Kael sat on the edge of his bed in Erion and Mira's home, staring at the glowing status screen hovering in front of him. With a deep breath, he tapped the interface and began allocating his stat points. He had 30 unspent points and decided to spread them evenly across everything except Intelligence, which was already at 100.
One by one, he assigned 5 points to Strength, Dexterity, Perception, Endurance, Willpower, and Agility.
The moment he confirmed the allocation, a rush of sensation surged through him. His body tensed as the changes took hold. Strength reached 40—a satisfying milestone. Dexterity hit 30, a solid round number. Perception and Willpower jumped to 50, and with it came a sharp clarity and deeper control over his focus and resolve. Endurance rose to 30, and he felt a sudden ease in his breathing and posture, like fatigue now had to fight harder to touch him.
He could feel the improvement. Every change mattered.
Kael's Updated Stats:
Strength: 40
Intelligence: 100
Dexterity: 30
Perception: 50
Endurance: 30
Willpower: 50
Agility: 30
Unspent Stat Points: 0
Equipment: Magic Bag
Satisfied, Kael made his way back to the hunter's guild. With classes at Velis Arcanum Academy still two months away, he figured it would be wise to stay active. He accepted a low-level EE rank quest—an herb-gathering task just outside the city walls. It wasn't glamorous, but it was something.
He traveled to the indicated area, a quiet patch of forest and meadow just beyond Velis's outer farms. With Omni-Vision activated, the herbs practically glowed beneath the surface. He used Minor Teleport to shift the dirt aside carefully, lifting the herbs with their entire root systems intact. It was so efficient he couldn't help but smile.
Most adventurers ignored quests like this, assuming the client was lazy or odd. But Kael preferred not to judge.
When he returned to the guild, the receptionist raised an eyebrow. "The client asked for delivery," she said, handing him a slip with an address. "They're elderly. Not many know that."
Kael studied the address, then turned to the map on the guild wall. It took him through a quieter part of the city, nestled between two small merchant districts. Eventually, he arrived at a modest home with a mossy stone path leading to the door.
He knocked.
After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing an old man. His frame was frail, his hands trembling on a cane. He looked up at Kael with tired but kind eyes.
"You're the one who took my request?" the man asked.
Kael nodded and held out the pouch of herbs. "They're fresh. Intact roots too."
The old man's eyes widened in surprise, then softened with gratitude. "Thank you, young man. That means more than you know."
Kael smiled faintly, already sensing that even small quests could reveal unexpected meaning.