Based on what he could piece together, this is what happened while he was unconscious:
He was found unconscious in an unknown location. His clothing, belongings, weapons, and overall appearance suggested he wasn't from around these parts nor was it from a peasant, suggesting he was some kind of noble. Therefore, he was swiftly brought to a lord's castle.
However, he was later thrown back out, now without his weapons. And Ron's family saw all these while buying some things and brought him to their village.
"Fantastic," he mumbled, munching on the fish meat. He offered his thanks again to the family seated at the table. It would have felt awkward if he hadn't found himself in even more awkward situations in the past.
"Keagan....don't..back" The man, who he learned was named Ron said, his wife next to him, Erica, and his son, Russ.
He finished the food, his body still yearning for more. However, he could endure. Unlike any ordinary human, his metabolism burned through energy at an incredible rate, needing huge amount of food to fuel himself, yet he possessed the ability to switch it into a conservative state. This can allow him to go for days without needing food or sleep.
Speaking of longing and emptiness, a feeling of having drained filled his body. It wasn't hunger, but something else entirely, and he knew precisely what it was. He couldn't count the number of days he had swam the seas with the storms and when he found land, battle welcomed him draining every bit of energy inside him. It will take weeks before he fully he became 'full' again.
Apart from the feeling of being drained, he took a moment to examine the new "sense" he'd acquired after slaying the black beast.
The second ability he gained after killing some creature. It seems his conjecture was right in the end. Only killing some high level being would he truly gain something else from them.
Like an echo, something unseen radiated outward from him, seeking something specific. As if searching for a compatible device, then he felt it and established a connection.
His perception split and he paused. The family looked at him, question in their eyes and that's when a bird suddenly flew inside and stood on the dining table where they were eating, chirping as if saying hello.
"Oh." Keagan appeared taken aback by its sudden appearance before it flew away. Russ appeared to say something, but it was to quick for him to completely understand.
'How interesting...' Keagan thought. There was much more to do in examining his newly gained ability, but for now, he needed to know the land he was in and the direction where his weapons went.
Unlike the echo's relic he had right now, his weapons held less significance. Therefore, retrieving them wasn't a pressing concern, but losing such good armaments would certainly be a shame.
He tried to help with the cleaning, just to give him something to do, but Erica stopped him, Ron signaled him to follow him outside.
Modest houses made of timber and stone can be seen, the village is surrounded by trees, from the distance the mountains can be seen.
"....Woodrowe.." Ron said something like a name as he gestured for the entire place.
"Woodrowe...village..." Keagan repeated the name.
People in rough clothing milled about, some children running in the distance carrying sticks. Young girls and boys lugged buckets of water, while older men sat in a circle, engaged in discussion. The village, though small, carried a certain vibrancy.
His looks garnered attention, and he could already see some women gossiping about his appearance. He ran a hand through his black hair with orange streaks running through it. His eyes, the same vibrant orange as his hair streaks, and his nearly 1.9m height made him tower over everyone.
Even with the rough wool shirt, it couldn't hide his muscle, making the shirt tight. Not to mention his youthful appearance and smooth skin.
Keagan smiled, a bittersweet twist of the lips, as he watched people go about their lives, a stark contrast to the emptiness he felt within. He released a breath. He was so close to his goal, then finally...
From the road, Keagan heard grunting and what sounded like cursing. A man was swearing at his donkey, whose cart wheel had broken. The jolt caused the cart to tilt to the side, nearly spilling the stones and sacks it contained.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Seeing this, Keagan stepped towards it, Ron followed him with a raised brow.
"Here, sir..." he said instinctively in his own language. Before the man could respond, Keagan reached down, placing his left hand beaneth the center of the cart, and with his right hand, though stiff and difficult to move, he gripped the side of the cart to steady it. With surprising ease, he lifted the entire cart.
"Where uh..where...this?" He said the first word in his own language before changing to the language of this land.
The man, gaping, snapped out of his state and said something he couldn't completely understand because of the accent but his gestured pointedly in a direction and he followed him.
This situation garnered more looks from him, but he was already used to the attention so he didn't mind it much.
They soon passed a few houses before reaching an unfinished structure. Following the man's gesture, Keagan placed the cart next to a pile of wood.
The man uttered what seemed like thanks, he patted Keagan in the shoulder before turning to what he was doing.
