Elysian approached the heart of Arendale, where the village guild hall stood—a sturdy building with wooden beams and a stone foundation. From outside, he could hear the sounds of lively chatter, the clinking of tankards, and the occasional laughter of adventurers swapping tales.
As he pushed open the door, a few heads turned his way. He gave a polite nod, letting his travel cloak fall loosely around him to blend in. The air inside was thick with the scent of ale and roasted meat, and the warmth from the large fireplace enveloped him as he took in his surroundings.
Time to get some information on these mysterious runes, he thought, eyeing a notice board pinned with various job requests and quests.
"Aria, can you scan the room and tell me if there's anything I should be aware of?" he whispered, still getting used to her presence.
"Yes, Elysian," she replied in his mind. "Scanning… There's a high concentration of mana radiating from a pendant on the guild master's desk. I detect faint traces of ancient magic—similar to the demon lord's era."
He glanced toward the front of the room, where the guild master, a broad-shouldered, middle-aged man with a grizzled beard, sat. His rugged appearance suggested he'd seen his share of battles, and his intense gaze met Elysian's.
Deciding to be direct, Elysian walked over.
"Excuse me," he greeted with a slight bow. "I'm a traveler, new to this land, and I'm looking for some work. I've heard rumors of strange occurrences—old runes appearing, and some say magic has resurfaced?"
The guild master raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "We don't get too many strangers who know about the old times," he said. "Name's Garroth. And you?"
"Elysian," he replied, keeping his tone friendly but reserved.
"Elysian, huh? You got a certain air about you," Garroth said, eyeing him. "We've had a few odd jobs come in recently… relics with strange engravings, odd formations in the mountains. Nothing that makes sense, but enough to spook the folks around here."
Elysian leaned in. "Do you have any of these relics here?"
Garroth nodded, gesturing to a back room. "We keep a few oddities in storage. Not much we can make of 'em, though."
Elysian's curiosity flared. Perhaps these relics were linked to the ancient demon lord's era. He was about to ask further when Aria's voice echoed in his mind.
"Elysian, would you like to check your status screen before exploring further? It may help assess if any limiters are needed in this area."
Elysian nodded subtly. "Aria, display my status."
In response, his familiar, transparent status screen appeared before him, condensed to only the essentials:
===
Status Screen - Elysian: Sage of Eternity
===
Name: Elysian
Class: Sage
Level: MAX (999)
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Titles: Hero of Arcadia, Sage of Eternity, Demon Lord's Bane, Master of All Arts
===
Primary Stats
HP: 999,999 / 999,999
MP: 1,000,000 / 1,000,000
Strength: 999
Agility: 999
Endurance: 999
Wisdom: 999
Intelligence: 999
Luck: 999
Charisma: 999
===
After a quick glance, he closed the screen and turned back to Garroth. "I'd like to take a closer look at those relics, if you don't mind," he said.
Garroth looked him over once more, then nodded. "Follow me. But let me warn you, no one's been able to make heads or tails of these things. Not the scholars, not the magic users—no one."
Elysian followed him through the door into a small back room, lit by a single oil lamp hanging from the ceiling. Various relics and odd artifacts lay on a wooden table, most covered in dust. The objects were chipped and worn, their engravings faded.
Elysian's gaze fell on a particular stone tablet, its surface etched with swirling symbols that he instantly recognized.
These… these are magic circles from the demon lord's era, he thought, his pulse quickening.
He reached out to examine the tablet, feeling the faint hum of mana beneath his fingers. It was ancient magic, indeed—exactly like the runes he'd studied extensively in the game.
Garroth noticed his expression. "Something you recognize?" he asked, sounding hopeful.
Elysian gave a measured nod. "Perhaps. I've studied these symbols before. They're from a time long forgotten."
Garroth's eyes widened. "You… you can read these?"
"Some of it," Elysian replied cautiously. He didn't want to reveal too much about his knowledge. "But I'd need to take a closer look."
Garroth nodded eagerly. "You're welcome to study these relics here as much as you need. We'd even compensate you for any insight you can provide. The villagers have been on edge ever since these things started turning up."
Elysian felt a thrill of anticipation. He could finally delve into the mysteries that had intrigued him back when he was a mere player. This was a chance to uncover secrets that had been lost to time—and perhaps, secrets that only he, as the last sage, could understand.
As he began to analyze the tablet, Aria's voice chimed in. "Elysian, would you like me to catalog the symbols and translate any that match your knowledge?"
"Yes, please," he whispered. This is going to be fascinating, he thought, feeling a rare excitement. The road ahead promised challenges and mysteries far greater than he had imagined.