Alonzo cleared his throat, attempting to steady himself. "How in the world did we gain these experience points?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Holz, who had been lying down to recover from his injuries, heard the young man's outburst. Curiosity piqued, he glanced at the shimmering notification that had appeared before his eyes. "Wh-what? What is this?!" he stammered, eyes widening in astonishment.

He sprang up from his resting place so quickly that a wave of dizziness washed over him, causing him to sway unsteadily.

"Everyone, keep your voices down. There's no need to shout," Jamie interjected firmly, raising his hands to calm the commotion. A throbbing headache pulsed through his temples, a lingering souvenir from their recent battles. "All of you, take a seat at the tables."

As they began to settle, the tavern door flew open with a resounding crash. Dieter stood in the doorway, his face ashen and eyes wide as if he had just encountered a specter.

"For the love of all that's holy, sit down," Jamie snapped, his patience wearing thin. "If anyone shouts again, I swear I'll have you all training until you puke."

The sternness in his voice left no room for argument. Without a word, the five newcomers took their seats around one of the tavern's wooden tables. An air of excitement buzzed among them, their eyes gleaming with unspoken questions about the unexpected surge of experience they had received. All except for Emyr, who sat quietly, her gaze distant and shadowed by a lingering sadness.

Jamie stood before them, his gaze sweeping over the group as he contemplated how best to address the situation.

'Camille isn't here,' he thought with a hint of concern. 'There's no way to perform the Vow without her.'

"I don't think it would work on so many people at once anyway," Jay chimed in, hovering near Jamie's shoulder.

"The mana cost increases significantly with each additional target," he continued matter-of-factly.

"Besides," he added with a mischievous glint in his eye, "at some point, the cat would be out of the bag... get it?" He let out a soft chuckle at his own pun.

Jamie sighed, shaking his head as he chose to ignore Jay's humor. Turning his attention back to the group, he took a deep breath.

"Alright, let's begin," he said, his tone resolute.

"Seriously! You're just going to ignore me? That's so unfair," Jay grumbled, his feline tail flicking irritably as he leaped from Jamie's shoulder to the nearest table.

Gathered around a group of wooden tables in the tavern, Jamie's companions watched him with anticipation.

"Many of you must be wondering how we've been growing so quickly," Jamie began, his voice steady and confident. He glanced around the room, meeting each pair of eyes in turn. "Of course, it's the result of hard work and dedicated training. But there's also... an extra variable."

He paused, allowing his words to settle. The crackling of the hearth fire filled the brief silence. "Anyone I add to my group receives bonuses," he continued. "Increased vitality, enhanced perception, and even the ability to share the experience we receive from the gods. There are other things I can do to boost the amount of experience we gain."

A collective gasp echoed around the table. Eyes widened, and hushed whispers passed between some of the younger members.

"You're saying all of this is just... a blessing?" Thyra exclaimed, rising abruptly from her seat. The ice mage's golden braids swung over her shoulders, and her blue eyes shimmered with disbelief. "What's the rarity of your class?"

Jamie offered a modest shrug. "Rare. Nothing too extraordinary. I was fortunate with my blessing, but it's quite specific. I'll always be dependent on all of you to be the arms and legs of the Golden Fiddle." His gaze softened as he looked at them, a hint of earnestness in his expression.

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Thyra slowly sank back into her chair, her brows knit in contemplation. "I can hardly believe it," she murmured.

Alonzo leaned forward, his youthful face a blend of astonishment and admiration. "It's just... a lot to take in," he admitted. "When my father trained me, he left me to survive in the desert for a month. It took me that entire time to gather the experience we've received in just three days with you."

Holz, who had been resting against the back of his chair, suddenly sat upright. His eyes flicked between Alonzo and Jamie as realization dawned upon him. "I don't think you've fully grasped the value of this blessing," he said, his voice tinged with awe. A grin spread across his face, a mix of excitement and something almost fervent. He ran both hands through his tousled hair, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can only imagine that the gods sent Jamie."

