Dear Mom and Dad, it's me Morris. I'm writing this message down on my journal, eh who am I kidding, it's a diary. A diary of a wimpy Author to say the least, oops I'm getting side tracked, I just found myself a new job that comes a house. I fulfilled your wishes in getting you a grand kid and a pet, and I hit a major gold mine since he's three for one offer of being a kid, a pet, and my eternal slave. The only thing missing is romance but I'm not in a rush, with how my long relationship of maybe half a decade or so went horribly wrong sincerely your son Christoper-
"Morris!!! This isn't the time to write? I'm gonna die at this rate. Agh I hate this damn place, curse these plant bastards." The situation was dire, Esther near deaths door as the maws of an overgrown plant monsters jaws were barely held back by her sword.
"Esther are you alright?" Kyo Min Soo made it in time, as his transformed right arm easily tears through the overgrown plant monster.
"Watch out!" She pushes Kyo Min Soo to the side and tore away on an incoming thorny vine that could've left him incapacitated.
"You guys are helpless," With a snap of Morris's finger, the three were surrounded in a circle of fire, burning the monsters in it's range.
"What's the point of being talented when you can't even handle this on your own? How bout we take a break? You guys look like shit," He closed his journal as the rest of the monsters lying in wait retreats with the presence of fie.
'This place is made to highlight the mage profession, considering the enemy isn't a person but rather the environment itself.'
"Thank God you know a spell to ward off those plant fuckers! I hate this place. Why did you pick this place even when you know our line up?" The gash and deep cuts around her body slowly vanishes by the touch of rejuvenation Morris had applied with his hand.
"Challenges birth results. If you're a warrior then act like it. This is the perfect way to harness your strength. A test of endurance in a nutshell." After he's done catering Esther's wounds, a small portion of Heal was applied to Kyo Min Soo to seal off his cuts.
"Boss isn't this a little too obvious? Just because I'm a guy, and Esther's a girl- ow. Why did you flick my head." The young beast pouted from the actions done by his guardian.
"Idiot. If I heal you at full then you won't learn to control your regeneration. Your body naturally heals but I want you to learn how to control it." Hearing this Kyo Min Soo complexion brightens up as he showed concerns for his growth.
'I hate this mentality of his. A day only just passed since I forcibly awaken his transformation. But his personality is drastically changing.'
The awakening of the ancestral blood was both the signifier of Kyo Min Soo's monstrous growth and his problematic transformation. His primal nature of a wolf slowly tries to infest his mind, rewiring his mind in ways similar to a permanent change of personality. Even now, the child who was afraid to be injured now yearns carnage and pain no longer an issue due to his regeneration.
'I'm feeling guilty trying to reshape this kid to whatever I want. The last thing I want is a carbon copy of myself. But I need to. I might be a little extreme at some point, however I have my reasoning to back it up for whatever I do. Kyo Min Soo on the other hand is being influenced by his primal nature, if I can't steer him at the right direction then he'll become something I can't control.'
"So Morris what are we in here for? The dilapidated grove isn't the best place to begin with. Our last fight speaks for itself-"
"Shhh..." Morris's index finger smudge her lips shut as the environment suddenly went silent.
"Is it an enemy?" Kyo Min Soo's eyes grew bright red, his right arm transformed, bloodlust steadily increases.
"..." Esther kept her mouth shut on the other hand, she reached her back pocket, tightly brandishing her spare dagger.
"Take it easy gang. I only shush Esther for the fun of it. Also don't judge my actions. You can trust me enough that I won't kill you." Although he acts quite arrogant, he bravely stepped out of his own protective spell, as countless plant based monsters swarms for the kill.
"Because if I really wanted to kill you, then I wouldn't have to lead you on for so long. I've had countless of chances. But I don't want to." Dozens of vines thrust upon him, their aim strictly targeting his most vulnerable side, yet their action's were all for naught.
"Unlike other mages I'm awfully good at combat. Apart from that I'm quite capable of casting powerful spells. So don't question me." The magic circle beneath him lights up as the mana within him pours steadily and a searing heat erupts to flash and burn his surroundings.
[System: The player Christoper Morris has fully comprehended the circle formula of the selected spell [Ignite]!
Circle incantation: Unlike chanting this form of spell activation has no drawback of a charge up, yet its effects and quality depends on the circle formula accuracy.
Outcome: Your circle formula accuracy is beyond the quality of a beginner, thus amplifying the effects of formulated spell.]
'Just as I thought, the mage profession really is my expertise. Even with a poor mana capacity I still hit like a truck. Magics output fundamentally lies in the casters understanding. So even if the person in question is weak, unless he's the one who wrote this entire power system, then he'll be incredibly strong. Circle incantation will be my ace if I wanna lay down some traps or create a powerful spell without a charge up.'
"Oh, I also forgot. The reason why were here is to enter a trial. My Intel said there's a hidden challenge resting in this gruesome place." As the flames burnt his surroundings, their pointless traversal seemingly led them to the entrance of the trial.
"Oh lucky us. We found it without even trying. What are the odds am I right? Don't look at me like that Esther. Come one gang, let's go." The sharp probing stare of Esther's eyes felt piercing, yet he still kept his attitude to no end, but even this was a part of his plan.
'No matter how tiring it is, I need to keep this arrogant facade for long. Esther has a deep hatred for mages. I can't show any weaknesses to her or else she'll see me as nothing more than a common support carry. If I want to keep her in my clutches I'll have to make her rely on me so much so that she's dependent on me.'
As the three entered the opening of the burnt opening of the tree, they found themselves at the entrance of a forgotten temple. Without any warning, each one of them got caught in a forced capture as their body's remained frozen even as they sense the trap. Kyo and Esther's complexion bore a worrisome expression whilst their leader on the other hand remains composed to the very end.
'Thats it... rest easy, Esther and Kyo Min Soo. The trial of the forgotten temple will benefit you more than I could. This place holds a trial of passage, its beneficial for anyone wanting to start a campaign in my novel and was an optimal strategy. Just by clearing this trial will raise the challengers skills depending on their clear time, so make sure you guys beat it with as soon as possible