Landing on the nearby road Larian walked to the walls of the city. The wall covered around the mountain and on the mountain buildings rose high up like massive watchtowers that overlooked the wide expanse of the valley.

This was only one of the cities in the valley and it already gave an impressive look.

Along the way he saw many carriages outside a city wall, they looked like merchants queuing for access to the city.

Many of the humans glanced at him with a scared expression as they didn't say a word as Larian walked past them.

A Gyth Guard who wore a bulky plate armour stopped him.

"Halt what is your business in Orsen Mountain, Human!"

A Gyth, their body was quite tall like humans but their skin ranged from dark green to yellow. Larian would have associated the Gyths as orcs if it wasn't for the lack of tusks and the bulky muscles commonly associated with them.

'This place is called Orsen Mountain huh. I wonder if I can find the man I'm looking for on this mountain.'

Gyths culture was similar to how Dwarfs would live, in a mountain and generally skilled in mining and metalworking. But because of their advanced technology they looked down on Humanity.

"I'm here to find a prosthetic arm that can replace my missing arm."

Larian waved his stump from his left hand. The Gyth guard was about to mock Larian for carrying a sword with his missing arm and funny get- up when he noticed the weird texture of Larian's skin and held his tongue.

"Who are you, are you a human? What's hidden under your bandages?"

Sighing in an annoyed tone, Larian unwrapped a portion of his bandages.

"My skin is recovering from burns, this is the effect of a potion I drank. I'm from Trier."

Obviously dubious from the abnormality, the guard decided to detain Larian.

Larian's anger surged, a dark red energy seeped out into his eyes giving him a ferocious look. The guard swallowed his words that were about to come up.

"If you make things difficult, you will regret it."

He felt his entire body go numb in front of Larian, he swallowed his saliva and contemplated for a moment.

"You may pass. Open the gates!"

Getting what he wanted. Larian contained his anger and continued into the city.

From behind him the guard whispered to the others.

"Inform the commander that a dangerous man has entered the city walls. He claims to be from Trier."

Larian could hear the man but paid it no heed as he examined the city within this mountain. This was not his home but the buildings felt familiar.

'The streets, the buildings and the lamps along the road… Why does it look like buildings in the modern era?'

It was the mason work that slowly rose in height the deeper one enters this city in a mountain.

This was in stark contrast to the wooden carriages driven by horses on the road. It was obvious these only belonged to human visitors.

Larian walked the road admiring the buildings and structure of the city within the mountain. From the mountain top there was a hole similar to one which a volcano would show. It allowed sunlight to shine into the city during daytime.

'Is this city built from a mountain or did the Gyths build this entire mountain? Their construction looks so advanced it might even surpass what I have seen in my previous world.'

Coming close to the lamps Larian looked at the design.

'This looks like electricity. Are the Gyths so advanced they reached the industrial era while the rest of the world is stuck on mediaeval standards?'

Contemplating, Larian thought back to his goal.

'No the world is more complicated than that, maybe Magic is more advanced in other continents that make their strength even. But if standards are so high here, the difficulty of my goal might be worse than I thought.'

As someone who broke his Trait and inherited dragon powers, Larian's power might not be as rare as he thought. There might be certain technologies that might overpower him and he knows he can't take any chances.

'Information is what I lack, not power. In this world… no. In both worlds I lived in, I've been shown that ignorance is a weakness. I swore to repay the world and I will make it happen.'

Larian now had new goals besides prosthetics. He had to arm himself besides his sword and equip himself with as much technologies he could find to bring himself to the edge of his potential.

Surprisingly when Larian asked around, there was a well known shop that specialises in prosthetics.

'Maybe I won't have to find the Gyth with my trait to get the job done. But I was banking on helping the man to break his Ability suppression to leverage a prosthetic arm.'

Larian had arrived at the storefront. There were windows where dummies were adorned with different prosthetics in different poses of different sizes and figures.

"Hello how may I he-"

When Larian entered the store he saw a Gyth Lady holding a bulky stone like tablet that had its surface constantly changing like a phone's screen. She wore a white blouse with high leather pants that went up to her stomach. Her hair was tied up to a bun and a round glasses rested on the bridge of her nose.

