Joo-Hee sat cross-legged on her bed, the wooden sword resting beside her. The day's training had left her body aching, but her mind was sharp, more focused than it had ever been. The Sage Enlightenment System hovered before her, displaying her current status.
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[Sage Enlightenment System]
.
Name: Lee Joo-Hee (Jake Garcia)
Class: Sage of Eternal Leaf
Level: 2 (0/100)
HP: 140/140 | MP: 260/260
.
Stats:
— Strength: 18
— Dexterity: 16
— Vitality: 14
— Magic Power: 26
— Intelligence: 18
— Wisdom: 19
.
Skills:
— Healing Touch (Skill Level 1 - 23%): Amplified healing abilities, allowing for rapid recovery of wounds and ailments.
— Verdant Growth (Skill Level 1 - 17%): Manipulation of plants and nature, enabling the user to control and accelerate plant growth.
— Nature's Embrace (Skill Level 1 - 21%): A protective barrier formed from natural energy, capable of shielding the user and others from harm.
— Basic Swordsmanship (Skill Level 1 - 9%): Fundamentals of sword fighting, focusing on precision and control.
.
Quests:
[ Strengthening Bonds ]
— Objective: Spend time with Sung Jin-Woo and support him in his recovery.
— Reward: +30 EXP, +3 Intelligence.
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Joo-Hee studied the screen carefully, a sense of accomplishment swelling within her. The progress was evident, yet something still felt incomplete. True power lay not only in brute force but also in the mastery of mana and energy.
She recalled the countless cultivation novels she had read back on Earth. In those stories, protagonists often meditated to refine their energy, strengthen their bodies, and enhance their internal power. 'What if I imitate their methods to refine my mana and improve my control over it?' she mused.
Determined to explore this new possibility, she decided to give meditation a try. Sitting up straight on her bed, she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. "In and out, just like that," he whispered to himself, allowing the rhythm to soothe his nerves.
While concentrating, she envisioned the flow of mana within her body. 'It's still blurry, but I can feel it. It's like a gentle stream,' she thought, as she tried to get the hang of her mana coursing through her veins.
With every breath, the image grew more vivid, and soon she could almost sense the energy—a warm, pulsing sensation flowing deep inside her.
Minutes turned into hours as Joo-Hee remained immersed in her meditative state, her focus steady and resolute. Finally, she could vividly sense the flow of her mana. 'This is incredible... To think there's such a mystical force within me,' she whispered, a trace of amusement coloring her tone.
'But how can it be so unfair? If the real world had such mystical powers, just imagine how thrilling life would be,' she thought, her mind buzzing with wonder as she continued to meditate.
With every passing moment, she grew more attuned to the subtle currents of mana within her. The connection deepened, and she became increasingly adept at controlling its flow, her mastery steadily growing with each breath.
Suddenly, a soft chime echoed in his mind, and a new notification appeared before him.
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[ New Skill Acquired: Basic Meditation - Skill Level 1 ]
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— Basic Meditation (Skill Level 1 - 0%): Enhances the user's ability to sense and manipulate internal mana, aiding in the recovery of magic power and increasing the effectiveness of other mana-based skills.
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Upon reading the notification panel, Joo-Hee couldn't help but raise her eyebrows before a smile spread across her face. 'Well, that's new... so the system registers new skills if I keep practicing and gain proficiency over time. This is interesting... I'd better take note of this discovery,' she remarked to herself.
Meditation was proving to be a fundamental skill, one that would not only aid her in controlling her mana but also in maintaining mental clarity. Currently, the sensation of mana within her had grown sharper, as if a dense fog had finally been lifted.
The next morning, Joo-Hee awoke with the same sense of wonder at the world she now inhabited. After her usual routine of washing up and having a light breakfast, she made her way to the training yard to meet Kang Ho for their private lesson. The grizzled veteran was already waiting, two wooden swords in hand, his expression as stern as ever.
"Good morning, Joo-Hee. Ready for more?" Kang Ho asked, tossing Jake one of the swords.
Joo-Hee caught it, her confidence growing as the weapon rested firmly in her hand. With a polite tone, she replied, "Good morning, Mr. Kang. I will be in your care once again today."
