Yuran regained consciousness in a hospital room, slowly opening his eyes to his surroundings. The realization hit him quickly — he had survived the serpent's attack. His attention was drawn to a gentle snoring sound, and as he turned his head, he discovered The White Fairy, his idol, sleeping in a chair next to his bed.
"Fey," he called out softly, and like magic, she stirred awake, her eyes opening to reveal a captivating darkness, framed by her white lashes. A smile formed on her face as she greeted him with warmth.
"You're awake, older brother."
Yuran's lips tightened, flooded with memories and nostalgia. He wanted to ask her to stop calling him that, feeling unworthy of such a title, but her genuine smile held him back. Instead, he shifted the conversation.
"What happened to the serpent?"
Fey proceeded to recount the details of the battle that had taken place the previous day. Every aspect was laid bare, and Yuran's hands trembled as he clenched his fists. It became evident to him that their retreat was necessary, but it weighed heavily upon him. The loss they had suffered paled in comparison to the young porter's sacrifice to save him from certain death.
"It's happening again," Yuran muttered, his words hurried and choked. Overwhelmed, he leaned back against the bed, feeling a tickle in his nose, but the tears refused to flow.
"I... I wanted to protect my older brother from the start. But my abilities..." Fey grew frustrated, realizing she was offering one excuse after another. Yuran sighed and gently patted her wrist.
"No... It was my weakness, once again."
***
Arthur's eyes fluttered open, greeted by a cool breeze that caressed his skin. The scent of wildflowers filled the air, and as the trees swayed, their dancing shadows played over his vision, causing him to squint against the sunlight.
Rising reflexively, he found himself in the midst of a forest, resting upon a patch of grass. In the distance, he could glimpse a lake through the gaps in the trees. It dawned on him that Jizo had transported him to this place, unable to return him to the dungeon.
"I died..."
Or did he? Arthur couldn't be certain. Jizo had claimed to pluck him from the state between existence and non-existence. If it weren't for Jizo's intervention, Arthur would have met his demise, obliterated by the unforgiving laws of the universe.
But here he was, alive. He breathed, his heart thudded within his chest. He existed.
"Right, Jizo said he would help me if I assisted him in his goal..." Arthur recalled the parting words of the enigmatic man. Jizo had promised to grant him the one thing he needed most at that moment: a means to grow stronger. He had mentioned bestowing upon Arthur his Legacy.
Legacies were different from mere abilities. They contained the will of individuals from the past, granting abilities and skills tailored to the recipient. They were known as "Evolving Abilities" since they evolved alongside the person who possessed them. As Arthur willed it, his Legacy stirred to life. A series of sentences materialized before him, resembling a status window in a game.
[Scholar Guardian's Legacy]
[Level: 1 (63%)]
[Strength: 14]
[Agility: 12]
[Stamina: 14]
[Perception: 10]
[Mana: 1/1]
[Abilities: Beginner Runes Wordsmith (0%), Usable Runes: 3]
[Skills: None]
Arthur gazed at the words before him, his mind struggling to reconcile the reality with his dream-like state. This was real. He waved his hand, and the words dispersed as he passed through them.
A sense of surrealism washed over him. Arthur didn't doubt the occurrence; he simply couldn't believe it had happened to him. He had heard tales of Legacies and their workings, encountering numerous accounts on the internet.
However, most of those legacies belonged to historical figures of the past, imparting skills and abilities unrelated to the bearer's inherent "stats."
Examining his newfound ability, a surge of excitement coursed through Arthur's veins. He had never heard of a "Runes Wordsmith," but he was aware that the realm of abilities was vast and unexplored. As he directed his will toward the Legacy, further information appeared before him.
[Beginner Runes Wordsmith: A Runes Wordsmith possesses the ancient runes of the world, capable of recreating them. At the beginner level, the user can imprint basic runes onto objects, individuals, or themselves.
Magic can be employed to imprint runes, which will endure for a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 30 minutes before fading away.
Another method involves imprinting runes using a suitable medium, enabling the creation of permanent runes with complexity determined by the materials used.]
As Arthur absorbed the explanations, he felt an indescribable connection to Jizo, as if the man's presence permeated the Legacy. This sensation intensified until Arthur willed the Legacy to vanish, deciding to cleanse himself in the nearby lake first.
Making his way toward the water, he kept a vigilant eye out for any wild monsters. While the city may have been safe, the surrounding areas were far from secure.
As the lake mirrored his reflection, Arthur was taken aback by what he saw. His eyes had transformed into a shimmering gold. In that moment, the memory of Jizo's eyes flooded his mind, and he felt a surge of panic threatening to engulf him in a wave of anxiety. Yet, he managed to regain his composure, the distress within him subsiding.
He was still Arthur. He held onto that certainty. The alteration in his appearance could be attributed to the influence of Jizo's Legacy, a change he could attribute to his newfound ability.
Once he calmed himself, Arthur immersed his body in the cool water, contemplating his surroundings. A vast mountain range loomed on the other side of the lake, with canyons carving pathways through the rugged terrain. On his current side, a dense forest stretched as far as his eyes could see. Beyond that, a grassland bordered the forest, catching Arthur's attention. It seemed like a promising vantage point to gain some bearings on his location.
Upon reaching the grassland, Arthur's view opened up, revealing the expanse before him. It lay mostly barren, save for a few wild boars lazily roaming about. However, he soon realized that these were no ordinary boars; they were man-eating boars known as Beras.
"Squeak!"
A sudden squeal startled Arthur, prompting him to turn and face a wild boar that had caught his scent. Momentarily stunned, he quickly evaded as the charging Beras lunged forward with its menacing horns.
"Shit!"
Arthur flung himself toward the safety of the forest, narrowly escaping the Beras's attack. The beast crashed into a tree trunk, causing it to splinter, but the tree remained intact. Seizing the opportunity, Arthur made his way along the lakeside where he had initially awoken, using the terrain to his advantage. Fortunately, the forest presented numerous obstacles that hindered the Beras's pursuit. After a while of relentless running, Arthur finally came to a halt, realizing he had distanced himself from the immediate danger.
"How... How am I supposed to survive in this place, Jizo?" He panted heavily, blaming his luck for the predicament he found himself in. Jizo had mentioned teleporting him to a distant location, but he had never anticipated landing in a monster-infested zone.
These regions were beyond the reach of the Union, regarded as hunting grounds instead. Escaping unscathed without assistance would prove to be an arduous task. Arthur settled down, allowing himself a moment of respite as he contemplated his escape plan.
Deep in thought, he recalled the runes mentioned in the Legacy, available to him at his current level. With unwavering determination, he focused his will, establishing a connection with the Legacy and requesting a display of the runes at his disposal. Words materialized before him, illuminating his path forward.