Her figure was slim but tall, she was not what Larian had in mind when he thought of a prosthetics manufacturer.

The store clerk paused at the sight of Larian, but she held her cool and slowly looked up Larians features. She analysed and finally found what she was looking for, the loose sleeves of Larian's left arm.

"Are you looking for a customised left arm or a pre-made one?"

Larian was secretly impressed that this lady had not judged him based on his appearances and understood his predicament instantly, this clerk had amazing insight.

"No, I'm not here to get a prosthetic just yet. I'm hoping to find a man who is known to possess the Ability Suppression trait. Do you know where I could find him?"

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

The woman's expression immediately turned to panic. She looked around the store to check if anyone else had heard Larians comment before sighing in relief.

"Look. I don't know why you are here but please keep the mention of this Trait to a minimum here. If my father hears you speaking about he would kill you. I mean it. Do you know what he was known for?"

"30 years ago when he succeeded in his production of limbs to overcome his trait, he went to different cities in Orkan Valley to pay back every person that had mocked his disability."

"My dad is known as a petty person, but before that he is a stubborn man that would not let a grudge against him go unpunished. Any person that comes to this store to talk about his disability would never have a happy outcome."

Larian took this as a warning but he understood that the clerk had misunderstood him. Looking at the tag on her blouse that read "Kaitlyn"

"Erm Kaitlyn, I didn't mean to bring up this sensitive topic if your father hates it. But I came because I am also a bearer of this trait and I hope to meet and talk to him."

Kaitlyn's eyes widened in surprise. Her mouth was agape as she for a while as she reeled in her shock. She brought her hands to her chin and mumbled under her breath as she analysed Larian again. However she seem to speak her thoughts out.

"I can't believe it, another Awakened with Ability suppression? Judging from the limbs and the bandages did this man cut his limbs like Pa or drank some weird potion to break free from the trait? As I thought no one with this Trait is sane I can't let him meet with Pa or else…"

Amidst her mumbling, an aged figure walked out the back door of the storefront. This man had messy grey hair that reached down to his neck and down his beard.

He looked ruffled and aged in contrast to his arms that looked smooth like a youngster. His skin was dark brown with some wrinkles that gave him a grumpy look and he wore a single piece dusty red robe that reached his knees.

His clothes and skin seem to be covered with a layer of wooden dust and shavings.

"I heard the noise from all the way back. Kait! Stop your mumbling in front of guests, how many times have I told you, you'd only get into trouble if you mouth off like that."

This Old man sized up Larian quite similarly to Kaitlyn but halfway through he seemed too unbothered to care.

"Lad, come back here. Let's talk."

Remembering Kait mentioning of this Man's pettiness Larian decided to be polite.

"Yes sir."

"Everyone calls me Old Peal. Skip the sirs and all that, I had that formal stuff."

'

The backroom looked like a workshop with multiple wooden prosthetics hanging about with sculpting tools of different shapes and sizes that laid about.

Larian followed the man until they came into a room with wooden flooring and a low round table in the middle. Some candles that emitted fragrance were placed around to light up the room.

"Kait! Get us some tea will ya? As for you lad, find yourself a seat and get comfortable."

Larian nodded. And decided to patiently wait for the Peal to settle down and speak.

Soon Kait brought in cool tea with ice in each cup. The cup looked to be ceramic and a sliced lemon was pinched in the corner of the cup. She placed down a plate that had multiple pieces of croissant.

The croissants were circular and tiny while baked till golden brown. It shone with thick layers of butter which smell overpowered the lemon from the tea and the fragrance of the candles.

This made the environment warm and tranquil.

'Iced Lemon Tea? Quite different from how Master enjoys her tea. And the room is warm with atmosphere. Despite his commanding attitude I can feel that this man deeply cares for his daughter. He always remained earshot from her to prevent her from getting into accidents in the shop.'

Sipping the tea Larian felt the cool sour flavour sip down the back of his tongue and into his throat. This was a very enjoyable delight when he had been drinking simple boiled water for the past week.

