Gail's body crashed down the valley, hitting rocks and branches along the way. His vision blurred, and pain seared through him, but he held onto the magic sword with a desperate grip. As he tumbled, he thought of Enki, his ancestors, and the journey that had led him here. He also thought of Zephyr and hoped that he would survive the battle. Darkness claimed him once more. When he grabbed the hilt of the sword while falling, the sword attempted to overcome gravity with an upward force. This slowed Gail's fall, but eventually, he hit the ground. As he lay there, barely conscious, the system appeared before him.
[The system was interrupted due to problems]
When Gail awoke, he found himself lying on a bed of soft leaves. Despite searching his surroundings, he could not see the magic sword and Zephyr. He groggily sat up, wincing at the pain in his ribs. His surroundings were unfamiliar—a small cave lit by a fire in its center. The flickering flames cast eerie shadows on the cave walls, making the place feel both mysterious and ominous.
The system was now disconnected. He was alone, without the system's help, stranded in the middle of nowhere thousands of years ago. Desperate to survive despite his many pains and wounds, he reflected on how his arrogance had led him here. Now he realized he was not a warrior and had no abilities of his own. Everything had been due to the system's assistance, the power of mana, and the magic sword's influence. In this way, Enki and Zephyr had helped him. The pain in Gail's body caused him to pass out again.
After hours passed, Gail barely opened his eyes. A voice broke the silence. "You're awake."
Gail turned his head and saw an old woman sitting by the fire, her eyes sharp and wise. Her clothing was a mix of simple fabrics and intricate patterns, indicating a deep connection to ancient traditions. The firelight danced on her wrinkled face, giving her an almost photogenic appearance.
"Who are you? Where is my sword? Where is mu dog?" Gail croaked, his throat dry and voice weak.
"I am Laba, the healer of this forest. I found you at the base of the valley, near death," she replied. "You are fortunate to be alive. What brings you to these dangerous parts?"
"I see no reason to answer. Give back the sword," Gail shouted, then felt a sharp pain. "Aah!"
The old woman calmly answered, "I don't know anything about your dog but your sword is right here. You can come and take it."
But when Gail moved towards the sword with difficulty, he fell to the ground due to pain and lethargy. He could not stand on his feet.
Laba watched Gail struggle, her expression softening with a mixture of pity and resolve. She moved towards him, gently lifting him back to the bed of leaves with surprising strength for her age. "You are in no condition to wield a weapon, let alone stand," she said firmly. "Rest, and let me tend to your wounds."
Gail felt miserable, the pain in his body too overwhelming to resist. He lay back, breathing heavily, eyes fixed on the sword that now seemed just out of reach but infinitely far. "Why are you helping me?" he asked, suspicion lacing his words.
Laba busied herself with a pouch of herbs and a wooden bowl. "I help those in need," she replied simply. "This forest is ancient and powerful, but it can be unforgiving to those who do not respect it. You are not the first to stumble here, and you won't be the last."
As she spoke, she mixed a concoction and applied it to Gail's wounds. The mixture stung, but soon a cooling sensation followed, dulling the pain. Gail watched her work, his mind racing with questions and doubts. "How long have I been here?" he asked.
"Two days," Laba answered, not looking up from her work. "Your injuries were severe. Without my intervention, you would not have survived."
Gail lay silent, the weight of her words sinking in. His mind drifted back to the luminous man, Enki, and the quest that had led him to this dire situation. He had always relied on the system, the magic sword, and his perceived strength. Now, stripped of all that, he felt a deep sense of vulnerability. And worry gnawed at him—where was Zephyr?
"Tell me about the sword," Laba said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Gail hesitated, then spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's... magical. It has been with my family for generations. It chose me, or rather, the system did. But now, without the system, I feel... lost. And my dog, Zephyr, he's everything to me. I can't lose him."
Laba nodded as if she understood more than she let on. "Magic is a powerful ally, but it is also a demanding master. It can grant great power, but it can also take much from you. Perhaps, in this moment of weakness, you will find your true strength. And your dog, if he is as loyal as you say, will find his way back to you."
Gail frowned, not fully grasping her meaning. "What do you mean?"
Laba finished bandaging his wounds and sat back, meeting his gaze. "The system, the sword—they are tools. Powerful, yes, but tools nonetheless. They do not define you. Your strength lies within you. It always has. You must learn to tap into it without relying on external forces."
Her words resonated with something deep inside him, something he had long ignored. He had always seen himself as a warrior because of the system, the sword And recently Enki's revelation but now, he was forced to confront the reality of his own abilities and limitations.
"What must I do?" he asked, his voice steadying.
Laba smiled, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "First, you must heal. Then, you must learn to listen—to the forest, to the spirits, and to yourself. Only then will you be able to wield the sword's true power and perhaps even reconnect with your system in a way that is balanced and true?"
Gail was surprised by the old woman's detailed knowledge of the system. He asked, "What do you know about the system? I thought the system was only related to me."
The old woman replied with a smile, "I don't see any reason to answer."
Gail thought to himself, "Maybe I trusted the old woman too much. But she saved my life. When she asked me about my journey the first time, I didn't see any reason to answer, and now she is doing the same to me. This is not strange. But what is strange is that she seems to know a lot about the system and magic. Maybe I should gain more of her trust. Or maybe it's better to leave here soon."
The healer of the forest said, "Don't think about bad things. Get some rest."
Gail nodded, a sense of determination replacing his earlier despair. He realized that this was a turning point, a chance to rediscover himself and his true potential. With Laba's guidance, he might just find the strength within to become a warrior. In those times, fighting was necessary to survive, and good fighters were highly respected. Maybe he could succeed by relying on this and restarting the system. The system would give him the ability to discover more facts and return to the present. So he decided to trust the healer of the forest for now. There was no other way.