*Ping* Congratulations on completing your Gold Ranked Adventurer Job.


    Rewards for Regular Completion:


    -Ten Gold Per Party Member


    -Mana Replenishment


    Bonus Rewards for Lesser Abomination:


    -One Loot Box per Party Member


    The notification appears as the group touches the Sunlit Pillar and they all sigh in relief as their Mana channels are soothed and their Mana is refilled. The trip back to the wall was uneventful, all of the minions in the area were gathered by the [Fire] Knight into the horde that the party destroyed.


    The party immediately returns to their room and strips off dirty armor and jostles for position to get into the bathroom first. Lucia wins, using [Shadowstep] to appear in the dark bathroom and shut the door.


    “Hah! I’ll be quick!” Lucia calls, muffled voice coming through the closed door. She keeps to her word and exits at the head of small fogbank of steam, moving to the side and letting Shen go next.


    Soon everyone is clean, sweat and blood washed down the drain and under armor in a large pile on the floor to get cleaned.


    “So, what is up with these Loot Boxes?” Marco questions, removing his seven-inch long box. The box is plain black with no adornments but is surprisingly heavy for the size.


    “Oh right! These are boxes that have a tailored drops to each person. Usually a book about the person’s Affinity, sometimes containing insight to new magic or deeper understanding.” Ben says, grabbing his box from the foot of his bed.


    “Nothing dangerous though?” Marco asks to a round of shaking heads.


    “No, the Sunlight System is benevolent. In recorded history, it has not harmed anyone with its rewards.” Ben says, removing the top of his Loot Box and gasping lightly as he glows with [Light]. “An Affinity increase?! That is insanely rare.”


    Ben’s comment sparks a whirlwind of movement and exclamations as everyone else opens their Loot Boxes. Shen and Lucia both also received a one percent Affinity increase, bringing them all to the mid-fifties.


    Marco pulls open his Loot Box, no Affinity increase forthcoming, he looks at the book nestled with the black container. “Salt Magic Primer: Spells for Damage and Defense. Interesting! I’ll definitely be reading this later.”


    He looks around the room, everyone also having received a book. Shen received a book on advanced earthen defenses, Ben got a primer of System information that brough a glint to his eyes, and Lucia received a book titled: Burning Dark.


    “Interesting loot all around it seems.” Shen says, leafing through his [Earth] magic book already.


    “Indeed,” Ben says, eyes not leaving the pages of System Quirks.


    “I think I will check on the kitchen staff before dinner time and just spend the day reading” Marco says, sitting against the wall at the head of the bed and cracking open his book, happy to be reading.


    The hours pass, Marco taking short breaks to grab a plate of snacks from Doris and Ethil and use the restroom, but he is enthralled by the book gifted to him.


    “Spells for levitation, advanced conjuration, and explanations on upgrading spells. I don’t think I need additional spells right now; I just need to get better at using my current ones.” Marco thinks, placing the book into his [Inventory] for additional study later on. He smooths his set of light gray clothing, in the local Woodholme style and lets his group know he is headed to the kitchens to make sure Lucas is keeping his word.


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    Marco experiments with the movement techniques in the book as he walks toward the kitchens, starting with Salt Skating. He conjures a layer of smooth [Salt] onto the bottoms of his boots, focusing to make sure it is as slick as possible before taking his first step and trying to push himself forward with magic simultaneously, he immediately crashes into the right wall of the hallway and groans in pain.


    He continues to try, eventually managing to glide along the floor, pushing himself with magic and moving much fast than usual. He dismisses his conjuration as he gets to the crowded dining area, bypassing the lines and returning greetings from people and waving away compliments and congratulations with a small smile.


    He enters the kitchens, the usual wave of heat a small comfort to him in this still new world. He is a little shocked to see the brigade system in full effect in the massive kitchen, everyone having a task and doing it well.


    Chef Lucas, still looking unhappy but missing the rage that overwhelmed him earlier in the day approaches Marco.


    “Ah Marco. Welcome back to kitchens.” Lucas says, a fake smile plastered on his face. “I want to apologize for how I handled the mess this morning. Threatening you was out of line and inappropriate, thank you for suggesting a competition of skill instead.”