"Now tell me who you are and why you're here Lad. You mentioned the trait right? Life must be hard for you to cut off your limbs like that. Even your skin condition looks pretty serious. "

"But I understand your struggle, I'll get you some discount on the spare pieces to help out. We aren't a charity here so appreciate my kindness because I relate-"

'He's going on and on, does this chatty behaviour run in the family?'

"Ahem."

It seemed like Old Peal could keep going on about his assumptions so Larian decided to stop being polite and interject.

"I'm Larian, A human swordsman that came from the city of Trier. I had my entire body burned and my left arm cut before I made my trip here."

Larian decided to use his real name from Earth instead of his Character's name because he wanted to let go of his ties to the academy.

Old Peal cocked up his eyebrows as he took a sip of his tea and sighed.

"A swordsman with the Ability Suppression huh? Haish, life sure is tough for this one. Alright I'll help you out and get you some prosthetics."

'Old Peal speaks as if many people before had come here seeking help. I mean he is right that I came wanting a prosthetic, but if it's free I might just take the help he's offering.'

In the short moment Larian that Larian wasn't paying attention, Old Peal seems to have spoken until he mentioned his past where he aspired to be a Warrior and how disappointed he was when he found his Trait.

'It's rare that someone speaks this much to me . And even offering help without expecting something in return.'

Unknowingly Larian related with Old Peal's struggles. Larian decided to sit and listen to the Old Man's story patiently. Larian shared a part of his struggles with the Old Man as he rattled on.

Old Peal talked about his disappointment of not being able to realise his dream as a warrior so he undertook a menial job as a sculptor under a kind mentor.

But being looked down constantly made a dent in his pride. Old Peal knew his determination and so he constantly got into fights.

One time when he got beaten especially hard, he met a local blacksmith's daughter who was his eventual future wife who showed care to him. Under his bleak prospects, Old Peal's father in law had wanted to marry his daughter off to a famed warrior of the time.

Unable to accept such an outcome, Old Peal at the age of 24 spent a whole year designing a prosthetic which would overcome his disability. With his own hands he sawed off his limbs and attached the prosthetics.

With newfound strength and trust in his design, Old Peal tracked everyone who looked down on him and directly beaten up the people that had mocked him in a festival.

'A festival? Its weird time to be exacting revenge.'

This gained him fame and approval enough to wed the blacksmith's daughter. Now Old Peal spends the rest of his time manufacturing prosthetics for people which gained him immense respect among the community.

'It is no wonder I heard of Old Peal even in a different continent. His life is like a story book. Full of adventure and triumph.'

By the time Old Peal had stopped speaking was when he reached out for another croissant to find the plate empty. The Sky had already darkened and the city in the mountain had indoor lights that lit the city up before curfew.

"Damn! Is it already finished? Kait! Get me another bowl of bread."

Kait had changed out of her work clothes and Larian could see the shop had closed.

"Pa! Look at all the crumps on your shirt! How many have you eaten? You know how unhealthy these bread are for your health. They were for the guests!"

"Oh stop it! You know how rare it is to find a kindred spirit, I've spoken until I lost track of the time. And speaking makes me hungry. Oh Kait Pretty please..?"

Kait's annoyed expression changed as if she expected Old Peal's words. She understood that if Old Peal wanted something he would be unrelenting, even if it was for bread.

"Argg, fine. I'll prepare something. Just stay put."

"Thank you dear. Love you!"

Kait, who was about to leave shivered. If she had smiled at such a line in the past, now she could only cringe in embarrassment when she was treated like a child.

"Ok I get it! Just stop it Pa! You're embarrassing me!"

Larian watched all this unfold and inwardly his heart ached.

'This reminds me of my time with Master Shiro… If she was still alive we would've joked and enjoed our time together just like this...'

Larian seem to regain his temperament. He finally spoke about what he came here to do.

"Sir Peal, I have something important to tell you."

Old Peal's eyebrows cocked up in an annoyed expression because Larian was being so formal, but he sensed the weight behind Larian's words so he held back and allowed Larian to continue.

"There was a time where someone very important… No, the most important person in my life died in front of me. I had to drag her corpse while my body was covered in burns to bury her in her home."

Larian's expression was solemn.

"It was because of this time that I managed to overcome and break my Ability Suppression."

