The chill of the night settled over the estate, the air heavy with the kind of quiet that only came when the world slept. Rest slipped out of the stable, moving with practiced silence. The mansion loomed in the distance, its windows dark, the last of the household's lights extinguished for the night.
"Perfect timing," he muttered, pulling his thin cloak tighter against the cold. The stable behind him creaked faintly as the wind swept through its gaps, but the familiar sound didn't faze him. He had grown used to its drafty, unwelcoming embrace.
Overhead, the night sky was painted with three moons—one red, one blue, and one yellow. Their light bathed the world in an otherworldly glow, reminding Rest once again that he no longer belonged to the world of his previous life.
He tilted his head up, letting the sight of the moons ground him in the present. Then, with a faint murmur, he activated his magic. "[Night Vision Scope]."
The world around him brightened instantly. What had been a murky path now stretched before him in sharp detail. Rest's lips twitched in a faint smile. The spell was one of many tools in his arsenal, but unlike the combat magic Cedric had unknowingly taught him, this one came from a different teacher entirely.
Back when he lived with his mother, before the mansion and its cruelty, there had been a man in the back alleys of town—a drifter with a mysterious past. Rest had traded scraps of bread for knowledge, learning spells like [Night Vision], [Unlock], and [Life Search]. The man's origins were a mystery, but his teachings had proven invaluable.
"I don't think I want to know what kind of work that man did," Rest murmured as he strode toward the forest.
The trees ahead stood like a wall of shadows, their dense canopy blocking out even the light of the three moons. Without magic, the forest would have been impenetrable, a void of darkness.
Rest reached the edge and paused, closing his eyes as he activated another spell. "[Life Search]."
Faint pulses radiated from his body, spreading through the forest like ripples in water. Almost immediately, he sensed movement—three creatures, clustered near the entrance. Rest moved toward them, careful to keep his footsteps silent.
The smell hit him first, sharp and metallic, as he crept closer. Then he saw them: three wolves with glowing red eyes and an extra one in the center of their foreheads. One of the beasts was hunched over, tearing into the limp body of a goblin, its jaws slick with blood.
Rest grimaced, staying hidden behind a tree. The goblin's green, humanoid form was barely recognizable beneath the carnage, its bones and entrails glinting in the moonlight. The sight sent a shiver through him, but he forced himself to stay focused.
One of the wolves lifted its head, its three eyes scanning the forest. Rest froze. It sniffed the air, its ears twitching.
(They've noticed me. No point in waiting now.)
He stepped out from his hiding place, raising a hand. "[Lightning Ball]!"
A sphere of crackling energy burst forth, striking one of the wolves square in the side. The creature howled, its body convulsing as purple sparks danced across its fur.
The other two wolves whipped around, their snarls cutting through the night.
"Grrr!"
"Gruff!"
They lunged.
Rest fired another spell, his movements quick and deliberate. "[Lightning Sphere]!"
The second wolf yelped as the attack hit, but the third was already upon him. Rest leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. The wolf's swipe caught his arm, leaving a shallow red gash.
Pain flared, but Rest gritted his teeth. (Stay calm. If I panic, I'll lose control of my magic.)
He steadied himself, raising his hand again. "[Lightning Sphere]!"
The final wolf collapsed in a heap, its body twitching as the sparks faded. Rest exhaled, his breath visible in the cold air.
The three wolves lay scattered, still alive but too paralyzed to move. One of them let out a faint, guttural growl.
"Persistent, huh?" Rest muttered. He raised his hand, this time summoning a blade of air. "[Wind Blade]."
The spell cut clean through their necks, and the garden was silent once more. Blood pooled beneath the bodies, soaking into the earth. Rest wiped his hands on his cloak, his expression unreadable.
(So, [Lightning Sphere] isn't lethal on its own. I'll need to boost the output if I want more power.) He made a mental note to refine the spell as he scanned the area for more threats.
A sharp cry cut through the silence.
"Geeek! Geeek!"
Rest turned to see a goblin emerge from the bushes, its small green body hunched and trembling. It clutched a rusty knife, its eyes burning with rage.
"Ah, so you're here too," Rest said, straightening.
The goblin snarled, its gaze darting to the fallen wolves.
"If you're here for revenge, you've got the wrong guy. I didn't kill your buddy," Rest said, but his tone was dry.
"Gah!"
Another goblin lunged from the shadows, swinging a crude club at Rest's back.
Rest sidestepped, his reflexes sharp. "[Enhance Strength]."
With a burst of energy, he drove a kick into the ambusher's chest. The goblin flew backward, slamming into a tree with a sickening crack.
"Water Blade!" Rest shouted, sending a slicing wave of water at the first goblin. It screeched as the spell struck its back, dropping to the ground.
Rest moved quickly to finish the job. He stomped on the second goblin's head, the crunch of bone beneath his boot leaving no room for doubt. The first goblin tried to crawl away, but a second Water Blade ended its struggle.
The forest fell silent again.
"Finally," Rest muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. He scanned the area for more signs of life but found none.
Crouching, he healed the claw mark on his arm with a quiet "[Heal]." The green light enveloped his wound, leaving his skin unblemished.
The magic was simple, something he'd learned long before coming to the Eberun household. A priest who had once cared for him and his mother had taught him the basics of healing and purification.
Rest thought of the priest's parting words: The goddess is always watching. Live rightly so you do not stray from her path.
(If I hadn't met him, I might've let my anger take over.)
He could have killed Cedric, Liza, or even Lucas with the power he possessed. His magical energy seemed limitless, a wellspring that never ran dry. But revenge wasn't his path.
(They'll regret everything one day, but not because I sought vengeance. I'll make them regret it by rising higher than they ever could.)
With renewed determination, Rest turned back toward the forest, his senses alert for more prey. The night was still young, and there was much to be done.