Chapter 16

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

YOU LEVELED UP!

Samuele had just killed the portal boss with the help of the rest of the group. It was the umpteenth cavern he had entered and by now he was getting fed up. He wondered when he would see the open world. He wanted to see the classic fantasy world in all its glory, but these portals still did not allow that. Still, there were instances when low-level portals such as these led to open, wider places. He was distracted from his thoughts by a companion shouting with joy.

"Yes! I have reached level 20!... No! I have reached my upper level limit! Why?!" His mood changed in an instant. He fell to his knees and sobbed in despair. "Why level 20...? You could have at least let me reach level 30, damn System...!"

As everyone else consoled him, out of curiosity Samuele decided to look at his stats before returning to their world.

{PROFILE}

NAME: SAMUELE RUA LEVEL: 17

TITLE: ADVENTURER

CLASS: LIGHT MAGE

HP: 3500

MP: 325

{STATS}

STRENGTH: 19 SENSES: 15

INTELLIGENCE: 20 AGILITY: 20

VITALITY: 14 STAMINA: 16

Seeing his current level, his heart began to beat faster. Three levels and he would reach level 20, the second milestone he hoped he would pass. After all he had been through, he refused to even think that that could have been his upper level limit. Besides, he was a Gift, which reinforced the proof that he would continue to advance in level.

Going further down with his eyes, he looked at the statistics. He was surprised that intelligence exceeded strength, even though he continued to fight undaunted with his sword, but then he thought about it. He didn't have any magic he could actually use to fight other than the 'Timely Blessing' which granted him greater speed. In fact, he used this over and over again as long as he had mana available. It made sense that intelligence and strength increased almost in tandem. Besides, it was better this way for Samuele. As his intelligence increased, so did his mana points, which were essential for the use of magic.

Thinking about the distribution of points that the System automatically applied, he recalled reading from the online manual that the System increased stats by six points with each level reached, exactly the same way they were allocated before reaching level 10. Beyond this level, it only changed that the System decided itself which stats to increase instead of increasing them all by only one point at a time.

From level 12 to level 17 had increased by five levels, so the System had automatically attributed thirty points to the various stats. Samuele was quite pleased with how his levelling was going.

"Samuele!"

The boy turned, hearing Sofia's voice from a distance and saw her waving for him to go. Samuele made the System screen disappear and walked towards the exit, with Sofia keeping up with him.

"What do you say we go for a drink?" The brown-haired girl asked with a small smile gracing her face.

"Hmm? Sure."

"And at the most important moment of the game, my sister makes a belly slip. From then on, I call her Penguin." Both boys laughed at Anna's embarrassment.

"Poor thing! And how does she react to the name?"

"Oh! I swear, there should be a video. She pouts and gets too cute. Her reactions are the ones that make me keep teasing her."

"I guess! In any case, don't overdo it. You don't know if you hurt her feelings." Sofia advised him.

"I know better. The last thing I want is to make her sad. And you?" Asked the blond to Sofia, with the latter looking at him confused.

"What?"

"I told you about me and my family. Yours, on the other hand, how is it?"

"W-well, that is... it's normal! A completely normal family, yes!"

Sofia's completely quick reply made him frown. Moreover, she kept his gaze down the whole time.

"I see..." Samuele decided to let it go. He thought that maybe his family had some problems and didn't want to talk about it. To get them out of an awkward moment, he changed the subject.

"Listen, about yesterday..."

"Hmm?"

'You called me to know if I was participating in the quest. Why?" Samuele was curious. He couldn't get this thought out of his mind all day yesterday. His mind wandered from the most normal ideas to the weirdest ones, which he would never say out loud.

"Oh! Well, because you are really strong. If you are there to fight in my group then it will be a guaranteed easy paycheck!" He exclaimed with a toothy grin.

'No holds barred, huh?' Samuele almost regretted asking him.

"Anyway, what level are you at?"

"Level 17. What about you?"

"Level 18. Soon we'll pass level 20... I admit I'm a bit nervous. You know, if once I reach that level I'll get to my upper limit."

Samuele understood her point, but did not speak. Sofia had more to say.

"Ever since I awakened the System I have a dream. I want to join the strongest Guild in Italy, that of the Lupi di Castiglione." She said confidently. Samuele was slightly surprised. He had never seen, in those few quests they had done together, that determined look on her face.

"I thought there was another Guild that was stronger." Samuele thought aloud.

"You mean the Falchi Magici, based in Turin. Yes, everyone calls them equal in terms of power, but for me there is no comparison. The Lupi di Castiglione are spans above. They treat their comrades like family, they help each other and there is a great relationship of trust between all of them. No one is left behind. In contrast, the Guild of Falchi Magici are mindless monkeys. They are exactly the opposite of the Wolves." She first said in an admiring tone talking about the Wolves Guild, and then in a scornful tone talking about the Hawks Guild. Samuele, who noticed this, barely held back a smile.

