You have killed a Low Crusader Human, Level: ??? (Need Identification Lens for further information).
You have leveled up.
Your level has increased from Level 3 -> Level 4.
You are granted 9 Stat Points and 9 Skill Points.
Your remaining Stat Points: 9.
Your remaining Skill Points: 15.
Jack quietly checked his stats. In the avatar frame, one of his arms was gone. There were also red spots on his body indicating the injuries.
Jack once again contemplated how the system could benefit him. He couldn’t help thinking about the fact that it might be able to help him become the master of all factions, not just one at a time like when he had read about the Reset Clock mechanic. The rate at which he was leveling up was also strangely demanding. Taking out four higher-level bandits, especially the boss who was a Crusader, should have pushed his level way more than this. Jack needed more to prove this theory, but he was confident in his current analysis.
The father and son finally caught up to the mercenaries not far from the fateful turn that had begun all of this. Seeing the state of Jack’s body, they couldn’t help but stare, even more so when they realized Abraham no longer had his handcuffs on him.
After getting rid of them, Abraham told the men to keep what had happened today a secret. Still, he reckoned he had to do more than a speech to keep this from slipping out. With that done, everybody quickly made their way back to Oxdale. Abraham was stronger, and he didn’t want to waste any more time taking Jack back to the doctor, so he left the Herald behind.
At noon, just before the town’s entrance, Abraham suddenly stopped. Jack could feel the anxiousness growing in his father.
“What’s wrong, father?” Jack asked.
“Tks,” Abraham said, “Sophie’s gonna kill me!”
Jack chuckled, patting his father’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry. I won’t be any better than you!”
“And how does that suppose to make me feel better, kid?”
Abraham took Jack to the infirmary of the Medical Center, filled in the forms, and spent a hefty amount to get his son into the special treatment room.
The doctors and caretakers surrounded Jack and did some checkups on him. Strangely enough, the tools they were using were quite familiar to him. A doctor took out a rod and swept it on Jack’s body, reminding him of the X-ray scan. The nurses stuck some small rubber patches on him to measure his vital signals. Then, a board came out from under the bed and projected a hologram much like the one at the library, displaying his overall physiological information, as well as the injuries he had sustained.
After some discussion, a doctor asked Abraham.
“About his arm….”
“Just stop the bleeding and some basic treatment. I’ll think about the limb regeneration later.”
The doctor nodded and signaled the treatment procedure.
Abraham winked at Jack. Still, the fact that he would eventually have to inform his wife about this was just as stressful as the thing itself.
The needle pierced Jack’s skin, injecting a large amount of pain killer and healing agents. Now, being a Maester himself, Jack had a basic understanding of the mechanism of these substances. As for the last thing that went into his body, he sure wasn’t a fan of it. Jack was sick of having to pass out all the time.
It was late at night when he woke up. The glimmering moonlight shone through the gap between the curtains as the chill wind blew inside the room from the windows, clearing out the smell of medicine that had lingered on him after the surgery.
Sophie was sitting on a wooden chair next to Jack. Seeing her son open his eyes, she instantly stood up. Sophie had for herself a moment of confusion, not knowing if she should hug or even touch the boy. Finally, she decided to only stroke his hair and put her warm hand on his cheek.
“Oh, my poor little Jack!” She sobbed.
Jack tried to sit up. The operation must have been smooth, for the wounds had been treated and patched up cleanly to the point that Jack could move without too much pain.
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“Mom, I couldn't just keep telling you that I’m back, right?” Jack joked.
“Can you put away your sense of humor in this state?”
“This state of mine is exactly why we need some more smiles.”
Sophie cast a long relieved sigh. She was worried Jack would be in a sorrowful mood losing his arm like this. Just two hours ago, this adopted mother of him had burst through the room door to check on Jack, even giving the medical staff a hard time trying to calm her down. She then spent half an hour scolding her husband, though that was only to distract herself from all of her growing anxiety. Still, the Harper lady proved herself a capable and sober housekeeper, for she had refused any of the unnecessary offers from the doctors, among them the limbs regenerative medicine, partly because of the financial situation of the household.
“Where’s father?” Jack asked.
“He’s working on the victim’s funeral.”
“So they have been brought back?”
“Yes, just this afternoon,” Sophie said. “The whole thing has been sensational news for the town. Even principal Meinhard had to step in and use his influence to salvage the situation for us.
