrambled eggs were just as shocking. They looked normal but I didn't know how she did it, within the scrambled eggs were melted warm cheese that oozed into my mouth the moment i bit on the eggs. The amount of salt and pepper used were also immaculate. Just one simple dish of scrambled eggs could send me to heaven right there and then.

You have tasted the Special Breakfast prepared by Elena!

Elena is a stern innkeeper who usually doesn't show goodwill to people unless you've earned it. This is one such case. Furthermore, her cooking skill is in the advanced level.

All stats +5 for 2 hours upon consuming this extraordinary breakfast cooked from her master hands.

"Wow thanks Elena! This was great. I'm off to see what I have to do with your blessing then. Wish me luck!"

I would be a fool not to take any chances of an initiation test now with bonus stats for 2 hours. Off to the intelligence guild I go then.

The intelligence guild was at the opposite corner of town from where the inn was situated in. As i was walking there, I grew to appreciate this lovely town of Junad. Sure it wasn't an extremely big town like the Rosenheim Kingdom or the Niflheim Empire but Junad was a pretty place in its own right.

The town square was where I first spawned. It was meant for activities and events whenever the mayor of the town wanted to organise something. Just beside the town square was the ever bustling marketplace. All the daily necessities could be found there with players, especially merchants setting shop there. With the town square as the centre of the town, it was divided into the North, South, East and West spines.

The North spine was home to warriors. Everything you needed as a warrior was there. The blacksmithing shop, the heavy armour shop, the training hall (The Boar's Head as well since its near the training hall), the warriors guild.

The South spine was of course the complete opposite and where I was headed to. The magic shop, enchanting shop, the grand library, intelligence guild and cloth armour shops were all located in this spine.

The West spine was more of the thieve's part of the land. The traps shop, leather armour shops, agility guild and even some sneaky information shops could be found in this part of the city.

Finally the East spine was the holy people's land. The town of Junad was under the protection of the god Loki so a church of Loki was erected there. Blessings could be found in the church which were useful before one went hunting on quests but the queue was disdainly long. The followers of Loki were not all prim and proper, celibacy and holier than thou as the other priests though. They were a lot more carefree in the way they pay respects to their god but of course they have their own rules.

I went through the marketplace and town square to get to the South spine and there it stood, a magnificently designed intelligence guild. Even though it was a bit on the small side.

"Good Morning adventurer! My name is Grendel. How can I help you today?" A bespectacled old man greeted me. It was your usual mage stereotype. White haired, bearded, wearing a pointy hat dressed in cloth robes with a mysterious sort of voice.

I guess some stereotypes in games should never be broken.

"Hi I was asked by Monarch from the training hall to pass this letter of recommendation to the intelligence guild. Can you please help?" I answered as I passed the letter to Grendel.

"That's odd. Recommendation letter from the training hall. Haven't seen one in years. Alright let me read this hold on.."

"WHAT? Ability to manipulate mana and imbude it into sword play?! Son, you managed to get your hands on the mana manipulation skill????" Grendel stared at me. Wide eyed and seemingly in awe.

"Err yeah... Is that a problem?" I asked not sure how to respond.

"YES OF COURSE IT'S A PROBLEM! The only one I have ever seen with that skill is the founder of this guild. This means only he can truly gauge your potential and proficiency with that skill. The founder casts magic like I've never seen before and he says its thanks to that skill of his. A few of us tried to learn it from him but to no avail... It's a wonder how you even managed to get this skill. Well the founder is in today so let me get him for you. This should be an interesting day.." He said as he left his seat and gracefully sort of glided off deeper into the guild.

A few moments later, Grendel returned and escorted me to the master chambers. It was like a labyrinth with high walls and may turns but of course this labyrinth was well decorated with chandeliers from the celings and draping carpets of red and gold. We reached a long corridor and he took me straight to the end where two huge oaken doors stood. When I entered, I saw a wizard that looked even more stereotypical than the previous. This one had glasses which were twice as thick, had silver hair that gleamed with the lights and even brought along his staff, a huge oak staff that was around the same height as he was. About 6 foot long.

"Good Morning son, my name is Dumblemore. I am the owner of the Junad intelligence guild. I have heard about the details from Grendel. I can answer questions you have about that skill or other relevant information I can provide but I also have some questions I wish to ask you. Let's do it in a way such that each of us get one question and answer per turn and make it like a turn based Pokemon game or something. I'll give you the privilige to start first." He said with a faint smile on his face.

