In the North forest of Delrith Town.
After successfully killing all the group of Gobrock and its camp, the group of five adventurers stands before a towering, ancient dungeon gate on a huge stone-cave wall. The gate is broken, its once-imposing structure now cracked and weathered, emitting an eerie glow. The surrounding air is thick with an ominous energy that sends shivers down their spines.
"Who would have thought there was a dungeon gate here, a broken one at that… But this gate—It gives me a bad feeling. I don't think we should enter without knowing more about it." One of them furrows his brow and takes a step back. The others nod in agreement, their eyes darting around the surroundings.
The eldest among them, strokes his long white beard thoughtfully. "I sense powerful mana at play here. It would be unwise to ignore our instincts. Let us report this to the Adventure Guild and seek their counsel."
"Bah! We have cleared a dungeon before, right? We face danger every day! What's the worst that could happen?" scoffs the bulky muscle guy, eager for action.
The elder places his hand on his shoulder. "Let's not rush into anything, Dego. Safety should come first. If there's even a chance this place is too dangerous, we should seek help."
"Tch. fine." The group discusses the matter further, eventually reaching a consensus. They decide to leave the broken dungeon gate untouched and to return to the Adventure Guild to share their findings and seek advice.
As they turn to leave, the ominous atmosphere intensifies.
"Stand your ground!" The adventurers brandish their weapons and prepare for battle. However, they couldn't react or see where the eerie feelings came from. "Hey, don't joke around!" Dego spoke. "This is not a joke—"
Suddenly, the elder's body went flying to the nearest tree, his body was cut in half, leaving the ground around it crimson red. All of their eyes widened in shock and their mouths gape open in astonishment.
The adventurers' expressions fluctuate wildly, ranging from disbelief to terror, as the events unfold before them. The sudden and violent impact of their companion's body colliding with the tree leaves them speechless and horrified.
"Asrad…"
"Keep a hold on yourself!" Their eyes dart around, searching for any means of escape, but their bodies seem frozen in place, unable to respond to their instincts. One adventurer clutches their weapon with trembling hands, sweat glistening on their forehead as they try to summon the courage to fight back. Another clings to their chest, trying to slow down their rapid heartbeat.
Again, one of them went flying to the nearest stone boulder, headless and tainted red. As each adventurer falls to the fast ambushed attack, their expressions transition from shock to despair. "I couldn't see it."
Their eyes lose the spark of hope, and their faces contort with pain and anguish. Some let out cries of agony, while others merely stare into the void, coming to terms with their inevitable fate. The same pattern kept on going on until…
The lone survivor's expression is a mixture of disbelief and horror. Her eyes are wide with terror, and her breathing is heavy as she witnesses the brutal demise of her companions. The survivor's hands tremble uncontrollably, and she takes hesitant steps backward, unable to tear her gaze away from the monstrous figures responsible for the massacre that finally reveals their existence. "Ha, ha. They were toying with—"
…
…
…
After l had succeeded conquering the art of crawling, I am now on my new quest—Conquering the art of walking. My round, curious eyes stared at the ground, as if contemplating the monumental task ahead of me.
My soft, chubby cheeks flushed with determination. With a deep breath, I wobbled on my pudgy legs, one tiny foot inching forward, then another. The loving parents, and even a few curious animals from the nearby forest, watched with bated breath.
"You can do it, Raul! Take that first step!" Viora was encouraging him from the front. The morning sun shines brightly in the backyard, where a colourful playpen sits on the lush green grass.
With each step, l gained a little more confidence, my wobbles turning into steadier movements.
Aelen stood a few steps away, both of their hearts swelling with pride and love for their precious child. They held their breath, not wanting to miss a single moment of this milestone.
As l took a few more steps, the both of them erupted into cheers and applause. The sound of their jubilation caused me to giggle, and that moment of joyous distraction made me lose my balance. I teetered, my tiny arms flailing in the air.
'Oh, crap!
Viora's maternal instincts kicked in, and she took a step forward to catch me. But before she could reach me, a sudden gust of wind swirled around me. "Don't worry, I got him."
Aelen lifted his right palm, controlling the gust of wind to prevent me from tripping and lifting me up again.
As I reached the end of my tiny journey, I stumbled into my mother's loving embrace. Viora swept me up into her arms, showering me with kisses and murmuring words of praise and love. "You did it! ! Good job, Raul!" she whispered tenderly.
As the day progressed, l sneaked again into Aelen's room. The room was lit by the soft glow of magical crystals hanging from the ceiling, creating an ethereal ambiance. Dust particles danced in the air as l continued my exploration, little hands reaching out to the intriguing books that surrounded me.
However, once I read the cover of the books, I was dissatisfied and irritated.
What's the matter? Garen asked realizing my emotional burst.
Dammit, these are all children's books! They did this on purpose!
l scanned the room looking for a book that I could reach with my tiny arms. Later, I discovered an old leather-bound book sitting on a table, its pages yellowed with age.
I picks myself up, trying to stand up straight before walking toward the table. I tried to pull myself up from the floor to climb on the chair but failed to do so.
