Chapter 3, Normandy ID

Leaving the shadowy confines of the alleyway, where he had first begun to decipher the intricate mysteries of magic, Owen stepped onto the bustling streets of Caledon, a vibrant city alive with the rhythm of its inhabitants. The air buzzed with the sounds of laughter, the call of merchants hawking their wares, and the distant chimes of street performers. Yet, as he scanned his surroundings, he sensed something distinctly altered—an undercurrent of energy that made the world feel both familiar and foreign.

His curiosity ignited, and he sought answers about this subtle transformation. The system's voice answered with a calm assurance, "Upon mastering Mana Circulation Level 1, you have also acquired the skill Mana Eyes Level 1." A wave of realization washed over Owen. With a thought, he activated his Mana Eyes, and the ordinary cityscape around him shifted dramatically. The throngs of people, who once appeared like mere shadows, were now enveloped in a shimmering, white, viscous cloud. This ethereal aura danced around them, pulsing with life, and Owen quickly deduced that it was the manifestation of Mana.

His gaze fell upon an enigmatic figure cloaked in dark fabric that seemed to absorb the light around him. This individual maneuvered through the crowd with an eerie grace that set him apart from the ordinary citizens, whose auras glimmered faintly in comparison. He was enveloped in a far more substantial swirl of that white, viscous substance—a pulsing nebula of energy that danced and twirled like a living entity. Intrigued, Owen felt an irresistible pull to follow him, each step an instinctive reaction. However, his pursuit was fleeting; sensing Owen's attention, the figure abruptly veered into a narrow alley and vanished as swiftly as a wisp of smoke. With his disappearance came an unexpected sense of apathy, prompting Owen to redirect his focus to the enchanting cityscape of Caledon. Unlike his previous life, where hope was often overshadowed by the expectations and disappointments of others, Owen now felt an exhilarating sense of freedom—a burning desire to discover his potential, grow, and carve out his destiny.

Determined to establish his foothold in this new world, Owen knew his first task was to seek employment. In many "Magic Worlds," a guild system often serves as the backbone of economic activity, facilitating the hiring of skilled individuals, and he was eager to integrate himself into this network. As fortune would have it, his gaze was drawn to an imposing guild building—the Empire Guild—a magnificent structure that dominated the main street. Its ornate façade, embellished with intricate carvings and shimmering glyphs, captivated his imagination. With a heart pounding in rhythm with his excitement, he stepped inside, scanning the lavish interior filled with polished wood, vibrant tapestries, and bustling activity.

As he approached the reception desk, a warm smile greeted him. "Welcome to the Empire Guild! How may I assist you?" the receptionist beamed, her friendly demeanor easing his nerves.

"I'd like to register," Owen replied, his voice steady despite his racing heartbeat.

Just before completing the registration, he accessed his system and unlocked the skill [Foreign Writing] at maximum proficiency—an impulsive venture that drained 100 energy points from his pool, leaving him with 800 to allocate. Armed with this newfound knowledge, he returned to the receptionist, who handed him a form asking for several essential details: Name, Age, Level, Mana, Class, and Path.

Noticing Owen's hesitation, the receptionist kindly elaborated on the form's components, her voice informative and encouraging. "Your Level reflects your cumulative power, achieved through fierce battles. For effective leveling, we recommend engaging in monster hunting or dueling other practitioners. Mana signifies your current magical capacity, measured by our systems. Your Class denotes your job; if you're currently without one, we can guide you toward apprentice classes like Mage, Swordsman, or Archer. Advanced apprenticeships require a mentor—think Blacksmiths, Assassins, or Priests."

She continued with enthusiasm, "The guild system allows for a rich mix of specialization—you're not confined to a single class, although most practitioners focus on one. Be mindful, however, that once you unlock one of the Brain, Heart, or Dantian pathways, diversifying your skills becomes progressively challenging, so choose wisely."

With her words resonating in his mind, Owen filled out the form with precision, concealing the fact that he had already unlocked all three pathways and had the inexplicable ability to access any apprentice class—he perceived this as a covert gift from the mysterious voice that had initially guided him, perhaps a gesture of goodwill or an apology for past uncertainties. His completed form read as follows:

Name: Owen Alpine

Age: 16

Level: 1

Mana: 159

Class: Apprentice Mage, Apprentice Tamer

Path: The Brain

Once he finished, the receptionist accepted his application with a nod of approval and soon returned with his Normandy Guild ID—a sleek black card, its surface embossed with shimmering gold details. As she explained the guild's ranking system, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm: "Upon joining, you start at Rank 0. As you complete quests at your current rank, you can be promoted to Rank 0 One Star. This continues until you reach Rank 0 Ten Stars, after which you may apply for a rank upgrade—either through a quest or by battling a member of a higher rank. Completing the designated quest or excelling in that match will elevate you to Rank 1, where you'll need to gather another ten stars for your next advancement."

She added with a proud smile, "There's much to gain from climbing the ranks, including reduced guild commission rates, lower costs for using guild facilities, and access to lucrative quests."

With newfound clarity regarding the guild's inner workings, she presented his ID card—a tangible symbol of his formal initiation into the guild. His name was elegantly scripted in the native language at the top, followed by his rank, classes, their respective tiers, and his level, each detail reinforcing the burgeoning sense of purpose that had begun to take root in his heart.

With gratitude, Owen took his leave and headed toward the Tier 0 Board, where he eagerly selected a Wild Boar Hunt Request, a Tier 0, Two-Star mission. As the receptionist had mentioned, this quest would provide an excellent opportunity for progress toward his first star due to its elevated rank, promising the potential for even greater rewards if he exceeded expectations.

With his goal set, Owen made his way to the Orva Forest, conveniently located just a mile from the bustling heart of Caledon, anticipation bubbling within him for the adventures that awaited. But first, he decided to do two things: first, he needed to find something to eat to replenish his energy because he was hungry, and second, he wanted to learn some new skills to make boar hunting easier. To accomplish this, he asked one of the locals for a recommendation for a good restaurant, and they directed him accordingly. He went to a place called "The Blue Sea," which is known for having some of the best seafood in the entire city, and he was eager to try it. Once he arrived, he was quickly seated at a table in the left corner of the restaurant. A waitress approached to take his order, and he asked her what their specialty was. She smiled and said, "Give me one moment, and I'll be back with your food."

About 15 minutes later, his meal arrived: a traditional pasta dish with shrimp, similar to Alfredo. Without a second thought, Owen dove into the food, especially since the last meal he had was a terrible pre-cooked option. The dish was delicious, as was the wine that accompanied it.

After enjoying his meal, Owen asked the waitress how much it cost. She told him the pasta dish, called Gauvab, was 58 Thal, and the wine was 250 Thal, bringing the total to 308 Thal (or $3.08). He gladly paid the bill, feeling it was well worth it. After the meal, he had 9,271 Thal remaining (or 92.71).

Owen gained 255 Energy from the meal, as it provided 1,020 calories, and the energy conversion rate was 4:1. With his new 255 Energy, he found a place to sit and returned to the system to navigate to the 'Learn a Skill' page. He chose to learn several control skills: Fire Control, Water Control, Wind Control, and Earth Control, allowing him to manipulate all the elements. Through this process, he also learned the summoning skills: Fire Summon, Water Summon, Wind Summon, and Earth Summon, enabling him to summon elements at the cost of mana. Additionally, he acquired Temperature Control, which allows him to raise or lower the temperature using mana.

Feeling satisfied with his skills, Owen was left with 450 Energy. Now, it was time to hunt some boars.