Oh great he's one of those mysterious ones that like to play games. This should be interesting.

"How rare is this mana manipulation skill? I asked first.

"Sufficiently rare I suppose. During my travelling times I have only seen mythical creatures or high level boss monsters with this skill and less humans than I have fingers around who know the skill. How did you get the skill?"

"I went to the library and red up all I can about mana, trying to understand it when I finally managed to fit the pieces together after reading 48 books. How did you get the skill?"

"During my adventuring times, I had to do a quest that involved a Sphinx. Sphinx are mythical creatures and this one demanded me one of two things. Either I solve a riddle or best it in battle. I was quite sure I would lose in a battle so I chose the riddle. It gave me a riddle and I answered correctly. However because I took so little time to solve it she was impressed and asked if I wanted to know about anything. Sphinxs are all seeing beings so they have a very complete understanding of the world. And during that point of time I was interested in mana so I asked about the essence of mana and it taught me about it. That was how I gained the skill. What sort of adventurer do you want to be?"

"I prefer to be a jack of all trades. I want to experience the exhilaration of close quarter combats along with the joy of using spells to manipulate the situation to my advantage. I will be adventuring with my friends to leave a mark on this continent, hopefully a legacy so I want to be that sort of adventurer. Have you tried teaching this skill to other people?"

"I have. Time and time again. I tried to teach them the way the sphinx taught me but I don;t know why it just didn't work. I think the skill works in such a way that only those they deem worthy can learn the skill. It must be based off an achievement or something and we the skill holders, cannot just impart the skill to other people by telling them the nature of mana. It sounds pretty simple but a deep understanding is hard to achieve and I think feats like you deducing everything yourself based on your own efforts along with my feat of impressing a sphinx gave us the chance to learn the skill. Simply telling another person how mana works will not give them the skill. This is what I've deduced so far and hopefully I can find out more now that I have met another individual who can use the spell. What affinities do you have already?"

"Currently I only have 5% to gravity and 6% to nature. What are some of the greatest feats you have performed using mana manipulation?"

"I'm sure you already know the many plus sides this skill has. Once you've played enough with it and leveled up your affinities, the possibilities are endless. There are many great quests I have embarked on and succeeded with this skill but every time I use it I already see it as a great feat. Just look."

9 round spheres appeared in front of me immediately, each a different colour and of course representing the different elements.

"I can use spells from 9 different elements at once. I can decide the scope of the magic. Even though you already know the mana cost is slightly higher due to absence of magic circles, when your affinities rise, the mana cost will not increase but the spell will be more potent so eventually this balances out. We can even create skills just by discovering how to utilise mana and if it is impressive enough, the system will let us retain that particular way of manipulation in form of a spell. The possibilities are endless and this is the best feat in itself. We can even utilise unknown elemental spells which I found to be very effective against creatures with high elemental resistances."

The 9 spheres of mana merged into one and a dark mass was formed.

"I can be your mentor in this skill and give you advice but it looks like the journey you want to embark on is very different from mine. You will probably manipulate mana along with swordsplay and I find that a very intruiging way to use the skill. Alright i guess this is the time. I will tell you something. There is a hidden class called elementalist which I can confer as guild master onto people who have attained the mana manipulation skill. However what you are looking for would be something more unique than that. As such the only thing I can think of is this. I can confer you classes based on my power as guild leader and only one fits your description in the long great history of this guild. The requirement is simple. You have to gain approval from two masters. One is myself which will cover the elementalist side. The other master is the one from the warriors guild which will cover the swordplay side. This class is special in the sense that you will be able to gain membership in both warrior and intelligence guilds. This will be my last qustion to you. "Will you accept?"

Quest Received : Dumblemore's Test

Dumblemore has briefed you about the properties of your skill and informed you that a hidden class exists that suits you. However this class can only be attained by getting approval from two different guild masters.

Difficulty Level : D

WIll you accept?

Yes|No

I don't see any other choice right. This is a once in a lifetime chance.

"Yes."

"Alright then lets begin with my test first. I have prepared this case specially for people who might have the same skill as me in future. I had no one to guide me so I had to do this all by myself. Your task is this : Gain elemental affinities with each of the 9 elements. Good luck."

