When the heroes returned to the castle, they were informed to visit the throne room.
Stated that they would have an audience with the King, upon having a day of rest.
The rest allowed Adam to recover fairly well. His limp from being injured vanishing. Pangs of pain occasionally shuddered through his body, but his recuperation was making progress.
Once Adam was through with the visit to the throne room, it would be time for him to level up.
In this day spent on recovering from the test, Adam made it his mission to devour all he could, in the dining hall during meal time.
The food that he had in the cave, paled in comparison to the chicken, ham and everything else, he could freely feast on.
Adam made sure to wash himself up, and changed into new clothes. It felt like a layer of filth had washed off of him, no longer having the fur that was stained in blood and sweat clinging uncomfortably to his body.
He guessed that the meeting in the throne room would be about the completion of the final test.
Adam took a quick glance at his stacked experience on his status window, that was standing at 20.5k now.
He was hyped as ever, but, he would deal with the throne business first. With no tests, there was studying that was brought up.
But, the testing which was the only notable risk would be done with after tomorrow. Studying and the gear order for rewards would be his focus for the next while.
Giving orders for the gear that he wanted, would take no time at all. Leaving studying, ordinarily.
However, Adam wanted to improve his fitness, losing some weight and building muscle. Being able to be just a bit slimmer, just a bit faster sounded amazing to him.
Meaning, he would seek out training by the knights.
Leveling up could help with power, but muscle, or weight loss? Plus, it would be able to help him pass the days. Exercise would keep him on his toes, and boost his mood.
The easiest way, when there were methods that brought more joy, should be sought.
That's what Adam believed, at least.
Whether Areis would accept was in the air.
Thinking of him, he harbored doubts as if it was a good idea to actually ask.
Shaking his head, the doubts faded.
It would be fine. If he had to, he could simply do laps around the field to lose weight.
Gripping his hand into a fist, he would make it a priority to lose weight.
The rest of the day went slow, as he laid down in his room, waiting for the time to go even a second quicker.
The day meeting its end after endless waiting on Adam's end, the next day sprung into motion.
When the heroes met in the throneroom, King Lucius sat tall atop the throne.
The light of the room illuminating the lined up heroes.
The crimson carpet leading to the throne occupied, Adam, Elaina, Vinn and Marcaine, side by side on it, were assembled before the King.
The King to his side stood Areis, and a unfamiliar older bearded man a robe, in their grasp a coiling staff.
Lucius's voice was sharp and deep.
He greeted: "Welcome back heroes, it is with great pride that you four have passed all the tests proctored by Areis."
"With the tests over, which examined whether you were worthy as heroes, I am able to say it now."
The King's eyes falling upon the heroes, a spark of gentle light in his eyes.
"Adam, Elaina, Vinn, and Marcaine, it is of great relief to both me, and the Kingdom, that you have passed, showing everyone your courage and ability."
"I wish to reward you, in an official capacity, as the King." His words paired with a nod.
Adam sensed it was time to bow.
Words churning in his head, an appropriate response appeared in his thoughts.
His torso tilted, Adam thanked: "We would be most gracious for a reward, your majesty."
"However, we are already very thankful for the having been provided shelter, food, and amenities already. Showing what we could do, is part of the deal, as heroes of the Kingdom." His bow slightly deeper, as he finished speaking.
King Lucius let out a chuckle, his back slightly straighter, commenting: "Humility is fine, but nearly dying at my behest as a test calls for a reward."
Adam replied :"If you feel so inclined, then we will work hard as heroes to be worthy of such kindness."
His gaze stern, the King announced: "For the excellence shown by the heroes they are hereby knighted, by I, King Lucius Erustus."
Adam was surprised, and thankful.
An official position of the Kingdom would help him with maneuvering around. The other heroes he assumed, who did not make the cut would only be supported while they stayed here, and would have no real say.
This time, the other heroes bowed as swift as Adam did.
Adam replied: "Thank you, your Majesty, we will strive to not let you down."
At this time, a notification chirped in Adam's ears, flashing in his eyes.
Putting aside the notification for the moment, his focus remained on the conversation, a trace of a smile on his face.
His hand on the chin, King Lucius smirked, replying: "I will look forward to it."
The King raising his arm, motioning to his side, saying: "For the final order of business, studying will take place under Merandin Verstayl.
He continued: "He is the greatly esteemed, leading mage of the Kingdom, who shall be your teacher."
Examining the mage, Merandin, more closely, Adam saw that his eyes were dark purple, and that he had a scar on his cheek.
His eyes were hawk-like in their intensity as he looked over the heroes.
The King's speech resumed: "Servants will fetch you from your rooms in the morning, to guide you to the study hall."
Clasping his hands, the King said: "Heroes, you may go now."
Walking out of the hall, Adam took a glance back.
Merandin had definitely fought before.
Encouraged seeing that the teacher would not just have book-smarts, he returned to his room.
Back in his room, he jumped on the bed, and crossed his legs.
Pulling up the system, he got started.
It was time to level up.
An enamored smile spreading wide.
Adam stared at the screen, his face lit by the screen's blue tint. It's subtle ringing centering his focus.
