In Master Rohan's office, Merlin and Albert sat watching footage of the new discovery, while Merlin held the small stone arrow that Finn and Darwin had brought back from their mission. The three had been discussing recent events and the possibility of going to the dungeon in the Animalia Kingdom, but no matter how hard they tried, it didn't seem like a feasible idea. The queen forbids almost all contact with the mytts and elves except for trade or quests, and she also doesn't allow adventurers to explore those areas in the slightest. Her hatred for non-humans was clear.
"It's definitely impossible to go to the Animalia Kingdom right now, not just because of the Queen. Tensions with the Dawnia Kingdom have been rising recently, and rumors that King Orlando's influence has reached here are not making the Queen happy at all" Albert said.
Merlin sighed wearily, for he didn't understand how two kings could be so greedy as to condemn their own people if it was necessary.
"We must find another way, that's clear" said Rohan. "Unfortunately, we don't know what level that dungeon is. Otherwise, we could send Silia and Cristel there."
"The best option for now is to work with what we already have. We don't want any misfortune to happen... When I return from my trip south, I'll continue investigating with Anna and the other archaeologists for a way to open those doors in the Forest of the Fallen" said Merlin, and the other two nodded.
"That's the best option. I'll keep trying to get the queen to form a pact with the dwarves, even though I find it quite impossible" said Albert, knowing that the queen despised the idea of having dwarves in this kingdom.
"The other masters and I will go investigate this new base in a few weeks. We'll just wait for the Bluegate master to return from his trip to the Kingdom of Snowvein" affirmed Rohan.
"By then, Rodrick will have returned from his mission and should be leaving for Everland like he said he would" Albert said. "I understand he's taking your two explorers" he said, looking at Rohan, who nodded.
"That's right. Rodrick personally asked me to let him take Darwin and Finn on this mission. He wants them to clear the Class C dungeon while he searches for information on King Orlando's influence here" Rohan said, and Albert nodded.
'How can two brothers be so different?' Merlin thought sadly, not understanding how Orlando was so focused on acquiring power, unlike his brother Fausto, the former king, who focused on improving his kingdom and the lives of his people.
With that thought, Merlin and the other two continued talking for a few hours before Merlin had to leave on his journey south to see what was happening with the large number of monsters that were emerging.
—
Sitting at a table in the guild's dining room, Finn and Darwin were having breakfast with Cristel and Amelia, who was quite unhappy with how Finn and Darwin's mission had ended.
"It's no big deal" Darwin said, downplaying it.
"It's no big deal? You were knocked out with a single blow" Amelia said, playing the video of Darwin being knocked out by an earthly creature.
"A little stronger and it'll put you in a coma" Finn mocked, but then Amelia switched to a video of Finn.
"And you're not any better. That thing almost broke all your bones" Amelia said, watching Finn's body buckle before he flew into several tents.
Cristel nodded at Amelia's words; she believed Finn and Darwin needed to train their bodies urgently.
"Although I'm happy with the accomplishment of your mission, I have to say you were very lucky to get out alive this time" Cristel said, standing next to Amelia. "Your bodies are still very weak, and this mission has proven that several times."
Cristel flipped through many videos and photos of Darwin and Finn being dragged, beaten, whipped, and thrown by earthly creatures and ogres, stopping at the video where Finn was being beaten by an ogre until his arms were nearly broken.
"I have to admit, it wasn't my finest moment…" Finn said.
"Wasn't it your finest moment? You were almost crushed to death. You're very lucky to have advanced your telekinesis magic right then" Amelia said angrily. "You need to train your bodies, and fast. I can't let you go through this on your next mission with Sir Rodrick."
"Our bodies? But I thought it was good to have an athletic body" Finn said.
"For an archer, a mage, or any D-class adventurer, yes, but for you, it's very bad" Cristel clarified. "You'll inevitably have to upgrade to C or even B-class due to your occupation, and an athletic body won't be enough. You'll end up dying from constant injuries or permanently damaging your bodies. You need to toughen up more, gain muscle and more strength above all. Especially now that you're about to travel with Sir Rodrick, he won't hold back in testing you in every aspect of your classes. I speak from my own experience"
"Sigh, so how do we train? Isn't an adventurer supposed to gain strength the more quests they complete?" Darwin asked, resigned.
"Who told you such nonsense?" Amelia asked. "Fighting monsters helps you hone and refine your anima, which gives you more strength and speed, but if your body can't handle it, then not only will it never fully manifest, but it can also cause your body to break under your own power. You have to maintain a balance between your bodies and animas."
This fact surprised Finn and Darwin, who couldn't understand how someone's power could end up harming themselves.
"The anima works according to your efforts and desires. If you spend your time fighting, using magic, and pushing yourself too hard, then your anima will begin to enhance your magic and your natural strength. However, it won't enhance your muscles or bones. This causes your own strength to end up destroying you, or your magic to harm you if it isn't controlled enough," Cristel clarified. "If you start exercising your bodies, making your muscles work harder, then your anima will identify that it needs to enhance your bodies more, not only making your muscles grow but also making them stronger and more resilient."
"And where do we do that? I don't think I've seen a gym in the capital" Finn said.
"In the lower levels of the guild, of course" Amelia said. "There you'll find everything you need to start training."
"Ugh, I guess there's no other way..." Darwin said, throwing himself onto the table.
"Cheer up, Darwin. See this as an advantage, since many mytts love muscular, burly men" he said. Cristel making Darwin look at her hopefully.
"Really?" Darwin asked.
"Of course. I know a wolf girl who loves strong men" Cristel said confidently. "Besides, I heard that centaurs love muscular human men. My grandfather can corroborate that; he slept with many in his youth!"
'How does she know that?' Finn wondered, confused.
"You should try harder too, Finn. I don't know what kind of women you like, but I'm sure many are attracted to a strong body, even me" Cristel said.
"Uhh… I guess I'll think about it" Finn said.
'Hmm… that's not the answer I was looking for' Cristel thought. 'Does he like men? Impossible. I've seen the way he looks at Amelia's ass when she stands up. He definitely likes women. I have to find a way to make him express himself more. If he keeps repressing himself, his anima will end up being irreversibly damaged, but how do I do that?...'
With that new goal, Finn and Darwin set out to train their bodies for the next few weeks until Rodrick returned from his mission, hoping to avoid being harmed by their own power or worse.