"Just surprised is all, glass is made by melting silica dense materials, which is inorganic. A place so thick with decomposition should be unable to produce such material." Jonah explained it as plainly as he could, not knowing how much knowledge they had on mineral composition.
"Jonah, I'm an adventurer not an alchemist or whatever kind of subject you're talking about. If you're that curious though, take a sample and experiment with Dubious, sure he'll teach you what you need to know." When he was done speaking, he withdrew a sample box and passed it over to Jonah.
Jona held the opening of the box over the glassed earth and pressed it in, observing how easily it sunk in as well was surprising, but he wasn't sure if it was just his strength or the a result of the properties of the soil.
"Woah, what a show-off..." Lucas laughed as if to answer Jonah's unspoken question. "...Those creatures were higher level ones, what level are you at now?"
Jonah didn't reply at first, he finished taking the sample and sealing the box before he stored it and apologised for the wait and silence. He then pulled out his ID and unfolded it as his eyebrows raised, magnifying the anticipation building in the others.
"Well don't keep us in suspense." Orcette called, as Kayla began hopping on the spot, before groaning as Jonah just folded it back up and tossed it over to Lucas so he could see for himself.
Orcette and Kayla quickly shifted over to him and began hounding him as he mimed pushing them back and told them to settle down, then unfolded it for them all to look at together.
[Name] Jonah Quill
[Race] Angel (Unique)
[Class] Guardian Angel
[Charge] Orcette / Kayla
[Level] 4
[STR] 20
[DEX] 38
[CON] 600
[INT] 52
[HP] 4,500
[MP] 500
"I don't get it, only his DEX, CON and INT went up significantly." Orcette said as she tried to remember what the numbers looked like before.
"Well yeah, he hasn't really used the others too much, he's spent most of his time learning and taking a beating hasn't he?" Lucas asked, giving them a much better idea of how the stat increases work.
"He got some new skills as well Orcette, look."
[Blessed Shield] Racial skill that allows the guardian angel to focus spiritual energy into an equipped shield, greatly increasing its defensive ability and durability.
[Divine Form] Racial skill that temporarily makes the Angel's body invincible, but can only be used once a day. (Effect lasts for 60 secs.)
[Defence To Offence] Class skill that allows the guardian angel to flip the defensive abilities of his equipment to offensive, doing so shaves off significant durability but makes for a powerful weapon.
"Yeah, some pretty beasty ones too. If you guys want to share, now's the time." Lucas passed Jonah's ID back to him as he approached, then Orcette handed hers over to him.
[Name] Orcette
[Race] Orc
[Class] Shaman/Hunter
[Level] 3
[STR] 8
[DEX] 21
[CON] 22
[INT] 35
[HP] 73
[MP] 115
"Not bad, I'm surprised you didn't get more strength though and if this increase is right, then Jonah has been letting you get into plenty of trouble. I don't remember you getting hurt that badly though."
"Did you get hurt and not tell us?" Kayla asked as she began looking her over.
"I'm fine, I think it's because I used HP to cast that last spell on the snake." Orcette was only guessing of course, but that seemed to make the most sense, though it also made Jonah feel bad for pushing her.
"I'm sorry, that's my fault, I didn't know over-casting would cost you HP. At least you got some new skills too, that should lighten the burden."
[Shaman's Sacrifice] Class skill that allows more determined Shaman to sacrifice HP at a more efficient exchange rate. HP cost is reduced by 5%.
[Tribal Spirit] Class skill that works in tandem with [Shaman's Sacrifice] increasing the base HP cost reduction by 5% per party member, up to 50%.
[Commanding Presence] Class skill that reduces base cost of casting by 10%.
"What? I didn't even look at the skills, I just looked at the stats!" Orcette shouted and grabbed her ID back before grinning and holding it out proudly, earning a sincere round of applause from Kayla.
"It really is impressive, but applause worthy... I have yet to see. Come on, Kayla, time to show us yours." Lucas said as he patted her on the head, before she pulled it out and grimaced, then made to hide it.
"Kayla, no need to be embarrassed. You didn't have Orcette's head start and you haven't landed as many finishing blows as me, but we can't help you grow if we don't know what you're capable of doing."
Kayla squirmed a bit, then pulled out her ID and gave it to Lucas before burying herself into Orcette and covering her ears, too anxious to hear or look at it.
