"Damn..."
I slowly opened my eyes, the sensation of a burning headache making my head feel as if it were being struck by violent, recurring electric shocks. I pressed my hands to my temples, hoping the pressure would bring some relief. A slight wave of comfort followed.
"Where am I..." I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.
I surveyed my surroundings— a small, sparse room. The only notable features were a wooden chair with no backrest and a raised table cluttered with strange tools that resembled medical instruments, yet they looked handmade. Then, like a sudden epiphany, the answer clicked in my mind...
The Healing Center...
I was lying on a simple bed, my feet wrapped in thin cork-like material. It reminded me of why I was here, but then, a thought struck me...
Did I survive?
I recalled the last moments before I lost consciousness, after I ended Terry Carter's life. Two monstrous wolves had attacked me, and I fought with the little strength and will I had left. I remembered activating the 'Dance Above the Ring' ability just before succumbing to exhaustion... The effects were clear now, especially after using it twice in a row. But it saved me. That's what mattered.
But there's a missing piece... an unexplained part.
There had been eight guards and three dire wolves at the start. I had confronted the largest wolf, leaving two for the others. But then, another wolf attacked me, and in the chaos, we lost one wolf and six guards... they vanished without a trace.
I pondered it, uncertainty creeping in.
Could they have escaped? The thought crossed my mind, but something didn't sit right. Also...
Valvaro's power!
A new realization sparked in me. I couldn't say whether the issue lay with me or Valvaro's body, but I was sure that power wasn't his... not even a fragment of it!
Perhaps I couldn't fully unlock it yet, due to my limited understanding of magic, but I should be able to feel it, right? I'd considered this before. My instincts told me the system had something to do with it, and I tested Valvaro's power in the real world now. A force like that would be noticeable— and enough to wipe out entire armies!
I sank into my thoughts, a flash of understanding lighting up my mind.
That's it!
I recalled the system windows that appeared right after I ended Carter's life. Quickly, I reviewed them again.
'Reincarnation Points.'
[Current Reincarnation Points: 25
Congratulations on your first points!
A nice start, but trust me, it's nothing... Save some points for future use!]
"Damn system!" I muttered through gritted teeth.
I didn't know what emotions to feel. The fact that killing Valvaro's closest friend had earned me these points left a bitter taste in my mouth. How had I even done it?
The memory of slashing his throat made my hands tremble, and a wave of nausea hit me. I pressed my hand to my mouth, afraid it might happen again.
I opened the main system window to review a new feature. It mentioned something about personality or compatibility, and I needed confirmation... It was the seventh option.
'Character Window.'
[Welcome to the Character Window!
Level: 1
Here you can view all details about your incarnation. Many details await you... but don't get too excited, this is just Level 1.
Compatibility Rate: 50% Moderate
As the name suggests, this rate shows your compatibility with the host's body. It is influenced by their emotions, instincts, and lifestyle. However, beware— reaching 100% compatibility could cause your personality to disappear!
You can reduce the compatibility rate by 5% for 50 Reincarnation Points.
Host Rank: D0
The host rank is a measure of their strength, including power, speed, magical capacity, endurance, and more.
Rank Cap: SS6
The rank cap is the maximum achievable level with this body, excluding all attributes.
Upgrade the Character Window to unlock further information!]
"What? D0?!" I shouted, frustration bubbling up.
The first thing my eyes landed on made my headache spike, and I pressed my head tightly, trying to quell the pain.
I had just unlocked another of Valvaro's memories, and it was particularly striking.
While the power ranking system didn't exactly follow the English alphabet, it was similar, with letters and numbers. E represented ordinary humans, while SSS marked the peak of sorcerers. Within each rank, numbers indicated the progression, from 0—representing beginners, to 6, representing the limit before a promotion.
E0 was the starting point, for those with magic but no skill. SSS had no number, just the rank itself, a miracle to achieve.
But wait!
D0? That was just above E! Those in D0 couldn't even join scouting teams outside the empire, let alone be regarded as war heroes!
Valvaro's rank cap, on the other hand, was SS6. That made sense now. His memories from the war spoke volumes. Clearly, something had happened to his power over time.
A memory flashed— Valvaro, slicing a massive winged beast in half with one strike, the attack continuing to obliterate an entire mountain. The recollection sent a shiver down my spine.
Can a sorcerer even drop ranks? That question lingered in my mind.
I had to ask the system, now that I had points. But before I did, I glanced back at the compatibility rate.
"50% Moderate."
I understood exactly what that meant. Valvaro's personality might take over me, and that's precisely what had been happening. The brutal attack on the wolf after its death, the killing of Terry... none of that had been me.