Jamie coughed lightly, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. 'In a manner of speaking,' he thought to himself, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"To achieve this, it would have taken you ten times the effort," Holz explained earnestly, his eyes reflecting the hard-earned wisdom of his experiences. "But for someone who is of a common class, like some of us, it would be nearly impossible. Perhaps we could attain it with five years of constant training and relentless battles. But for a common class, it's risky to fight, and earning money is even harder."

Jamie stood before the group, his demeanor composed yet commanding. "That's precisely why we are careful about whom we allow into our group," he stated firmly. His gaze swept over the five individuals before him: Thyra, Alonzo, Emyr, Dieter, and Holz. "This is our secret and is not to be shared with anyone else." His tone carried an undercurrent of warning, making it abundantly clear that there would be consequences for any betrayal.

"Yes, sir," they responded in unison, a mix of respect and apprehension.

"But... wouldn't it help strengthen our position?" Thyra ventured, a furrow forming between her brows. "If others knew, they might fear facing us."

Jamie regarded her thoughtfully before replying. "Firstly, even powers like this have their limits. At this moment, I can only maintain ten people within the group," he explained. "Secondly, we're not powerful enough to face our enemies. Look at what happened just a short while ago."

The group exchanged glances, some nodding in understanding. A contemplative silence settled over them. Alonzo, however, looked puzzled. "What happened?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.

Jamie took a deep breath and recounted the encounter with the Inquisitors, detailing the unexpected confrontation and how badly they were beaten.

After a few minutes, Jamie concluded his account and rose from his seat. "I've already spoken with Holz," he said, glancing towards the carpenter whose steady demeanor offered a quiet reassurance. "Now it's time to address the rest of you."

He paused, his eyes flickering to each of them.

"You won't have enough mana to read the Legends of everyone," Jay pointed out. "Only two more."

Jamie acknowledged his concern with a subtle nod. 'I know,' he thought privately. 'But now that they are aware of this, I need to ensure I've done at least the minimum.'

Turning his attention back to the group, he continued, "Thyra, Alonzo. Let's begin with you two."

"Do I need to be with him?" Thyra exclaimed, her voice dripping with disdain as she cast a withering glance in Alonzo's direction. Her icy blue eyes narrowed, revealing a flicker of contempt that she made no effort to hide. Alonzo, in contrast, wore the exhausted expression of someone who had long resigned himself to such hostility.

Jamie observed the two with a sly smile on his lips, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes. "Since you despise each other so much," he announced, his tone almost playful, "I'll make sure you spend all your time together." The declaration hung in the air, met with disbelief and silent protest. Without further explanation, Jamie turned on his heel and ascended the staircase.

"No..." Alonzo whispered, a note of anguish threading through his voice. He cast a helpless look at Thyra before trailing reluctantly after their leader, his footsteps heavy with reluctance.

Jamie settled into an imposing high-backed chair behind an ornate desk carved.

"Have a seat," Jamie gestured, indicating the plush armchairs positioned before the desk. Thyra glided forward with an air of aloof elegance, her robes whispering against the floor as she sat. Alonzo approached more hesitantly, sinking into the seat beside her. The tension between them was palpable, hanging thick in the air like an approaching storm.

Jamie regarded them thoughtfully; his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "Let's begin with you, Alonzo," he said. "What made you decide to join the Golden Fiddle?"

Alonzo straightened, a hint of pride flickering across his features. "I come from a long lineage and am a prince," he declared with a measured confidence. "I've always been regarded as powerful. However, after attending your lecture, I began to reflect more deeply on how I should conduct myself and what it truly means to be a prince." He paused, his expression contemplative. "I thought that by joining the Golden Fiddle, I could learn directly from you."

Jamie nodded slowly, absorbing his words. "There's something I've been wondering," he mused. "You haven't mentioned from which kingdom you come from. Where exactly are you a prince?"

Alonzo hesitated ever so slightly. "From nowhere," he replied.

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