"I should head back now," Kael said as he jumped down. Evening had fallen, and a golden hue spread across the horizon. The wound on his chest had stopped bleeding, but he grimaced every time he moved. He was slower on his way back and got to the inn after dark. The receptionist had gotten used to him but gave him a weird look after seeing the horrific wound on his chest, though he said nothing about it.
It wasn't his job to care about his tenants; he just handed him the key. Kael didn't go to his room, instead he went to the apothecary to purchase some ointment for the wound. On his way there, he was met with strange looks from the local residents, with some even pointing, but he just ignored them.
On his way back, he purchased a new set of clothes. 'I haven't been this exhausted since I came to this world,' he thought as he took off his ragged clothes. He carefully applied the ointment on the wound, and the cool sensation from the medicine was a welcome reprieve. He then proceeded to lie on his bed and drift off to sleep.
He slept the whole night and woke up the next day. His wound had healed as he slept, leaving a scar that resembled claw marks, a testament to the brutal endeavor he had survived. He traced his fingers across the scars, as if imprinting them in his mind. He put on the clothes he had bought and left Willowest. He had two days left before the escort mission.
He arrived late in the afternoon late in the afternoon and went straight to mission hall. "I've completed the grimeback mission," He said as he pretended to reach into his bag and willed the container into his hand from his storage before handing it over. The young man behind the counter took the container and opened it. He took out the gull and scrutinized it before nodding his head and putting it back. "The gull mission was five hundred credits." He said as he transferred the money.
Kael didn't stay any longer and left for cultivation hall. "I want to book a room for three hours," Kael said to the elder at the reception. "That will be three hundred and sixty credits." Kael didn't hesitate and transferred the credits. "You remember the way there?" "Yes, I do." "Good, I'll send someone when your time is up." The elder said as he went back to whatever he was doing. Kael went down the hallway to the cultivation room sector. He was looking for a vacant room when one of the doors opened. A girl the same age as him walked out, and their gazes met. She had long blonde hair that fell to her waist, emerald eyes that didn't just look-they judged, pale skin untouched by blemishes, and thin pink lips.
They stood there looking at each other, observing each other. Kael was about to say something when she just nodded at him and left. He stood there in a stupor for a moment before shaking his head and going in. He sat down in the middle and started cultivating.
Time slowly ticked by, and his body finally reached its limit. He didn't stop and continued to cultivate until he heard a pop sound, and a faint pulse rippled out. 'Fifth stage of the awakening realm. Now I've done everything I can with the time I had.' His three hours weren't up yet, so he continued to cultivate.
'Your time is up,' A man said from outside. Kael opened his eyes and stood up. 'Two more stages and I'll break through to the form tempering realm.' He thought as he walked out. He walked out of cultivation hall and stood there gazing up at the tranquil night sky, the lofty moons illuminating all under their gaze, the cool night breeze brushing against his skin. He stood there for a moment, reminiscing about distant memories. Even though in this foreign world danger loomed in every corner, it still held breathtaking beauty.
With a resolute look on his face, he once again looked at the moons and uttered, "Under the heavens, you shall bear witness to my trials and struggles on my way to the top.' After that, he went to his house. He got his place and took out the Velshade blossom from his storage. 'If I sell you to Alchemy hall, I can get a good number of credits, or even have you refined into a pill or elixir.' He thought about it for a moment, then decided against it and put it back.
'I still have one hundred and forty credits left. I'll head to combat hall tomorrow and look for a skill. I noticed during the fight that while I may have skills with high explosive power, I lack those with penetrative power.'
While he was thinking, Draven came knocking. Kael opened the door and let him in. "You're already back from the mission?" He asked as he sat down. "I just got back today." "How was it? Did you run into anything interesting out there?" Kael had a flashback of his fight with the miretongue serpent and the grimeback. " Nothing interesting, I just ran into a miretongue serpent while searching for the grimeback," Kael said nonchalantly. Draven's eyes widened, "Tell me everything." He said with childlike excitement. Kael chuckled, then proceeded to tell him about his encounter, leaving out the part about the Velshade blossom. "We have to go on a mission together sometimes, there doesn't seem to be a dull moment when you're involved. The ones I take usually involve collecting herbs for pills," Draven said as he got up.
"When I come back from the escorting mission we will, but first you have to reach the third stage, even better if you reach the fourth stage. It's dangerous out there and I can't always ensure your safety, "Kael said. "I will cultivate like a madman, I've saved up enough credits to use the cultivation rooms a couple of times, don't worry about it," Draven said in a serious tone. After hearing that, Kael just smiled and nodded. The two bid each other goodbye, and Draven went back to his place. Kael stood there for a moment, he couldn't say when, but somehow, this clumsy, carefree person had become his close friend. He chucked to himself and went back to his bed, sat down, and started cultivating.
The next day he went to combat hall. "Oh, you're back. I hope you've prepared adequately for the mission." Instructor Joel asked. Kael nodded his head and said, "I have, I just came to look for a skill with good penetrative power." Instructor Joel stroked his beardless chin, "Hmm, there are some good ones in the catalogue, but I'll leave that to you, follow me." He said as he got up.
They went into the room, and Kael placed his hand on the crystal ball. After browsing for a while, he settled on Sky Piercer and Crimson Drill Burst. Sky Piercer focuses the user's essence into a single point, releasing it in a concentrated beam at the target, effective in short to mid-range fights. It cost him seventy credits. The other one, crimson drill burst, was a fire-based attack that condensed the flames into the shape of a drill. The more it spins, the more its penetration force increases that it can burn through iron. This one also cost him another seventy credits, leaving him with nothing.
'I'm back to being broke again.' Kael frowned as they left the room. Instructor Joel saw his expression and laughed as he patted his back. "You look worse than I did after finding out my wife cheated on me. Cheer up, once this mission is over, you'll have more than enough credits to cover your losses here today." 'Is that something you should go around announcing?' Kael thought as he looked at the man beside him.
"Remember to be there on time tomorrow, we will be leaving early. The rendezvous point is in the city, so don't be late, or else we'll leave you behind. "I'll be there," Kael said, then left. 'What an interesting boy, he tries to hide it, but I can tell he's already at the fifth stage. Everyone has their secrets, so I won't pry, but I hope it doesn't bring trouble. It would be a pity to lose him.' Instructor Joel said with a sigh and went back to his business.