I can't climb this damn chair! My tiny hands clench into tight fists, and my face turns red with frustration.
I can help with that much. Garen said.
Suddenly, I felt it – the gentle yet firm pull from above. It's as if an invisible hand is lifting me. As l ascended, I was weightless, defying gravity's rules. The chair rises beneath me, matching my ascent.
The gravitational magic slowly subsides, and I feels my body return to its normal weight.
W–what the heck was that?
Gravitational magic. He responded.
'No! I mean since when?' l channelled the question to Garen.
'A few weeks ago after I had gathered an abundant amount of mana.'
l climbed the table as he checked the book in front of him. "You should have told me that sooner." I sighed as I continued to inspect the book.
The symbols and illustrations on its cover seemed to dance before my eyes, beckoning me to explore its contents. I pulled the book off the table, opening it with a soft thud.
As I turned the pages with my chubby fingers, a sense of wonder filled me. My eyes widened as I read the context of the pages.
This is—'The Verden's Continent? Could this be a historical context of this continent?'
I wonder, we haven't got any clue as to what kingdom we are from yet.' Garen replied.
'Indeed.' l flipped another page. Then, I stumbled at the words 'The Kiven Kingdom'. Despite the book being dusty and old, l was still able to understand the writing of it.
Kiven Kingdom was founded by a noble lineage of brave warriors. The first king, Valiant Kiven, united the scattered tribes of the region and forged a kingdom of peace and prosperity.
Kiven's borders expanded, and its influence reached far beyond its frontiers. With the aid of powerful mages, they built Five Cities and formed the foundations of the magical society.
Centuries ago, the kingdom sent some of the people to scout nearby land and they had discovered the Curse Land, The Gozed, a place of numerous malevolent creature habits, also known as the Dark Creature and The Zogred. The land existed from the North side of the Kiven Kingdom.
To prevent the creatures from invading the peaceful land, the first king, King Valiant formed a Guardian Pact with The Nesian from The Great Aethia Forest.
The pact ensured mutual respect and protection, and in return, both beings will offer their wisdom and guardianship over the kingdom and the forest. With the help of many powerful mages, they created a large invisible and strong veil encircling the Curse Land.
Anything can pass through the veil except for the Dark Creature itself. The Veil has endured through the ages, and was regarded as the revered protectors.
'Wait, hold up. This isn't some kind of ancient children's book, right?' l asked.
'What's this?' l took the folded paper in between the pages.
"There you are Raul—Oh, that's something you shouldn't have touched."
Hey, no, wait a minute. I was just about to get onto the good part! Aelen picks me up with the old book. Aelen gently knocked the book twice before the book suddenly disappeared from the table.
How—
l was carried back into my small crib.
Oh, great! l lamented.
[ "Photographic Memory" has progressed to 33%...]
Dammit, I wasn't able to get a good look at the context. Also what just happened to that book, there's no way he could have destroyed that because of a baby reading it. He probably used some kind of magic to hide or store it away from me.
'There's a possibility of that. I sensed a surge of mana during the moment he knocked the book.
After I had successfully forged "polyglot", the next day, l had already come up with a new talent to forge. "Photographic Memory". l stood up in my crib as I stared at Aelen who was walking in the corridor from the crib's fences.
My gaze fell at Aelen's right hand. Aelen had a silver ring with an azure stone on top of it.
'What do you think? Is it possible to store the book inside that ring?
If that was a storage ring, then it could be. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of that. Unless he can use space magic. But I doubted it. He added.
Garen responded. Sighed, l let my back fall to the soft cushion of the crib.
Well, at least I was able to get my hand on this. I took out the folded paper from my clothes. 'Curious?' I asked Garen.
I wonder… He replied with a hint of subtle curiosity.
Unfolding it awkwardly, my bright eyes scan the strange symbols and ancient text that seem to be imprinted on the paper with an ethereal glow.
What's this? It looks like some sort of instructions.
As if guided by an innate understanding, l comprehends the contents of the paper—a magical guide on harnessing the power of the mana core.
Garen, is this similar to what you explained previously?
As I reads the script, my eyes widen in astonishment. The paper reveals an intricate diagram depicting the anatomy of the human body intertwined with the concept of mana.
The diagram illustrates the human body with shimmering lines of energy crisscrossing through various organs and systems—Soul Veins.
At the center of it all lies the mana core—a radiant, pulsating sphere situated next to the heart, in the center of the body.
'It's mostly identical.' Garen said.
As l studies the paper, I discovers annotations written in a script unknown to most. With my advanced mind, I deciphers the intricate symbols, gaining a deeper understanding of the connections between the mana core and the body's functions.
According to this, mana is intricately linked to our emotions and physical well-being. It flows through our Soul Veins, empowering us with the ability to wield magic. So, a person's state of mind affects their magical prowess.
Negative emotions might hinder the flow, while positive emotions enhance it.
Raul, I think there is a way to force the development of your mana core. Garen shared his thoughts. There was a slight changed in his tone.