Chapter 8 – Grand Elder of Knightledge.
In the following years, Ewan trained himself as a Trainee, then Militia, and then Warrior, rapidly advancing using his vast experience as a Peak Knight. The 14 stances of the Dragon-Horse Breathing Technique also reached the 9th lvl, giving Ewan 112 stat points.
Thanks to being the 3rd son and his demands, Ewan was allowed to help as a farmer, quickly regaining his lost profession and improving his foundation.
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Three years later-
In Ewan's room-
Ewan looked at his status, feeling complicated.
Name: Ewan Knightledge
Sex: Male
Age: 10
Classes: Warrior(Uncommon, lvl 9), Advanced Farmer(Uncommon, lvl 1), Unselected
Stats:
Strength: 50(60)
Physique: 51(61)
Agility: 50(59)
Intelligence: 31(36)
Spirit: 8(10)
Charisma: 10(12)
Warrior: Weapon Proficiency(lvl 5), Military Drills(lvl 5), Robust(lvl 1), Omitted(+)
Advanced Farmer: Farming Tool Proficiency(lvl 5), Farmer's Wisdom(lvl 5), Loved by the Earth(lvl 10(Max)), Omitted(+)
Remaining Skill Points: 9
As a 10-year-old, he was stronger than his 21-year-old self in his previous life. He was also likely the most powerful in the Knightledge Barony.
"I am becoming an old monster, aren't I?" Ewan warily thought before recalling the Basic Meditation Technique he remembered in his previous life.
"The Basic Meditation Technique recorded an orthodox visualization method to form so-called Mental Runes. Like the different stances in the Knight's Breathing Technique, these Runes can increase Intelligence, Spirit, and Charisma and have levels. Unlike Knight Breathing Techniques, there is a constant 24 Lesser Mental Runes, with every eight corresponding to a level as a Wizard Apprentice, with every eight joining to become a Greater Mental Rune when advancing to the next level. It is the most fundamental and solid technique but also the slowest. To become a Wizard, one must reach lvl 6 in all 24 Mental Runes and form three Greater Runes, becoming a Pseudo-Wizard. Of course, getting lvl 10 in them all before combining them is ideal. If one hastily forms the Greater Runes, it would cripple their future, needing special elixirs to fix."
It was also why Ewan didn't hesitate to become a Wizard Apprentice. He didn't have the same worries as others. From experience, he guessed he would likely reincarnate as one of his descendants again, so using a more difficult but solid technique was not a bad idea.
"With my current 31 Intelligence, 8 Spirit, and lvl 10 Loved by the Earth, it should be smooth enough, right?" Ewan thought.
He then tried using the meditation technique from memory, entering a blank state as he sensed his surroundings. If he couldn't feel it with this, he would have to grow and level up more before placing some points in Spirit. Luckily, that situation didn't happen.
As soon as he entered the meditative state, Ewan sensed colorful particles around him. However, the most abundant and friendly were the brown ones. The other particles felt more distant.
"As expected. I have a good affinity with the Earth Element." Ewan thought as he tried following the meditation method.
Soon, he attracted several brown particles, drawing them inside his body. The next moment-
[You have practiced the Basic Meditation Technique(1st Rune), have 10 Intelligence, and 8 Spirit. You unlocked the 1st-level Wizard Apprentice class.]
[Would you like to change to 1st-level Wizard Apprentice?]
Ewan's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
[You changed to 1st-level Wizard Apprentice!]
[You gained Spirit +1]
[You gained the Core Skill - Meditation Affinity(lvl 1)]
"Nice." Ewan thought. "1st-level apprentices are almost no different than regular people. They can't form spells independently and require external objects to use them. However, I am as powerful as a Senior Knight, with the skills of a Peak Knight. Even if I leave the territory now, I would be unbeatable even if I run into a gang of horse thieves. Hence, I only need to focus on meditation. However, like in the Breathing Technique, I can't meditate all day. I can use it to replace part of my sleep once I am proficient enough at most."