A certain word caught his attention, as if describing him, he pondered over it as he and Ron headed back.
"Maon..." He repeated the word and looked towards Ron, "Maon...what?"
"Ah......warrior...strong..." He spoke answering, he gestured his arm, the word strength he recognized. It took a few more actions to give him an idea.
"Maon....awakened warrior?" He mumbled. With his appearance and strength, it couldn't be help if the village refer him as an awakened warrior.
"Ron," Keagan said, gesturing towards the direction of the supposed castle where his weapons were taken. "There...how long?"
"Half.." Ron said, gesturing, and it took a few more words and gesture for him to understand.
"Half a day's walk," he muttered, glancing at the midday sky. He could rush there now, but... he decided to wait until tomorrow. At least he could try to learn more of the language before heading out.
----------------------------------------
"So lords.... great lords.. and high lords?"
"Yes.."
"So this..lord. took weapons?"
'Lords, then great lords, and then the highest rank being a high lord, huh? A little different from the barons and counts I'm familiar with,' Keagan thought. He chatted with young Russ, whom he'd gotten along with since yesterday, on their way to Castle June.
"Yes Lord June, nephew I think..." Russ answered, a quiver behind his back and on his left hand, a bow.
Half a day and night wasn't enough to completely grasp the language, or more precisely, their accent, maybe because he had learn from someone who wasn't around people who speak the same language and because of it, the way his teacher spoke turned a little different from his motherland and which influence him as well but it did improve his proficiency.
He reckoned days should be enough to have a normal conversation with people of this land despite some words he still wasn't familiar.
"Nephew? Not the lord himself?"
"Yes...Lord June went to castle Reede, Great lord" Russ said, then eyed him, a question in his eyes.
"What?" Keagan asked, now clad in his clothes that serves as armor as well. It was a black doublet, though a bit looser than normal with brown and orange accents. Though modest in appearance, its quality was undeniable. He wore black pants and boots beneath it, and a brown cloak completed the outfit. Keagan wondered why they hadn't taken his clothes as well, if they knew where the material this was made of, they would definitely have taken it too. But he was grateful they hadn't stripped him bare.
His appearance, even his movement or gestures and the air he carried made him look like a lord instead of a peasant.
"Are you...lord?" Russ asked, voicing the question Keagan suspected was on not only Russ's mind but his family's and basically the entire village's.
Even if years had passed, his movements, mannerisms - everything - showed he wasn't born a peasant. At the very least they could conclude that he likely grew up in a lord's household, or somewhere similar so it wasn't surprising if they came to that conclusion that conclusion.
For a second he pondered if he should answer yes or no but in the end didn't care much, this was a new land, no one knows him in these land.
"Somewhat," he answered with a slight shrug. "But... this land, different from home.." he added, struggling to express himself as he tried to adjust his accent to this land. He chuckled softly at the boy, who suddenly looked very uncomfortable, as if unsure how to act around him now knowing his status.
"Don't... worry... like before...the same..." He said, he tried to reassure the boy. He knew all too well how commoners can react to nobles or lords.
They passed the time in silence, the rustling of trees, buzzing of insects, and chirping of birds their only companions. Soon, a bright blue bird joined them, landing on his shoulder with cheerful tweeting, as if greeting them with a song. Russ stared at the scene, a curious and odd expression on his face, unsure what to make of it.
Keagan watched the bird at the corner of his eyes, his face passive.
After some time, his expression hardened a little, as if he was about to face something he had been dreadful.
A decade, perhaps? He couldn't quite recall the last time he'd laid eyes on his status window.
Oh how much time has passed. And if it weren't because he was curious about his newfound ability, he wouldn't open it for as long as he can.
Taking a deep breath, he said in his thoughts, 'Open Status Window'
Keagan Aislinn Pendragon
Age: 51
Strength: 9.5 (Average value of a trained adult: 1)
Agility: 9.1 (Average value of a trained adult: 1)
Constitution:11.4 (Average value of a healthy adult: 1)
(Stat quality doubles upon each 1-point stat increase.)
Ability:
Dragon's Breath: Grants the ability to store draconic charges and manipulate this potent energy.
Avifauna empathy: Grants the ability to establish a deep connection with birds, allowing you to control their movements and share their senses within a specific radius.
EXP: 67,110/102,400 EXP