Silas spared one last glance at the dead Lightservant before departing. The forest burned behind him. The wind whistled in his ears as he ran and jumped over the roots of giant trees. He tripped more times than he could count, but he didn't care. He only wanted to get away.
When he reached his basket of Water Potatoes, Silas finally stopped, breathing heavily. He put his hands on his knees to steady himself. The severity of his situation hit him. It felt like he had just destroyed his only chance for a new life.
Pacing around the stream, Silas considered returning to the village to clear his thoughts.
"Maybe I need to rest first so I can think about what to do next," he muttered, walking toward the village.
But as he reached the edge of the forest, where he could see the tiny figures of the villagers tending to their fields and animals, Silas turned back.
He glanced over his shoulder once, but the bright afternoon sun obscured his view. He debated walking toward the edge for a clearer look but quickly rejected the idea. Turning back now would make it too hard for him to move forward.
The villagers must continue their lives without him; his presence would only bring them death.
Two more Lightservants would be waiting for the one he killed. He had to distance himself as much as possible. But would it guarantee their safety? He wasn't sure. He just hoped they wouldn't resort to massacring the whole village.
He used the forest as his escape route, trying not to stray too far from the dirt road to avoid getting lost. The moon rose, turning the mountain into a giant black rock, like a king overseeing his realm.
Silas stopped at a stream and washed his wounds with its cold water. He hadn't tended to his injuries since receiving them that afternoon. He hissed as he poured water on his burns.
Checking his wounds in the moonlight, he saw the redness indicating the need for immediate care. An infection could kill him faster than the Lightservants. He washed his face but paused at his reflection. 'A stranger,' he thought, staring at his wavy black hair and amber eyes, almost pale yellow like gold or sunlight reflecting off a pond.
Shaking his head, he focused on his wounds.
"I might find something in the next town."
He leaned against a tree trunk, its carved face watching over him. Silas closed his eyes, trying to sleep, but the night was cruel, denying him even a moment of drowsiness.
He ended up checking the system. Killing the Lightservant had instantly promoted him to [Novice Wizard II]. A new skill was listed in his [Skillbook], and he had received 20 [Attribute Points].
[Water Dart I]
[Energy Consumption: 8 Energy]
[Cooldown: 3 seconds]
[-shoots five sharp particles of water that could slice through the enemy's skin. Each dart deals damage equal to 50% of the wizard's total Attack]
Silas nodded to himself. The skill was an improvement to his [Flickering Fire] and [Magic Pierce]. He then proceeded to check his [Character Interface].
Name: Silas Hawthorne
Rank: Novice Wizard II
Destiny Exp: 10 / 250 DES XP
Primordial Destiny: None
Available Attribute Points: 20 Points
[NOTE: Health and Energy will increase by 10 for every 1 Attribute Point added. Defense and Attack will increase by 3 for every 1 Attribute Point. And Critical Rate and Critical Damage will increase by .50% for every 1 Attribute Point.]
Attributes:
Health: 200 / 200
Energy: 100 / 100
Attack: 50
Defense: 15
Critical rate: 0.00%
Critical damage: 0.00%
Advance Stats
Casting Speed: 0.00%
Cooldown Reduction: 0.00%
Curse Reduction: 0.00%
Curse Hit Rate: 0.00%
Crowd Control Reduction: 0.00%
Damage Reduction: 0.00%
Skill Penetration: 0.00%
Energy Regen Rate: 0.00%
HP Regen Rate: 0.00%
If he had known he would be in this situation, he would have spent all of his Attribute Points instead of saving them. He looked over his stats and considered the importance of [Health] and [Energy], especially for a wizard like him, who had always been deemed a squishy character. However, he also knew he couldn't neglect [Attack] and [Defense].
He upgraded the four according to their importance.
[Health +5. Health: 200 -> 250]
[Energy +5. Energy: 100 -> 150]
[Attack +7. Attack: 50 -> 71]
[Defense +3. Defense: 15 -> 24]
"That will do for now. I'll get most of my stats anyway once I start collecting equipment," Silas muttered.
He knew that once he reached [Novice Wizard V], the system would allow him to upgrade his weapons and armor. Soon, his skills would need upgrading too.