And then, Ewan looked at his new Core Skill.
[Meditation Affinity(lvl 1) - Positively modifies the effects of Meditation Techniques and mental visualization.]
"This is the most fundamental skill all Wizards need. Usually, I would require some time to raise it, but luckily, that wouldn't be necessary." Ewan thought as he glanced at his remaining Skill Points.
Remaining Skill Points: 9
That's right. Ewan refrained from using points on Robust, instead saving the points for this.
Without hesitation, Ewan spent all the points.
Meditation Affinity(lvl 1 -> 10(max))
"Good. Now, let's see the improvement." Ewan thought and tried meditating again.
This time, the speed was noticeably faster, and the Magic Particles were drawn more effortlessly into Ewan's body, slowly forming a strange shape.
[Basic Meditation Technique(1st Rune) exp +5]
[1st-level Wizard Apprentice exp +1]
[Basic Meditation Technique(1st Rune) exp +5]
[1st-level Wizard Apprentice exp +1]
[Basic Meditation Technique(1st Rune) exp +5]
[1st-level Wizard Apprentice exp +1]
[Basic Meditation Technique(1st Rune) exp +5]
[1st-level Wizard Apprentice exp +1]
"So easy!" Ewan jubilantly thought and continued meditating.
And so, the river of time continued to flow.
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Twenty years later-
A handsome man farmed 300 acres of land, each stroke of his hoe masterful and tireless. As if like water, the land parted and softened at his touch, as if it was the most natural thing.
The man was Ewan, now 30 years old. In these 20 years, Ewan acted as an active community member, helping the territory overcome hardship through his produce, softening the soil, and helping to fertilize it. Through hard work, he cultivated 300 acres of wild land by himself and contributed a good portion of produce to those in need. When the barony was under attack, he transformed into an angel of death, sending any would-be-robbers to an early grave.
His performance was so outstanding that Ewan's siblings began feeling ashamed to inherit the territory, wanting to give it to their far more talented brother. Yet, Ewan rejected it. Instead, he received a title called Grand Elder of Knightledge. It was an empty title, but it showed how much influence he had.
Ewan also married another Baron's daughter and had five children, all of which survived. She was pretty but not beautiful, had a heart of gold, was loyal, and didn't mind her husband being a farmer, even helping out with the animals, which was more than Ewan could ask for. It was also a bonus that she was proactive in bed and liked having children.
He also had a big wooden house reinforced with earthen foundations, so he had a relatively comfortable life as a wealthy landowner. It also gave Ewan plenty of time to continue his training.
After 20 years of tireless cultivation, Ewan achieved some results. He cultivated the first eight Lesser Runes to lvl 10 before combining them, turning them into a Greater Rune, and advancing to the 2nd-level Wizard Apprentice. The process took ten years because Ewan wished for a perfect foundation. And now, with the subsequent eight runes, Ewan reached level 7, and this was because the 9th to 16th runes were over thrice as challenging to form.
Just this brought him an immense amount of stat points, a whole 120!
[Intelligence + 40]
[Spirit + 50]
[Charisma + 30]
Naturally, he also gained regular levels. Although he rarely picked the sword or bow again, Ewan still diligently practiced the 14 Breathing Stances, spending two hours a day. Although he still didn't reach lvl 10 in them, they brought Ewan to lvl 10 Warrior, which was the limit.
Yes, limit. Except for the Entry class, all classes get capped at lvl 10. It also forces a lack of at least five skill points in every class. The skill allocation and general skills can also affect class promotion.
For example, in Militia, different skill point allocations could trigger different paths. If Ewan placed all points in Weapon Proficiency and raised it to lvl 10 while ignoring Military Drills, he would get a Weapon Specialist class. If he focused more on Military Drills, he might get Commander.
After leveling up 1st-level Apprentice Wizard, Advanced Farmer, and Warrior, Ewan quickly regained enough Skill Points to raise Robust to lvl 10. It unlocked a class promotion he discovered at the end of his previous life.
