Lumi went over the messages.
[Angle: "Just hit level 8. The knight instructor says I need level 10 to obtain my class. Should make it to Golem Ruins in about 3 hours."]
[VICE: "Level 6, grinding hard. Even without skills, I can use the bow, which makes my grinding much better. Unfortunately, I was delayed because I roamed too hard, and got myself one shot by some malicious creature. ETA 4 hours if I don't die to these stupid wasps."]
[ToraX: "YOOO level nine! So close to ten! The instructor made me arm wrestle him lmao. Unless something supernatural happens, see you in 2 hours!"]
[HazyNova: "I never imagined thieves would have their own internal politics like this… The initiation was interesting. Will explain when we meet. I cannot give an accurate ETA. I am at level 10 already, but I got caught up in some storyline."]
Lumi typed quick responses, coordinating timing.
"We're flying!" Lena pressed her face against the porthole. "Look look look! Everything's so tiny! Those people look like ants!"
Lumi joined her, looking out the porthole as well. All he could see was the grand forestry below. Infact, they still haven't even reached the skyline. "I can't see anyone. You can see them?"
Lena nodded. "Yeah! It's hard to tell, but if you focus on the movement…" She looked back down. "We're too far now to see. Hey, how do you think ants taste?"
"Hm?" Lumi looked over. "Is that even safe to do?"
"I wasn't going to!" She turned, grinning. "Just asking. I dunno, can you fry em and eat them as a snack?" She thought for a second and changed topics on the spot. "Hey, can I see your new equipment? The stuff Merath gave us?"
"We got the same gear." Lumi stated, though still opened his inventory and pulled out the box. Inside lay a comprehensive set of items. Lena followed suit, looking at hers. While it may all be low level, it all far exceeded what could normally be obtained at level 10 could obtain through normal means.
First there was the 5 set piece of hat, top, bottom, shoes, and gloves. There was a slight difference between their two sets. Apart from size, the top and bottom were also gendered, male for Lumi, female for Lena.
It was a pale blue, not quite vibrant, but definitely something that gave off magician vibes.
Lumi examined the top:
[Blue Trainee Shirt]
[Required Level: 10]
[Required Class: Magician]
[Defense: +14]
[Max HP: +35]
[Int: +7]
[Remaining upgrade slots: 0/7]
The other pieces of equipment had similar stats with slight variations. Lumi focused on the key point. There were no upgrade slots remaining. He gave a small smile. Merath was truly generous, upgrading such garbage equipment.
Then, there was a pocket watch. It would be an otherwise random, unremarkable item if it weren't for…
[Int: +3]
Lastly, their wands.
[Magician's Metal Wand.]
[Required Level: 10]
[Int: +2]
[Magic Attack: +40]
[Remaining Upgrade Slots: 0/7]
It was a rod of steel the length of a forearm. At either end, the metal tapered subtly, ending in smooth caps. A small circle of engraving made its way around both ends. It was simple. And it worked.
As basic as it seemed, Lumi knew it was one of the best wands for their level. The only one he knew of that was better with a level requirement that low simply wasn't obtainable through regular means. Not to mention, Merath had upgraded the item.
"Ooooh." Lena had her own box open, revealing an identical wand and her own set of clothes, same color. "We match! But different! It's like we're a magical couple!"
"We're not a couple."
"Yet." she added cheerfully, already changing into her robe without warning.
Lumi quickly looked away. "Lena! Your own privacy!"
"What? It's just equipment swapping. Everyone does it." He heard rustling fabric. "Besides, you've seen me covered in mushroom gore. This is way less gross."
"That's not… never mind." He waited until she gave the all clear before turning back.
She did a little twirl, the robe flaring dramatically. "How do I look? Magical? Mystical? Marriageable?"
"Like a proper mage." Lumi spoke approvingly, then began changing into his own robe, though he was considerably more modest about it, turning away and being quick.
They settled in for the journey. Lena sprawled on her bed, kicking her feet in the air.
"Hey Lumi?"
"Mm?"