The training was just as intense as the previous day, but Jake found himself adapting more quickly. The Basic Swordsmanship skill had made a noticeable difference; his movements were more fluid, his strikes more accurate. Each successful strike, each block, and each maneuver was building up his skill experience, bringing him closer to the next level.
Between sessions of sword training, Joo-Hee would retreat to the shade of a nearby tree for short meditation breaks. Each session brought her closer to mastering the skill, allowing her mana to be more malleable and regenerate faster than before.
As the day drew to a close, Kang Ho clapped Jake on the shoulder. "You've made good progress, Joo-Hee. Keep this up, and you'll be a formidable fighter in no time."
Joo-Hee nodded, grateful for the encouragement. "Thank you, Mr. Kang. I'll keep working hard!"
...
As night fell, Joo-Hee checked her status window for signs of improvement.
"Status!" she commanded, her voice filled with anticipation and curiosity.
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...
Skills:
— Healing Touch (Skill Level 1 - 32%): Amplified healing abilities, allowing for rapid recovery of wounds and ailments.
...
— Basic Swordsmanship (Skill Level 1 - 21%): Fundamentals of sword fighting, focusing on precision and control.
— Basic Meditation (Skill Level 1 - 16%): Enhances the user's ability to sense and manipulate internal mana, aiding in the recovery of magic power and increasing the effectiveness of other mana-based skills.
...
_______________________
Three of her skills had shown signs of improvement—small, barely perceptible gains in proficiency.
They hadn't leveled up, not yet.
But still, seeing even a sliver of progress brought a soft smile to Joo-Hee's lips.
She let out a long, tired sigh and collapsed onto the bed with a light bounce, staring at the ceiling.
"I still have a long way to go," she murmured.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of exhaustion and humility.
She let her arm rest across her forehead as the ache in her muscles made itself known.
Her training regimen had been relentless.
Multitasking between sword drills, meditation to refine her mana control, and casting healing spells on herself every time she got injured during the sessions.
All the things she had done were enough to wear down anyone who didn't awaken.
"How dumb was I to think this would be easy…" she mused.
The road to strength wasn't just about power—it was patience, pain, and persistence.
As she rolled over, burying her face into her pillow, a stray thought drifted to her mind.
"I wonder… did Jin-Woo feel this way too? Did the other protagonists from those novels go through this kind of fatigue, this quiet doubt?"
She might not have empathized with them before—those fictional heroes who endured trial after trial—but now, more than ever, she understood it firsthand.
Being strong in a story and walking that path in reality were two entirely different things.
...
As the days quietly passed, Joo-Hee found herself consumed by the intensity of her training.
Her sword swings had become sharper, her mana control steadier, and her healing spells more reflexive.
But amidst her self-imposed grind, a realization hit her—she hadn't visited Jin-Woo even once.
Wiping the sweat from her brow after a friendly sparring session with a few recovering hunters in the training center, she sighed.
'I guess Jin-Woo must be busy too… probably doing his daily quests,' she thought.
'Maybe it's for the best. We both need time to grow into our new strength. I'll just visit him later when I'm done here.'
She let her tired body drop to the floor of the training center, sprawled across the cool surface, her breath heavy but content.
"Still…" she muttered aloud, her voice just above a whisper, "I wish I had daily quests too. Not as extreme as Jin-Woo's though, or I'd probably die halfway through."
A dry chuckle escaped her lips.
"But those rewards… so tempting. Even now, my system won't give me anything. No quests, no guidance. Just silence. Not even a little hint. Sigh…"
As she lay there, a familiar presence approached—one of the older recovering hunters she had sparred with earlier.
His voice was warm but teasing as he chuckled.
"Little lady, tired already? You should train more with the others. Harden your foundations. If you keep it up, I'm sure even someone like you could master the sword."
Joo-Hee's smile froze for a second.
That one line, "someone like you", irked her more than it should have.
Her forehead scrunched slightly as she thought, 'Yeah, I get it, old man. I'm not from this world, so I'm not as talented as the others. But I'm already trying my best, okay? Just… let me rest for a moment.'
Still, she forced a smile, tight-lipped, but polite.
"Thanks for the advice, mister. I'll do better next time. Thanks for the spar earlier!"
The old hunter gave her an approving nod before walking away, and Joo-Hee allowed herself a small exhale, letting the moment pass.