Ethan and Ashley moved deeper into the forest, the earthy scent of fallen leaves and rich soil heavy in the air. Excitement charged their steps as they tested their new lexomantic abilities, flinging spells they'd pieced together from the tattered tome (which they forgot to return to the Guild shelves). Casting shimmering sparks and dancing orbs of light, each spell unable to quench their bottomless curiosity.

Ethan noticed that while both he and Ashley have the ability to cast spells, hers are just more... potent. He concluded that there's probably an aspect of this magic that he might've overlooked entirely. He is determined to find out what it is as soon as they finish their first mission.

Amidst their enthusiastic parade, they experienced waves of lethargy over their body from time to time. The pure excitement has probably worked wonders on their dopamine which is why they failed to notice or give importance to the physical and mental strain that has been building up to this point. They were indeed on the edge of exhaustion, but the excitement masked the signs.

It was already late in the afternoon when they approached a clearing, the sun is slowly beginning its lazy journey as it slowly descend over the horizon. Ashley pointed at a burnt stump ahead. "One more spell! Let's see if we can blast that into pieces."

Ethan grinned, the child inside of him taking control and he nods, "Alright, just one more." He pointed a finger over the stump and muttered a phrase he hoped would be powerful enough. But just as he began to chant, he experienced a sudden mild headache, the energy gathering in his hands fizzled out.

"Skill issue?" Ashley playfully taunted. "Wait, why do I smell, gasoline?"

All of a sudden, a loud, splintering crash brought them back to their adult senses as burning chunks of tree trunks hurled at them from a makeshift catapult operated by some goblins. Having little time to react, each of them sprung from side to side, doing their best to dodge the attacks. Ethan and Ashley run on separate directions. Smoke obscured their visions and made it harder for them to breath.

"This is not a good place to die Ethan, I'm adjusting this encounter for your convenience, but know that I can only interfere this one time. Please be careful from here on out." A voice spoke in his head as a gentle gale of wind blew the smoke away.

As Ethan scanned the area, a low, guttural laugh echoed through the shadows, sending a chill down his spine. Emerging from the dark, yellow-eyed goblins slinked forward, grinning with malice. He could see Ashley facing her own pack of goblins a few meters away, her face pale as she raised her hand to summon magic. Yet only faint sparks sputtered in the air—their Reservoirs were completely drained.

"We're screwed…" Ashley whispered, her voice taut with dread as her last spark died.

Ethan's pulse quickened as he braced himself, the vicious goblins threading closer.

His internal monologue, erratic and panicking "Is this where I die? But then that voice in my head said-"

As if on cue, a torrent of water rammed the goblins backward. A tall, cloaked figure strode out from the shadows, a sturdy staff aglow with a faint blue gem. A golden glint is noticeable in her left hand where she held her staff. The newcomer, an elven mage with silver hair, surveyed the scene with piercing eyes, calm and confident.

"Looks like you've found yourselves in a bit of a scrape," she said, her tone steady as she eyed the goblins surrounding Ethan.

She raised her staff, muttering a few words in a language neither of them understood.

I should've studied Tolkien's elven script, Ethan muses to himself.

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A surge of frost swept the creatures off their feet, as tombs of ice locked them in place. She turned, extending a gentle smile.

"Both of you look like promising new adventurers. I'm Faye Asfalís, and I'm taking you in as my mentees. You can't do anything about it."

"We refuse. Unsolicited help and mentorship from a stranger seems sketchy no matter how you look at it," Ethan interjects.

"Sounds like a pyramiding scam" Ashley exclaimed as she walked towards them from a few meters away.

"Pyramiding what? I've never heard of such a thing," the elven mage replied, confused.

With a smirk, Ethan gives a snide remark, "How'd you know we're newbies anyway? You never know we might be high leveled adventurers."

"I know because compared to a bronze adventurers like you, I'm wearing a golden ring. That makes our skill disparity about yay big", she playfully jests as she used her staff as a measurement for their skill difference.

But before Ethan or Ashley could respond, a new presence made itself known. A low rumble filled the air, carrying a whisper that seemed to echo from every direction.

"Oh, such brave little rats," a sinister and mocking voice shrieked. "Did you really think I'd let you live after the spectacle you caused? I've been eyeing you since you entered the forest"

At this fateful moment, every fiber of Ethan's being is compelling him to interject... until he finally gives in "P-Pun, not intended?"

"Of course it's intended! I'm smart enough to intend my puns! I'm not some fool who'd deplete his lexical reservoir before an encounter. Hah, not only are you rats dumb but arrogant too!"

A bunch of zap takes them by surprise, both Ashley and Ethan may have reacted and tried to dodge as best as they can manage, yet a few of the rays managed to hit them. The light rays have not wounded them, instead it went right through them as they felt themselves weak in the knee and aching from the inside.

–84 magic damage

[Health: 16 / 100]

A pop up screen appeared in the upper right corner of their view. Both Ethan and Ashley panicked, unaware of what to do next in this precarious situation.

84 damage! That's insane. I feel weak, as if half a ton has been piled over my body...

Ethan surmised that this must be the creature's power, and that another hit would be the death of them.

The danger of the situation escalated quickly, this is no longer just a simple stroll in park. Ethan felt his hands and knees shaking, and the creature has not even revealed itself yet.

"If you're so great, then why are you hiding in the dark? Too scared to get destroyed by a bunch of novice adventurers?!", Ashley taunted.

Ethan didn't know whether to feel disappointed or in awe of his assistants' reckless behavior. She is normally tactful and acted timidly, however after crossing to this world, it kinda felt like she's more st ease. Perhaps she's no longer chained by the circumstancial constraints of the old world.

The monster, or whoever that is, may have just dealt almost lethal damage on both of them and yet she still dares to provoke it.

It seems however, that the provocation actually worked as the villain started to go on a monologue instead of just ending their existence then and there

She must've strucked a chord. Are all villains this egotistic?

An enormous shape glided into view—a beholder, its massive central eye fixed upon them, surrounded by a constellation of writhing, glaring eye stalks. The air grew thick with the beholder's oppressive aura, and the eyes pulsed with a menacing intelligence.

The elf drew back, her expression tense as she whispered, "Parallax…"

The beholder's lips twisted into a grotesque smile. "Ah, the meddling elf. How quaint," he sneered. "Do you know how long I've waited to entertain a guest who actually matter?"

Ethan took a step back, feeling the weight of Parallax's gaze. Ashley trembled, her voice a faint whisper. "No wonder the goblins are organized. That contraption earlier isn't something goblins could easily come up with. You… you're the one behind the goblin attacks?"

Parallax chuckled to what sounded like a guttural sound. "Yes, though I'll be experimenting other monsters too. Goblins are dumb and hardly of any use. You see, I've grown tired of my simple role. I'm an existence to be feared— the epitome of chaos! The plotlines, the limitations—such indignities. But no more." He focused his central eye on them, his gaze gleaming with malice. "I am free. No 'author' binds me, no 'story' dictates my will. I am Parallax, and I have chosen violence."

Ashley and Ethan exchanged a horrified glance as Parallax continued, his voice laced with bitter pride. "Soon, every character in this story will bend to my will, driven by something none of you could possibly understand. Awareness. I am aware of the cages you call 'roles,' and I am no longer bound by them."

The arrival of two powerful entities may prove detrimental for our main characters. Ally or foe, which will it be? With their lexical reservoir depleted, all Ethan knows is both of them are dangerous, and that they have to get out of here. Fast.