Finn woke up the next morning, his body feeling completely refreshed and his magic brimming over. When he looked at the time, he realized it was barely 6 a.m. It was already a habit for him to get up early. The first thing he did was wash his face and then check his cupboards to see what food he had stored. He grabbed some cereal he'd never seen or tasted before, placed it in a bowl with a little milk, and then set about trying to figure out how the large floating screen in his living room worked.
After a few seconds, he finally managed to turn on the screen, watching what appeared to be a news channel. Finn flipped through the channels, noticing that each channel only featured news and occasionally a sports channel that only featured wrestling.
"Don't they have any proper entertainment programs? I remember seeing several books and novels before. Haven't they made movies or at least a theater with all the technology they have?" Finn wondered, disappointed. "Even in the Middle Ages, they had jesters… now that I think about it, they're barely creating communication devices despite the advanced technology they have" Finn said, amazed.
Turning off the screen, Finn got up from the couch and washed his dishes, then showered again and got ready before leaving. Leaving his room, Finn headed to the elevator and went down to the reception floor where Damian was talking with a team of five people. Seeing Damian's irritated look, Finn decided to simply walk past and not cause any more trouble. He glanced at the team for a few seconds, though, as they looked familiar, but he didn't know where they were from.
"Hey, Finn, this way!" greeted Darwin, sitting at one of the guild's central tables.
"What are you doing here so early?" Finn asked, also greeting him.
"The same thing I'd do in my apartment… Nothing" Darwin replied, taking a sip of his orange juice.
"I see you've already eaten too" Finn said.
"yes, the master's bear brought me the breakfast, it seems Amelia taught him how to take orders and serve people in the guild" Darwin revealed, surprising Finn. "Don't ask me how, I've been asking myself the same question ever since the bear approached me."
Finn sighed, simply accepting that the bear had the ability to learn to take orders and sat down next to Darwin, watching the bored guild. Darwin took another sip of his orange juice, watching with amusement as the five-person team angrily left the reception area and went upstairs to the guild's third floor.
"Ha, they've been like this since yesterday" Darwin mocked, telling Finn.
"Why?" Finn asked, remembering that they were the ones arguing with Damian.
"Nonsense, nothing more" Darwin said.
The two began talking, discussing how they would spend the money they had earned from their last mission, as well as what actions to take in the future. Darwin wanted to buy new armor, to which Finn nodded in complete agreement, as his last encounter with the ogre had made him realize that his leather armor offered no protection at all against impacts. However, they had decided to do it the next day, as today they just wanted to rest and make sure they were fully recovered.
"You know, I also want to train as much as possible before going on another mission" Finn affirmed. "I was finally able to advance my telekinesis and unlock my tactile telekinesis. I'd like to progress it as much as I can."
"Mph, sounds good to me" Darwin nodded, remembering when Finn told him about his new magic right after finishing off all the monsters in Monster City. "Although, don't expect to see as much progress as with other magic, since you're the first to develop it, and there are no books to guide you."
Finn nodded, understanding Darwin's point. He knew very well that learning to do something with the help of something or someone wasn't the same as having to develop it completely yourself without any reference.
The two continued talking about how to improve their magic. Darwin wanted to delve deeper into his light magic; he believed he had seen a book in the guild library that could help him. Finn also wanted to delve a little deeper into natural magic, believing it would help him better understand how to develop his tactile telekinesis.
After a while, Amelia arrived at the guild around 7:30, quickly greeting Finn and Darwin and starting work as a waitress. At 8:30, Cristel entered the guild, quickly noticing Finn and Darwin, greeting them cheerfully and telling them about her hunting mission with the other guild members.
After telling them about her mission, Cristel asked them how their mission went, since she only knew the most important details given to her by her grandfather. Finn and Darwin didn't hold back, telling her about absolutely everything they had done on their mission.
Cristel was fascinated by Darwin and Finn's adventures, as well as the fact that Finn had been able to develop telekinetic magic to another level, but what fascinated her most was the incredible idea, as she called it, of interrogating the goblin witches and forcing them to submit to them. She believed there was no better way than to subdue your rivals to your own will.
"That's how it's done, guys. Not all fights are won with physical strength. Sometimes you have to break your enemy's defenses by using their mental weaknesses" Cristel stated proudly. "Do you happen to have the slime with you?" Cristel asked.
"Sure" Finn replied, taking the slime out of his backpack and giving it to Cristel.
Cristel tried to shape it into a sword, just as she had seen Finn shape it into various forms, but the slime simply trembled and shuddered under Cristel's telekinesis, not taking any particular shape. It seemed as if it was about to burst.
'I can't… maybe my control isn't good enough' Cristel wondered.
After a few seconds of watching Cristel fight, Finn moved his fingers in front of the slime, causing it to transform into a long sword without any problem.
"It's a little hard at first, but once you get used to it, it comes naturally," Finn affirmed.
Cristel nodded, analyzing the slime in front of her. She had never thought that worthless creatures could be so useful. At that moment, a plate fell on the table next to Cristel. It was Amelia, who had just taken her break.
"Is it 12 already?" Darwin asked, surprised at how quickly time had passed.
"That's right, today has been a pretty quiet day. The adventurers are still tired from their hunting mission" Amelia affirmed, looking at the slime in Cristel's hand. "Is this the slime you caught, Finn?"
"That's right, although I adopted it more than captured it. It's very calm as long as I feed it fruit or leaves" Finn affirmed.
