I leaned back in my chair, letting out a slow breath as I pulled up my status screen.
“Marsil”
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"Power - 5.2”
“Physique (Endurance) – 4.3
"Agility - 4.1”
"Spirit 12.1”
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“Abilities”
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Memphis Sword Art, Level 5
Archery, Level 3
Iron Body, Level 1
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Spells
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Energy Bolt
Energy Cloak
Energy Dart
Energy Shield
Shadow Veil
Hollow, Level 1
Spirit Attack, Level 3
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Soul Power Points: 0
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My stats were progressing steadily.
“Good shape, but far from where I need to be.”
Reaching a higher level wasn’t just about raw power or flashy spells; it was about mastery.
Control. The ability to wield magic like an extension of myself.
Shaking off my thoughts, I turned my attention back to the plate of food sitting on the table.
It looked innocent enough—roasted meat, crisp vegetables, and fresh bread—but Sacril’s earlier reaction and the detection spell I’d cast had revealed otherwise.
“I think I should focus on more the poison in the food.”
I leaned closer, extending my senses, this time focusing with more intent.
“Let’s see what you really are.”
I murmured, channeling my magical energy; this time I did not use a detection spell but purely my own magic energy.
I tried to use my magic energy to tell me the truth, just like a master mage would.
“This isn’t just regular poison.”
The traces of magic woven into the food were subtle but unmistakable.
Whoever had tampered with my meal had gone beyond mere toxins—they had infused the poison with magic.
A magic poison.
I clenched my fists, a chill creeping up my spine.
“Magical poisons weren’t just lethal; they were insidious. Designed to bypass the body’s natural defenses, they could wreak havoc on the soul itself, leaving no chance of survival if ingested.”
“Enough to kill me, despite my physical and magical capabilities.”
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I stared at the plate, my mind racing. This wasn’t a random act.
Someone had targeted me deliberately, and they’d gone to great lengths to ensure success.
“Who sent this?” I wondered aloud.
I glanced at Sacril, who sat by the corner, his sharp eyes locked on me as if sensing my unease.
“You just saved my life. If it was an ordinary poison, I am sure I would be able to handle it.”
"But this would kill me surely without giving me a chance to help myself.”
Sacril let out a low chirp, tilting his head.
“It seems like I couldn’t afford to let my guard down again. Whoever had done this was either watching me or had inside knowledge of my movements.”
“This won’t stop me. If anything, it will just make me more cautious and prepared against the dangers.”
Gathering my things, I resolved to take this incident as a lesson, not that I had any other thing to do other than find the individual or the group who have sent me this food.
The first thing to come to mind was to talk with the innkeeper, but my instincts told me that a simple innkeeper would have no idea about this poison or would like to kill me.
Looking at Sacril, I nodded toward the door.
“Let’s keep moving. We’ve got work to do.”
With that, I left the room.
As we moved to the downstairs, I cast a glance back at the innkeeper.
He stood behind the counter, chatting with a customer, his demeanor as calm and natural as it had been every time I’d interacted with him.
“No fidgeting, no sideways glances—nothing about him screamed guilt.”
“It is more than likely either he did not know about the poison or he is a master of hiding his emotions and body language.”
As I stepped out of the inn, the cool evening breeze hit my face.
I took a deep breath, letting the fresh air clear my thoughts.
Sacril padded silently beside me, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
“The innkeeper’s not involved.”
I muttered under my breath, my voice just loud enough for Sacril to hear.
The realization brought a small measure of relief, but it didn’t solve the mystery of who had tried to poison me.
“If it wasn’t the innkeeper, then someone else had tampered with my meal. Someone who had access.”
“Whoever it was, they're not done yet. I should prepare for an ambush or attack.”
The streets of the town were quiet as I walked.
Most people were indoors by now, enjoying dinner with their families or preparing to settle in for the night.
It was peaceful—deceptively so.
I turned to Sacril,
“We need a new plan; staying in town isn’t safe, not until I figure out who’s behind this.”
Sacril let out a soft chirp, his expressive eyes meeting mine.
I couldn’t help but smile at his loyalty.
He’d warned me about the food and saved my life without hesitation. If anyone had my back, it was him.
“The forest,”
“We’ll set up camp there for the time being. I’ll come back to town only for the meeting.”
The decision felt right.
Out in the wilderness, I’d have more control over my environment and fewer variables to account for.
Besides, the forest had always been a place where I could think clearly, away from the noise and distractions of people.
As I walked, my thoughts circled back to the meeting.
Elenora’s face flashed in my mind.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that her appearance and the poison attempt were connected.
“It’s too much of a coincidence. She shows up, mentions Eval, and suddenly someone tries to kill me.”
It didn’t sit right.
“Eval’s name seems more important than I thought.”
I respected him for what he’d done in the past, but I didn’t know him well enough to trust his intentions fully.
“Could it be a test?”
“Or is someone trying to keep me from reaching the meeting?”
Sacril tilted his head, his ears twitching as if he were listening to my inner monologue.
“You don’t have the answers either, do you?”
The shadows grew longer as the sun disappeared completely, leaving the world bathed in twilight. I felt a sense of calm wash over me as the forest enveloped us.
I found a clearing not far from the town’s edge, a spot shielded by tall trees with enough space to set up camp.
As I unpacked my supplies and built a small fire, my thoughts returned to the events of the day.
The more I replayed the details, the clearer it became that I couldn’t let my guard down.
“Maybe this is exactly why Eval wants me.”
“If he’s building a network of capable individuals, he’d want people who can handle this kind of pressure.”
But that didn’t explain why someone would target me before I even had a chance to hear Eval’s proposition.
Was it a rival group? A personal enemy? Or something else entirely?
I sighed, leaning back against a tree trunk.
“Questions and no answers,” I muttered.
“It’s like trying to piece together a puzzle without all the pieces. I need to know more about Eval and his enemies to find a clear and logical answer to my questions.”
Sacril curled up near the fire, his gray fur catching the warm glow.
He seemed unbothered, his breathing slow and steady.
Watching him, I felt a pang of envy for his simplicity.
“You’ve got it easy. Eat, sleep, and protect. No scheming, no second-guessing. Just living.”
Sacril let out a soft snore in response, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
I closed my eyes and let myself relax, if only for a moment.
The meeting was still three days away, and I had time to prepare—to strengthen myself and figure out my next move.