"WHAT!!!" Alex turned around, his heart racing with fear. He was genuinely scared.
"Calm down, human being..." a deep, serene voice echoed from the forest. A morphing being emerged, composed of mixed elements—water, air, and fire—appearing as if it was a fusion of nature trying to understand something.
"Oh... Grrr---eetings?!!!" Alex nearly choked on his spit. He was unsure what this being was, but the form it took was unnervingly terrifying. He managed a shaky smile and a wave.
"You are fascinating, human. I wonder what brought you to this forest with..." The being's voice trailed off as it smiled.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Thank you. Can I help you, bein—si—thing?" Alex stuttered, unsure of what to call it. He prepared himself for a possible confrontation.
"'Sir'? That's a nice term. I was merely surprised to see an Elexir here," the being said with a cheeky grin.
"Oh, this? It's a gift from a long-standing friend. It's been 25 years since I last saw him. We were close friends back then," Alex explained, trying to divert the conversation.
"Friend, huh? Could you tell me more about this friend?" the being asked, still smiling.
"My friend's name is Homer. It's a common name, but he's a good person," Alex replied.
"Homer? Interesting. Anyway, human, you should keep your treasures hidden in the future. Even the trees in this world have eyes. Be cautious not to expose things that very evil people might desire," the being warned with a cryptic smile.
"HAHAHAHAHHA!!! THANKS, NOW BYE!!!" Alex grabbed his belongings and bolted away at lightning speed, leaping through the forest.
"Oho? I was waiting for you to give him some words," a soothing voice resonated from the forest.
"Oho? I thought you'd say something wise," a cool, melodious voice joined in.
"Gahagahagagahgah, That human doesn't need my words. He seems to have a mind of his own... People like him will always survive. Homer... I wonder where he is now..." the being mused before disappearing.
"HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTT!!! WHAT WAS THAT? OH MY GOD!!! I FELT LIKE MY GOOSEBUMPS WERE RADIATING ELECTRICITY!!!" Alex was drenched in sweat, overwhelmed by the encounter. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—a monster he thought only existed in legends.
"I THOUGHT MY FIRST MONSTER WOULD BE SOME MAGIC-SPARKING WOLF OR SOMETHING!!! NOT A FREAKING—" Alex ranted to himself, shaking his head. He tried to identify the creature but quickly realized it was beyond his understanding.
"I was so stupid. Why did I think bringing an Elexir into a forest was a good idea? I need to be incredibly cautious from now on. I can't afford mistakes that might attract monsters capable of killing me instantly," Alex vowed, promising to plan his actions meticulously to ensure his safety.
Three minutes later...
"Pay the entrance fee," the soldiers at the gate demanded, clad in iron armor with stern expressions.
"Here..." Alex handed them five silver coins each. He still had money left, it seemed.
"HEY!!! THIS IS TOO MUCH!!!" The soldiers were astonished. Most people begrudgingly paid the bronze fee, but Alex generously gave them extra.
"Oh hahahaha, excuse me, sir..." Alex took his change, feeling a bit more at ease. He was back in the city and needed to maintain his composure.
"BROTHER ALEX!!! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU FOREVER!!!!" Gard, Zachary, Barot, and Adam were in Alex's house, eagerly waiting for him.
"HEEEEY!!! BROTHERS!!!" Alex greeted them with exaggerated enthusiasm, laughing at the unexpected reunion.
"HAHAHAHAHAH!!! ALEXXANDER!!!" Everyone burst into laughter.
Calming down, Alex smiled at his friends and began chatting.
"What's in that bag?" his friends asked, curious.
"Oh," Alex said, opening his bag to reveal bronze coins, spirit crystals, and spirit elixirs. He made sure to hide the elixirs from view.
"Oho? Did you start working somewhere?" Zachary inquired.
"Yeah, I got a job at the Carpenter's School. Apparently, I have a talent for it. They even paid me before I started working closely," Alex explained, placing the bag behind the kitchen and furniture.
"ANYWAY!!! LET'S TELL YOU STORIES!!! I'VE BEEN WONDERING WHY YOU GUYS HAVEN'T VISITED ME!!!" Alex said, eager to catch up with his friends.
"GAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! WE HAVE ENORMOUS THINGS TO TELL YOU, ALEX!!!" Adam grinned, laughing heartily.
Everyone gathered around the table, sharing their stories as they ate.
"So, the reason we didn't visit you is because of the army. We were assigned to help carpenters and stone masons carve statues of Zeus, Poseidon, and Dionysus. It was exhausting work, but the pay was good, and the stone masons were passionate about their craft. They even taught us a few carving techniques," Zachary explained.
"Yeah, it was so annoying. If I wanted to learn stone carving and marble carving, I would've gone to a prestigious academy," Gard added, with a hint of annoyance.
"Like you have that much prestige, HAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!" Zachary laughed.
"Lmaoooo!!!" Alex laughed, excusing himself to use the toilet.
He went outside to a nearby forested area, closer to the restroom, and took a few silver coins with him.
"Since I discovered a few coins at home, let's see..." Alex pulled out the system.
[Balance has been topped up] ~~ ~~ [Balance has been topped up] ~~ ~~ [Balance has been topped up] ~~
"Give me the simulation..." Alex said, clicking to start.
[At age 28, you declined your mission and stayed to learn magic at the Greece Macedonian Academy, the most prestigious academy in Greece. You passed their tests with flying colors, becoming an outstanding student. Your friends also stayed, and you progressed through the academy's levels rapidly, reaching Tier 3 Spark Magic. Your entrance into the academy as a powerful Magos surprised everyone.
At age 29, after some time, you gathered enough red dots to advance to Tier 4 Spark Magic. You gained significant power and convinced the dean to grant you high status and pay. You built a home in the city's most prestigious district.
At age 30, you broke through your magic limits, upgrading your fireball spell to produce blue flames. Your mastery of fire elemental magic grew, making you a formidable force.
At age 31, you gained considerable renown in the Capital City, though you remained at Tier 4 Spark Magic. You declined many quests but continued to be a valuable asset.
At age 32, you were invited to join Emperor's main force, Guildia, but declined. You upgraded your flames to a deep blue color, capable of melting iron, bronze, and even asteroids.
At age 33, the Empire was invaded by Kelion's main army, breaching three defensive lines. You were summoned for the army gathering, along with everyone in the city.
At age 34, you evaded the army's orders and hid in the city, knowing it was the most protected place on the planet.
At age 35, you discovered that the Greek Emperor was a puppet controlled by Kelion. The true Emperor was a woman named Olympias. You learned that the Emperor's main force had managed to remove Kelion's control.]
"WHAT THE FUCKKKK!!!" Alex yelled in shock.
End of Chapter.