"..."

There was silence in the air. For a while. Eventually Kait entered with a bowl of fruits but the atmosphere was weird so she didn't make a sound.

Almost in sync, Old Peal's expression burst out.

"WHAT! Ability Suppression can be broken!? Wait, ahem, you mentioned a loved one died. My condolences. But still! How can that be possible!?"

Old Peal reached out and grabbed Larian's arm. He tried to connect and sense the trait from Larian.

This was how he confirmed and filtered out scammers that pretended to have the trait to gain his sympathy.

With their spirituality connected, Larain saw a younger version of Peal tied down on all limbs like a prisoner.

This was how Old Peal visualised his Ability Suppression.

From Old Peal's perspective, he saw an older and worn out Larian from his past life being tied to a wheelchair with chains. The chains had signs of cracks and dents on them that seem to prove that they have been broken once before.

With a strong pull, this form of Larian stood up and tore the chains into pieces, eventually standing tall and strong like the current Larian.

"It's… It's true. Breaking the bonds has always been possible…"

From within Larian a dark red energy lashed out towards the intruder. This alarmed Larian and Old Neal and they severed the connection.

"W-what was that?"

Larian held his tongue as he didn't understand the abnormality either. Coming to his own conclusion Larian decided he didn't trust Old Neil enough to share the origin of his power.

"It's nothing. What's important is that I have proven it's possible. I came here expecting to help break your trait in return for getting a prosthetic done. But since you were too kind I had to return the favour."

Larian saw Old Neils difficult expression and was confused.

"I won't force this on you, but I hope I can help you break the bonds that has held you back your whole life."

Old Neil took a while to relax. Finally his expression was tranquil.

"Thank you Larian, but I'll decline. I'll still help you since I had offered it before. But what I mean is that I am too old. I've already found my life's calling and have a loving family and beautiful daughter."

He gave Kait a meaningful look.

"There are many things here more important now than breaking the shackles. I might be petty and chase out the rude guests that dares speak of my Trait but in truth I am already satisfied with my current life and have long forgotten about it."

Now Old Peal looked at Larian differently, as bearers of the Trait. The form in which one is binded tells alot of how one had lived his life.

From Larian he saw the shadow of a corpse that Larian would never let go even if he had to oppose the world. He saw a burning flame within Larian that would burn forever until he had accomplished what was needed.

Old Peal knew Larian was in a very difficult time of his life. But most importantly he saw how alone Larian was.

He understood that Larian was shouldering a great burden alone and Old Neal's heart tensed.

'This lad is all alone in this world. He might've gained strength but the world is unkind to those isolated.'

Old Peal's expression grew serious, such a rare face even Kait was surprised.

"Kait, prepare a room for Larian. Lad, stay here for a few days. I'll get you something for the road."

It was late in the evening but Old Peal was burning in inspiration as he entered his workshop. He grabbed a piece of paper and began sketching a blueprint.

Kait slightly bewildered ate the apples she prepared as she stared at his father at work.

"You really got Pa worked up huh? I've never seen him so serious ever since I was a kid. The last time he worked like this was when Ma had passed. He broke the door of the workshop to sculpt her into the biggest piece he could find. I stayed and watched him work all night…"

Kat, not missing a single moment, grabbed a seat in the workshop and sat afar and watched her father at work. Old Peal was so focussed in his work that nothing distracted him.

Kait stared silently as Larian pulled up a seat next to her and joined her to watch Old Peal at work.

"You know. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I heard what you said in the resting room. Your most important person. What was she like?"

Larian took his time to form an answer.

"She was…Kind and caring to those around her. Even when the world didn't return what she gave to others, she never blamed them. She saw a part of herself in me and decided to help me."

"This quality of hers put her in a dangerous position one day where for the sake of saving me she sacrificed herself. I died to protect her and she died to protect me"

"In the end of it all only I survived. That is my eternal regret that I will never let go."

Kait placed a hand on Larian's shoulders.

"If you ever find yourself down, please find us. I'm sure besides the prosthetic, Pa would be willing to help you in any way we could."

Larian didn't turn to Kat as if he was lost in thought.

"It's ok. I have to do this alone."