In his imagination, Gail was standing over the head of the clan chief, staring down at his lifeless body. His heart ached with a deep, throbbing pain, and his eyes burned with unshed tears. The chief had been more than just a leader; he had been a mentor, a father figure, and a beacon of wisdom in Gail's tumultuous life. The sight of the chief's still form, once so full of life and vigor, now cold and motionless, filled Gail with a profound sense of loss.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, as he struggled to contain his emotions. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the sounds of the forest, but all Gail could hear was the deafening silence left in the wake of the chief's passing. The memories of their last conversation haunted him, the chief's words of encouragement and hope now tinged with a cruel irony.
Gail's thoughts spiraled into regret. If only he had hurried, if only he had reached the chief in time, perhaps he could have prevented this tragedy. The weight of his failure pressed heavily on him, a grim reminder of the Earthborn who had lost his way to the temple, failed his mission, and turned into a monster. Gail's punishment, however, was not transformation but the gnawing misery of guilt. He didn't know what awaited him, only that he felt responsible for the tribe chief's death. If only he had hurried, if only he had reached the chief in time, perhaps he could have prevented the tragedy and completed his mission.
The memories of his delays haunted him. He had rested too long at the temple, his pride swelled after minor victories, and he was defeated by two wildcats, causing him to fall into a valley. Laba, the forest healer, had tended to his wounds for three days, further delaying his mission. Each moment of hesitation, each misstep, had compounded into a disastrous failure.
Edward's voice broke through his spiral of self-recrimination. "Hey Gail, we have to keep moving. The tribe needs us. The tribe chief told me you are our savior. You possess a special heritage and are the heir to the magical sword. You must return to the tribe and prevent the war and bloodshed."
Edward's words sparked a flicker of hope in Gail's heart. He still had a chance to make amends. The tribe believed in him, and they awaited his return. Edward was proof of this belief, and the tribe chief had trusted him with their future. He recalled Laba's words, urging him to rely on his inner strength rather than the system and magic. Despite not knowing the ancient language, Gail had communicated with Laba without the system's help, which gave him a newfound confidence.
Determined, Gail turned to Edward. "Do you know the way? Try to get me to the tribe by the fastest route."
Edward nodded. "Yes, but Gamesh has more forces. This looks like a coup. Gamesh probably saw that his father's succession was threatened by you, and in your absence, he killed his father. He has allied with several surrounding tribes. Do you think we can defeat them?"
As they moved swiftly through the dense forest, Gail contemplated their options. "The tribe chief told me that after completing my mission in the temple, I should head south to see the eighth king of the south, Uta, and ask him about some secrets. Do you think we can go south before returning to the tribe and seek help from Uta?"
Edward shook his head. "I don't think we have time for that. We aren't sure where Uta is exactly, and everything we've heard is rumor. We can't rely on that and spend our time on it."
Gail was impressed by Edward's knowledge and wished they had met sooner. He sought Edward's guidance. "What's your plan? What do you think is the best thing we can do?"
Edward stroked his slightly white beard thoughtfully. "If we can get through the conflict and enemy soldiers and reach Gamesh, then we can execute my plan. If you defeat Gamesh in a fight, his soldiers will lose their motivation and morale, and our chances of restoring order and ending the war will increase. You've defeated Gamesh before, and I believe you can do it again."
Gail remembered using the power of mana and his luck—attributes provided by the system—to defeat Gamesh previously. Now, with the system's punishment of misery hanging over him, he knew he had to rely on his inner powers. He asked the system to show his attributes.
[Original User: Gil]
[Title: The Truth-Seeking Wolf]
[Level: 3]
[Mana: 2]
[Health: 9/10]
[Endurance: 3]
[Intelligence: 6]
[Strength: 4]
[Charisma: 2]
[Vitality: 5]
[Agility: 4]
[Luck: 2]
The system still recognized him as Gil, the name his mother had chosen for him. But what caught Gail's attention was the significant drop in his charisma and luck. These attributes had drastically decreased, making his mission even more challenging.
Edward asked, "How are you? Will the system help you?"
Gail was surprised that Edward knew about the system. "Do you know anything about the system?"
Edward nodded. "Yes, I'm like you. Didn't you find my name unusual for this region? I was also guided here by the system, but for years I've chosen not to follow the system's quests. I found the best way was to stay with the tribe chief and wait for someone guided by the system to finally succeed."
For the first time, Gail felt a connection with someone who shared his experience with the system. It gave him hope. "Where and when did you come to this place and time?"
Edward's eyes held a spark of mystery. He replied, "I came from the future."
The revelation struck Gail with awe. He was not alone in his struggle, and the future seemed a little less daunting with Edward by his side. With renewed determination, Gail prepared himself for the battles ahead, knowing that his journey was far from over and that he had a chance to rewrite his destiny.