    Marco is visibly confused by the change in attitude and shocked by the apology, never in a million years would one of his old Chefs apologize to him over a mistake they made.


    “Why the sudden change of heart?” Marco questions.


    “The Sun has graced my kitchen with it’s presence and has shown me the error of my ways.” Lucas says with something akin to extreme religious devotion. “Look how well your brigade system is working.”


    Marco takes another look around the kitchen and sees a kitchen that would make a Michelin starred Chef jealous. Quiet competency and talent fills the kitchen as all of the workers he directed yesterday do their jobs well and produce excellent product.


    As he looks around he sees the beginnings of dinner being made. Potato and leek soup, two types of Wellington; one with the traditional beef and the other filled with a faux meat made of beets and mushrooms. He sees salad fixings and a beautiful berry vinaigrette, speckled with herbs and perfectly emulsified.


    “Well done with making the change so quickly. I can’t say that I was expecting something like this when I walked back here today but nonetheless I am happy to witness the change.” Marco says, holding his hand out for the older man to shake.


    “I am not happy to be wrong but the Sun has shown me a better way, not only for my cooks but also for myself.” Lucas says, shaking Marco’s hand in a firm handshake.


    Marco leaves the kitchen, confused by happy with the turn of events.


    “I haven’t seen that level of devotion to the System in anyone else so far.” Marco thinks to himself. “None of my friends are like this. Ben studies the System and he isn’t devoted to it like this.”


    Marco leaves the dining area, wanting a breath of fresh air after the weird encounter with Lucas. He talks to Gatekeeper Hugh and is let out on the Eldermyst side of the wall, still surrounded with gray trees and crunchy grass but more protected from monsters than he would be on the other side.


    He finds a weak sunbeam struggling to pierce the ever-present clouds and fog and leans against a tree, absorbing what warmth makes it to him through the thick overcast sky.


    Marco jumps slightly as he feels someone slide down the tree next to him.


    “What are you doing out here?” Marco asks, shutting his eyes once again.


    “I needed a break from the book, I am loving all of the new information but it is quite dense.” Ben says, head tilting up to catch some of the sunshine.


    The elf’s white hair catches the light and seems to glow a warm sunset hue, accentuating his tanned olive skin and handsome features.


    “I had an interesting encounter in the kitchen.” Marco says, not wanting to ruin the closeness of the moment but needing answers about the devotion to the System.


    “Tell me about it,” Ben says, not moving out of his sunbeam


    “You remember how the Chef of the kitchens was acting this morning right?” Marco asks, and continues at Ben’s nod. “He was totally different and told me that the Sun told him to change and showed him a different path.”


    “Ah, Chef Lucas is a Devotee of the Sun.” Ben says, opening his pale blue eyes and looking at Marco. “This is the first time you’ve encounter one of them?”


    “Yes, I went into the kitchens expecting to get reamed out but was instead thanked and it threw me for a loop.” Marco says, making eye contact with Ben.


    “The Devoted tend to be intense about the System. They are generally thought of as harmless thought and perpetuate the Fairness of the Sunlight System well.” Ben says.


    “How have I not heard of this group before?” Marco asks, maintaining eye contact with the sunlit elf.


    “The Devoted generally keep their beliefs to themselves unless they are touched directly by the System.” Ben says, moving close to Marco until their shoulders are pressed together and their faces are very close.


    Marco feels a blush grow over his face, burning red hot under the gaze of the handsome elf so close to him.


    “Umm Ben, I’ve nev-” Marco begins but is interrupted by one of the loudest noises he has ever heard echoing out from the wall.


    “Oh Sun! The wall is under attack!” Ben whips his head away from Marco and immediately begins to run toward the wall. Marco follows close behind, using salt skating to the best of his ability, keeping up with Ben while he is using [Lightspeed].


    “A HORDE IS APPROACHING THE WALL. ABOMINATIONS SPOTTED, DARK ENTS SPOTTED, LEGION KNIGHTS SPOTTED, LICH SPOTTED LEADING THE HORDE.” A voice slams into Marco and Ben as they get within a dozen feet of the portcullis.