There was also some food in the bundle. Anser took out two loaves of bread and a small piece of dried cheese and handed them to Bratt. "Eat something before resting."
"Mm." Bratt reached out to take them and began biting into them in large mouthfuls.
The two of them felt their way through the darkness for more than an hour, anxious and on edge, and were badly exhausted. Neither had the mood to talk.
As Anser ate, he sensed the die in his mind, wanting to know how much he was still short of leveling up.
But the moment the twenty-sided die appeared, he almost bit his own tongue.
One of the symbols on its faces had, at some point, completely lit up, and another symbol was also giving off a faint glow.
'What did I do today? How did it light up like this?' he wondered to himself.
With a light tap on the die, segments of memory flashed before his eyes like slides: becoming a Sorcerer, fighting, breaking free, rescuing people, fleeing for his life…
'Is it related to what I've been through?' Anser roughly grasped the reason.
After a long while, the flashing memories disappeared, and the lit symbols had already transformed into a mass of prismatic flames.
Ding—
[You have obtained an adventurer trait: Magic Power Control.]
Magic Power Control: You possess extraordinary control over magical power. Your casting speed is faster, your casting stability is higher, and casting failures will not trigger magical backlash.
[Magic Power +5, attack rolls +1, spell save DC +1.
Current level: First Circle.]
Anser's heart jolted, a mix of shock and delight surging through him.
"What kind of divine ability is this? It fits my current situation perfectly."
In other words, he could almost ignore the effects caused by disturbances in the Weave and cast spells normally, without having to worry about dying an untimely death like his mentor Fabian.
His control over spells was enhanced, indirectly increasing hit rate and damage.
As for tomorrow's actions, he felt much more confident now.
'If the die has twenty faces, that means twenty traits. With this, can I achieve legend, or even go further?' Anser could not help but let his thoughts run wild.
This world has professionals, legends, and gods as well—rich and diverse, filled with limitless possibilities.
'If the natives can do it, why can't a transmigrator like me, who comes with a built-in cheat, allow himself to dream a little?'
'One step at a time. Don't aim too high—at the very least, survive first." He silently warned himself. Faerûn was full of dangers everywhere.
Coming back to his senses, he brought up the character sheet. His magic power had reached 9, which was quite abundant.
He glanced again at his experience points: 275/300. He was just a little short of leveling up.
'Why is there only experience points from combat?' he was somewhat puzzled.
In the game's settings, non-combat challenges—such as negotiation and trade—as well as adventure milestones could all grant experience points, and parties would split experience evenly.
'From the settings, all classes can level up through combat. Wizards can level up by researching magic or alchemy, while Sorcerers should be able to level up by training their innate magic…'
Today, he had been constantly casting cantrips and had not been willing to cast a single First Circle spell, so he could not verify this conjecture.
In addition, an extra item had appeared in the equipment section of the character sheet: a Goodberry Staff. It should be referring to Fabian's spare staff.
He lightly touched it, and the staff's detailed description immediately popped up, even more convenient than an Identify spell.
[Magic Item: Goodberry Staff
Category: Staff
Rarity: Uncommon (requires attunement)
A naturally magical long staff, possibly originating from an oak tree of great age. It can be used as a melee weapon and has 6 charges.]
[Goodberry: While holding this staff, you can cast the First Circle spell Goodberry, consuming 1 charge each time.]
[Recharge: This staff naturally regains 3 charges each day.]
Not bad. The corners of Anser's eyes curved with a smile.
Goodberry is a First Circle conjuration spell for Druids and Rangers. It can conjure ten magical berries. Eating one berry restores 1 Hit Point, and a single berry is enough to sustain a creature's nutritional needs for an entire day.
Under normal circumstances it might not be very useful, but while fleeing for one's life, it could be considered a god-tier ability.
However, to use its magical properties, one must attune to it—that is, establish a mental connection with the staff.
This requires at least one hour, during which one must focus mentally on the magic item, maintain contact and meditation, and must not be interrupted.