[Reached Warrior lvl 6, Robust lvl 10, Loved by the Earth lvl 5, 40 Strength, 50 Physique, 30 Agility. Conditions Met. You unlocked the Earth Warrior class.]
[You promoted to Earth Warrior]
[Gained Strength +3, Physique +4, Agility +2, Spirit +2, Charisma +1]
[Gained the Core Skill - Earth Defense(lvl 1)]
[Earth Defense- Imbues the body with Earth Elements, raising Earth Affinity and increasing physical defense and magic resistance. Earth Affinity and Spirit raises the defense and resistance.]
When Ewan got this class, to say he was stunned was an understatement. He never imagined something like this popping up. However, since it raised his Earth Affinity, Ewan was more than glad to take it up! Either way, he couldn't raise his class above lvl 10.
However, Ewan's improvement rate in the Earth Warrior class stagnated, only raising one level in five years. Many skills reached their peak, and idle practice gave little experience. He would need to learn more potent skills and fight powerful enemies to make a breakthrough.
On the other hand, Advanced Farmer reached lvl 9, which is respectable considering Ewan lacked a unique exercise. However, this largely came from being a full-time farmer on 300 acres of land! Otherwise, it wouldn't be that fast.
The 2nd-level Wizard Apprentice also reached level 7. So far, it was the slowest to advance, but Ewan was patient. Either way, as a perfectionist, Ewan wished to raise the eight lesser runes to lvl 10 before advancing. He also practiced a few spells on the side, but since he didn't need to focus on self-defense, Ewan neglected his magic studies in favor of meditation. At most, he learned a few 1st-level spells, including Soften Soil and Remove Dirt.
And finally, since he became an Earth Warrior, Ewan gained a new class slot. It was a complicated yet not-so-difficult decision. He chose to become a Knight again.
There were many classes to pick from. Ewan could have become a Tailor, Blacksmith, Librarian, Alchemist, Thief- Anything. Even Gigolo if he lowered himself to that level. However, Ewan wanted a class that raised his ability to defend himself and his family. After dying in that war, Ewan greatly valued his strength, so he chose the Knight's path again. And while Archer was decent, he lacked a suitable weapon. Hence, the Knight Path was better.
As the Grand Elder of Knightledge, Ewan had a proper Warhorse, Armor, and weapons, so becoming a Knight again was almost too fast. Within five years, he was already a lvl 9 Knight, partially due to Ewan's staggering physique and intelligence.
In total-
Name: Ewan Knightledge
Sex: Male
Age: 30
Classes: Earth Warrior(Rare, lvl 2), Advanced Farmer(Uncommon, lvl 9), 2nd-level Wizard Apprentice(Common, lvl 7), Knight(Uncommon, lvl 9)
Stats:
Strength: 76
Physique: 79
Agility: 71
Intelligence: 114
Spirit: 61
Charisma: 51
Earth Warrior: Weapon Proficiency(lvl 5), Military Drills(lvl 5), Robust(lvl 10 (Max)), Earth Defense(lvl 7), Omitted(+)
Advanced Farmer: Farming Tool Proficiency(lvl 5), Farmer's Wisdom(lvl 5), Loved by the Earth(lvl 10(Max)), Omitted(+)
2nd-level Wizard Apprentice: Meditation Affinity(lvl 10(max)), Magic Attunement(lvl 10(Max))
Knight: Horse Affinity(lvl 5), Armor Specialization(lvl 5), Strong(lvl 10(Max)), Omitted(+)
Overall, Ewan was satisfied with his progress.
While he was working on the farm, Ewan heard a sound. Ewan saw several riders holding up Marquise Blackmere's Coat of Arms. Immediately, Ewan's mood turned gloomy.
"Barbarian season again." Ewan grimaced with hate, clutching his stomach. The memory of being skewered alive was still fresh in his mind.
"This time, let's see how many barbarians I cull," Ewan muttered, vengeance in his eyes.