“Can I see the funeral?”
Seeing her son’s distant gaze out of the window, Sophie slightly nodded.
“If you can get off the bed yourself, perhaps I can help you walk there.
The funeral was held at the cemetery south of Oxdale. The area was built in a square shape, divided into three different sections for the different classes of the town. Half of the place was now crowded with people in black suits, yet, there were only six coffins on the ceremonial ground. The rest of the death had been taken to their respective hometown.
Everything had been set up when Jack and Sophie arrived. The fallen’s loved ones were reading their tributes. Abraham quickly took the two to the Harper household’s seats. The chef, Stefan, came to assist Jack, giving Sophie some time to comfort Robert’s wife and children. Jack couldn’t help bringing his eyes toward them. The carpenter’s son, who wore a modest blank suit, helplessly stared at one of the coffins. He held his tears, but the confused look on his face was just as troubling.
Jack retreated back into the crowd. He couldn’t bare himself to face the families of the victims, especially when none of this would have happened if he hadn’t been here in the first place. Still, he needed to be here to pay his respect, specifically to Robert. His gentle gaze and heartwarming smile were just as fresh as yesterday in his mind.
Abraham had ordered the coffins to be sealed, for he didn’t want the families to see the mutilated bodies. He had even saved a spot for Robert at the Harper’s designated burial ground.
After a series of stories to remember and honor the lost ones, the final farewell was cast in the form of Oxdale’s ancient lyrics. The song was about the Ethereal Realm, where the lingering souls gathered. There, they waited for their loved ones, and together, they would find their eternal peace.
Oh, you’re on the road to the destined end,
To claim the bestowed prize, my friends,
Oh, the old fathers of Ethereal Realm,
Please watch over our loved ones’ souls,
For that one day, we shall meet them,
When everything becomes whole,
In the Ethereal Realm,
In the Ethereal Realm.
Robert’s wife crumbled seeing her husband’s coffin lowered into the grave as the song reached its height. Her son held her in his arm, his eyes full of resolve, and dutifully continued the song as if his father was still watching him. From now on, he would have to prove he was worthy of his family name.
Meinhard used his power to fill the graves. Abraham walked up and put a flower on each of them. The purple petals emitted a glamorous light, making grass quickly grow around the buried bodies.
As the ceremony came to an end, people started scattering, leaving behind only the families of the fallen. Jack still couldn’t bring himself to say anything. He vowed in his heart to try and make up for their loss in the future with all of his capability.
The mourning atmosphere followed Abraham and Sophie as they went back and sat in Jack’s infirmary room.
“I will ask Meinhard to take you to Mocester tomorrow,” Abraham broke the silence. “Perhaps, with his influence, he could get you through the awakening ceremony.”
“I won’t be going,” Jack shook his head.
“Why?” His parents responded simultaneously.
“I have to take care of the thing that has happened because of me,” Jack said.
“You are only ten years old, and you should only do the thing that your age should do,” Sophie said with a burdened voice. She didn’t know what had happened but seeing how her husband was always agreeing with her son’s opinions only made her even more insecure.
“I can help us with the debt!” Jack said, looking toward Abraham.
“You…!” Sophie stood up.
“Sit down, please,” Abraham held her down. “Let’s just listen to what Jack has to say.”
Jack turned his eyes toward his bandaged severed arm and thought about his intentions.
“As you have already witnessed,” Jack said, avoiding Sophie’s eyes, “the things I could do doesn’t require me to attend any school. I can use my faction’s skill to earn some for myself. I’ll return to studying after our house has stabilized the situation.”
Abraham has been holding Sophie’s hand tight to stop her from interrupting their son’s words. Realistically speaking, he would need any and every assistance that came his way to brace for the upcoming storm.
“Alright,” Abraham nodded, “let’s do it your way. I don’t think we could change your mind anyway. But, remember, no risking your life, and don’t forget our agreement about your arm.”
“You two,” Sophie called out, “you really don’t take me seriously at all, huh?”
“Well, look on the bright side. I will have more time to stay with you, right?” Jack reached out, patting his mother’s hand.
“Oh dear, your sweet words won’t convince me to agree on any of this!”
The father and son stared at each other and chuckled. Sophie knew how hopeless she was to stop it.
Unbeknownst to them, disaster would hit the Harper earlier than expected.