He closed the holographic boxes and sighed. It was hard to believe how much had happened in just a week. The memory of planning to run from his father felt like it belonged to another lifetime.
Silas smiled bitterly, touching the back of his neck. The scar he expected to feel was no longer there.
"Now, what should I do?" he wondered aloud, staring at the moon's glow on the moving stream.
He opened his [Inventory] and removed the [Sapphire Ring] from his [Equipment].
The dying wizard had told him to go to Maglem, the Wizard's Haven. Silas knew the place well—it was where everything began in the game. But now, he found himself in a timeline before the game's original start.
Why did this happen? Why was he here?
Despite hating the idea of following the game's plot—where he would surely die—he had no choice but to go there. The world of Heroes of Destiny was cruel, especially to those with magic or the so-called Traitor's Destiny. What had happened earlier was just the beginning of what awaited him if the Lightservants caught him.
He had to deliver this ring to someone who knew the dying man. It was his only option for survival. He would start his journey at dawn.
He yawned. But for now, he had to sleep. That night, he didn't dream.
----
The ground trembled. The two Lightservants clung to the carriage, exchanging worried glances.
As the tremors subsided, Bartholomew Algernon closed the book he was reading. Rivas, his subordinate, rushed outside. From the forest, they saw a plume of black smoke.
"What's happening there?" Rivas said, shielding his eyes. "Master Bartholomew, I suggest we check Cesar's situation."
Bartholomew nodded. But as they prepared to enter the forest, he felt a shiver run through his body. Pulling a bracelet from his coat pocket, he saw one of its seven clear beads had turned black.
Sighing, he put the bracelet away and cast a gesture to ward off bad luck. "Cesar is dead. Let's give him a proper burial, befitting his status."
Rivas stared in disbelief. "What! How could that runt defeat Cesar?"
Bartholomew fixed him with a steady gaze. "I do not know. But if we want to find out, we must go there. Unless you doubt the powers Jallar gave me?"
"Forgive me, my lord. I did not mean to doubt you or our god," Rivas said, bowing his head.
Bartholomew placed a hand on his shoulder. "Apology accepted, Rivas. I am kind to those who serve me."
Rivas looked up and followed Bartholomew.
"And one more thing, Rivas. Didn't I tell you to fix that thickness of your tongue? It's 'my lord,' not 'm'lord.' You're no longer the peasant you once were."
"Yes, master," Rivas replied.
"I'll trust that you'll do better next time."
Guided by Bartholomew's power, they found Cesar lying near a tree, his white clothing dirtied, burned, and clinging to his skin. Bartholomew cast an incantation of blessing to guide Cesar's body to the Endless Sea.
Then they knelt down to recover the remains of Cesar, but suddenly, the lifeless man's hand twitched. The two Lightservants jumped back, Rivas unsheathing the sword at his belt. But his master raised a hand, stopping him.
Cesar stood up, his eyes opening with an eerie glow. "Servant of the Holy Powers," he intoned, his voice deep and resonant. Three sets of wings made of golden light unfurled from his back.
"Kneel before the Authority."
Their bodies obeyed the command involuntarily. They pressed their heads to the ash-covered ground.
Rivas trembled. He had heard tales of these beings—Higher Beings, they were called, residing in the halls of the Origin Palace.
These Higher Beings served the Three Gods: Jallar, Primordial of Conservation; Qyr, Primordial of Alleviation; and Travaas, Primordial of Glory. Legends said Higher Beings were created by Jallar to protect mankind.
"This body will not last long. I have a message for you. Kill the child and glory awaits you in the Origin Palace."
The air around them seemed to pulse with energy.
"We will do as you command," they replied in unison.
Cesar's body collapsed, lifeless once more. They looked up to see the shadow of six wings vanishing into the darkened sky.
Rain began to fall as
Bartholomew approached the body. Cesar's eye sockets were empty, smoke rising from where his eyeballs had been.
'Just like in the tales,' he thought. 'They were burned from the inside.'
"Bury him immediately," he instructed Rivas.
On their way back, Bartholomew toyed with the beads of his bracelet. 'Kill the child and glory awaits you,' he repeated silently, the words echoing in his mind.