A Miner's Hardy Constitution

Upon cracking open the tome they discovered with the drawers of the old hardwood desk, the familiar sight of the strange lettering floated into the air.

It encircled all 3 of them, and Eidiri, the one who was holding the tome, received an interface prompt, asking if the participants within the runic binding would like to learn the Miner's Constitution.

Confused, Eidiri talked with Ken and Edgar about it.

"From what I see, it seems like this tome can teach us this skill or talent, whatever. I say we take it," said Eidiri.

"But what if this is another trap or something? You know about those things about crippling your foundation that you've spent years cultivating? What if it's one of those things?" asked Edgar.

"We'll just take this chance, since the tome is called Miner's Constitution it should have something to do with increasing our body's strength. Not to mention, you'll gain qualification to enter the village if this really does work," Ken argued.

"Ah screw it, just do it already," said Edgar.

With a simple push of the button, the runes started swirling around them.

At first, they only rotated around them slowly, but they progressively picked up speed.

Going faster and faster.

Soon enough the runes were only a blur, simply whirling around them at speeds they couldn't comprehend.

The runes started glowing, emanating a harsh light.

Then suddenly, as if their power had been turned off, the runes came to a halt. Or rather the rune.

From what had been hundreds upon hundreds of little tiny runes inscribed in the air, there was only rune left.

This rune then split itself 3 ways, before hovering in the air before them.

After a brief moment, they then drifted towards each one of them, one rune per individual.

Then the rune swiftly flew forwards, crashing into all 3 of their chests.

Very quickly their bodies started heating up, the temperature becoming unbearable.

This unbearable heat and excruciating pain spread throughout their bodies traveling to the other body parts as well.

Their bodies were literally being reforged to suit the Miner's Constitution, remaking their bodies to be sturdier, bulkier, stronger, etc.

On a cellular level, they were quite simply being remade.

It was 20 minutes until the pain had finally stopped being applied. The three of them long since having gone unconscious, unable to bear the sensation of the pain.

Their motionless bodies lay still on the floor, nothing but the steady rising of their chests giving off indications that they were still alive.

-

A whole hour had passed before the group had come to.

They blearily rubbed out the aches in their bodies, recalling the pain.

"Damn bro, was that actually some dangerous stuff. That felt like goddamn liquid fire!" cried Edgar.

"Let's confront this rationally. Nothing happened. Well, at least anything that should be dangerous. What most likely happened was that our bodies were enhanced by the Miner's Constitution. It's like replacing our bodies, that won't be painless," said Eidiri.

"Checks out," said Ken.

"Anyways, now that that's done, check out the effects of this thing. My strength just increased by another point. I also got more health points," Eidiri exclaimed.

Hearing this, they all hurried to check their stats, wondering about the effects of the tome.

When they same it for themselves, they observed for it to have the same effects that Eidiri had received also.

"Okay, well now that's done. Let's keep searching this house, shall we? asked Eidiri.

They finished searching the office, nothing else of any real importance popping up, at most it was copies of transaction records. With that, they closed that room and progressed further.

There were only 2 rooms left, a bedroom, and a locked door.

"I vote we don't investigate the creepy door and save that for last," Edgar said.

All he got in reply were 2 curt nods. None of them really want to explore that room right now, after all, it was a locked door in a dungeon.

Either it was a treasure or it was some sort of Eldritch horror that would tear them into shreds.

And even if there was a treasure, there would surely be an eldritch horror to greet them.

When they walked into the already welcome bedroom, the room was barren, nothing but a dusty bed and some cobwebs, the occasional dust bunny rolled around here and there.

Checking under the bed revealed nothing of much significance either.

Therefore, the only thing left to do was to open that probably cursed room.

"Who's opening the door?" asked Edgar, "Not it!" he called.

Instinctively, Ken and Eidiri said "Not it!" immediately after.

"I called it first," said Eidiri.

"No I did," replied Ken.

"Are we seriously doing this 'Not It' thing", Eidiri asked Edgar. "Seriously?"

"it's the law," Edgar solemnly replied.

"Ah screw it then. We'll rock paper scissors this thing," Eidiri sighed.

Ken only nodded in response, preparing the proper position.

"Rock paper scissors, shoot!" called Edgar.

Ken and Eidiri both tossed their hands out, revealing that both of them had called scissors.

"Damn you guys both choose scissors? Okay then we'll do another one then," Edgar said.

When they moved to cast what they had chosen, it revealed that both of them had chosen scissors again.

"Why are guys still picking scissors?" asked Edgar exasperatedly.

"You wouldn't understand Edgar," Eidiri said.

"Yea, Edgar, you wouldn't get it," Ken said, adding fuel to the fire.

"What do you mean I won't get it? asked Edgar.

Ken sighs with a bit of annoyance, "It's a mental game now. If it had been a swift match then none of this would need to happen. We both picked scissors at first."

"Okay...?" Edgar trailed off, clearly not understanding what Ken had just said.

"Okay let me make this a bit more clear, paper is statistically the most popular choice to pick first, as such since we both knew that information we picked scissors. However, now it's a completely different mental game to see what we would keep picking," Eidiri explained.

"Right now we're both picking scissors 'cause it's safe. We try to read each other's move now," Ken said. "Now let's keep this going."

5 more rounds later and neither of them had changed their stance, staying loyal to the scissors route.

Such persistence was rather admirable actually, given that it wasn't in a damn game of rock paper scissors.

Edgar was already tired of this farce, inwardly praying for this game to end.

Then finally as if a beacon of hope, Ken became the lesser man and switched his hand to the shape of the rock, smashing Eidiri's scissors.

Quite frankly, it was bound to happen.

Eidiri, horrified, took a dramatic fall to the floor, crying out as he fell.

After that, he immediately got up and brushed off the dust. "Y'all really going to make open that door huh?" he asked.

All he got was the 2 identical nods coming from Edgar and Ken.