Gacha Leveling

"Christmas?" Erin thought out loud after Helen asked her what she was going to do. "I don’t know. I’ve been spending them with Lynn."

"I usually go back home. But this year I’m staying." Tina said while sitting down during lunch.

"Me too." Mia added, sitting by her side at the table.

"We don’t really celebrate Christmas." Faralynn said. "So we usually just stay at home."

The four women then turned to Matthew, waiting for his answer.

"I’ll spend it with my family." He explained. "You all could spend it with us." He invited them.

"I was thinking about bringing you all to spend in my home." Helen said.

"We could..." Matthew looked at Faralynn waiting for her input.

"Why don’t we ask Martha if she wants to celebrate with the Táltos? That way we can all be together." The elf suggested.

"That’s a great idea." Helen smiled. "We can invite Eric and Katia too." She added, her parents and the big man became friends while adventuring together.

"It would be nice. We can ask Paula and Michael as well. Maybe Tylith will want to join as well." Matthew thought out loud.

"It’s suddenly getting big." Erin smiled.

"Well, the more the merrier." Helen said. "Let’s set everything up." She added, already typing on her phone with her parents.

"Should we ask Faynn?" Matthew asked Faralynn. "Perhaps Karynn and Kazan as well?"

"Yes. That would be good." Faralynn said. "Can your home take in so many people?" The elf asked Helen.

"Of course. It’s not very big, but we can make it do." Helen confirmed.

"Should we also invite Marcus and his family?" Matthew asked.

"Might be a bit too soon. But I’d like to have him." Faralynn answered.

"The kid you two are helping?" Erin questioned them.

"Yes. His brother Sebastian is quite fond of Sarah as well. Though I don’t think she reciprocates the feeling." Faralynn explained.

"We should ask Sarah about it then." Erin gave her opinion.

After lunch Matthew went to the gymnasium and trained with Kazan.

They traded blows with vigor, leaving the whole class watching it like a spectacle. But, even now, Matthew was no match for the elf.

Matthew attacked with two blunt blades while Kazan defended himself with only one. Even enhancing himself with Unholy Mana was not enough to close the gap with Kazan.

After some bouts, Matthew used his Purify skill to get rid of the miasma he spread on the air.

"You learned well with Firynn. And I can see you developed your own style after so many battles." Kazan praised him. "There’s some small bad habits you have that you need to be mindful of. You keep charging even when you don’t have a clear opening, this leaves you open. You are also too honest when you’re fighting, this makes you predictable. Mix in some feigns, test your opponent before you strike. You got used to using too much mana at once and attacking with all you have. Be patient, study your opponent."

Matthew nodded and sat down to breathe a bit while Kazan went to instruct another student.

After training, Faralynn took Matthew to a weapon smith that she trusted. A dwarven woman named Tolma. She had braided thick red hair and blue eyes. She looked young, but was short and stout as all dwarves.

Her shop was in the outskirts of town and her 3 sons helped her man the forge that burned hot with modern machinery around.

"That’s a fine blade." Tolma said upon picking up the mithril kopesh Matthew found in the dungeon. "It’s a bit dull and sharpening mithril is quite hard..." She added.

"It’s for my sister. Can you make a white and bright blue handle?" Matthew asked.

"Sure. But for a piece like this, you can’t cheap out on the materials. I’ll use some dragon ivory with storm serpent scales." Tolma decided by herself. "I’ll also add an ice crystal on the pommel. Do you have any family symbols I should use?"

"I don’t know much about my family." Matthew gave a sad smirk. "We don’t have any symbols or things like that."

"Isn’t Lordstone a dwarven name?" Faralynn questioned.

"I am not a dwarf." Matthew shook his head.

"But dwarves don’t give family names to those of their bloodline. Our family name comes from the guild we work for. For example, I’m Tolma Steelbread because I learned my trade from the Steelbread guild. We give such honors to all those who master our trades. My sons are yet to receive such an honor." She said the last part as an admonishment to her sons.

