Just as Cloud had guessed, Dina popped up when the fighting was done, an unconscious man already bound and hanging by the waist from her hand, his head colliding with the ground as she moved.
She handed the man to Captain Gillian, who immediately secured him, understanding him to be a valuable prisoner.
Dina had wanted them to return to the carriage, but Cloud stopped her, indicating to the soldiers.
None of the guards had lost their lives, but three had been critically injured, with another three receiving troublesome wounds, their movements impaired.
Cloud's order to have the injured soldiers ride in the carriage had been met with hesitation, but he had insisted, and with Dina raising no objection, the men could only obey their prince.
While the guards rode in the carriage, Dina and Cloud followed behind on horses, Gillian adjusting the group's formation and placing more soldiers around them.
"It's nice what you did, but now you've put yourself in the open. You have to remember you're a high-value target," Dina said minutes after the group resumed its journey.
The woman made no comments on Cloud's actions during the ambush, already much aware of his capabilities.
"Yeah, a high-value target for thugs and ruffians.
I have you, so I'm not bothered. The enemy is the one in danger."
Offering a small smile, Dina went quiet, leaving Cloud to eagerly check the update to his status.
[Name: Cloud Outsborne
Class: Traveler
Level: Level 4 (67%)
Order: First
Mana Grade: Green
Kill Points: 387
Attribute Points: 6
Talent: Universal Comprehension (+5%)
Stats: Constitution: 35 | Speed: 31 | Strength: 26 | Mana: 7
Skills: {Primordial: Realm Walker, Kill Points}
Servant (1/1)]
The addition of his kill points to his status pleased Cloud. It showed that the mechanics of the ability were as simple as had been explained, but that was not what made him eager to view his status.
After each level up, attribute points were granted to an individual, and it was here that one of the advantages of having a high-grade class began showing, the brutality of life revealed.
Information on higher classes wasn't common, but Cloud knew that for E, D, and C grade classes, every level up granted them 0, 1, and 2 attribute points respectively.
After level ten, there was a change in how attributes were given, and Cloud had heard they could be quite personalised, especially for higher-grade classes.
While he didn't have the full specification of information, Cloud could use what little knowledge he had to determine whether his class was a dud.
The sight of just six attribute points sank Cloud's mood, his expectations breaking, as it meant each level up had only given him two attribute points.
But then he looked at his stats.
Stats: Constitution: 32 → 35 | Speed: 28 → 31 | Strength: 23 → 26 | Mana: 4 → 7
"This.... this.... " Cloud laughed in his head.
Besides the two points that had been given to him for each level up, across all his stats, a single point had been added each time. Though Cloud lacked knowledge of what higher-grade classes received, he knew his gains were at the very least equal to, or superior to, those of an A-grade class.
"You look excited," Dina's voice cut through Cloud's thoughts.
"Because I am," Cloud said, letting go, unable to control the grin straining at the edges of his mouth, his expression making Dina's forehead furrow.
She narrowed her eyes at Cloud, finding his feelings very unusual, especially considering what had happened in Leonasia.
Dina had known Cloud for close to a decade, and there was honestly only one thing that at this point could get him so giddy.
It clicked in her head, but it was something that should not have been possible.
"You awakened a class," she whispered, half unsure.
"Yes," Cloud answered, already regaining control of his emotions.
"Man, I need to get over my excitement from this stuff," Cloud berated himself in his head.
Dina went silent, the gears in her mind working. She wanted to ask a particular burning question, but hesitated and changed it.
"I'm guessing you also levelled up."
"Yes, I'm now level four." Cloud let out a breath, his expression tightening, pretending not to have noticed her confliction.
Now that he had a class, all that was on Cloud's mind were the changes that would have to be made to his training.