Its name was bright red, with its level marked by question marks.
Hmm, just like in the games.
So my level must be extremely low.
What's my level anyway? Eman tilted his head, watching the monstrous creature in awe.
Amanda chuckled, eyes twinkling. The beast began to rise, but a commanding voice shouted, "Thunder Strike!" A bright spark crackled in the sky before streaking down to the monster.
The impact exploded, thick smoke clouding the area, and the air vibrated with residual electricity.
As the smoke cleared, Eman saw a figure triumphantly standing over the slain monster, pulling a sword from its lifeless body. The man exuded confidence, remnants of magic lingering. His eyes widened at the objects left behind.
It even dropped loot! he thought, barely containing his excitement.
"Clay!" a voice called from a distance.
Eman turned to see three more figures approaching the man who had defeated the monster.
His heart raced, recognizing the dynamics of an adventuring party: a girl with a pointed hat and long staff, another in a full white robe, and a man clad in brown with metal patches and a large shield.
Eman's excited shout reached Amanda. She looked down, smiling at his enthusiasm. The adventurers began collecting the loot, working efficiently. The farm workers, momentarily scattered, returned, thanking the adventurers before resuming their work as if nothing had happened.
Amanda stood, preparing to go inside. She noticed Eman's bruises from his earlier fall. "Oh no, you're hurt," she murmured, concern knitting her brows. She picked him up, pressing him gently against her chest. Her sweat-drenched dress clung to her skin, revealing more than before. Eman's gaze darted around, unsure where to look.
She placed her other hand over his bruised knees. "Heal," she whispered, her voice soothing.
Her hand glowed with a soft, warm light, spreading through Leo's small body. The bruises faded, replaced by the comforting warmth of her magic, as if her love itself was mending his wounds.
Amanda returned Eman to his crib, the wooden floor creaking softly.
She took a moment to fix her dress and brush her damp hair back. His frustration bubbled into plaintive cries. Please don't go there looking like that! only incoherent sounds emerged.
She turned at his cries, her expression softening. "I'm sorry, little one, but I need to continue work," she murmured, picking him up again. Eman felt her warm, damp skin and the scent of sweat mingling with the farm's earthy aroma.
Powerless to stop her revealing outfit, he cried louder, his small fists flailing. Amanda moved gracefully, swaying him and humming a soothing tune. Her voice calmed him, and despite his continued cries, fatigue overcame him.
Eventually, his cries subsided into soft whimpers, and his eyelids grew heavy. Amanda placed him back into his crib, tucking him in gently. Trapped in his fragile, growing body, Leo's frustration deepened each day. He hated feeling helpless, watching Amanda work so hard while he could do nothing—a cruel reminder of how much further he had to go.
As he drifted to sleep, Amanda's glowing smile lingered in his mind. He thought of his past life's savings, wishing to bring that wealth to this world to give Amanda the life she deserved.
The thoughts faded as sleep overtook him, leaving dreams of a brighter future where he could protect and provide for the woman who cared for him so deeply.
Years passed, marked by small but significant changes.
As seasons cycled relentlessly, Eman grew from a curious toddler stumbling over the fields into a strong, capable young man. He learned the farm's rhythm, the land's needs, and the weight of responsibility each sunrise brought. Under Amanda's watchful gaze, his once clumsy hands became skilled, and his childish dreams turned into determined resolve.
After sixteen his feelings for Amanda deepened.
He often marveled at his transformation. The helpless infant was now a man, hands calloused from farm work, mind sharpened by years of observation. Yet, the core of his being—a reincarnated soul with knowledge of another world—remained unchanged, a secret he kept close to his heart.
What began as gratitude for her care had grown into a bond stronger than blood. She was his mentor, his anchor, and the person he admired most.
One afternoon, as Eman and Amanda worked side by side in the fields, laughter drew their attention. A group of villagers approached, voices lively with shared stories. He straightened, wiping sweat from his brow, and offered a welcoming smile.
"Evening, Leo—Eman's name in this world!" called a burly man named Garret, who often handled the heavier tasks. "Looks like you're finally catching up to Amanda here!" He gestured towards her with a broad grin.
Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm trying, but she's still got years on me."
