Literary Teacher Isekai

The flickering warmth of the tavern hearth bathed the room in golden hues as the scent of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and simmering stews filled the air. The crackling fire cast playful shadows on the wooden beams of the ceiling, and the low hum of conversation surrounded Ethan, Ashley, Lorenz, and Cassius as they settled into a corner booth. Their mugs clinked as they lifted them for a cheer, celebrating the end of another long day of travel.

The firelight reflected off the polished surfaces of the tavern's rustic furniture, and the aroma of the hearty meal before them was a welcome comfort. Plates piled high with roasted meats, vegetables, and a loaf of warm bread sat before them, and they all dug in with a satisfied grunt.

"Nothing beats a good meal after a long ordeal," she said, taking another bite of her bread.

Ethan, already halfway through his steak, nodded in agreement. "It's been a rough few days, but this makes it all worth it."

Lorenz, sitting across from them, took a slower, more measured approach. He carefully cut a piece of meat, savoring the moment before speaking. "I must admit, I wasn't initially thinking you'd be so generous boss! Glad to be part of the team!" His voice had a thoughtful edge to it, as if he were savoring the experience more than the food itself.

"A big guy calling me boss, never dreamed of it, yet here we are," Ethan chuckles at the absurd but welcome idea.

Cassius, was already warming up to the group but there remains a hint of timidity in his actions. He glanced up from his plate, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I have to agree. This meal tastes even better after spending so much time recuperating. Heck, the infirmary started to feel like a second home. But I'm finally glad to be discharged."

The fire crackled louder, and Ashley leaned back, wiping her mouth gently with a clean handkerchief. "Alright, enough with the pleasantries," she said, her voice excited. "We all know why we're really here. Let's talk about what we can do in a fight. We're a team now, so it's time to figure out how we all fit together."

Lorenz raised an eyebrow, he glanced at Cassius, then back at Ashley and Ethan. "I'll start, then. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that might come in handy. I have forged a myriad of weapons during my apprenticeship under the tutelage of a renowned smith, you might've heard of him, he goes by Master Gawain."

"We've heard of him. Now talk about your skills," Ashley cuts him off before he spends another hour droning on and on about his master (As he did when Ashley first met him).

"Ehem, straight to business I see. Very well, the first is [Attune]. You see, I can use any weapon that I have created before, with a level of proficiency that would take most people years to learn. Whether it's a sword, a bow, or spear, once I get the feel of it, it's as though I've been trained for a lifetime. Strange foreign weapons are still a bit tricky to me, but if I manage to make one, I'll gain proficiency for those too."

Ethan's interest piqued. "That sounds incredibly useful. You could switch weapons on the fly in the middle of a fight."

"Exactly," Lorenz said, smiling slightly. "It's one of my more versatile skills. But there's more. I also have [Runechant]– which was something you have seen in action before. I can inscribe magical runes onto items—whether weapons or armor. These runes can be activated later with an incantation. They don't consume much LRP, so I can prepare for a battle without wasting resources. It's like setting up a few tricks ahead of time."

Ashley leaned forward, intrigued. "So you could, say, add a fire enchantment to a sword, and then just say the words when you want it to go off?"

Lorenz nodded. "Exactly. I can set up all kinds of enhancements, traps, or protections, BUT it must be noted that activating runes require the use of the LRP that corresponds its costs."

"A bit tricky but really versatile, you know I've done something similar too, though not as profound as yours," Ethan said. "What else you got?"

Lorenz finished chewing a bite of meat and cleared his throat. "Lastly, [Forged Physique]. I can make myself invulnerable to physical attacks for five seconds. It's a bit risky, though, since I'm completely immobile during that time. But if I need to tank a heavy hit or reposition myself in the thick of things, it's a lifesaver."

Ashley grinned. "Sounds like you'll be our tank, then."

Lorenz gave a small, knowing smile. "You could say that."