"Yes, slimes are known for not attacking at all. Many adventurers with children often seek one out to help their children lose their fear of monsters" Amelia revealed. "Although, it's the first time I've seen someone use it as a support weapon like you do" Amelia confessed, remembering the video where Finn fights using the slime as a whip or shield.
"I have to say, you're very versatile and creative. Maybe you should start trying training with different weapons. I'm sure you'd be good at it" Cristel said confidently, touching the tip of the slime's sword, causing it to sink slowly. "mph, despite being very firm, it's still a slime after all. I understand why you've never used it as a sword."
"That's right. The slime would simply sink or slip to the side when trying to cut a monster, so I decided to use it to slow down hits, weapons or use it as a whip to whip and restrain monsters" Finn nodded
"Finn, could you?" Cristel asked, making Finn understand that she wanted to try using her telekinesis on the slime again.
Finn nodded, releasing his magic from the slime. Before everyone's eyes, Cristel refocused on using her telekinesis, beginning to have the same problems she had a moment ago. But after a few seconds, the slime began to stretch and take shape little by little, until it became a shield, which gradually began to perfect itself until it took on the appearance of a knight's shield with the Freewalker guild logo.
'So this is Cristel's talent that everyone talks about in the novel…' Finn thought, amazed at how quickly she had surpassed him in telekinetic control.
Cristel began to change the slime's shape into different weapons, imagining all the possibilities of using it in combat, increasingly convinced that she definitely needed one herself.
"Do you mind if I keep it for a while? I'd like to try it out in combat" Cristel asked, making both Finn and Darwin smile.
'I knew it, she loved the slime' Darwin thought. 'No wonder. Cristel handles many weapons, and almost none can withstand Cristel's immense power. A slime-like weapon that can be molded would be perfect for her and her varied fighting style. It's a shame the slime can't solidify, otherwise it would be the perfect weapon for her.'
"Of course, take it if you want. I won't be going on any missions for the time being, and I'll be training my magic at the guild, so I don't need it" Finn nodded, pleasing Cristel.
"Thank you very much. I promise I'll make it up to you" Cristel said gratefully, causing the slime to spread out and tuck itself inside her shirt. "Although, it's best to forget about training your magic for now, and you too, Darwin. If you had the same plans" Cristel said, drawing both of their attention.
"Why? I wanted to start advancing my Light Magic" Darwin confessed, confused. "Haven't we been assigned another mission, have we?" he asked fearfully, looking at Amelia.
"No... well, yes, but that would be until Mr. Rodrick returns from his mission, which will be in a month" Amelia replied calmly.
"So?" Finn asked.
"You're already very proficient with your magic, well, at least for a Class D. What you should train is your body now. Believe me, you don't want to reach Class C with the physical constitution of a Class D," Cristel affirmed, causing Amelia to nod. "So far, you've been managing very well with your level, but that's because you're very skilled and efficient when it comes to taking advantage of all your skills and ingenuity, but there's a limit to everything."
"That's right, idiots. You can't keep going on C-class missions with the body of a D-class," Amelia said seriously. "Eventually, all the overexertion you put in will take its toll, and your bodies will end up breaking down under your own magic and power," she revealed.
"But what's wrong with my body? I thought I was in pretty good shape... as for my magic, I was even able to develop a new one" Finn said, confused.
"It's not that there's anything wrong with your body, Finn. Having an athletic body is pretty good for a D-class, but not for you two" Cristel said seriously. "You're explorers; you can't limit yourselves to just having an athletic or archer's body. You'll have to face various tests of strength, speed, toughness, and agility."
Cristel waved her arm, causing her bracer to appear, along with a window showing the video of Finn and Darwin's mission. In the video, you could see how they were easily thrown by the monsters' force, how they couldn't take the attacks head-on without breaking a bone or being knocked out.
"This is what I mean. Darwin was completely knocked out by a simple attack from a low-level earthly beast, while Finn was sent flying without being able to put up any resistance" Cristel said. "If it had been any other adventurer of their same class, without your wits and skills, they would have undoubtedly died on that mission."
"The point is, you've survived so far because you're very effective with the power you already have. I'd even say you're easily entering the level of a low-level C-class without even having their power," Amelia admitted. "But this can't continue like this. Eventually, you won't be able to keep up with your enemies and will end up being overshadowed by raw, unadulterated power."
"So what should we do to increase our physical power?" Darwin asked.
"Simple, train. Train until you're as big as bulls, build those muscles to their maximum strength," Cristel said firmly. "Besides, this would be very good for you, Darwin. I heard that non-human women like strong, muscular men, especially elves."
"Really?" Darwin asked with renewed resolve, and Amelia nodded. 'Anything for my girls…' Darwin thought decisively.
"You too, Finn. Remember that to fulfill our pact, you have to tame me, and I assure you that for that, you're going to need a lot of physical strength" Cristel said, flexing her arm and showing off her well-defined muscles. "Besides, I like big, strong men. Although I have no doubt that in two years you'll be taller than me even wearing my heels, you have to gain enough muscle to make me look small next to you. As my disciple, I expect nothing less from you, do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am" Finn replied.
"Well said, sweetheart... we also need to work on your response. A powerful adventurer must be firm and confident" Cristel said, taking notes for herself.
"The two of you can train on the 6th floor of the guild's sublevels. There are several rooms with weights and exercise equipment. I used to train there when I was an adventurer. It's a good place. Each room has a sauna and a bathroom," Amelia said.
"That's right, sweethearts. And remember, Harder is Better" Cristel said with a big smile.