"So you’re saying that one of my relatives worked for a dwarven guild?" Matthew questioned her.

"Possibly. And by your name, he probably was a stonemason. A good one if he was awarded the name. I don’t know any Lordstone guild, but I can ask around." She said.

"Thank you. I’d like to know more." Matthew said.

"Anyway, about the symbols. What should I use?" Tolma asked.

Matthew’s hand then caressed the necklace he was wearing where Ffyr was still resting since they came out of the dungeon.

"Here." Matthew took out his phone and showed her a picture of Ffyr and Sarah having fun while eating ice cream. "Base it on her. The fairy."

"Alright. I can see it now." Tolma said, picking up a sketching book and starting to draw on it with a piece of coal.

She then showed the sketch of the kopesh to Matthew. It was crude, but he could see the guard shaped like butterfly wings and the pommel as a flower holding a crystal.

"The pommel will be made from high quality ice mana crystal and I’ll make the guard from mithril as well." Tolma explained.

"Alright. How much?" Matthew asked, preparing himself mentally for the high value.

Tolma wrote the amount on the paper near the sketch.

Matthew looked dumbfounded at the value.

"Can you make it in time for Christmas?" Faralynn said unaffected by the amount.

"Only if I give it priority." Tolma said, looking at their sons hammering some steel by hand.

"You can put it in front of the sword I asked before." Faralynn said.

"Another sword?" Matthew asked.

"A gift for Kazan. We can’t expect him to be at his best if his weapons don’t match his skill. You suffer from that too, don’t you? With your guns." The elf explained. "But it’s nothing urgent. So you prioritize this one." She turned to Tolma.

"Yes ma’am." Tolma nodded.

Matthew was making the calculations in his head. How much of his fortune he’d have to spend there.

"Don’t worry." Faralynn kissed his cheek, noticing his concern. "I’ll cover half of it. You can tell Sarah it’s from both of us."

Matthew smiled widely. Even half was more money that he ever spent. But that amount he could handle.

November ended fast.

Between studying for tests, training and diving in dungeons, Matthew spent his days in relative tranquility.

Sarah was ok with inviting Marcus, Sebastian and their father to the Christmas party.

Martha was thrilled that she would spend Christmas with Katia. Children always made the date feel more alive and with purpose.

Everyone confirmed their presence.

Matthew, Ffyr, Sarah and their parents Martha and Robert. The hosts Helen and her parents János and Katalin. Faralynn, Faynn and her servants Kazan and Karynn. Erin, Tina, each alone away from family who lived in another country. Mia, whose family was in another country on a diplomatic mission. Eric, Vanessa and Katia. Even Paula, Michael and Tylith confirmed. And lastly Marcus, Sebastian and their father,

There were 24 people. 25 since Matthew was also going to summon Matil. It was going to be a big party and everyone was looking forward to it.

They bought plenty of gifts for each other. Martha and Katalina made so much food as if they were competing on who could make the best dishes.

Even Ffyr came out of the necklace and was in a generally good mood.

It was Christmas eve day now. The city was sparkling with lights. Ffyrs, who never saw the city like that, was just like a child looking at all the colors that shone all around them.

Decorating the Christmas tree was a lot of fun for her. Sometimes her smile faltered when she remembered that her mother refused to help Matthew. But she was able to have fun once more.

The Táltos received them with open arms. Katalina soon dragged Martha to the kitchen looking forward to cooking with the woman who she had only talked to on the phone.

Eric was already there with Vanessa, both already drinking beer with János. Katia was playing by the poolside with a doll.

All the others arrived shortly after. They were all having a great time.

Sarah’s eyes fell in love with the kopesh Matthew and Faralynn gifted her.

However, at the same moment Sarah tied the sword around her waist, Matthew’s phone buzzed. It was Claudio.

Matthew almost hung up, but he decided to pick up.

"Matthew." Claudio’s voice was somber. "We need your help."