Several months had passed since the engagement ceremony, and Nate cherished every moment he spent with Sam before his departure for the academy. As the day finally arrived, he carefully packed his backpack, his hands trembling slightly with a mix of excitement and anxiety. He ensured it contained all the essentials he would need for his journey to the capital, each item a reminder of the home he was leaving behind.
Despite his efforts, Nate still struggled with harnessing his rare spatial magic. If he could master it, he could store more items without physically carrying them. He sighed at the thought, his fingers tingling with unrealized potential. "If only I could unlock this power," he muttered, imagining the convenience it would bring. He hoped that once he reached the academy, he'd find a mentor to guide him in mastering this elusive ability.
With everything in order, Nate stepped out of his modest room and into the dining area, where his parents sat at the table, their faces somber. As soon as his mother saw him, she sprang up and wrapped him in a tight embrace, her voice thick with emotion. "My youngest baby is leaving me," she lamented, her grip firm as if trying to hold him in place.
Nate gently patted her back, offering a comforting smile even as his own heart ached. "I'll be back in three months for the holiday," he reassured her, though his words didn't seem to ease her sorrow. He breathed in her familiar scent, committing it to memory.
Eventually, his father pried his mother away, giving Nate a proud look. "When you come back, you'd better have muscles as big as mine," he teased, flexing his arm for emphasis.
Nate chuckled, a bittersweet feeling washing over him. He had always been lean and defined but never as bulky as his father. "Even if I don't, I'll still beat you in looks," Nate quipped with a grin, grateful for his father's attempt to lighten the mood.
His father's grin faltered for a second before he laughed. "Maybe. But I'm sure Samantha would love to hear about all the girls you'll charm at the academy," he added with a playful smirk.
Nate sighed, realizing that the banter could continue indefinitely if he didn't stop it now. He leaned in and whispered quickly, "If she kills me, Mom will blame you." With that, he stepped back and gave his father a quick hug, signaling the end of their playful exchange.
After saying his final goodbyes to his parents, each word feeling inadequate to express his emotions, Nate headed to Sam's house to bid her farewell. As he approached the door, it swung open, and Sam immediately wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, her body shaking with quiet sobs.
They stood there in silence for a moment, holding each other. When Sam finally pulled back, her eyes were red and puffy from crying. "I wish I could go with you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Nate nodded in understanding, his heart heavy. Sam's father had arranged tutors to educate her in managing the village, preparing her for a future where she might take over his duties. "I know. But I'll be back before you know it. And I'll send letters as often as I can," he promised, hoping his words could bridge the distance that would soon separate them.
Sam smiled through her tears, though the sadness in her eyes remained. "You'd better. Or I'll be borrowing your mother's wooden spoon when you return." She reached up, pulling Nate into a lingering kiss that spoke volumes of her affection and fear of losing him.
After a full minute, Sam pulled away, her voice barely a whisper. "I'll be waiting."
Nate smiled, watching her as she returned inside before he turned and made his way to the village's edge. He glanced at the map in his hand, preparing himself for the journey to the nearest town, where he'd catch a ride on a caravan bound for the capital. The weight of his departure settled on him, and he took one last look at the village that had been his home for sixteen years.
The nearest town, Blackwood, was a few hours away on foot. His mother had initially wanted to accompany him, but his father insisted that Nate, now almost a man, should handle the journey alone. He had agreed, though the prospect of venturing into the unknown both excited and unnerved him.
As Nate walked along the dusty road, his mind wandered to the academy and what awaited him there. Would he find friends as true as Sam? Would his teachers understand his unique magical affinities? The questions swirled in his mind, a mix of anticipation and apprehension.
An hour into his journey, Nate decided to take a break. He spotted a large rock by the roadside and sat down, pulling out his canteen to take a few sips of water. As he rested, he noticed how different the forest seemed outside the village boundaries. The trees were taller, their shadows deeper, and unfamiliar bird calls echoed through the air.
Just as he stood to continue, a rustling sound caught his attention. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and an eerie silence fell over the forest. He turned toward the noise and locked eyes with a gray wolf, its hungry gaze fixed on him.
Nate's heart raced, adrenaline surging through his body. He had trained with his father in self-defense and had joined him on hunting trips, but this was different. This was real danger. His hand moved instinctively to the dagger at his belt, gripping it tightly as he faced the wolf.
The creature growled low, and Nate's pulse quickened. Suddenly, the wolf lunged, and Nate barely managed to sidestep the attack. As he regained his footing, a system prompt appeared in front of him, its blue glow a stark contrast to the green of the forest.
[Quest System Unlocked]
[New Quest: The Hungry Wolf]
Description: A wolf has decided you are its next meal. Defend yourself and defeat the creature to survive.
Rewards: 1 level, Title - The Path to Manhood, ability to gain levels.
Penalty: You become wolf food.
