Grinding

"Thank you, Instructor. I'm grateful for your guidance," Kyle said with respect, cupping his hands and lowering his back for a formal bow.

Dan chuckled warmly, waving off his formality. "No problem, Kyle. Care for a meal before you return?"

'A meal? Heck, yeah!' Kyle's eyes lit up as he nodded eagerly.

'I might even take something special like the water I had before,' he thought, a sly grin creeping onto his lips.

***

A few minutes later, Kyle and Dan sat across from each other at the dining table, eating their respective meals. Kyle had been hoping for something exciting, but much to his dismay, Dan refused to offer him anything more than a Tier-0 meal.

Meanwhile, Dan indulged himself in a mana-rich feast.

Kyle could sense the mana and pressure being emitted from the meal across the table, and it only served to deepen his envy.