Alton finally stepped out of the hot spring, his body relaxed and muscles loose from the steaming water. As he headed toward his room, Rose appeared in the hallway.
"How was the bath?" she asked with a gentle smile. "Our hot springs are famous for healing sore muscles."
"It was incredible," Alton replied. "I could really feel the difference. Super relaxing."
She nodded, looking pleased. "Good. Heading to bed already?"
"Yeah, I was planning to read for a bit."
Rose teased lightly, "Bookworm, huh? Don't stay up too late."
Alton smiled. "I'm just trying it out. Don't worry."
She giggled. "Mom left some warm herb soup on your table. It'll help your muscles even more. Make sure you drink it, okay? I won't be happy if you don't."
"I will. Thanks, Rose."
She gave him one last smile before heading back downstairs. Alton entered his room and was immediately greeted by the rich aroma of the soup. He settled onto the bed, picked up The Art of Magic, and began reading while slowly eating.
The book was full of valuable insights. One passage in particular caught his attention:
The nine tiers of magic
Level 9: Cataclysmic — Reality-altering spells (apocalypse magic, permanent weather change, raising mountains).
Level 8: Legendary— Large-scale creation and destruction (eternal storms, summoning ancient beasts).
Level 7: Archmage — Battle-deciding magic (meteor storms, domain expansion, soul arts).
Level 6: Master — Advanced combat and healing (internal burning flames, powerful regeneration).
Level 5: Adept — Versatile battlefield control (enhanced elemental magic).
Level 4: Skilled — Strong support and combat (Frostweaver, Runeblade).
Level 3: Intermediate— Everyday useful spells (fireballs, minor healing, buffs).
Level 2: Novice — Basic utility (small flames, light orbs).
Level 1: Foundation— The absolute basics (kindling fire, tiny gusts of wind).
Alton's eyes widened as he read. "So even the lowest levels can become incredibly strong if you have enough skill and will…"
The more he read, the more excited he became. He had only scratched the surface of what was possible. As the night deepened, he finally set the book aside, but sleep wouldn't come easily. His mind buzzed with possibilities.
Lying in the dark, he thought back to his old life. Even as a kid, he had always dreamed of traveling and seeing the world. That dream had been buried under spreadsheets and disappointment. But here… he could actually chase it.
After a few quiet days in the village to recover, he would leave and begin exploring this new world.