Jamie extended his hand, accepting the sealed envelope from the guard. "Thank you," he said politely.

The guard nodded in acknowledgment before turning on his heel and departing.

Closing the heavy oak door behind him, Jamie turned the envelope over in his hands. The wax seal bore the intricate crest of the Imperial Academy of Hafenstadt, a quill crossed over an open book, encircled by laurel leaves. He sighed inwardly. "Letters and more letters," he mused, recalling that the last he received had propelled him into the whole debacle with the Dusters.

As he stood in the tavern's common room, the soft crackle of the hearth fire punctuated the hush that had settled over his companions. Eliza, Thomas, Camille, Aldwin, and Bertram watched him with varying degrees of curiosity and apprehension.

Breaking the seal, Jamie unfolded the crisp parchment and read silently, his eyes scanning the elegantly penned script.

To the noble Sir James Frostwatch,

We extend this formal invitation for you to join our esteemed faculty for the upcoming academic year.

We trust that you will find your experience with the Imperial Academy of Hafenstadt both rewarding and fulfilling.

Your presence is requested within the next five days to receive instructions and prepare for your classes.

Additionally, I hope to have an opportunity to discuss the academy's future and your role within it.

Respectfully,

Tannenbaum, General Director of the Imperial Academy of Hafenstadt

Jamie let out a thoughtful hum, folding the letter neatly before passing it to Thomas. "It seems I'll have to make an appearance at the academy. Maria must have informed them that I'll be among the professors," he remarked.

Thomas's eyes widened slightly as he skimmed the letter, then handed it to Camille, who glanced over it before passing it along to the others. The group exchanged glances, the atmosphere tinged with excitement and uncertainty.

"When do you plan to go?" Thomas asked.

Jamie considered for a moment. "I need to prepare, think about what I'll teach," he replied thoughtfully. "I believe two days should suffice."

He began pacing slowly, his mind already flickering with ideas for his lectures.

"I'll need you to come with me, Thomas," Jamie continued, turning to face him. "We'll need someone else to stay here and keep watch over things in our absence."

"Yes, sir," Thomas confirmed, his voice steady and resolute.

"In addition," Jamie continued thoughtfully, "we need to prepare for another round of recruitment. If we're going to establish the industry and possibly acquire new territories, we'll have to strengthen our defenses."

"Posters again?" Thomas inquired, recalling their previous method of attracting new members.

"For now, let's focus on figuring out how we'll test them," Jamie replied, a contemplative glint in his eyes. "We can handle the advertising later."

"Understood," Thomas agreed with a firm nod.

As the two men delved into the details of their strategy, the rest of the group began attending to their daily tasks. The Golden Fiddle buzzed with quiet activity and the murmur of conversations.

Suddenly, a shimmering array of notifications materialized before them, interrupting the flow of their discussion. The air seemed to hum gently as translucent messages hovered just within their line of sight.

[The Dusters have been eliminated]

[The Gang has ceased to exist]

[Quest Completed]

[The gods are evaluating your performance]

[Forty-six enemies defeated]

[No allies injured]

[No territory will be obtained]

[No loot obtained]

[You have gained 2,500 experience points for your quest.]

[You have gained 600 experience points for completing your first international sale]

[Thomas, Aldwin, Bertram, and Camille have each gained 2,500 experience points for the quest.]

"Finally!" Aldwin exclaimed, grinning broadly as he clapped Bertram on the shoulder. His half-elven features were alight with excitement.

The flurry of notifications hadn't just appeared for Jamie; everyone who was in the quest was greeted with the same cascade of messages.

Moments before, Eliza had been the one nearly bouncing with joy over her achievements. Now, the entire team had reason to celebrate.

[Level Up]

Jamie instinctively brought up the status screens, his gaze swiftly scanning the updated information for each companion.

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--

| James Frostwatch (Soul: James Murtagh) | Class: Bard [Rare] | Level: 3 | Experience: [1,670 / 9,000]

| Member #2: Thomas Hartfield | Trust: [60/100] | Class: Farmer [Common] | Level: 3 | Experience: [4,138 / 6,000]

| Member #3: Camille Fleursang | Trust: [30/100] | Class: Witch [Rare] | Race: Elf | Level: 3 | Experience: [302 / 9,000]

| Member #4: Bertram Loom | Trust: [50/100] | Class: Butcher [Common] | Race: Human | Level: 3 | Experience: [1,470 / 6,000]

| Member #5: Aldwin Loom | Trust: [40/100] | Class: Herbalist [Common] | Race: Half-Elf | Level: 3 | Experience: [1,430 / 6,000]

--

"We must be the highest-level mercenary company in the city!" Aldwin declared, his voice brimming with enthusiasm as he took in his new level. "We've raised a level with every mission we've completed. There can't be another group out there capable of this!"