WHAT?! WAIT. I got gravity already but it took me a week to get it. Now he wants me to get 8 affinities? WHAT?

"Pardon me but how long did you take to do this?" I asked before heading out of the room.

"A month. There is a trick to it though but I'm not going to tell you that. You need to find out for yourself." Dumblemore grinned.

With this seemingly inhumane task ahead of me, I weighed my options. I received the gravity affinity from wearing those godforsaken boots and realised the effects of Gravity the hard way... If i were to do the same thing one element by element I won't ever finish in time before I need to meet my friends. How should I go about doing this fast... If understanding let to me getting the gravity affinity, I only knew one way to go about doing it while doing it quickly.

At least I get to see Claire again. Pity the added stats weren't of much use though..

The grand library was just nearby so I rushed down and sure enough Claire was there.

"You didn't visit me for a week I thought you forgot about me" She pouted.

"So sorry. Listen I got even more research to do again so could you help me again? Pleaseeee?" I begged with the best puppy face I could.

"You don't have a very good puppy face. But sure I would help its my job to help people find the books anyway. What books would you like this time?"

"One book each on Fire, Water, Ice, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Light and Darkness elements."

"Usually mages specialise in a few elements you know. You sure are a weird one. Okay I will pass you the books. These are easier to find. Let's meet again at your usual spot."

Fifteen minutes later, Claire came back with what I requested and i realised how important she was to have around.

"Hey Claire, I will be here for the next few days so.. Lunch on me?" I asked.

"You will never be able to take that back." She agreed with a smile on her face.

Thus I begun my research all over again. However I could have not been more thankful for the Fast Reader skill I got. After finishing the Fire book I wasn't sure if I would be able to get it but sure enough I did.

New Elemental Affinity Gained : Fire

Affinity to Fire +5%

You have researched thoroughly about the properties of fire. Scientifically how fire is an exothermic process which consumes oxygen and the uses of it. You also have had firsthand experience with fire during your school experiments as well as helping out in the kitchen. The occasional burns you have suffered from has also helped further this understanding.

Wait this is a hint isn't it. I get that I have done my research on fire but I think usually this isn't enough to get the affinity. I got burnt pretty badly in primary school for playing with fire and this is mentioned in the bar. As I thought affinity requires not only understanding but also interaction. Got gravity I had the boots and for fire I had the experience of being burnt due to playing with fire... If i don't get affinities by reading each and every book I think I know what I need to do.

Sure enough after only 3 days in the library I managed to finish each element.Quite a feat considering that I still had only the mornings and some afternoons as I was still working at the Boar's Head. Without a doubt this must have happened only because my Fast Reader skill got to intermediate level 2. However, I have gotten only 4 elemental affinities from the books. Namely, fire, wind, water and ice. Which meant to say I needed more interaction with earth, lightning, light and darkness. I was sure about this. But how am I supposed to expose myself to these elements? They were hard to find interaction with compared to the 4 I already got. If wearing heavy boots could get me interaction with gravity.. Well lets try and give it a shot. I spent one day in the intelligence guild getting new apprentices to cast lightning spells on me. while i hired a new priest to use healing spells on me as i paid him. It also paid off. But electric shocks while they were at 2% pain threshold only in RR were not a pretty thing to experience. I spasmed for quite a bit and could barely stammer the words out after the electrifying experience.

New Elemental Affinity Gained : Lightning

Affinity to Lightning +5%

You have researched thoroughly about the properties of electricity. Scientifically electricity travels in a current which can be altered by conductors or insulators. You have also experienced many electric shocks repeatedly even though they are of a weak magnitude. This has helped you understand electricity at a basic level.

New Elemental Affinity Gained : Light

Affinity to Light +5%

You have researched thoroughly about the properties of light. Scientifically they exist as photons which are able to travel as a wave. However in the game light magic is not just creating light but also in the holy sense. You have sufficient knowledge about gods in this world to be able to understand holy magic. Also, having experienced holy magic many times helped you understand the soothing nature of the magic.

The last 2 affinities I had to get were for earth and darkness. I wonder how I could get those as earth mages were very rare and ability to use darkness spells were rare as hell too. I decided to go to the one person whom i knew had both to help.