[Name] Kayla Simmons
[Race] Human
[Class] Rogue/Scout
[Level] 2
[STR] 10
[DEX] 59
[CON] 8
[INT] 34
[HP] 6
[MP] 25
"Why the hell were you embarrassed, kid!?..." Lucas roared as he nodded his head in approval. "...Seriously, these are some decent stats, especially considering your age. Maybe do some physical training and light contact sparring, that will round out your STR and CON."
"Yeah, Kayla. You got some great skills too!..." Kayla had removed her hands from her ears when they did nothing to muffle Lucas' voice and focused on holding onto Orcette as she read out the skill descriptions.
[Reflexive Strike] Class skill that makes the rogue to automatically attack a perceived threat on detection. Can only target creatures with 5 levels of the rogue/
[Night-Time Scouting] Class skill that makes the scout able to see clearer in darkness, but they aren't able to make out colours.
[Internal Compass] Class skill that renders the scout immune to disorientation.
"Hear that, Kayla? that skill makes this place a walk in the park as long as we have you. Even I get turned around when I leave the central path, as you just saw for yourself."
"Yeah, I think you just became the most important member of the party on expeditions. With you around, we won't ever get lost since you can lead us back home." Jonah offered, unable to see that she was now burying her face simply because she was embarrassed at how much of a fuss they were making.
"Okay, that's enough! Mum always said compliments would make my head too big to fit through doors!" The outburst caused the others to chuckle and she huffed in an attempt to hide how happy it made her to be complimented by everyone.
"Yeah, yeah trooper, don't get your bloomers in a twist. Why don't you lead the way for a bit? You've proven pretty good with throwing-knives, so you can have my ones until we reach the end of the dungeon. They are expensive though, so be careful and don't lose any please."
Lucas unfastened one of the pouches from his belt and affixed it to hers. When he was finished, she opened the bag and took one out to inspect it.
It was about six-inches long and made of a material she didn't recognise, one which gleamed both light green and gold, reminding her of Jonah's eyes when he looked at Orcette and on the end was a hoop.
"I love them! How expensive exactly?"
"Ten gold-coins a knife kid..." Lucas laughed, amused by the way she suddenly acted like breathing on it would break it. "...It's made of Orichalcum and powdered dragon-tooth, boded with Cobalt. They are damn near indestructible, that's why I said "don't lose any" and not don't break any."
"Okay, I'll be..." Kayla trailed off, then she turned to Orcette in a way that was so rigid, mechanical and creep she made her flinch. "...Orcette, give me the tent repair kit we got from Granny."
"Okay, fine, but please don't creep me out like that." Orcette withdrew the kit and handed it over and then they all watched she tied a long leather strip meant for sealing tent rips into the hoop of one of the knives.
"Not as long as I was hoping, but if the monster isn't too far away I can pull it back."
"Not a bad plan, but can you sti-" Before Lucas even finished asking if she could still use it, Kayla was spinning it on the leather strip and even throwing and fishing it back like a pro.
"A tribe my parents met once when they took me and my brother with them, used things like this to fish and catch birds. They were very impressed with how good I was, that was when Mum said I wouldn't fit through doors."
"Yeah, well, your mum was silly. Being proud of that is pretty normal, I know people that spend months or even years trying to get that good at similar styles and you said you used it to catch fish and birds?" Lucas was struggling to keep his mouth closed.
"Yeah, but I wasn't that good... I couldn't reel them back before the birds touched the ground because of the weight."
"Jonah, I know you don't like gifts, but as Assistant-Master of the guld, it's my duty to nurture talent when I see it, can I gift her one of the knives?"
"Acceptable, but I'll have Gregor make the chain."
"No, don't get me wrong, he's great but I have another idea for a craftsman."
Jonah made a gesture to give his approval and Lucas nodded back. "I think it'll be about thirty gold for a good length, no point having a chain weaker than the blade, but there will be a wait so if you want to have Gregor make a temporary chain then do."
"Hear that Kayla? That knife is yours now, if you lose it, that's it."
"Really!? Thank you Lucas!" The gesture was accompanied by a quick turn and bow as she let the leather coil up her arm before the knife came to a stop gently hanging over the opposite shoulder.
"That's fine..." Lucas' eyes flicked between Orcette and Jonah briefly before coming to a stop on his own boots. "...Err, can you try teaching me that sometime?"
"Sure! It's e-"
"Kayla, we don't say things that might later crush people's self-esteem." Jonah interrupted with a sharp shake of his head.