Suddenly, Camille's knees buckled beneath her. She collapsed to the wooden floor, one hand clutching her chest. The abruptness of her fall sent a ripple of shock through the group. Conversations halted mid-sentence, and all eyes turned toward the elven witch.

"Are you all right?" Thomas exclaimed, immediately kneeling beside her. Concern etched deep lines across his face as he gently placed a supportive hand on her shoulder.

Camille's breaths came in shallow gasps, her emerald eyes faintly glazed. "Yes," she managed between labored inhales. "Just... adjusting to... the new influx... of mana."

Jamie sat by her side, his gaze steady yet filled with worry. "Take your time," he urged softly. "Let it settle."

She nodded weakly, closing her eyes as she focused inward. The surge of magical energy coursing through her veins was overwhelming, a side effect of their recent leveling.

As Camille steadied herself, Jamie's gaze drifted to the translucent notifications shimmering at the edge of his vision.

[New Blessing Obtained]

Perched on his shoulder, Jay flicked his tail in surprise. "Another one?!" he exclaimed, eyes wide. "The gods must be crazy or really like your exploits. How is it possible they've granted you yet another blessing?"

'Let's see what it is before we celebrate,' Jamie thought, tempering his own rising excitement.

[Blessing: Crescendo]

Invest your experience and that of an ally to obtain the chance to increase the rarity of their class.

Experience points are not refunded, and if the mission is not completed within the allotted time, new investment will be needed.

"WHAT?!" Jay yowled, his fur bristling as he leaped to his feet. "Look at this! It's absolutely insane!"

Jamie's mouth hung slightly open as he reread the blessing, ensuring he hadn't misunderstood. 'I can raise someone from a [Common] class to a [Rare] class?' he pondered, the implications immense.

Before he could delve further, additional notifications appeared.

[New Spell Obtained: Babble]

[New Spell Obtained: Cacophonous Call]

[New Spell Obtained: Thundering Drums]

His repertoire swelled with the new additions, arcane knowledge etching itself into his memory. Jamie began to think in his mind about how best to utilize these spells in future encounters.

However Jay was insistent. "Forget about that for now! We need to test your new blessing immediately!" The spectral feline nudged Jamie's cheek with his paw, urging him into action.

Across the room, the boys were screaming their own achievements.

"Jamie! Jamie! I've got a skill!" Bertram called out. "[Slash]!"

He swung his mace with enthusiasm. Despite being a blunt weapon, a sharp crescent of wind energy burst forth, slicing cleanly through the air before striking a nearby chair, reducing it to splinters.

"Uh... oops," Bertram winced, glancing sheepishly at the wreckage. "Sorry about that."

"I got one too. [Vines]!" Aldwin chimed in, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He extended his hand toward his brother, and tendrils of verdant plants erupted from the floorboards, coiling around Bertram's ankles and rooting him in place.

"Hey!" Bertram protested, wobbling as he tried to free himself. "Not fair!"

Eliza emerged from behind the bar, her hands planted firmly on her hips. Despite her stern expression, a glint of amusement hid behind her eyes. "You two! Start cleaning up this mess," she declared. "And I expect those vines gone before they ruin the floorboards."

"Yes, ma'am," they chorused, promptly setting about their assigned task. Bertram struggled comically with the vines while Aldwin fetched a broom and began sweeping up the splinters.

Seizing the opportunity amidst the commotion, Jamie approached Thomas, who had been observing the lively scene with a quiet smile. "Thomas, could I have a word with you in the office?" Jamie asked, his tone tinged with anticipation.

Thomas turned to him, curiosity piqued. "Of course," he replied. "Is everything alright?"

Jamie nodded. "Yes, but there's something important I'd like to discuss."

They weaved their way through the tavern to the second floor.

Closing the door behind them, Jamie took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I've received a new blessing," he began, meeting Thomas's gaze. "It's called 'Crescendo.'"

Thomas raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What does it do?"

"It allows me to invest both my experience and that of an ally to potentially increase the rarity of their class," Jamie explained carefully. "In other words, it could elevate you from a [Common] class to a [Rare] class."

A flicker of hope ignited in Thomas's eyes, but he tempered it with caution. His hands trembled slightly, and he clenched them to steady himself. "This... this could remove the limitations of my current class," he murmured, scarcely daring to believe.

"Exactly," Jamie affirmed. "I wanted to test it with you first. I don't know how it will work or even if it will be successful, and I didn't want to raise false expectations."

Thomas took a deep breath, his expression resolute. "I appreciate that," he said sincerely. "But I'm willing to try. If there's even a chance..."

Jamie smiled reassuringly. "Alright. Shall we begin?"

"Yes," Thomas nodded firmly. "I'm ready."

Jamie closed his eyes, focusing his mind inward. He felt the reservoir of his experience points stirring within him.

[Crescendo]

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