Lysil Romarc, much like Travis, had once been the cherished only son of his father and late mother. His life had been a dream many envied—a 9th-rank novice mage under the guidance of a renowned Archmage.
His father, Wright Romarc, was a man of great ambition, owning one of the seven largest alchemy stores in the city. Alchemy wasn't just a business for the Romarc family; it was their legacy, their pride. Wright's success afforded Lysil the best tutors, premium potions, and a life of privilege that set him on a path toward greatness.
It seemed nothing could go wrong.
Until disaster struck.
On the eve of Lysil's promotion to a full-fledged mage—a mere step away from donning the prestigious black gown and title—tragedy unraveled his life.
A storm of cataclysmic proportions swallowed Wright's fleet, drowning hundreds of crew members and consigning priceless goods to the ocean's depths. In an instant, Lysil's father was gone, and with him, the foundation of everything the Romarc family had built.
The loss was devastating.
Abandoned by supporters and overwhelmed by creditors, the once-thriving store crumbled. Workers' families demanded compensation for their losses, adding insult to injury. Debts piled up like a mountain, suffocating any hope of recovery.
Stripped of his resources and robbed of his future, Lysil was forced to abandon his magical studies and return to the ruins of his former life.
The story resonated deeply with Travis, who found himself in the midst of it all. As he pieced together Lysil's memories, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his pain, the burden of his despair.
'He lost everything,' Travis thought, staring at his blood-stained hands.
The reason behind Lysil's decision was now clear. Overwhelmed by debt, betrayed by circumstance, and left without any means to rebuild, Lysil had seen only one escape: death.
"That explains the blood," Travis murmured, his voice thick with unease.
He scanned his surroundings, letting Lysil's memories guide him. The room was familiar yet distant—a study steeped in shadow, its once-grand furnishings now marked by neglect.
"His father's study," Travis whispered.
Pulling himself off the cold, hard floor, he stumbled toward the study chair, every step weighed down by the enormity of his situation.
"So now I have to shoulder all this debt? What a wonderful situation to wake up to," Travis muttered, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
But as the reality of his predicament sank in, frustration bubbled to the surface.
"How am I supposed to pay all this back?" he growled, his voice trembling with anger.
His foot struck something on the floor, drawing his attention. Bending down, he picked up a golden locket, its intricate design glinting faintly in the dim light.
The object sparked a memory—a gift from Wright to Lysil before he began his magical training.
Travis turned the locket over in his hands, its delicate craftsmanship standing in stark contrast to his bloodied fingers.
Suddenly, a blinding white light exploded from the locket, forcing Travis to shield his eyes.
"Argh! What the hell?!" he shouted, staggering back.
Pain tore through his skull like a searing blade, making him clutch his head. The agony was overwhelming, as if his mind was being split apart.
Desperately, he tried to drop the locket, but it was already gone—vanished into thin air.
Frantically, he searched the room, but the locket was nowhere to be found.
'What's happening now?' he thought, gritting his teeth as the pain subsided.
Before he could catch his breath, a glowing blue screen appeared in his vision, blocking out everything else.
[System has been activated!]
[Initiating host bonding!]
[Compatibility: 100%]
[Synchronizing… 1%, 2%… 50%]
Travis squinted, trying to make sense of the strange notification.
"What is this? Some kind of joke?"
[Failed!]
[Failed!]
[Synchronization incomplete!]
[Host has unlocked the incomplete Legacy!]
"Incomplete? What does that even mean?" Travis muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
He had read about systems in books, but this felt... wrong. Everything about it was off.
The screen vanished briefly, only to reappear with a new message:
[First legacy will now be passed on!]
[The legacy of the God Mage!]
[Transcending the scale of average mage power, he held knowledge far beyond the rest!]
A rush of information flooded Travis's mind, but unlike Lysil's memories, this was different. It was clear, precise—a cascade of knowledge that seemed to pour directly into his consciousness without the agonizing pain.
[Host has acquired Orion's gift: Ailing Detection!]
[Gift description: Orion, revered as the God Mage, possessed the ability to diagnose any illness and determine its cure with a single glance!]
Travis's mind reeled as he processed the implications.
"A one-star alchemist?" he murmured, the realization sinking in. "I can actually make potions now?"
The thought barely had time to settle before another notification appeared.
[Mandatory Quest: Magical potentials are weak! Create the Mana Core Strengthening Potion and the Body Strengthening Potion.]
[Penalty: Death!]
[Time Range: 7 days!]
[Rewards: +100 EXP!]
Travis's stomach dropped.
"Penalty: Death?!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the empty study.
The system wasn't just a blessing; it was a ticking time bomb.
'Of course, it's not going to make this easy,' Travis thought bitterly.
Taking a deep breath, he focused on the screen again, his mind racing. The descriptions for the two potions appeared, along with detailed lists of ingredients.
'This might be my only way out,' he realized. 'If I can master alchemy and complete this quest, I might stand a chance.'
Travis clenched his fists, determination flaring in his eyes.
'But it's easier said than done. Wright's store has been cleared. There's no way I can gather the ingredients to create the potions! Not only that, how will I have time to make potions when all these debtors will be after my neck?'
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.
The system didn't offer him any help.
Instead, it increased his burden all the more!
"Isn't this meant to be the legacy of the God Mage? Why the hell am I getting alchemy-related abilities?" Travis thought, annoyed.
If anything, from Lysil's memories, he could tell how highly revered mages were!
What debtors? If he was a mage, they wouldn't even bother him with a loan. Many might even offer more money to gain his favor!
But that wasn't the case.