"I do hope she won't be so frightened that she ends up trembling under her blankets," Calcifer said with a mischievous smirk dancing on his lips, his eyes twinkling as if he was already imagining the scene.
William couldn't help but notice the ease with which this man toyed with others' emotions. It wasn't hard to see why the witch despised him. There was something about Calcifer's swagger, the way he casually waved his hand or tilted his head, that screamed arrogance. He was, without a doubt, a showman—every move designed to draw attention.
"I understand, but the Misty Forest is no joke," William replied, her voice tinged with worry. "They say anyone who enters gets lost in the fog forever. I'm not sure I'd even be able to find the witch's house."
Calcifer chuckled softly, as if William's concerns were mere trifles. "Is that all? Simple," he said, waving his hand with dramatic flair. From behind the counter, a dusty old book floated into the air, making its way into his outstretched hand as though enchanted.
Flipping open the ancient tome with practiced ease, Calcifer extracted what looked like an ordinary weed, a single thin stem with a solitary leaf hanging on it.
"Here you go," he said, holding it up with a flourish.
William's eyes widened. The system prompt appeared:
[Hint: You received a Four-Leaf Clover Bookmark]
She examined the object in her hand.
[Name: Four-Leaf Clover Bookmark]
[Quality: Rare]
[Description: A young witch once found the legendary lucky clover and was so overjoyed she turned it into a magic bookmark. She hoped it would enhance her success in potion-making. However, Calcifer; without permission, used two of the clover's leaves, and in doing so, managed to meet two stunning women. To get back at him, the witch used another leaf, successfully sabotaging one of Calcifer's romantic encounters. Only one leaf remains, symbolizing their complicated 'friendship'.]
[Effect: Those who carry the Four-Leaf Clover will see their desires come true, though each use consumes part of its power.]
"Friendship?" William thought skeptically. "More like a lifelong feud! If I were the witch, I would have turned Calcifer into a toad by now for such betrayal."
He glanced at the last, lonely leaf. "A rare item, and this fool wasted three of its leaves. No wonder the witch was furious."
Still, it was precious. Despite its reduced power, even one leaf from a rare item was worth more than most treasures. And Calcifer had handed it over with casual indifference, as if it were nothing more than a trinket to help her navigate the forest. Her understanding of Calcifer shifted.
Maybe he was a show-off, but his abilities were undeniably impressive, and his generosity? Unquestionable.
"If I can bring back the Fountain of Life," William mused, "Calcifer's promised to craft a piece of magical equipment for me. Compared to that, this clover is just a tool; an added bonus."
William's thoughts solidified. "This guy... he's not just generous, he's loaded! A big dog owner," she thought with a wry smile.
Before continuing his journey, William decided to pick up a combat skill to improve his odds of survival. He quickly settled on one called [Piercing Attack], a universal skill that cost a single gold coin. Practical, effective, and most importantly, affordable.
He had briefly considered delving into magic, but upon seeing the price tags, 200 gold coins for the [Basic Magic Encyclopedia] alone, not to mention the 3 to 10 gold coins for individual spells; he quickly abandoned that idea. It was far too expensive to start magic training right now.
"Warrior skills are more practical, and far cheaper," he concluded.
Calcifer returned with a thick book labeled [Basic Combat Skills Encyclopedia], rifling through the pages until he found the one he needed. With a flick of his wrist, he tore the page from the book. The parchment folded itself into an intricate paper crane, which floated in the air for a moment before Calcifer blew on it gently. The paper crane fluttered toward William and melted into his body in a soft glow.
William stared at Calcifer, her expression unreadable. "Was all that really necessary?"
He had a feeling the process of teaching combat skills didn't require such theatrics. But of course, Calcifer seemed to delight in making everything unnecessarily elaborate. That was just his style; dramatic, flashy, and always designed to leave an impression.
"Well, at least he knows how to put on a good show," he thought, shaking hiz head with a small smile.
"It's just like when Prince Duan created his famed Five Luo Light Smoke Palm," William mused, recalling the story. "A technique so refined that it lets you extinguish candles from across the room, all so the prince could maintain his air of elegance even when sharing a bed with others. Always cool, always dignified."