A young girl with a messy braid stepped forward shyly, holding a small basket of freshly picked berries. "These are for you, Miss Amanda," she said softly. "Mama says they're the sweetest of the season."
Amanda knelt, accepting the basket with a warm smile. "Thank you, dear. They look wonderful." She glanced at Leo, eyes softening. "We'll have to share these after dinner."
He watched the girl's face light up with pride, feeling warmth in his chest.
These fleeting moments reminded Leo of how far he'd come. In his past life, connection felt distant, but here, surrounded by warmth and laughter, he finally felt he belonged. He was no longer an outsider; he had found a place among these people, as they had found a place in his heart.
As the farmers departed, waving goodbye, he returned to his work, feeling responsibility settle comfortably on his shoulders. Leo glanced at Amanda, noticing a flicker of sadness in her eyes as she watched them leave.
Her eyes told a story of a past she could never fully bury, a grief hidden beneath her quiet strength. She had become a caretaker and protector, but the weight of lost promises lingered in her smile, always threatening to surface.
Through their time together, Eman learned more about Amanda's past. She had once been an adventurer, the support member of her party. Years ago, a quest went horribly wrong. A routine goblin extermination escalated into a nightmare. They expected slightly advanced monsters, but upon reaching the site, they discovered a Goblin Dominion.
A dominion forms when enough monsters gather, creating an ecosystem that triggers their evolution. Outnumbered and exhausted, they fought fiercely, each blow bringing them closer to safety—or so they thought. Then, the ground trembled, and from the shadows emerged the Dominion Lord, its presence suffocating. Amanda's heart sank. There would be no escape.
Dominion Lords emerge after significant periods, drastically increasing their dominion's power and territory. Trapped with no way out, Amanda and her party fought valiantly.
Claire and Samuel, Eman's parents, were also in the party.
Claire was a skilled wizard, and Samuel, a strong vanguard. Alongside them was Neto, a brave swordsman. They held off hordes of evolved goblins but were eventually overwhelmed by exhaustion and numbers. In desperation, Claire and Samuel urged Amanda to use her race skill, "Recall," an elven race ability allowing teleportation to a designated waypoint once a day.
Amanda refused, knowing "Recall" could only teleport her. But Claire, embracing her tightly, pleaded, "Please take care of our child, Amanda. Leo should not grow up alone."
Tears streamed down Amanda's face as Claire implored her. Samuel placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, nodding solemnly.
Her heart twisted in agony as Claire's words echoed.
She had no choice.
Her hands trembled as she whispered the incantation, magic bubbling within her as a cruel reminder of her impending escape. She wanted to stay, to fight alongside them, but as her friends smiled through exhaustion, she knew they had accepted their fate.
The acrid smell of blood and magic filled the air, mingling with war cries. Amanda's skin tingled with the building energy of her Recall spell, contrasting her bone-deep exhaustion.
"Recall," she whispered, her voice hushed amidst chaos. Her gaze locked on her friends as Samuel continued to block goblins. Neto defended Claire as she began casting a powerful spell.
"Cataclysmic Circle!" Claire's voice rang out, and a massive magic circle glowed beneath them with intense energy.
As the circle engulfed her, Amanda's heart pounded. She watched in horror as Samuel and Claire stood their ground, faces determined yet accepting. The explosion roared as she disappeared, their figures swallowed by flames. Their smiles were the last thing she saw before the world dissolved into silence.
Back to the present, memories clung to her, sharp and painful as years ago. The ache never left—it dulled with time, like a throbbing scar in quiet moments, a constant reminder of lost love. Her eyes, usually warm and lively, flickered with shadows of loss—an ache she could never escape.
Leo had learned to recognize the signs—Amanda's smile faltering at the edges, her eyes glazing over as she stared into the distance, lost in thoughts he could only guess at. In these quiet moments, her pain surfaced, etched in her face and stiff posture. He would sit silently by her side, offering comfort, hoping his presence eased the silent ache that swelled with the setting sun.
Sometimes, Amanda looked at him with a mix of joy and sorrow, as if seeing both him and his parents' ghosts. In those moments, Leo felt the weight of his legacy—a son to parents he never knew, and a lifeline to the woman who had given up everything for him.
Their bond grew stronger each day, forged in shared hardship and unwavering love.