"Whoo..." I exhaled slowly, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The fear was consuming me now— the fear of losing myself.
I closed the character window and opened the information room, my mind still restless with questions that needed answers. Without hesitation, I asked:
'What happened to Valvaro's power? Where did it disappear to?'
[Pay for the answer: 5 Reincarnation Points]
Five points wasn't much for an answer that could clear up everything... I confirmed the purchase, and the response came:
[Valvaro's power is sealed with a powerful magic... very powerful!
Current Reincarnation Points: 20]
'So that's it!'
The mystery was solved with a single answer. Valvaro hadn't lost his power; it was sealed. That explained everything, really. But...
'Very powerful...'
That phrase made my blood run cold.
I couldn't stop myself from asking again:
'What or who sealed Valvaro's power?'
[Sorry, but your system level is insufficient to answer this question... Please upgrade your system level.]
"Dammit!" I clenched my jaw in frustration.
It didn't even give me a number, which could only mean one thing... Whoever sealed Valvaro's power was an unimaginably terrifying presence. No wonder the system had been so cautious about it.
A cold shiver ran through me, and my skin prickled with unease.
Knock knock.
"Come in!"
I quickly closed the system window just before the door opened, and a young man stepped inside—Sailor. I immediately recognized him.
In his white, embroidered robe, resembling a religious cloak, there was no mistaking it. It could only be Sailor.
"Hello, Valvaro..."
Sailor stepped forward and took a seat beside me, his face softened by a reassuring smile.
"Your family has been worried about you... Thank God you're okay."
"What happened? How did I survive?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity. Sailor explained calmly.
"The guards sent out a distress call. Luckily, the second division was ready to provide support... All thanks to a man from the guard named Manly." Sailor paused before adding, "They arrived just in time. They found you unconscious over a body..."
"The body of Terry Carter," Sailor said, his voice faltering. The sorrow was clear in his eyes.
"Terry..." I whispered, the name sinking deep into my chest. A wave of grief hit me unexpectedly, strumming the strings of sorrow within me. I never knew losing someone could hurt this much.
"Anyway, Valvaro..." Sailor continued. "Your injury was healed thanks to Doctor Merry and her miraculous healing magic. But there's another injury... a more dangerous one."
"The contaminated aura..." I muttered, my mind immediately going to the source of my pain.
"Exactly. But the problem is, our purification magic now only works as a delay against that energy. The Spirit Thorn Sect can't cure you."
'Seriously?!'
"So what do we do?" I asked, a surge of anxiety rising in me.
"Well... there is a way to heal you, but it's..." Sailor hesitated, rubbing the back of his head nervously.
"But what?!" I demanded, my curiosity overwhelming me.
Sailor's expression grew more uneasy. "It's... curse magic."
'Is that all? Why the hesitation?'
I thought about it for a moment. Curse mages and purification mages were mortal enemies, constantly at odds with each other. For Sailor, admitting defeat by resorting to a curse mage was likely a blow to his pride. But honestly, who cared?
"I want the cure..." I replied decisively.
'I don't care about your petty competition!'
Curse magic might not typically be used for healing, but there were exceptions—curses designed to cleanse stubborn, contaminated energies in cases like mine. Though not ideal, it was my only option.
Sailor seemed to weigh the decision for a moment before nodding. "Alright then. Are you willing to hire a curse mage?"
"Yes," I answered without hesitation.
'Sorry, Sailor. I know I've crushed your pride, but that's the way it is. As they say, reach your goal—even if it means stepping on the skulls of your friends!'
'Wait, where did I hear that saying...?'
Sailor stood up, nodding to me. "You can leave the healing center now. You're in good health... but I advise you not to delay the energy healing session. It'd be best if you go before the end of the day."
"Alright."
Sailor took a few steps toward the door, then paused, turning back to me. "Mrs. Tara's house is at the end of Curtain Street. She's the only curse mage in Pieck, and she's really good at it. Tell her you came from me."
I nodded at Sailor before he left, and I was alone once more.
...
About an hour had passed since Sailor's departure. I had taken some time to rest, and now it was time to move. A nurse had come in a few minutes ago and removed my bandages. My foot felt as if it had never been bitten—actually, it felt lighter than before... Magic truly was extraordinary when it came to medicine!
After thanking the staff, especially Doctor Merry, I set off toward Curtain Street, following the directions Sailor had given me. I recalled the memory of the maps that had been left in Valvaro's mind, and within twenty minutes, I reached the location.
I looked around at the houses, remembering Sailor's words:
'At the end of Curtain Street.'
There was only one house at the very end that matched the description.
I knocked lightly on the door, and within seconds, it swung open to reveal a young girl—no older than ten, probably. I recognized her immediately.