Chapter 3: Affinity

The sun hung high in the sky, its warm rays spilling over the endless grasslands. The fields stretched out in every direction, a sea of green swaying gently under the touch of a soft breeze.

The air was alive with the sounds of nature—chirping insects, the occasional croak of a distant frog, and the rustling of grass as small creatures moved about. It was peaceful, almost serene, but not entirely quiet.

Among the fields, small, jelly-like creatures hopped around. Slimes. Their translucent bodies shimmered in the sunlight, some pale blue like clear water, others a soft green that blended into the grass.

They moved mindlessly, bouncing in random directions, their gelatinous forms jiggling with each hop. They were harmless, really, but they made for good practice.

Quinn stood in the middle of the field, rolling her shoulders and stretching her arms. Her long red hair swayed slightly in the breeze, and her eyes sparkled with determination. She clenched her fist, feeling the familiar rush of energy that came before a fight.

Even if it was just slimes, she loved the feeling of her muscles working, her body moving with purpose.

"Alright, time for some light training," she said to herself, a confident grin spreading across her face.

She stepped forward, her boots crunching softly against the grass, and swung her fist at the nearest slime.

"Straight Punch!"

Her knuckles connected with the slime's wobbly form, and a wet splattering sound followed as the creature burst apart. Pieces of gelatin scattered across the ground, leaving behind a faint shimmering residue.

Quinn didn't pause. She turned to the next slime and struck again, her fists cutting through the air with precision. Another burst. Then another.

One by one, the slimes popped like overfilled water balloons. Their remains glistened on the grass, and Quinn dusted her hands together, feeling satisfied with her work. She turned to Caled, who had been watching her with a faint smile.

"Now, it's your turn," she said, crossing her arms. "Show me what you've got."

Caled nodded, stepping forward. His black hair swayed with his movements.

He scanned the area, his sharp eyes landing on a group of about five slimes hopping around, completely unaware of the danger.

"Then, watch closely," he said, lifting a hand with his fingers slightly curled.

"Elemental Nova."

The air around him seemed to tremble, as if the world itself was holding its breath. A powerful surge of energy erupted from the ground, forming a swirling vortex around him.

The five slimes were immediately sucked into the center, their tiny bodies flailing helplessly. Lightning crackled, water surged, blinding lights flashed, flames roared, and the wind howled. The elements intertwined, weaving together like an unstoppable force of nature.

The slimes didn't even have time to react. Their gelatinous forms were torn apart within seconds, disintegrating in the swirling storm of magic. Then, as quickly as it had begun, the energy faded. The grass, once slightly flattened by the force of the spell, gently swayed again, as if nothing had happened.

Because of the blessings of being a hero, Caled's capabilities were enhanced, making him significantly more powerful than others at the same level.

Quinn let out an impressed whistle. "Woah. That was... flashy."

She clapped, nodding in approval. Caled let out a short laugh, his expression calm but pleased.

"Yeah. It is," he said.

"Not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous," Quinn admitted, stepping over to collect the scattered remains of the slimes. She took out small bottles from her pouch and started scooping the Slime Gelatin into them. "I always wanted to be a mage and use powerful magic."

Caled knelt down to help, collecting the remains with a focused expression. He glanced at her, his eyes thoughtful.

"But I don't have the affinity for it," Quinn continued, sighing. "The Affinity Appraiser told me I won't ever be able to use magic."

"Is that so?" Caled asked, his voice calm but curious.

"Yep. Apparently, affinity is something you're born with. If your body leans more toward physical strength, then you'll never be able to use magic. That's just how it is." Quinn laughed, though there was a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I guess punching things will have to do."

Caled paused for a moment, his eyes shimmering with thought.

[Affinity is determined at birth. It dictates a person's potential for magic or physical abilities. However, you are an anomaly. Affinity transfer is possible—through one specific method.]

Caled narrowed his eyes. "What method?"

[A native woman can unlock her full potential through you. Through... Affinity Awakening via sexual intercourse.]

Caled blinked. His expression remained neutral, but internally, he processed the information carefully. He then turned back to Quinn, who was busy sealing another bottle of slime residue.

"I actually don't believe in the limitations of affinity," he said.

Quinn tilted her head, giving him a confused look. "What do you mean? Isn't affinity what decides what we're capable of?"

Caled smiled. "Perhaps. But I've lived my life doing things others said were impossible or pointless. People call anything unusual an anomaly, and because of that, they follow strict rules based on beliefs."

He reached out, gently rubbing a stray smear of slime off Quinn's cheek with his thumb. His touch was soft, almost tender, and Quinn froze for a moment, her eyes widening slightly.

"It's fine to do things that don't fit people's logic," he continued. "If you don't have an affinity for magic, then make it."

Quinn stared at him, clearly processing his words. "...That doesn't make any sense."

"Exactly."

He stood up, brushing the dirt off his knee, and extended his hand to her.

"So far, I've observed that you're a great person. All you need to do is believe in yourself. You can do anything because you are you." His gaze softened. "You are Quinn."

Quinn hesitated, her fingers curling slightly before she reached out and took his hand. As he pulled her up, their faces ended up closer than expected. Caled's eyes widened slightly, and he quickly looked away, clearing his throat.

"Something wrong?" Quinn asked, her voice slightly softer now.

Caled scratched the back of his head, his usual calm demeanor faltering for just a moment. "Nothing. I just realized, now that I see you up close..." His voice trailed off.

Quinn blinked. "What?"

"...How cute you are."

A second passed.

Quinn's entire face turned red, and she quickly looked away, her hand slipping from his.

Caled, without missing a beat, covered his face with his hand and turned away, walking off as if embarrassed.

"You can't just say that to a girl and walk away!" Quinn shouted after him, her voice a mix of flustered and amused.

[Affection Meter: 15.]

Caled, still facing away, smirked to himself. The line had worked. He had used a cliché romance dialogue straight out of the countless bishoujo games he played, and it worked flawlessly.

"So, not only will I get stronger with every successful conquest of a heroine," he thought to himself, "but the heroines will also unlock their potential by being in my harem."

[Which makes them more useful to your goal.]

Caled's smirk deepened. It seemed this world would be more fun than he expected.