"Then I wish you good luck with this dream of yours." The boy said sincerely and then continued with a question. "But why are you telling me about it all of a sudden?"

"Don't you know?"

"What?"

'Wow... you really are ignorant about the world of Adventurers.' Sofia teased him.

"Look, I'm trying hard, but it's too much information to remember! What are you talking about?"

"If we pass level 20, then we will have a chance to join a Guild. Depending on which Guild, they will either give us a contract themselves, or we will apply. Obviously, the more famous and strong the Guild is, the less chance for us to get in. What renowned Guild would take low-level Adventurers like us?"

Samuele thought of the Adventurer who had almost cried about reaching the upper level limit of level 20. He now understood the reason for that reaction. He could never join a Guild, not even the weakest one.

"None, I suppose. They would have nothing to gain."

"That's right. That's why many Adventurers make their first contracts with unfamiliar Guilds. We need to gain more experience first, and if our level allows us to do so, then we can enter more and more prestigious Guilds."

Samuele had never thought about it, how difficult the Adventurer's job could be besides completing quests. The commitment, the luck he must have to achieve his goals. Until then he had always thought of this job as simply 'fight, survive and earn money', but now he understood how much work was behind it, how many hopes, dreams, fears lay behind every Adventurer. This job had turned out to be a real career for Samuele.

"I see. So your dream is still a long way off, is it? The strongest Guild in Italy will not allow low-level Adventurers like us to enter."

"Wrong!"

''Huh?"

"The Lupi di Castiglione's doesn't care what your level is. Every year they conduct an exam that allows all Adventurers who wish to enter their Guild to show their worth. It's not that simple, though. It's still the strongest Guild in Italy, after all, and they don't let anyone in who doesn't prove their worth."

"That sounds amazing."

"It is!"

At her enthusiasm, Samuele could no longer hold back his smile.

"When will the exam be held?"

"Next month."

"So soon?"

"Yeah. But by then I'm sure I'll reach level 20 and be able to take the exam."

"I'm sure you will be able to."

"You, on the other hand? Do you already know which Guild you want to join after reaching level 20?"

"I have never thought about it. I think I will enter the first Guild that offers me a contract. Like you said, you have to gain experience and level up in order to get into more and more important Guilds. I will do everything in small steps. I have no reason to rush."

"I see." Sofia said with a smile. After that, silence followed. An awkward one. Neither of them had anything to say, or rather. One of the two had something to say, but could not. This person took courage and spoke.

"Take the exam to enter the Guild of Lupi di Castiglione with me." Sofia spoke, in a calm and quiet tone. Samuele was confused by her sudden request.

"Why?"

"Despite what you might think, I have a hard time relating to others. Forcing a toothy smile and talking to everyone is not so easy. And during the exam I will definitely be nervous, too nervous to even be able to talk to strangers. If you were there with me, I think I would have no problem taking the exam. I think having a friend by your side comes in handy in difficult times, don't you agree?"

Samuele was unable to speak for a few seconds. He had just seen a side of her he had never imagined. She, always so sunny and chatty, hid so much insecurity about herself, in complete contradiction to the determined and confident look she had shown a few minutes earlier.

"Please, you're the only one I can ask. I don't want to force you, but I don't think I can do it alone."

Samuele listened to her pleadingly. He thought about it for a while and made his decision. Perhaps he could understand her better than most. The insecurity she had, he had too. Even now, he is insecure. Insecure that he can make it, that he can do enough for his family. Every day he carries within him that fear he had since high school. The fear of being a good-for-nothing.

"I will be with you during the exam."

"Really?! I thank you!" Sofia exclaimed, jumping up from her chair and raising her arms high in the air. Samuele watched her celebrate. She couldn't stop thanking him. He watched her gaze, the joy she was containing in that moment, the smile that widened with every passing second. Samuele was sure of it: at that moment, he was no longer forcing himself to smile.

END OF CHAPTER.

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As promised (Unbelievable!!), here is the new chapter. Starting today, the publication of the chapters up to the end of the first part begins, which as I have already told you is chapter 34. Taking into account that one chapter per day will come out, I can definitely say that within three weeks all the chapters will be out.

What do you think of the chapter? I know, it's a chapter where nothing really happens, but it serves to explain the characters and the world in which the story takes place (aka stretching it out). I hope, though, that by posting a chapter a day, you'll be able to take it.

By the way, when I talk about the Wolves' Guild, I am referring to the Lupi di Castiglione Guild. In English, "lupo/i" means "wolf/ves". The same for the Guild of Hawks. "Falchi" in english is "hawks"

If you want to support my work, comment, review and, if you have any left over, give me a Power Stone (My... preciousss!!).

See you again tomorrow, same time. Bye!