The next morning, Kael sat with Balen in the longhouse as the old leader explained what he could about the world Kael had found himself in.
"There are two main languages used across the continent," Balen began, sipping from a wooden cup. "The hunter tongue, which is the most common—used by traders, travelers, and warriors. And then there's the Ardinian script, spoken mostly in the eastern highlands."
Kael tilted his head. "What does the Ardinian language sound like?"
Balen gave a slight grin and said a few phrases in the other language.
To Kael's ears, the words were harsh and unfamiliar—deep consonants followed by flowing, rolled vowels. He frowned. It reminded him of Russian with a strange Spanish undertone. The blend was jarring, like two languages trying to fuse together without fully succeeding. It sounded incredibly difficult to learn.
"Most don't bother with it unless they plan to live much further east," Balen added.
Kael nodded slowly. The familiarity in the structure and cadence kept his curiosity alive. Could someone from Earth have come here before him and left their mark? He pushed the thought aside—for now.
"Do all adventurers use the hunter tongue?" Kael asked.
"Nearly everyone does, especially among the guilds and city-states," Balen replied. "Even magic users—unless they're doing formal spellcasting. That sometimes uses older dialects."
Kael took a breath. "I have a magic skill. It's called Minor Teleport."
Balen's eyebrows lifted. "Teleportation? That's uncommon. Most who can use it are powerful court mages or rare-class adventurers. Show me?"
Kael demonstrated by shifting a small stone from one hand to the table. Then another inch to the left. Then two inches into a nearby cup.
Balen leaned closer, his expression tightening with concentration. "You can control it with that much precision?"
Kael nodded. "It only works on non-living things, and only if I can see the target area. But it helps."
The village leader shook his head in amazement. "That level of control is rare. Even basic teleportation magic is clumsy and short-ranged for most. You're using yours more creatively than some seasoned mages." Kael smiled.
Later, Kael stood alone near the village outskirts. His mind was turning over everything he'd learned. Then he pulled open his status screen.
Level: 25
Unspent Stat Points: 45
He didn't hesitate.
+45 Intelligence
The moment he confirmed the allocation, a current of clarity rushed through his thoughts. His mind felt lighter, quicker. Threads of ideas wove together more naturally, and logic felt instinctual.
With his Intelligence now at 100, the change was clear. Spell strain eased. His awareness deepened.
He activated Omni-Vision to test it.
The world lit with layers of motion and shape. Patterns emerged in the wind, the curve of leaves, even the energy pulsing beneath the soil.
He kept it active.
One minute passed. Then two. Then five.
Ten full minutes.
There was no pain.
He ended the skill with a slow exhale, his vision clearing. The difference was enormous.
"Definitely worth it," he murmured.
The village had shown him that the world was larger than he knew. Now his mind was sharper, and he was finally starting to see just how far he could go.