With the decision made – Silverhaven, Elder Jian, and the [Broken Twin Blade Hilt] were his primary objectives – Drake needed funds for the journey. His roughly 190 Gold felt insufficient for a potentially long trek through unknown, higher-level territories. He turned back from the Oakhaven city gate where he'd paused to check his stats, and began efficiently working through the low-level quests available in the immediate outskirts.
The difference [Relentless Assault] made was astonishing. Engaging Level 10 Forest Predators or Level 11 Giant Beetles became almost trivial. His perfected 100% SCR [Basic Slash] and [Defend] meant every action contributed optimally to the passive skill's stacks. << Relentless Assault: +21 Stacks! >> << Relentless Assault: +42 Stacks! >> ... Within seconds of engaging a mob, the buff would cap out at 1000 stacks. << Relentless Assault: 1000 Stacks! (+100% Physical Damage, +50% Attack Speed) >>
Under the effect of the maxed buff, Drake became a whirlwind. His [Well-Used Longsword] blurred, striking almost twice in the time it normally took for one swing. Each 100% SCR hit, already potent due to perfect execution and the [Flawless Strike] title, now landed with doubled force, amplified further by critical hits from his gear and stats. Mobs simply evaporated. Quest requiring eight [Beetle Carapaces] was completed in minutes, the combat almost an afterthought.
<< Quest Complete: [Pelt Procurement]! Reward: 380 EXP, 70 Copper Coins! >> << Quest Complete: [Clearing the Woods]! Reward: 410 EXP, 85 Copper Coins! >>
"Okay, killing things at my level or slightly higher? No problem at all. [Relentless Assault] makes it almost boringly fast. But finding Jian isn't going to involve killing waves of mobs. He's a recluse, according to Kallan. Finding him might mean searching hidden archives, following obscure clues. And the Hilt... understanding it probably requires deciphering Alvari lore or finding related artifacts, not just brute force."
He realized his current skillset, optimized purely for combat execution, was potentially ill-suited for the actual challenges of his chosen primary quest. He needed a way to see the unseen, to find the hidden. He needed a skill focused on perception and discovery.
Finishing his current quick quest, Drake headed back into Oakhaven city, this time with a specific purpose beyond banking or basic training. He bypassed the Warrior's Guild and the market district, heading towards the quieter, more scholarly parts of the city – the Great Oakhaven Archive, the small buildings housing various academic guilds, the shops dealing in antiquities and rare books.
He subtly inquired with NPCs – librarians, acolytes, guards – using his [Known Hand] title to elicit slightly more helpful responses. "Are there any tutors who teach... advanced perception?" "Know anyone skilled in finding hidden mechanisms or ancient markings?" Most directed him towards Rogue trainers (for stealth/traps) or Mage guilds (for detecting magic), neither quite what he sought.
His search eventually led him, much like his previous exploration, to a dusty, neglected corner of the main Archive building. There, amidst towering stacks threatening to collapse under the weight of forgotten lore, sat the same eccentric NPC he'd noted before: Archivist Hemlock, seemingly oblivious to the world beyond the complex celestial chart spread before him.
Drake approached again. "Archivist Hemlock? Forgive my interruption, but I seek training in enhancing perception – specifically, in noticing details related to ancient relics or hidden things."
Hemlock looked up, adjusting his spectacles, his eyes surprisingly sharp behind the thick lenses. "Hidden things? Ancient traces?" He squinted at Drake. "Not satisfied with merely hitting things, eh? Most adventurers are..." He trailed off, seeming to look through Drake for a moment. "There is a discipline... mostly forgotten. Not about seeing farther, but seeing deeper. Perceiving the echoes, the inconsistencies, the hidden signatures left by time and magic. The Relic Hunter's Eye. Requires keen senses," he tapped his temple, "and a willingness to look beyond the obvious. And it costs," he named the price again, "100 Gold for the foundational techniques."
"There it is. Exactly what I need. 100 Gold is steep, about half my current funds after buying supplies... but the potential synergy..." "I wish to learn," Drake confirmed.
<< Gold Deducted: 100 >> << Skill Learned: [Relic Hunter] (Rank 1)! >>
Drake focused as the skill's principles integrated.
[Relic Hunter] Type: Utility Skill (Active/Passive Toggle) Rank: 1/10 Cost: Minor Stamina drain while active (Toggle). Description: Heightens sensory perception through focused Mana manipulation, allowing the user to more easily notice subtle environmental details, hidden objects or mechanisms, lingering magical residues, structural weaknesses, and traces left by previous inhabitants, particularly those of Alvari origin. May reveal interactive points or faint energy signatures otherwise invisible. Effectiveness increases with skill rank and the Perception attribute.
The moment he understood the skill, the synergy struck him with full force. "This is incredible! Relic Hunter actively highlights anomalies I'd normally miss... and then Perfect Recall instantly feeds me all relevant context! Any scrap of dialogue, any symbol I've seen, any line from a book related to what Relic Hunter reveals... I can connect dots instantly! This combination is tailor-made for finding secrets!"
He thanked the already-distracted Hemlock and immediately left the archives, eager to test the synergy. He walked towards the nearby Founder's Square, toggling [Relic Hunter] on. His vision subtly shifted; the world didn't change color, but certain textures seemed to possess a faint inner light, minute details sharpened, and almost invisible energy motes drifted near magically imbued items or old structures.
He approached one of the weathered statues commemorating Oakhaven's founders. While visually unremarkable before, now [Relic Hunter] highlighted faint, almost microscopic tool marks forming a near-invisible seam near the statue's base, pulsing with a soft white outline only he could perceive. "There! A hidden compartment marker?" Simultaneously, [Perfect Recall] served up the fragment from the history primer he'd scanned: "...legend claims artisans hid keepsakes within the bases of the Founders Statues..."
The connection was instant. Guided by the Relic Hunter highlight, Drake located the concealed loose stone indicated by the tool marks. Prying it open with his dagger revealed the small cavity inside, containing the [Tarnished Silver Locket] (Common).
Drake held the simple locket, a wide grin spreading across his face. It wasn't about the negligible value of the item; it was the perfect, immediate proof of concept. [Relic Hunter] found the physical clue, [Perfect Recall] provided the crucial context from stored memory. Together, they formed an unparalleled tool for investigation and discovery.
"Okay. This changes how I approach everything outside of combat. Travel, ruins, finding Jian... this is the key."
Feeling significantly better equipped for the true challenges of his primary quest, Drake visited a general vendor, sold the locket and other accumulated vendor trash, and made his final purchases of rations and basic travel supplies. He stood near Oakhaven's northern gate, the road stretching out towards the distant lands where Silverhaven supposedly lay. He was finally ready to begin the journey.