If it weren't for the undeniable presence of new memories in his mind and the added attack skill on his skill bar, William would've sworn Calcifer was playing a joke on him.
"Well, I really hope this works as you promised!" William said with a mix of skepticism and determination. He decided to play it safe, purchasing two more rolls of bandages as a backup, just in case. Preparedness was key in a place like the Misty Forest.
With the bandages tucked away and his silver coins safely stashed after selling his magic materials, he downed the last of his tea in one bold gulp. Hefting his spear over his shoulder, he strode out of the shop with the confidence of someone who felt more ready than he truly was.
As the door swung shut behind him, the owl perched above let out a gruff sigh. "Calcifer! Calcifer!" Howl, the owl, called down, flapping its wings in frustration. "I moved the magic house here as you asked, but no matter how many messages I've sent to the Misty Forest, the witch hasn't replied. Is she really just going to let you die?"
Calcifer leaned back, a serene smile on his face despite the growing tension. "The Misty Forest has anti-divination properties, Howl. It's no surprise my messages aren't getting through. And knowing her, she's probably hiding even deeper now that she senses my presence."
Howl's feathers fluffed up in nervousness. "But Calcifer… you're not really going to die, are you? What'll happen to me? No one else will pay me, and I'll be left wandering the wilderness like some common magical creature!"
Calcifer chuckled softly, his voice strangely soothing despite the dire conversation. "Oh, Howl, how could I abandon you? If the worst happens, you can always follow me into the abyss. I'll be a demon, and you can join me; free of worry." He smirked. "In the meantime, send this ruby to my room. I'm about to wake up, and this gem should help suppress the condition that's been eating away at me."
As soon as the words left his lips, Calcifer's golden figure, seated elegantly on the balcony, flickered and dissolved like a dream shattering into fragments of light. He vanished into the air, leaving only a lingering glow behind.
Howl clutched the ruby in his talons and, with a determined flap of his wings, flew up to the second floor to complete his master's request.
...
[Map Update: You have entered the Misty Forest]
[Misty Forest: A mysterious forest perpetually shrouded in mist. Its origins remain unknown, but it is said to be rich in elemental power and home to countless magical creatures. Few dare venture deep within, where even the strongest have gotten lost.]
William's feet sank into the damp soil as he stepped into the fog-heavy forest. A thick, otherworldly mist cloaked the surroundings, reducing visibility to mere feet. It felt like stepping into another dimension, everything around him faded into pale shades of grey and white, a void with no clear direction. The atmosphere reminded him of a scene straight out of a horror movie, like The Mist.
"The oldest and strongest human emotion is fear," William muttered to himself, "and the most primal fear of all is fear of the unknown."
But despite the eerie surroundings, he wasn't completely clueless. Other players were already hunting creatures along the outskirts of the forest, much like when William had first ventured into Crow Ridge. Over time, as players leveled up and grew stronger, they would inevitably dive deeper into the Misty Forest.
For now, William was simply ahead of the curve.
The further he ventured into the mist, the denser it became, as though the forest itself wanted to swallow him whole. Soon enough, he realized he was hopelessly lost. The once familiar path vanished beneath the thick fog.
Pulling out the four-leaf clover bookmark, he tried to figure out how to activate its magic, but before he could explore its power, the Sequence Game Health System alerted him that it was time to log off for the day.
Reluctantly, William complied.
...
Back in the real world, William awoke in his living room. He didn't rush for food or relaxation. Instead, he grabbed his finely crafted iron spear and stood in the open space of the room, positioning himself as though still in battle.
The technique for using [Piercing Attack] flowed through his mind, intricate and profound. This wasn't just a basic skill; it was a secret combat method capable of unleashing devastating power. As the knowledge settled into him, he understood it was more than just raw strength. It was about harnessing his inner energy, a force from within, and transferring it to his weapon.
In that fleeting moment of perfect execution, his spear would become razor-sharp, cutting through his enemies with terrifying precision. The burst of destructive power, concentrated in an instant, adhered perfectly to the principles of inch power, where the shortest movements yielded the deadliest results.
William gripped his spear, feeling the surge of newfound strength, and smiled. This journey was just beginning.