Chapter 16: The Neighborhood
Leon Grant had chosen well. The neighborhood he settled into seemed promising—not just because of its high walls enclosing the area but also the spacious layout inside. Sunlight poured into every corner of this suburban retreat, a critical detail for survival. Where sunlight thrived, creatures of the Arcane Realm were naturally deterred. Without these dark denizens lingering around, there was little to attract the predatory hunting squads of goblins, making it a safer hideout for Leon.
The neighborhood consisted of seven high-rise apartment buildings, each towering over twenty stories tall. Time had not been kind to these structures. The once-pristine exteriors were now crumbling, with tiles peeling off the walls and a web of plants climbing the lower floors, accelerating the decay. Leon selected the building with the best natural light, dropped off his gear, and began systematically scouting the area.
With his Arcane Sense, a mental ability enhanced by his meditation techniques, Leon spent half an hour surveying all seven buildings. This extraordinary sense spared him from having to search each apartment floor by floor—a convenience he appreciated deeply. The area, while mostly desolate, wasn't entirely empty. Scattered across the buildings were about a dozen shambling creatures—mindless remnants of the past inhabitants, now turned into Spiritless Ones.
Leon methodically eliminated each of them, collecting two additional Potential Points as a reward. He couldn't help but feel satisfied at the progress. Standing in the neighborhood's open courtyard, basking in the warmth of the sunlight, he reflected on the circumstances.
These Spiritless Ones clearly weren't the original residents of this area. More likely, they had wandered into the neighborhood during the dark hours and became trapped. With no prey to feed on, they lingered aimlessly, devouring even the smallest animals. Now that Leon planned to make this place his base for the next few days, ensuring its safety was his top priority.
Fortunately, sunlight dominated the day, keeping any new threats at bay. Even if his actions made some noise, it wouldn't attract creatures sensitive to darkness. Surveying the neighborhood, Leon noticed a few vulnerabilities: two main gates at the front and back, as well as a breach in the perimeter wall on the far side.
He didn't know what had created the breach, but it was clear he'd have to fix it. Both gates, originally secured by metal fencing, were now rusted and fragile after years of neglect. Leon pushed them shut regardless, creating a symbolic barrier. Then he began dismantling the furniture from the lower floors of the abandoned apartments—old, decaying chairs, desks, and cabinets.
He dragged these pieces to the gates and the wall breach, creating makeshift barricades. The Spiritless Ones, with their limited vision and near-total lack of intelligence, wouldn't bother climbing over these obstructions. They'd simply shuffle along the perimeter and move on.
By mid-afternoon, Leon had completed his work. The neighborhood now had basic defenses in place. Satisfied with his efforts, he climbed to the 15th floor of his chosen building. The height offered excellent sunlight and was far enough from the ground to discourage any potential intruders. The apartment he chose was open and breezy, with a layout that suited him perfectly.
Leon spent the next few hours clearing out the useless, rotting furniture in the apartment, stacking it in a room across the hall. Then, he explored the building to scavenge for anything useful. After some time, he managed to gather enough intact furniture for a simple, functional living space.
He even stumbled upon a surprise: a vacuum-sealed bag containing bedding in a closet. It was clean and perfectly preserved. Grinning, Leon laid it out on the bed he'd cobbled together. A bed! After three days in the Arcane Realm, the idea of sleeping on an actual mattress felt almost luxurious.
Sitting back in his chair, he gnawed on a bar of compressed rations, his mind momentarily at ease. Life here wasn't glamorous, but for now, it was livable. The only downside was the lack of proper food. Still, in this realm, he couldn't afford to be picky.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, darkness swallowed the world again. Leon's focus shifted to his next goal. He opened his Grimoire of Arcane Spells, its aged pages glinting faintly under the moonlight. He was determined to learn the remaining two beginner-level spells in his repertoire.
The system's familiar prompt appeared in his mind:
"Would you like to spend Potential Points to accelerate learning?"
"Yes."
Hours passed as Leon poured over the intricate runes and incantations, committing every detail to memory. His efforts bore fruit as the first spell manifested in his mind.
"Grim Mist!"
A dense, gray fog materialized in the air before him, swirling briefly before settling onto the ground. It worked perfectly.
Next, he turned his attention to the second spell. After practicing its runes, he extended his hand:
"Tired Touch!"
This spell required a target to demonstrate its effects, but none were available. Reluctantly, Leon tested it on himself. A spectral tendril emerged, coiling around his arm before vanishing. Almost immediately, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, as if he had spent hours hauling heavy loads.
"Too effective," he muttered, hastily dispelling the magic. As the fatigue faded, he resolved to master the spell further to avoid such side effects.
With both zero-tier spells now learned, Leon felt a swell of accomplishment. He pulled up his status screen to review his progress:
Name: Leon Grant
Bloodline: Human
Skills: Breath of Darkness Meditation
Spells: Grim Mist, Tired Touch, White Fang of Bone
Potential Points: 5.5
He had spent four points to expedite his learning, cutting weeks of practice down to mere hours. The investment had paid off handsomely. Few could achieve this level of progress in such a short time.
His gaze lingered on the meditation technique, Breath of Darkness. If Potential Points could speed up spell learning, could they also enhance his meditation? His heartbeat quickened at the thought. Without hesitation, he activated the meditation method and sank into a deep, focused state.
"Would you like to spend Potential Points to accelerate meditation?"
The answer was obvious.
"Yes."
The world around him faded as Leon's consciousness delved into the depths of the arcane, guided by the Breath of Darkness. With his base secure and his progress accelerating, Leon's confidence soared. The challenges of the Arcane Realm awaited him, but he was ready to face them head-on.
The first step of his journey had just begun.