Cassius, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, his voice calm but serious. "Well, I suppose it's my turn." He took a sip from his mug before continuing. "My skills are more... unpredictable. You might've a gist of it from our earlier encounters but I'll reiterate them anyway. First, there's [Foresight]. I get flashes of the future in my dreams, fragments of events that might come to pass. Sometimes they're clear, sometimes they're not. But when... I've noticed that my visions tend to be more accurate when, uh... when I wet the bed."

Ashley snorted, nearly choking on her drink. "Wait, what?"

Cassius looked slightly embarrassed but didn't back down. "Yeah. It's... not ideal. But when it happens, the visions are almost always right. I've avoided a few nasty encounters thanks to them."

Ethan let out a chuckle. "That's one way to get an edge in a fight." Ethan already knew about this, but hearing it again doesn't make it any less funny.

Cassius gave a rueful smile. "It's not exactly my favorite part of the ability, but it works."

Ashley was still snickering but managed to compose herself. "Well, that's certainly unique. What else?"

Cassius's smile shifted into something more serious. "Next is [Inspire]. I can boost the morale of the group, making everyone move faster and fight harder. The more LRP I use, the stronger the effect. It's not a game-changer on its own, but in the right situation, it could turn the tide."

Lorenz nodded thoughtfully. "A good morale boost can be just as effective as a well-placed strike."

"Exactly," Cassius agreed. "Finally, I have [Smite]. When I strike, I can imbue my weapon—or even my fists—with divine energy. It's particularly effective against evil creatures or undead. One solid hit with Smite, and they'll feel it."

Ethan grinned. "I like the sound of that. A little divine retribution, right?"

Cassius's eyes gleamed, and he gave a small, confident nod. "That's the idea."

Ethan leaned back in his chair, taking a moment to digest all the information. "It's clear you both have some serious power at your disposal. But how does one... obtain these kinds of skills?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Lorenz exchanged a glance with Cassius before speaking. "Good question. There are two primary ways people gain skills: bestowal and tendencies."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Bestowal and tendencies?"

Cassius spoke up. "Bestowal is when an individual or an organization grants you a skill. This could be a powerful figure, like a mage or a knight commander, who bestows abilities based on their authority or expertise. You don't learn it on your own; it's something given to you, often with conditions or expectations attached, I earned my two abilities by training under Paladin Rhea, while Foresight is a tendency that manifests when someone decides to take up the path of the Diviner."

Cassius continued, his voice thoughtful. "The other way is through tendencies. This is more natural—skills that develop over time based on your personal history and experiences. It's shaped by your upbringing, the choices you make, and the path you walk in life. In a way, your skills are the sum of your actions, decisions, and the people you surround yourself with."

Lorenz nodded. "Yes. I was granted [Attune] by Master Gawain after 2 years of service. As for [Tempered Physique], I develop a tendency for it after I constantly find myself in dire situations while mining for ores. Finally I got [Runechant] when I decided to take up the path of the Runechanter. None of the skills we have came without a price."

Ethan thought about this for a moment, then nodded. "Sounds like the Nurture vs Nature proposed by Francis Galton. The development of an individual is shaped by either the environment one is reared in, or ones own natural tendencies. That makes a lot of sense now that I think about it."

Lorenz smiled. "Exactly. It's all about where you put your time and energy. If you focus on something long enough, it'll eventually become a natural extension of you, and a skill will form."

Cassius leans forward with a growing excitement and curiosity in his expression, "Come to think of it, as bronze ranked adventurers our levels should be about the same, my smite was not enough to defeat Professor Ex but you managed to beat him, Ethan."

"Yeah! and during the goblin raid, both of you seemed like goblin-slaying machines, how are both of you so strong? We've shared our skills, time to share yours!" Lorenz excitedly blurted out, his curiosity visible.

Ethan activates [Pen Pal] to send a telepathic message to Ashley while giving her a contemplative look, "Should we tell them? They revealed three skills, should we reveal just three?"

Ashley replies thru [Pen Pal], "Professor, I've known you for a long time, you're not one to keep secrets much less scheme."

With that, Ethan made up his mind, and decides to tell everyone.