The Glimmerwood was different now. With the trial complete and his class advanced to [Spirit Shaman], Lucas felt a tangible shift in his connection to the ancient forest. The air hummed with a clarity he hadn't perceived before, and the [Forest's Blessing] buff felt less like a temporary aid and more like a natural extension of his own senses.
His first priority was to understand the mechanics of his new path. The [Spirit Pact] skill was a mystery. What were "Minor Nature Spirits," and how did one form a pact with them?
He didn't wander aimlessly. He stood still, closed his eyes, and focused his [System Insight], now amplified by the +5 INT from his new ring. He pushed it outwards, not at a single object, but at the environment itself. The world resolved into a new layer of data. He saw the flow of mana through the glowing moss, the life-force of the silver-barked trees, and, shimmering at the edge of his perception, faint, ethereal forms that were previously invisible.
He had his targets.
He approached one of the forms, a small, floating cluster of mossy, glowing rocks that drifted lazily near a stream. It was a [Minor Earth Spirit], non-aggressive and radiating an aura of stability and resilience.
He activated [Spirit Pact]. It wasn't a targeting skill, but a channel. A system window appeared, soft and ethereal.
[The Minor Earth Spirit acknowledges your intent. It requires an offering that shares its nature: a symbol of resilience and defense.]
It was a puzzle, a negotiation. Lucas opened his inventory, his mind quickly cataloging his resources. Ore? Too common. A piece of armor? Too artificial. Then his eyes landed on a monster part he had saved from his very first strategic victory. A [Crimson Quillboar Quill]. It was a perfect symbol of tough, natural defense.
He offered the quill. The item dissolved into particles of light that were absorbed by the spirit. The spirit pulsed with a soft, brown light and then flew into Lucas's chest, a new icon appearing in his interface under a "Spirit Attunement" slot. The pact was formed.
Now for the test. He needed a worthy opponent. The forest, guided by his [Forest's Blessing], seemed to understand. His path was soon blocked by a [Glimmerwood Prowler], a sleek, panther-like Level 14 beast of shadow and claw that relied on blinding speed. Before his advancement, this would have been an impossible fight.
The Prowler lunged at Kael, its claws a blur. The attack connected, and a significant chunk of Kael's health vanished.
Lucas reacted instantly, his voice a calm command. "Imbue Essence: Earth."
A faint, rocky aura enveloped Kael. His fur seemed to take on the texture of stone. The Prowler struck again, but this time, its claws scraped against Kael's flank with a dull, grinding sound, doing less than a third of the previous damage. The wolf had become a bastion of defense.
"Imbue Attack," Lucas commanded next.
Kael's own claws began to glow with a brown, earthy light. He met the Prowler's next lunge with a counter-attack. The blow itself did moderate damage, but the Prowler stumbled, a [Slow] debuff now pulsing above its head. Its greatest advantage, its speed, had been nullified.
The entire dynamic of the fight had been rewritten in seconds. The swift, deadly predator was now a slow, clumsy beast, and the durable wolf was an unbreakable wall. Ten minutes later, the Prowler fell.
This was the power of the Spirit Shaman. He hadn't gained another wolf, but he had gained the ability to give his one wolf the perfect tool for any fight.
With his new abilities tested and understood, he knew it was time to leave. The [Forest's Blessing] guided him back to the forest's edge. As he stepped out of the Glimmerwood, the buff faded, and the vibrant, magical hum of the world was replaced by a familiar quiet.
He opened his quest log.
[Quest Update: A Daughter's Hope]
[Objective: Return to Baelin the Blacksmith in Whispering Pines Crossing.]
The Sunpetal seed was planted, but it needed time. He couldn't complete the quest yet. Or could he? He focused his [System Insight] on the quest text itself, searching for a hidden variable, a new path. The green text shimmered into view.
[Hidden Sub-Objective: While the Sunpetal grows, Baelin must prepare his forge for the complex enchantment process. He requires 'Heart Iron Ore' from the deepest mines of the Ironpeak Mountains and 'Ashwood Coals' from the petrified trees of the Ashen Fields.]
New quest markers appeared on his map. He didn't have to wait. The journey to build his new gear was its own adventure. His path was once again clear, a series of logical, strategic steps on the road to power.