Chapter 158 Advice



Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

The carriages were heading toward Redfall Family Manor. Zayne leaned on his arm, looking out at the sun brightly illuminating the city, Alden pondered something with a complicated expression, and Rina just sat with her knees together.

"Agh... I need to stop thinking about this before my brain breaks down." Alden shook his head with a slight sigh.

Alden stared at Zayne, "What do you plan to do next? You can stay in town if you want, under the authority of the Redfall Family. We always have something going on here, I won't let you get bored."

Zayne shook his head, "It's a nice place, really, but it's too soon for me to stop. I have to move forward to achieve more, however, now I need some advice."

"Advice...?" Alden tilted his head in confusion.

Zayne nodded, "From the wisest man in the whole town as well as from the strongest."

Alden smiled slightly, those words were enough for him to understand who Zayne was talking about. Rina looked at the two of them puzzled, but no one gave her an answer.

...

A pleasant aroma emanated from the two cups of tea, heading toward the young man who was genuinely enjoying the current moment. After all that had happened, this was the first truly peaceful moment that allowed him to relax.

"You came just in time, for this evening I was going back." Solomon muttered, bringing the cup to his mouth.

"Yeah, I have just one question for you. Where do I direct all the power I've gained after defeating a strong opponent?" Zayne spoke. He wasn't sure if Solomon would understand him, but he hoped so since earlier Harald had given him advice on how to spend his Status Points.

"Agh... You did a wise thing." Solomon smiled as he took a sip, "You're talking about the consequences of your battle in those ruins, right?"

Zayne's gaze grew sharper, "So you know...?"

"Heh, don't give me that look, I'm not going to interfere in your business. You're a good man, so do as you think right." Solomon replied mysteriously, "There's a lot of energy in you that needs to go somewhere. What were you planning to do?"

Zayne looked at Solomon for a while, as if trying to figure out what he was thinking, then said, "I want to get stronger and faster, increase my damage that way, but I think I should do something more sensible."

"And how is that?" Solomon muttered, throwing a sugar cube into the cup.

"Channel all my energy into fortifying my body and regeneration. I have a skill that hurts me badly, but in return gives me tremendous strength, I think it would be the right thing to do." Zayne said with a slight wave of his hand.

Solomon nodded, "Given the circumstances, it sounds quite logical since your wounds still haven't healed, have they?" Solomon glanced at the bloody bandages in some places.

Zayne shrugged, "They're minor wounds, some of them just opened up during the fight, nothing serious."

Solomon tossed another cube into the tea, "I see... Alden told me about you, with every serious fight you get stronger, but I'm not talking about physical performance, I'm talking about your mind."

"Well... In the beginning I could hardly even kill a wolf, so there's truth in that. Is it bad to gain experience in something?" Zayne frowned.

"No, not at all." Solomon shook his head, "How about putting most of that energy into your mind, until you reach the First Ring, then spread it all out equally? There's no point in power without speed, as well as damage without a good defense."

'Hmm? Put everything into the mind? Is he talking about intelligence?' Zayne was puzzled.

Zayne put his hands together, "Mr. Solomon, I don't really understand you. Unlike you, I am not a mage, how can it help me? Moreover, what is the First Ring?"

Solomon smiled, slowly took a sip, and grimaced, "Damn, I already put three sugar cubes in, but it's still bitter to me."

Zayne frowned as he wanted to ask the question again, but before he could say a word, Solomon's finger touched his forehead.

Zayne's consciousness drifted away, quickly sinking into darkness as he found himself in the middle of nowhere. There was only endless space around him.

"Where am I... And what is this...?" Zayne muttered, looking around.

Five silver arcs hovered in front of him, their ends were blurred and unstable, white particles emanating from them as if they were trying to grow further. Four of the arcs were about the same size, but one was much smaller than the others.

In addition to the five arcs, there were two more dots on each side, one blue and one red. The blue one was slightly larger as if showing that it dominated Zayne's body.

Zayne opened his eyes as he saw Solomon, who was quietly enjoying his tea, so sweet that a normal person would spit it out immediately.

"Well, I think you understand now. What you saw was your power spread out over the main categories. If I'm not mistaken, you should also have seen the blue orb representing Fate's energy in your body, shouldn't you?" Solomon asked as he glanced at Zayne.

Zayne nodded, deciding not to talk about the red orb.

"When your strength or agility reaches a certain amount, the arcs will turn into rings, that's when you get your First Ring in one direction." Solomon waved his hand.

"I see..." Zayne muttered with a deep look. Though Solomon spoke as a resident of this world and not a Player, Zayne understood that First Ring meant the point at which stat reaches 100.

"Now that you understand what I want you to do, I give you advice. Reach First Ring in your mind, and come with me to Mage Academy." Solomon smirked as he took another sip of the already-cold tea.

"But... I'm not a mage!" Zayne said in confusion, since he didn't understand why Solomon kept suggesting it to him.

Solomon sighed, "I know. Do you really think I'm giving you useless advice? It'll strengthen your skills too, of which you have quite a few, yeah, for a mage it's more effective since the power of your skills depends on strength and speed as well, but that's not the main reason."

Zayne gave him a questioning stare.

"You don't have to look at me like that. You'll know what I prepared for you when we get to Mage Academy." Solomon said calmly, finishing his tea, "All I can say is that it will help you grow stronger by getting you through the hardest trial of your life one more time."

Zayne thought about it, even though he wasn't going to become a mage, that didn't mean he had nothing to do at Mage Academy, especially when he was invited there by Solomon himself.

'I wanted to go in search of one of the Shattered Moon Orders... The ring should tell me, but there's nothing wrong if I'm a little late, right?' After all, if I went straight to those ruins I'd definitely fail, there's no hurry.' Zayne muttered inwardly, then he looked intently at Solomon.

Solomon smirked, "I see you've already made up your mind, haven't you?"

"Yeah, you're right."