Alex sat near the muddy, murky pool of water, gasping for air as he struggled to process what had just transpired.
'I was merely in its vicinity for a few seconds, yet it depleted a small amount of my HP.' His fingers hovered over the system inventory, his eyes fixed on the faintly glowing icon of the item he had just retrieved.
The oppressive energy still clung to him, its presence lingering like a shadow. His heart raced, caught between excitement and unease as he replayed the moment in his mind.
Shifting his attention, he turned to inspect another notification that had just appeared, the screen's glow reflecting in his tense yet happy expression.
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[The host has completed a Quest]
[Side Quest: Mysteries of the Poison Mist Forest]
[Description:
1. Explore the Poison Mist Forest to uncover the source of the mysterious troubles plaguing Opal Village.
2. Discover the hidden treasure concealed within the Poison Mist Forest.]
[Reward: Spell Mastery Cards (D Rank) ×3]
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The item was the hidden treasure concealed within the Poison Mist Forest—a small, shimmering purple orb that pulsed with an eerie glow.
The system's warning flashed in Alex's memory, a stark reminder of the danger it carried. He sighed, leaning back against a nearby tree. "Guess this explains why that monster was so freakishly strong." he muttered, his voice tinged with both exhaustion and relief.
The warning had been clear: he was near a highly poisonous substance, and his HP had started plummeting at an alarming rate—proof enough that this was no ordinary object.
What baffled Alex was that he had traversed even the densest, most concentrated areas of poison mist in the forest unscathed. Yet, being just a meter away from the orb had inflicted significant damage.
Alex examined the glowing orb once more, its origins and purpose still a mystery. "Guess I could ask Aurora once I'm back at the dorm." he mused aloud. "Speaking of her... I kind of miss her presence. I should head back soon."
And with that decision, Alex's adventure in the Poison Mist Forest came to an end. A faint pang of regret tugged at him, though—he hadn't uncovered why this once-thriving, fertile land had transformed into a poisonous, barren wasteland.
The Poison Mist Forest had appeared only a few hundred years ago, yet the local villagers had no answers to its origins or the reason for its desolation.
Setting that mystery aside for now, Alex returned to the village chief's house to bid his farewell.
Unbeknownst to Alex, the poisonous mist began to dissipate after his departure, and the lands bordering the forest slowly started to recover their lush greenery. However, these changes would take several months to fully unfold, part of a future he wouldn't yet witness.
The villagers' mood dampened upon hearing of Alex's impending departure. To them, he was more than just any adventurer—he was their savior.
Grateful for his deeds, they were eager to show their appreciation and hospitality, their way of encapsulating their heartfelt gratitude.
Since the train bound for the city wasn't leaving until the following day, Alex relented to their pleas and agreed to stay. What began as a modest farewell banquet in his honor quickly turned into a grand village feast, filled with laughter, stories, and a sense of communal relief.
The feast, however, held a dual purpose. It wasn't just to celebrate Alex's heroism but also to honor the memory of the villagers who had lost their lives.
Their desecrated remains, once unearthed by the Carrion Rats, were now being given a final, dignified farewell. This time, the remains were cremated instead of buried.
The villagers had come to a grim realization: burying their dead in this world of magic wasn't always the safest option. The first burial had already been disturbed, and they feared that repeating it might lead to the rise of vengeful specters or other malevolent entities.
In a world infused with magic and the unknown, such a fate wasn't just a possibility—it was a deeply dishonorable one. Cremation, on the other hand, offered a finality that ensured the souls of the departed could pass on peacefully to the afterlife, free of further desecration or spiritual unrest.
As the flames danced in the makeshift pyres and the feast carried on, a quiet sense of closure began to settle over the village. For the first time in years, the villagers felt hope returning to their hearts.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
On a train mostly devoid of passengers but packed with cargo, Alex had succumbed to boredom and dozed off.
The rhythmic clattering of the wheels on the tracks had been a steady lullaby, but his brief nap was abruptly interrupted by the sharp ping of a system notification.
[The system has levelled up!]
[The host has unlocked the Title tab.]
[The host has unlocked a unique skill Appraisal.]
Groaning, Alex rubbed his eyes, the sudden noise pulling him from the fog of sleep. He sat up, stretching his stiff back, while the faint glow of the system panel floated in front of him.
He blinked at the notification, his thoughts still sluggish. "Appraisal, huh? Finally, something I actually needed." he muttered, his voice heavy with the remnants of drowsiness.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Alex opened the system interface. The new skill's details glowed invitingly, its importance already clear in his mind.
For a moment, the monotony of the train ride was replaced by a spark of excitement as he prepared to explore the newly unlocked ability.
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Skill: Appraisal
Type: Unique
Description: Grants the ability to analyze and evaluate objects with precision. The depth of information revealed depends on the system's current level and the host's rank. While living beings cannot be appraised, all inanimate objects and non-sentient elements can be examined for their properties, origins, hidden traits, and other relevant details.
==============================
Alex smirked, his lips curling in anticipation. "Now this is interesting." he murmured, excitement lighting up his eyes. His thoughts immediately returned to the mysterious glowing orb he had retrieved from the murky pool earlier.
There were several items in his inventory that warranted appraisal, but the orb was the clear priority. It had an unsettling aura and an enigmatic presence that demanded answers.
Without hesitation, Alex selected the orb from his inventory. He didn't dare take it out physically for appraisal—its mere proximity earlier had nearly cost him dearly. The risk was far too great to unleash it in the confined space of the train.
He tapped the "Appraise" option on the interface, his heart pounding as the system began its analysis.
==============================
[Poison Essence Orb]
Rarity: S
Grade: C+
Type: Essence Orb
Description:
- Formed over time from the concentrated remains of a ??? rank creature with a strong poison affinity.
- Contains the distilled essence of poison, though its potency has diminished by 60-70% over the years due to natural degradation.
- Versatile in usage: can be used in alchemy, to enhance poison properties or resistance, or as a rare forging material.
==============================
Alex rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully. 'Such a rare and precious thing, but it's incredibly dangerous. Maybe the creature responsible for forming the Poison Essence Orb is tied to the poisonous mist and the creation of the Poison Mist Forest.'
The thought lingered as Alex searched for a deeper connection, but with no concrete leads, he shifted his focus.
Deciding to put the orb's mystery on hold, he turned his attention to the other intriguing items in his possession—the tattered cloak and the ominous-looking ring he'd discovered on the unknown skeleton within the cave of the mutated Carrion Rat.
'Time to see what these are all about.' he mused, selecting the cloak for appraisal. But just as he was about to proceed, another thought struck him. 'Ah, now that the system is upgraded, I should check out the Title feature and my reward for clearing the Main Quest. I completely overlooked them in my excitement about Appraisal.'
Opening the Status menu, Alex noticed a new tab labeled [Title] sitting neatly between his name and race. It hadn't been there before. Curious, he wasted no time and clicked on the symbol on the pending reward, eager to see what awaited him.