Eldric twitched his nose at the strong scent of herbs, mixed with something cool and calming.
His eyes opened slowly, and the blurry outline of an unfamiliar ceiling came into focus.
"You're finally awake."
The young man's mind sharpened at the familiar voice of the village head.
He sat up, noticing Drekson standing near the window, watching him closely.
"Where's this place?" he asked, his gaze roaming the unfamiliar room.
"This is the guard house," Drekson replied. "The kids told us everything. Thank you for your swift response—and for protecting them."
At the mention of the kids, an image of Gui's wound and the blood came rushing back to Eldric's mind.
"And Gui? How's he doing?"
"Gui already received the proper treatment. He's already…recovering." Drekson replied.
But Eldric caught the look in his eyes—it would be a while before Gui fully bounced back from an ordeal like that.
"And the other two?"
"They're also being treated. But they broke a rule we strictly follow in this village. They'll have to face the consequences," Drekson said.
Eldric nodded. "How long was I out?"
Drekson hesitated before answering.
"You've been unconscious for three days."
"Ah?" Eldric blinked. "So that's the price of that recoil?"
He could still remember the sensation vividly—the way his strength had drained from him, the taste of blood as it trickled from his mouth.
"We've had to calm the kids down," Drekson added. "They've been coming by every day just to check on you."
"Gui's been coming by daily. I'll let him know you're awake," Drekson said before leaving the room.
A moment later, Eldric saw Gui's head peek around the door. The boy stepped inside, pausing in the doorway. His eyes stayed fixed on the floor, and he twisted the hem of his shirt between his fingers before he finally spoke.
"I'm sorry, big brother."
Eldric looked at the teenager, who was nervously clutching the hem of his shirt.
"Why are you apologizing? Is there something you think you need to be sorry for?" Eldric asked.
"You were in danger because of me."
"And?"
"I almost put Anilla and Merdin in danger."
"And?" Eldric prompted again.
"Um…ah…"
Eldric sighed. "Why did you go into the restricted area? Are you a hunter?"
Gui shook his head, his gaze fixed on the floor.
"If I'd been even a little later, your family might be mourning your death right now," Eldric said bluntly. "Or, worst case, we'd both be in the afterlife."
Gui flinched, his shoulders tightening at Eldric's words.
Outwardly, Eldric remained calm, but beneath his composed expression, a flicker of anger stirred inside him.
"Gui."
"Yes…" the boy answered, his eyes still fixed on the floor.
"Gui."
This time, Gui lifted his head, meeting Eldric's gaze directly.
Eldric sighed before speaking.
"I'm not a fan of heroics."
"Excuse me?" Gui blinked, clearly puzzled by his words.
"Don't do anything reckless that risks your life. Do you understand?"
Gui's eyes filled with tears as he nodded. "I'll remember that, big brother."
Eldric sighed. He knew he might sound harsh, but this kid needed to understand that reality was different. Heroic acts were for those with the power to back them up—and not every act of heroism was met with gratitude.
"Wait, how do I even know this?" The thought flickered briefly before he brushed it aside.
"Sit down," he said, nodding toward a nearby chair.
Gui sat, waiting quietly for him to continue.
"How's your wound?"
"The village herbalist already treated it."
Eldric's brow furrowed as a thought struck him. "Gui, I saw glyphs carved on wood at the entrance to the restricted area. Why were those boys able to enter?"
Gui hesitated before answering. "Ah, the glyphs? They're meant to repel beasts, not people. Anyone can enter if they want to, whether it's intentional or not."
"Really? Your village is pretty careless," Eldric muttered.
Gui's eyes widened, and he glanced nervously toward the window to ensure no one overheard.
"What? I'm just stating the obvious," Eldric said, raising a brow at Gui's reaction.
Gui sighed. "Brother…"
Eldric raised a hand to stop him. Though he didn't care much about the village's rules, the thought of the kids in danger stirred something unfamiliar in him—a sense of concern he couldn't quite place.
Stretching slightly, Eldric changed the subject. "Get me some food. I'm starving."
"O-Okay."
Gui jumped up, grabbing the bread and water from the table and handing them to him.
"Big brother."
"What?"
Gui hesitated.
"I… I want to become one of the village guards."
Eldric paused, then his gaze landed on Gui observing him.
"And why's that?"
"I intend to get stronger. When I faced that bear, I felt so helpless. All I could do was run."
"And you think becoming a village guard will make you stronger?"
"Yes. I believe so."
Eldric finished his food before speaking again.
"Didn't you hear what I said earlier?"
"I did. But I don't want to be a hero. I just want to be someone who can protect."
Eldric sighed, feeling a hint of frustration creeping in. "Isn't that the same thing?"
It was wrong for him to think that Gui was traumatized by his experience. Is this kid a masochist?
He rubbed his temples. "When it comes to stubbornness, you're definitely at the top."
Gui met his gaze directly, eyes filled with determination.
"Listen, kid. You're old enough to decide for yourself. So why even ask me if you've already made up your mind?"
"I just wanted you to know, big brother."
"Hey, we've only known each other for a few days. I'm not even your parent. Why tell me this stuff?"
"I already told my parents."
"Haah." Eldric took a slow breath, counting to five, and sat in silence for a moment.
"Big brother…"
"Get out."
"Eh?"
"For some reason, I feel exhausted just talking to you."
"Alright."
Gui quickly left the room, leaving Eldric with an annoyed expression.
"Unbelievable," he muttered. "I'm lying here because I saved him, and now he wants to be a protector? That kid… I could strangle him."
He shook his head. "And here I thought he'd learn his lesson. That Gui is really something."
After a while, Drekson re-entered the room and saw Eldric pulling on his boots.
"Heading out already?" he asked.
The young man nodded. "Yeah. I don't want to bother you anymore,"
"And I'd rather not wait around just to end up getting suspicious looks from your guards." He added internally.
Drekson cleared his throat. "On behalf of the family of those kids, I'd like to say my thanks again."
"Sure."
Drekson changed the topic.
"I heard you helped the kids in gathering herbs, and they were of good quality."
"I did."
"Impressive knowledge for someone who's lost his memory."
Drekson's gaze lingered on Eldric, thoughtful, for a moment before he shifted back to his usual demeanor.
"Oh, that?" Eldric shrugged. "I was surprised I knew anything about herbs myself. But it's come in handy, so I'm grateful for that."
Drekson nodded. "Glad to hear you're adjusting well. Safe travels."
"Thanks."
***
Eldric returned to his shed, breathing in the familiar scent of wood that seemed to ease the lingering tension from the past few days.
He went straight to his bed and lay down. Just as he was about to close his eyes, an illusory bar materialized above him. Eldric blinked in surprise, watching the stats slowly appear, one by one. And saw that the progress bar for Foundational Level had increased a bit.
"So, a near-death experience speeds this bar up, huh?" he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
His eyes lingered on his stats, a frown tugging at his lips. "How am I supposed to increase this foundational level? If the village has any basic knowledge about herbs or essence, it might help—but as an outsider, there's no way they'll share that with me."
"Would you like to access the Library?" Datum's voice chimed in, cutting through his thoughts.
Eldric blinked, caught off guard. "Wait—what? I can access that place?"
"Yes. Reading the information in the Library will also contribute to your progress."
He stared blankly, processing the revelation. "…And you're telling me this now?"
"Datum provides information as it becomes necessary," the voice replied, emotionless as ever.
Eldric's jaw clenched. He shut his eyes and took a long, measured breath, fighting back his annoyance.
After a moment, he exhaled slowly and muttered dryly, "Great. Just what I needed to hear. Thanks a lot."