The morning of departure was crisp, the manor buzzing with activity. Carriages were being loaded with supplies, food packed carefully, and magical wards placed around the estate to ensure safety during travel. Baker stood quietly near the training grounds, spear in hand, as Captain Selene Ironhart prepared for a final sparring session before they left.
"Show me what you've got, Baker," she said, adjusting her stance, fire-red braid swaying. "One last check before the journey."
Baker nodded, closing his eyes briefly. He concentrated, letting the mana from his Magic God's Blessing and Chef God's Blessing flow into his muscles and joints. But this time, he adjusted it carefully. He lowered the magic to the minimum threshold, enough to maintain reinforcement and healing passively. The cost was negligible, allowing him to sustain it indefinitely.
If needed, he knew he could surge his mana, increasing both power and recovery, but that would quickly drain him. For now, he wanted a steady, long-lasting effect.
Selene circled him, spear poised. "Hmm… your stance is solid, your timing sharp… something's different. You're holding your energy, not letting it spike."
Baker nodded, bouncing lightly on his feet. "I've adjusted the flow. Low cost, constant reinforcement. I can sustain it as long as I want. Only push harder if I need a big performance boost."
Selene's eyes widened slightly. "Impressive. Most warriors I train either burn themselves out or can't keep the reinforcement long enough to be useful. You… have a control I haven't seen in years."
They sparred, each thrust and parry moving faster and smoother than before. With his Enduring Body Magic active, Baker recovered minor bruises and fatigue mid-motion, allowing him to sustain the session far longer than he could have before. Between thrusts, he chewed a small piece of mana-infused Mandearoz jerky, feeling the combination of food and magic maintain his stamina.
By the end, Selene lowered her spear, smiling. "You've surpassed my expectations. I can't wait to see what you can do on the road. Tell me… what exactly is this magic of yours?"
Baker relaxed, brushing sweat from his brow. "It's a combination of body reinforcement and healing magic. I call it Enduring Body. The idea is to flow mana into muscles, joints, and minor injuries while sustaining a low-cost reinforcement. It keeps you performing longer, recovering faster, and reducing fatigue. If needed, you can surge the mana for extra power, but at a cost."
Selene tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her emerald eyes. "Can… you teach me?"
Baker nodded, smiling. "I can show you the principles. You already have a lot of control over your own mana. You'll just need to learn to channel it into healing your body while reinforcing it. I can start with a basic healing lesson, then combine it with reinforcement."
She raised an eyebrow but nodded. "I like it. Let's see what you've got."
For the next hour, Baker guided Selene through basic healing flows, showing her how to sense minor injuries, apply mana to muscles and joints, and reinforce her body simultaneously. Selene's movements were precise, her strength and experience aiding her learning. Slowly, she began to feel the difference — minor fatigue fading mid-motion, muscles feeling more resilient, reflexes subtly enhanced.
"Not bad," she admitted, flexing her reinforced arm. "I can see how this could save me in a prolonged fight. I… understand why you call it Enduring Body."
Baker grinned. "It takes practice, but it works. And with your strength and my guidance, you can sustain it indefinitely if you control your mana flow carefully."
Selene gave a rare, approving smile. "I'll need to keep practicing… but this could make a big difference for our journey. You've done well, Baker."
Baker nodded, his chest swelling with quiet pride. "I want to be ready for anything. For the journey, for protecting everyone… for helping people along the way."
Outside, the carriages waited, packed with supplies and magical wards. Ventis and Clarisse oversaw the final preparations, Melody bustling about, and the captain of the guard ensuring that all protective measures were in place. Baker looked around, feeling the faint pulse of his blessings, the steady hum of his Enduring Body Magic, and the quiet excitement of what lay ahead.
The journey north was about to begin, and Baker was ready — mentally, physically, and magically.