Before stepping into his new courtyard, John arranged to have dinner with the two ladies later on, and they temporarily went their separate ways. Once he entered the courtyard, John asked Max, "What''s your take on all this? It feels more like a fantasy world than a place for cultivation. Plus, I couldn''t talk to you in front of the others without raising eyebrows. Thankfully, the crows around us offer a bit of a distraction." Max responded, "You''re right, the crows are a good cover for now. As for your question, I''ve been keeping an ear on the crowd''s chatter and I''ll sift through it to pick up any useful bits of info." After their exchange, John got himself cleaned up and changed into his new uniform, aware that it would be quite some time before he''d sit down for that meal.
Choosing to begin with exercise, he engaged in his unique form of fly-chi. He performed push-ups until his arms ached, proceeded with sit-ups, and then lunges, each movement executed with grace and accuracy. The fly-rod felt right in his hand, but the worry of causing damage held him back from fully integrating it into his martial routine. For now, tai-chi would suffice. John, inexperienced in combat, was unsure of what skills to focus on first. Max suggested, "John, I have some advanced tai-chi techniques that could be useful. I saved some videos before we came here." "Alright, let''s see them," John replied, closing his eyes in anticipation. He watched an elderly man perform a one-handed handstand, followed by a sweeping leg maneuver. It was reminiscent of a character from the video game Street Fighter, a Jamaican fighter. This observation sparked an idea in John for enhancing his combat flow.
Engrossed in the rhythm of his leg sweeps and hand flips, John was unaware of time passing until a knock at the courtyard door snapped him back to the present. "Oh no, it''s dinner time already," he whispered to himself. As he opened the door, surprise registered on his face upon seeing only the two girls. "Are we too early?" asked Ayna. "No, training just made me lose track of time," John admitted. "What about everyone else?" Alana added, "They won''t be joining us. They mentioned they have some intense training sessions planned and will catch up later." John nodded, "Alright, let''s grab something to eat." As the girls turned to leave, John followed, asking, "Where are we heading for food? Is there a dining hall?"
"Ayna, we could give it a try, but your fishing method intrigues me," she commented. "Is fish tasty?" Alana asked. Surprised, John queried, "You''ve never had fish?" She responded with a head shake. "Eating fish is an alien concept to me. Why consume them when the flesh of land creatures is rich with spirit energy?" he pondered aloud. "That will change today. We shall head out of the city to the upstream river. It''s a perfect spot for fishing. I also intend to prepare some extra fish for the crows," he declared. The two elven maidens trailed closely behind him.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"I am of the high elves, as you may know. To the outside eye, my existence appears without fault. My lineage is one of ancient wealth, tied to innumerable strange traditions I''m supposed to hold dear. However, if I may speak plainly, it''s all quite tedious. I yearn for something... different. That''s the real reason I''m drawn to the depths of a dungeon," he confessed. Elena chimed in, "Some high elves might think they lead perfect lives, but that''s not the case for me. My family has influence and their own set of edicts, but I won''t let them command my life. There''s got to be more to life than just lavish gatherings and old-fashioned rituals, don''t you think?"
John understood their logic but was eager to explore further. He asked about the dungeons, wanting to know what lay ahead. Alane was the first to answer, detailing, "When you complete the first level, a number from one to nine will manifest on your left hand. As you progress through each level, your cultivation will be enhanced. The rewards are tailored to each person''s journey on a given floor. Remember, you must enter alone—no groups, teams, or parties. Your unique skills are vital. After finishing a floor, you can either keep the beast cores and leave or press on. You may revisit any level you''ve previously cleared, but advancing to a new floor means you must pass or fail—there''s no turning back. Keep this in mind. Additionally, if you conquer several floors in one attempt without leaving, you''ll earn extra rewards based on the highest floor you''ve reached. Many fall prey to their ambition here, trying to clear many levels at once for the greatest prizes."
As the trio stepped beyond the city gates, a pair of crows glided down, settling on John''s shoulders. "Nice to see you two again," he warmly greeted them. With thoughts of dinner stirring in his mind, he spotted an ideal location nearby. In an instant, his fly-rod appeared in his hands. He skillfully whipped the rod back and forth thrice, letting the line out, and with a deft flick, the fly landed softly on the water. A large fish quickly took the bait. John engaged in a spirited battle with the robust fish and, after a short struggle, triumphantly brought it ashore. He gathered fallen branches and stones to construct a fire ring by the river. With a dab of fire gel, he sparked a fire in no time. "What''s that stuff? How did it start the fire so quickly?" Anya asked, puzzled. "It''s magic," Alana exclaimed, while John, smiling, simply dubbed it a trick. He then skillfully prepared the fish, placing it on a flat stone to cook.
The scent of the cooking fish filled the air, catching Anya and Alana off guard. John seasoned the fish with salt and pepper, and after finding a pine tree, he added some needles for extra flavor. As the fish cooked, he returned to the river''s edge. Within ten minutes, the fish was perfectly cooked. In that short time, John had also caught four more fish. He skewered them and set them around the fire, letting them roast to perfection.