"Why are we really going to Macres? I mean yeah, you already told me. But you feel so serious about it."
Lumi considered how much to tell her. The full truth was impossible, but Lena deserved something.
"There's someone there who needs to be stopped." he said carefully. "Someone who will cause problems if left alone."
"Like a bad guy?"
"Yeah. Like a bad guy."
"Are we heroes then?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"I guess we are."
"Yay! Hero Lena! We love elaborate roleplay!" She sat up suddenly. "Oh! I should check if anyone wants to be friends with a hero!"
She opened her friends list and immediately let out a strangled squeak.
"Twenty... twenty three thousand?!" Her voice went up an octave. "TWENTY THREE THOUSAND FRIEND REQUESTS?!"
Lumi winced. "Yeah, that'll happen when you get a global achievement. Just disable-"
"They all want to be my friend!" Lena was amused. "But I can't be friends with everyone! Sorry all~" She disabled her friend requests.
It was time to wait out the flight.
During that time, Lumi checked his new stats.
[Name: Lumi]
[Class: Hero of Light]
[HP: 383]
[MP: 557]
[Defense: 120]
[ATK: 5]
[MATK: 40]
[INT: 80]
[STR: 5]
[Dex: 5]
[Damage Range: 292-307]
"Nice." Lumi couldn't help but comment under his breath. Even when taking into account the other miniscule few that had reached level 10 as well, it would be doubtful that their damage range reached 100.
Although Masteria displayed no damage numbers when attacking, the statistic was still a fairly accurate measurement of the potency of your attacks.
"Lumi!" Lena yelled out suddenly, catching his attention. "What should I put my skill points into? I didn't get to ask you earlier. It says I'm now at Rank One, Intro to Magic. And I have… three skill points? Wait a minute, isn't it one per level?"
"The amount of skill points per level changes depending on your Rank." Lumi gave an instinctive response, then thought about her question. He was familiar with nearly every class unlocked, though to differing extents. Though as she was a fellow magician, he held more familiarity with it than other classes.
But first, Lumi probed her mind a little. "I'm a different class than you. Do you really think I know what skills your class has? Or what is best?"
"Yes." Lena earnestly replied. "It's you."
"..." Lumi couldn't argue with that logic. It wasn't reasonable at all. It wasn't even an argument. It was blind faith for no reason whatsoever. Really, they barely knew each other. They had met YESTERDAY.
"For now," Lumi began. "Put a single point into Energy Bolt, so that you have a proper attack spell. Put a point into teleport, so that you have some basic mobility. And a point into Mana Jump for further mobility."
"Kay, done!" Lena cheerfully replied.
"One second, I also need to put my points in."
Lumi opened up his skill panel. He already knew what he wanted. He put a point into Light Shift, it could be said to be a slightly improved version of teleport.
[Light Shift: 1/10.]
[Teleport in the direction you want by becoming a beam of light. You will be invulnerable for a short time after teleporting.]
[Light Shift: MP Cost: 29, Teleport Max Distance: 1.18 meters.]
That's a lie. The system is lying. That is not the case.
With Lumi's understanding of magic he knew very well this was not the case. The teleportation was NOT by becoming a beam of light, but rather, a shift in how particles are propagated via the arcane which facilitates the teleport, with 'creation' as a springboard to jump from place to place.
It was also highly misleading. Such a skill description would lead players to believe they could teleport anywhere within range. That was not the case. It specifically said, "Teleport in the direction you want." What this actually meant was he could only move in one direction. One axis. Along the X axis, Y axis, or Z axis. Never more than one at a time.
With that fact noted silently, he continued putting skill points in. Of course, movement was key. It would be an insult to all magicians if he couldn't use his spells for movement.
[Light Leap: 1/10]
[Light Leap: Consume 34 MP to jump up. Can be linked with Light Speed 1 time midair.]
His last skill point would of course go into an offensive spell.
[Light Shower: 1/20]
[Fires a condensed spray of light that penetrates enemies as it flies.]
With everything ready, he nodded to Lena. "Alright, I finished with my skills too."