Adam very much liked what he saw.
The notification that he ignored in the throne room, now before him.
[Ding! For reaching a nobility milestone, in being knighted, you have earned the skill: [Chaser's Discipline] ]
[Ding! You have earned the Knight title.]
His lips quivering, amused by earning such a skill.
It would perfectly complement his willpower.
He even earned a title.
He examined the skill's and title's descriptions, wanting to be certain they worked as he assumed.
[Chaser's Discipline: You are able to easily maintain habits that aid your growth. You find great ease in giving your best effort.]
[Knight (Title): Actions you take are viewed by others as slightly more honorable. You are slightly respected by other Knights.]
For the title, it was decent, but Adam felt he would have no use for it in the near future. Besides maybe getting Areis's help in setting up a training routine and using the knight's facilities to work out.
But, the discipline skill was just what he needed with his desire to get into shape.
Working hard once a while would only result in his fat loss slingshotting back.
Adam turned his attention to his status.
His gaze pausing on his experience.
He took a deep breath, his eyes determined.
At last, he leveled up.
A sound of a beep echoing.
His eyes on his experience. It started to fall, his level rising.
Again and again.
His level went up.
Notifications stacking in his vision, a barrage of pings in his ears.
His latest one affirmed it.
[Ding! You have reached level 10, earning the title: Beginner.]
A system was a wonderful thing.
Notifications continued to flood his sight.
[Ding! You have set a personal leveling record, leveling 10 times in a minute.]
[For doing so, you have earned the skill: Evergreen Bud.]
Seeing that he earned a new skill, he took the chance to examine what it did.
[Evergreen Bud: Your potential remains strong, never wilting. Aging no longer effects the efficacy of growth. You earn 1 extra stat point when leveling.]
This was incredible. Usually growing old made progression difficult, practically making many people stop. Especially in cultivation novels, old age caused people to be unable to stay in peak condition.
The extra stat point would elevate him past the other heroes, more so than he already was.
This skill alone made waiting to level worth it.
His eyes scanned the next notification in his vision.
[Ding! You have passed the level 10 milestone, earning x1 Cheat Selector Ticket.]
Adam could safely assume he couldn't just pick anything.
Other than that, it would be something that he would have to find out.
His thoughts concentrating, he was able to visualize a inventory.
Within, was a grid of boxes, in the first one was the ticket.
When he brought his attention to it, he instinctively knew how to use it.
Tearing it, the ticket scattered into numerous particles of light.
Getting a notification that he used it, a new screen popped up.
The words Cheat Selection printed on top. Below were three boxes with indecipherable text lined up, with a lever attached to the side.
Adam's thought arrived on pulling the lever to begin the spin.
Pulling down in his thoughts, the lever slammed down, the text cycling down in a blur.
Eventually it slowed down.
The text no longer in decipherable, three options appeared.
[Option 1: Magic Aptitude]
[Option 2: Memory Fortress]
[Option 3: Unfathomable Unknown]
Any of the three choices were nothing to sneeze at.
Reading their descriptions, the choice was clear. Although he was in a fantasy world, magic aptitude wasn't the most beneficial.
Nor was the Memory Fortress skill protecting and keeping his memories stable, including manipulation by others and age-based memory loss.
The real surprising one was Unfathomable Unknown. It was a skill that slightly reduced his presence, made his thoughts, future and past unable to be understood, and his secrets unable to be perceived.
Though he would miss out on magic for now, earning the skill wasn't off the table down the road.
Locking in his choice, the Unfathomable Unknown skill was integrated into him.
Adam felt a sense of safety in his chest.
He looked at his status, which had greatly changed within moments. Notifications flickering behind it.
In that short period, by accounting the SP boost from the Otherworlder title, he had earned 40 stat points from reaching level 10.
He had made insane progress. He delighted in finally being able to grow.
Adam wondered, what should he spend his stat points on.
While raising his appearance stat would improve his self esteem, what he sought more, was strength and endurance.
Selecting them, with an even split, the stats shot up.
As he speculated, the stats increased by .1 per point.
His strength and endurance both reaching 3.
His heart and his tendon's pang with refreshing energy as they were strengthened.
Testing his changes, he took a breath, his lung capacity had grown significantly.
When he attempted to ball his hand into a fist, he could exert more force.
His gains were astonishing.
Cheerfully, he gazed at the latest notification, his brows rising as he did a double take.
[Ding! As you have reached level 10, you now qualify for a class.]
Oh, how he loved his system.
His fingers fidgeting in excitement, he looked at his options.
Adam's field of vision dragged through a series of images depicting the classes, in various stances.
Mage. Warrior. Archer. Priest.
All were classics.
However, beneath it all, was a button to wait.
It might be the dopamine speaking, but, he was confident in qualifying for a better class.
Springing to his feet, Adam looked out the window.
The weather outside was harsh, with clouds that beckoned storms, Adam's mood comparatively was thrilled, his face flashing a bright smile.
He was level 10, in under 2 weeks of living in this world.
His aspirations already high, he could feel were ready to pierce the sky.
Away from home, I will strive to release a chapter tomorrow but likely will return late so no guarantees.
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