Nate cursed under his breath as he dismissed the prompt, dagger in hand. His mind raced, realizing the system had remained inactive because his life had never truly been in danger before. He silently cursed the God of Balance for the "timely" intervention, then refocused on the task at hand.
The wolf circled him, eyes gleaming with hunger. Nate mirrored its movements, keeping his dagger raised. He had no choice but to fight. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the only sound the soft padding of the wolf's paws and Nate's ragged breathing.
The wolf lunged again, but this time Nate was ready. He sidestepped and slashed with his dagger, catching the wolf's side. The creature growled in pain but pressed forward, undeterred. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, mixing with the earthy smell of the forest.
In desperation, Nate cast a minor illusion, creating duplicates of himself to confuse the wolf. The air shimmered as the images appeared, each one an exact copy of Nate. The creature hesitated, its eyes darting between the illusions. Nate seized the moment, driving his dagger into its flank.
The wolf yelped, blood staining its gray fur. Nate pulled back, his breath ragged as the wolf staggered. He cast another illusion, this time creating an image of himself moving to the left, while he moved to the right. The false Nate shimmered in the dappled sunlight, drawing the wolf's attention.
The wolf lunged at the illusion, and Nate took advantage of its mistake. He struck swiftly, his dagger plunging into the wolf's neck. The creature collapsed, lifeless. Nate stood there, panting, as the reality of what had just happened washed over him.
[Quest Completed - The Hungry Wolf]
Reward: 1x Level Up, Title: The Path to Manhood - Grants 1 extra Strength point per level-up. (Upgradable)
Title: The Path to Manhood - You have finally allowed your balls to drop giving you the chance to become stronger
Effects: +1 additional point per level in Strength
Another prompt flashed:
[You have leveled up. +1 point to each stat (Extra +1 in Strength), +3 free stat points.]
Nate sighed in relief, his heart still pounding in his chest. He wiped his dagger clean on the grass, casting a somber glance at the wolf's lifeless body. "I'm sorry," he whispered, feeling a mix of relief and regret. "But it was you or me." He didn't have the means to carry the carcass, so he left it behind and resumed his journey toward Blackwood, his steps quicker now, wary of any other dangers that might lurk in the forest.
By the time he reached Blackwood, the sun had begun to set, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and purple. Blackwood was larger than his village, its stone buildings casting long shadows in the fading light. The air was thick with unfamiliar scents - spices from far-off lands, the smoke from blacksmiths' forges, and the enticing aroma of fresh bread from nearby bakeries.
Nate made his way to the caravan station his father had told him about, marveling at the sights around him. Street performers juggled balls of magical light, their faces painted in intricate designs. Merchants hawked wares he'd never seen before - crystals that glowed with inner light, scrolls covered in runes that shifted and changed as he watched, and exotic fruits in colors he didn't know existed.
Inside the caravan station, a gruff woman sat behind the counter, puffing on a wooden pipe. Smoke curled around her head, forming shapes that seemed almost deliberate - one moment a galloping horse, the next a soaring eagle. She didn't even look up as Nate approached. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice rough as gravel.
Nate swallowed, trying to remain calm in the face of her brusque manner. "I need passage to the capital," he said, proud that his voice didn't waver.
The woman puffed on her pipe for a moment before responding, her eyes finally flicking up to meet his. "Caravan leaves tomorrow at the 5th bell. Ten silver." Her gaze lingered on his pointed ears, but she made no comment.
Nate handed over the money, and the woman gave him a ticket. "Be here on time," she said, before dismissing him with a wave of her hand. As he turned to leave, he could have sworn he saw the smoke from her pipe form the shape of a wolf, but when he looked back, it was gone.
Nate left the building and found a cheap inn to spend the night. After eating a simple meal of hearty stew and crusty bread, he headed to his room and settled down for the night. As he lay in bed, the events of the day replaying in his mind, he opened his system screen, eager to check his updated status.
[Status]
Name: Nathaniel Cromwell
Level: 2 / Exp (0/200)
Class: None
Race: Half-Fae / Half-Unknown (Sealed)
Age: 16
Attributes:
Strength: 6 → 8
Perception: 10 → 11
Dexterity: 12 → 13
Intelligence: 6 → 7
Endurance: 7 → 8
Charisma: 20 → 21
Free Points: 3
Magic Affinities: Fae (Perfect), Spatial (Perfect), Illusion (Perfect), Unknown (Sealed)
Quests (New): Reach level 5
Skills:
Lover's Embrace (Epic Bloodline)
Running (Normal)
Climbing (Normal)
Jump (Normal)
Charming Puppy Dog Eyes (Epic)
Unknown (Sealed)
Dagger (Novice)
Survival (Novice)
Cooking (Poor)
Titles:
The Path to Manhood (Upgradable)
Blessings:
God of Balance (Full)
Goddess of Beauty (Minor)
Satisfied with his progress and the system updates, Nate let the screen fade away and allowed himself to fall into a deep, well-earned sleep, ready to face whatever tomorrow might bring.