12 - Destinies Awaken: Unveiling Power and Bonds

The lively village of Riverwood, with its golden twilight lights and the buzz of its inhabitants, sharply contrasted with Melisa's mood. She, with her wild eyes and the smile of a mischievous young woman, despite her age and the responsibility of leading a caravan, appeared visibly downcast. 'Would these youngsters surprise me, or was I too hasty in my judgment?' She hoped that after the successful goblin hunt the day before, Jon and Gwen would bring her more profits. But perhaps Jon was right, it might have been just a stroke of luck.

After tallying the hunt, Melisa announced, "55 Tils for Gwen and 50 for Jon." The pile of spiky boars and hunted wolves might have impressed most, but in a village accustomed to hunting, it was nothing extraordinary, especially considering Melisa's expectations of them.

Jon, with deep bags under his eyes, looked utterly exhausted. "Give everything to Gwen. I need to rest." Without waiting for a response, he walked away, each step reflecting the price paid for being on the frontline in the dungeon. The fatigue was evident in his posture.

Seeing Gwen's surprised expression, Melisa, in her playful essence, couldn't resist. "Oh, what a gentleman you've found, huh?" Gwen, her cheeks tinted with red, mumbled, "It's just a favor between friends." She turned quickly and headed home, her face even more flushed.

Melisa chuckled softly, satisfied to have provoked a reaction in the young woman. 'This is how kids should be,' she reflected.

Then, a velvety tone sounded behind her. "What do we have today?" It was Ren, his mischievous smile evident. He approached, about to envelop her in a warm embrace, but Melisa halted him with a piercing look.

"Where have you been? Spent the day in the local brothels?" she inquired, with a touch of sarcasm. Her relationship with Ren was casual, but she didn't appreciate being left in the dark.

Ren raised his hands in surrender, a half-smile on his lips. "I got distracted with a good drink and stories from a local hunter." His eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and guilt…

Just like on the previous nights since he found himself in Aeloria, Jon was lying on his bed, lost in thought. The quiet room was illuminated only by the glowing menu floating in front of his eyes.

**[GAME MENU]**

---

**Name:** Jon Woodmoon

**Level:** 9

**EXP:** 400/1000

**Tils:** 345

---

**[STATISTICS]**

- **HP (Health Points):** 160

- **MP (Mana Points):** 135

- **Strength:** 20

- **Agility:** 21

- **Constitution:** 25

- **Intelligence:** 25

- **Luck:** 10

- **Points:** 0

**[ABILITIES]**

- **Active:** None

- **Passive:**

- **Elven Race:** Amplifies mana manipulation ability.

- **Human Race:** 50% increase in EXP gain due to inherent adaptability.

- **Riverwood Moonstone:** 50% increase in EXP and abilities for hunter classes.

- **Apprentice Archer:** Level 6

- **Apprentice Warrior:** Level 0

**[QUESTS]**

- **Daily Hunt:** Deliver your daily hunt to Melisa and gain an additional 100 exp.

The words '165 exp, new class passive, +10 HP, and increments of +5 Strength and +5 Constitution' echoed in his mind. His satisfaction with the day's progress was evident. Comparing it to when he first started with the bow, he realized that progressing in the warrior class was more demanding, and his body had to develop, hence the extra points; perhaps that's why he felt every muscle in his body ache with every small movement.

Still, as he pondered and got lost in thoughts about the next steps and adventures, one truth remained unshaken for Jon: he had never felt more at home than in Aeloria. Even though he originally didn't belong to this world, the feeling of connection and belonging was so intense that he desired nothing more than to stay there. He was grateful, deeply grateful, for this unique experience.

As dawn broke on the next day, Jon and Gwen found themselves in a déjà vu. The two, armed with a well-outlined plan, took the reverse path to the dungeon, while Ren, the shadowy observer, trailed them from a distance. His heart was heavy with dilemma, wrestling with the decision of whether to continue tailing the young adventurers or abandon the idea.

The venture into the goblin dungeon had been filled with surprises, but on that day, Jon and Gwen faced a moment Jon had long anticipated. Their steady progress had led to the defeat of 35 goblins so far. The previously explored regions showed signs of dwindling enemy numbers, evidence of their previous conquests. However, the true prize still lay ahead.

Upon reaching a more secluded chamber, Jon's eyes lit up. Gwen, catching her friend's gaze, questioned, "Jon, could this be a treasure chest we've found?"

With a simple nod and a gleam in his eyes, Jon confirmed Gwen's suspicions. For him, the most exciting part of any dungeon lay in the hidden treasures – the promise of an invaluable item or a rare ability. And of course, the human in Jon couldn't help but dream of these rewards, though he knew how to balance his ambition with other priorities.

Upon touching the chest, a luminous screen emerged, presenting a choice:

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**Congratulations! You've discovered a Class A chest through your efforts!**

*Do you wish to open it:* Yes | No

---

A sigh of relief escaped Jon's lips. 'As I thought, we're the first ones here.' Reflecting on the world of Aeloria, he was aware of hidden treasures in dungeons and side quests. Yet, the world and other adventurers before him already existed, which made him question the presence of such chests. However, thanks to the mods he had incorporated before being transported to this world, Jon had access to secrets yet undiscovered, like the goblin dungeon protected by an intricate security matrix.

As they opened the chest, the following screen appeared for the two:

**500 Tils**

**Name:** Luminar, the Sword of Serenity

**Rank:** SS

**Level:** 1

**[STATISTICS]**

- **Strength:** +5

- **Agility:** +5

- **Constitution:** +5

- **Intelligence:** +1

- **Luck:** +5

**Description:** At first glance, Luminar is a sword of modest appearance, with a straight and simple blade adorned with silver runes along its length. Its hilt is wrapped in time-worn brown leather, and the crescent-shaped guard exudes a subtle golden glow.

**History:** Luminar, the Sword of Serenity, belonged to a chosen one who brought peace to Aeloria, a land torn by conflict. Wielded by a hero in times of desperation, it united nations in lasting peace.

**[ABILITIES]**

- **Active:** None

**[Enchantments]**

**1.** Owner's Adaptation: The sword perfectly adjusts to the user.

**2.** Energy Absorption: Absorbs energy from victims to increase bonus attributes with limitless capacity.

. . .

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