"Sir could you help me for a bit? I just need you to use earth magic to toughen my defence for a bit and then use darkness curses or spells on me." I asked upon entering his room.

"HAHA so you figured it out. You needed both sufficient interaction as well as knowledge before affinity is granted to you. Very well I was prepared to help but not throughout. I assume you have all the other affinities already?"

I nodded.

"Okay but be prepared. I shall use earth magic to strengthen you up but for darkness magic, it is known to cause even more pain than fire or lightning ones so I will be having fun but you will not." Said Dumblemore with one of the most sadistic smiles I have ever seen an old man do.

Before I could even say anything it came. I felt the skin around me harden, becoming rock solid and a green glow could be seen forming around me.

Received Buff: Earth skin.

Received Buff: Nature's regeneration.

Defence + 50

Magic Defence +30

HP Regeneration +10/sec

"Dark bolt."

You have lost 100hp!

You have lost 100hp!

You have lost 100hp!

"OW. WHAT THE HELL OUCH. THAT WAS FAST. AND PAINFUL. Time out man one more and I would die!" I screamed.

The lightning spells usually just hit me for 20-30hp and this guy just blasts me for 300hp with one spell? And he's still reading his damn book not even looking at me!

"You have enhanced HP regeneration we can just keep doing this once your HP returns to full. Which is in 30 seconds. Yeap I'm controlling the spell so I know how much damage i'm doing to you. I thought you would have more than 300 hp and I was right. Lucky guess though if not." He winked.

If NPCs kill characters they dont get a red mark? Seems fair though cos NPC's dont get to respawn but we do. But this guy is secretly a sadist deep down inside isn't he?

"Let me expose you to different type of earth and darkness magics just for your gain as well."

He started using earth magic to damage me instead by impaling me with earth spikes from the ground or ceiling and cast debuffs on me with darkness magic instead, making me feel heavy, slow and I swear even impotent if there was such a feeling.

After a gruelling one hour of torture with Dumblemore I finally got what I wanted.

New Elemental Affinity Gained : Earth

Affinity to Earth +5%

You have researched thoroughly about the properties of earth. Scientifically earth can be related to mud, rocks, sand even the earth's crust itself. Thus, the main point of earth element is defence. It is also seen as holy to tribal people thus earth magic has many buff type skills. You have receiveed many earth buffs as well as damage so appreciation for the variety of properties earth magic has enabled you to understand this element.

New Elemental Affinity Gained : Darkness

Affinity to Darkness +5%

You have researched thoroughly about the properties of darkness. Scientifically darkness can only occur when there are no sources of light present, thus causing blindness as the sense of sight is dependent on light. In the game, darkness magic has a very negative allegiance to it. Darkness magic is associated with curses and pain. Seen especially with necromancers or voodoo classes, darkness magic is a powerful source of debuffs anddamage dealing spells which you have experienced firsthand. It is an element closely associated with infamy but also a very useful element to have.

"Alright I see that you have completed your quest with me. But five days thats shockingly fast for someone to attain affinities to all elements. I will tell you this. It is easy to get the basic level of affinities. But in order to level them up to higher percentages, understanding and experiencing them will not be enough. You have to help the elements themselves. Usually this can be in the form of quests for elementals or your everyday actions. Finding rare elements like the fire from a pheonix or pure darkness from a demon's essence can also help. For short, you will not be able to gain elemental affinities by just understanding them already. You need to broaden your exposure with them and not just through taking spells but finding out specific, intricate stuff that only adventure can bring you."

"Thanks for the advice. This will be extremely beneficial to me."

"Good. Your path as a swordspell will not be easy, but if you can manage to master both, you will be a force to reckon with and my goddamn pride and joy as a junior of mana manipulation. Now you should proceed with the next part of the test. Here is a letter of recommendation to the leader of the warrior guild. He will know what to do once he opens this letter. A word of advice, you need to put everything you have learnt from this first part into the next part if you even want a slight chance of succeeding in the test. May the gods be with you."

"Thanks for your help Dumblemore. I will do you proud as your junior. Look forward to hearing my good news." I said with more confidence than I actually felt.

This first half took me 5 days. And from the way he introduced the second half it seemed like it was only going to get harder and I have 3 days left before the deadline to meet with my friends again. This is going to be hard. But this shouldn't be easy. And it most certainly is going to be worth it.

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