A professional cannot be attuned to more than three magic items at the same time.
When the bearer no longer meets the item's attunement requirements, or when an attuned item remains at least 100 feet away from the bearer for no less than 24 hours, or when the bearer dies, or when another creature attunes to the item, the bearer's attunement to the item will immediately end.
That is to say, attunement is not soul-binding and carries no real constraints.
'This is much stronger than my own plain crystal magical focus.'
Anser decided to complete the attunement before sleeping. It would be very useful tomorrow.
"You look like you're in a good mood."
Bratt had already finished his bread and was sipping water in small mouthfuls, looking thoroughly at ease. Someone who didn't know better might have thought he was drinking wine.
"I survived another day. Isn't that worth being happy about?" Anser smiled faintly, half in jest and half referring to his own experience of transmigrating and being reborn.
"Haha, that's an interesting way to put it." Bratt didn't probe further, his smile relaxed and unrestrained.
Anser looked at Bratt and was just about to speak when he suddenly noticed a line of text slowly appear "above his head":
[Bratt, Human, Level 2 Fighter]
'Huh, a new function of the die?'
He turned his head and closed his eyes, discovering that the text was projected into his mind by the die. As long as he focused his attention on a target, it would automatically appear. It was not limited to living beings; magic items and miscellaneous objects were displayed as well.
This should be an upgraded version of the combat log, though the information was far too brief.
"What's wrong?" Bratt asked, puzzled.
"Nothing, I was just distracted. Bratt, do you have family?" Anser deliberately changed the subject.
"I do, but they're not here."
"That's good, then."
"With the Wizard's Tower gone, what do you plan to do? Go to Candlekeep?" Bratt asked.
"With my aptitude, I'm afraid I won't be able to get into Candlekeep." Anser shook his head slightly.
Candlekeep could be called the greatest academy of knowledge and library in Faerûn. It is a neutral power, and the price of entry is the donation of a written work that Candlekeep does not already possess.
Scholars can visit, but may stay for at most ten days. Formally joining Candlekeep is extremely difficult; they do not accept just anyone.
"If you still want to continue studying spells, you could go to Silverymoon. Waterdeep and Neverwinter are also good options," Bratt suggested.
Anser laughed. "Isn't being a Sorcerer good enough? Why make things hard for yourself?"
"You've got a good mindset," Bratt praised. "I've seen many people who cling too tightly to their obsessions. Even when there are other paths, they stubbornly refuse to adapt."
"…"
The two chatted idly for a while, treating it as a way to get to know each other better, but without touching on too much personal privacy.
No one brought up plans after leaving. At least before escaping Baldur's Gate, their goals were aligned.
However, during this time, Anser noticed that a few more words had appeared above Bratt's head.
[Bratt, Human, Level 2 Fighter, Hit Point: 18]
'Looks like the closer the contact, the more information I can obtain." He understood the die too little and could only explore it gradually through practice.
Night grew deep, and the mountain hollow quieted down.
Bratt used a candle to make a crude wind lantern and took the initiative to sort through the miscellaneous items in the bundle, preparing for tomorrow.
Anser pulled his backpack closer and went through his own spoils.
The three coin pouches likely all came from apprentices. Put together, they amounted to only 6 gold coins, 7 silver coins, and 31 copper coins, a mix of different currencies.
There were two spellbooks, non-magical items, with some cantrips and notes on learning copied into them—nothing of great value.
The most valuable items were several gemstones found in the alchemy lab, mainly blue quartz and turquoise, worth a bit of money.
Next came various odds and ends: a pocket watch, a spyglass, paper and pen, a dagger, small loaves of bread, honey, dried meat, sausages, black pepper…
'If only there were diamonds.'
Anser shook his head regretfully, spread out a blanket, leaned against the corner, placed the Goodberry Staff across his knees, and closed his eyes to meditate.
Bratt deliberately moved a little farther away. It looked like he intended to rest on the outer edge—whether to make it easier to keep watch, or because he was worried Anser might not trust him, it was hard to say.