Lemone, aka Bard, guides the soldiers to the bodies of the fake mercenaries. He stops at each body, offering grisly details of their violent deaths. The soldiers, convinced of the veracity of his story, proceeded to arrest the false mercenaries and secured the area.
Satisfied with his success, Lemone is placed on a horse and the convoy resumes its journey towards Aeternum, the royal city. He feels invincible, master of his destiny. He already imagines the reward he will receive for his courage and dedication.
The convoy continues its journey towards Aeternum, an atmosphere of victory and relief enveloping the soldiers. Lemone, at the center of all attention, savors every moment. Congratulations are pouring out from all sides. The soldiers consider him a hero, a miraculous survivor who faced danger to protect the kingdom.
Lemone, however, feels no genuine joy. His heart is empty, consumed by guilt and fear. He knows that his victory is fragile, that the slightest misstep could cause everything to collapse. He observes the soldiers, their admiration revulses him as much as it attracts him.
Soldier 1: "You are a true hero, Bard. Your courage has inspired us all."
Lemone/Bard (smiling falsely): "Thank you. I only did my duty."
Soldier 2: "You will be rewarded as you deserve, you can be sure of that."
Lemone relishes her momentary triumph, but a small voice inside reminds her of the price to pay for her manipulation. A discreet notification appears on his interface, informing him of the massive consumption of his magical energy.
Notification: Use of "Mastery of Lies": -67 MP. Mana pool reduced to 123/500. Estimated regeneration: 24 hours.
The young man turned slightly pale. He had underestimated the energy cost of this powerful skill. His mana pool was at an all-time low, and he knew that this would significantly weaken his abilities.
"67 mana points... It's huge. It will take me days to recover. What if someone discovers my weakness? I have to be more careful. But how?"
Lemone, feeling her magical energy dangerously draining, turns to one of the soldiers. In a weak voice, he asks:
"Do you have a mana potion on you?" I feel... exhausted. »
One of the soldiers, touched by Lemone's apparent distress, reaches into his bag and pulls out a small, half-full vial. He hands it to Lemone, who swallows it in one gulp. A warm feeling spreads through his body as the magical liquid enters his veins. He quickly checks his interface: his mana reserve has increased slightly.
"Thank you very much," he said in a more confident voice, trying to hide his relief. on this potion forever. I need to find a way to regenerate my own mana. But how?"
Lemone, feeling her magical energy dangerously draining, turns to one of the soldiers. In a weak voice, he asks:
"Do you have a mana potion on you?" I feel... exhausted. »
One of the soldiers, touched by Lemone's apparent distress, reaches into his bag and pulls out a small, half-full vial. He hands it to Lemone, who swallows it in one gulp. A warm feeling spreads through his body as the magical liquid enters his veins. He quickly checks his interface: his mana reserve has increased slightly.
"Thank you very much," he said in a more confident voice, trying to hide his relief.
"I can't rely on this potion forever. I have to find a way to regenerate my own mana. But how?"
Lemone, still weak but relieved by the mana potion, feels an icy presence invade her mind. It's the dark entity, its raspy voice echoing directly into his thoughts.
"Congratulations, mortal. You have reached level 111. Your system has evolved. New features are available to you. You have notably unlocked the Trait."
Lemone is taken aback. The Line? What is it about? He questions the entity, his voice shaking slightly.
"The Trait? What is it?"
The entity laughs, a cold laugh that sends shivers to Lemone's core.
"The Trait is a unique characteristic that you can develop. It's like a brand, a signature. You can choose from a multitude of Traits, each granting you specific powers. But be careful, mortal, each choice has its consequences."
"A Trait? Like in a video game? But what does that mean? Have I really become a game character? What if I make the wrong choice? I'm trapped."
The dark entity continues, its voice taking on a more menacing tone:
"Are you surprised, mortal? Do you think you can choose? You already have a Trait, and not the least. You are Usurper and Manipulator. You have spent your life taking what did not belong to you, weaving intrigues and to deceive those who trusted you."
Lemone is frozen by these words. The entity read him like an open book. He then realizes that he doesn't really have a choice. He is already marked by this thirst for power and this ability to manipulate others.
"Usurper... Manipulator... Is that me? Have I really become that? I didn't want to be like that. But... it's too late. I'm a prisoner of myself."
He looks at his interface and sees:
[Line]
[Maximum number: 2]
[Trait 1: Usurper]
[Trait 2: Manipulative]
These traits are permanent.
{Usurper: This trait grants an increased ability to seize what belongs to others, whether objects, titles or powers. It facilitates manipulation and seduction, making it easier to gain the trust of others. However, it also reinforces selfish tendencies and can lead to isolation.}
{Manipulator: This trait grants exceptional mastery of persuasion and psychological manipulation. It allows you to shape the opinions and actions of others to your advantage. However, this power can corrupt and lead to a loss of compassion.}
Reading these descriptions, Lemone shivers. He now understands the extent of his power, but also the shadows that await him. He wonders if these traits are a curse or a blessing, a strength or a weakness. This revelation plunges him into deep reflection on his nature and his future.
The dark entity, its voice echoing like an icicle in Lemone's mind, continues:
"These traits are not mere labels, mortal. They greatly amplify your innate abilities. Thanks to them, all your skills based on lies and mental control will now be tripled in effectiveness. »
A shiver runs through Lemone. The implications of this revelation are immense. He already imagines the infinite possibilities available to him: manipulating the masses more easily, infiltrating circles of power with disconcerting ease, and achieving his objectives with dizzying speed.
"Tripled... My abilities will be tripled. I will be able to control everything, manipulate everything. But at what cost? Am I becoming a bastard? »