Chapter 11: Core nexus awakening.

Adam’s POV

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So...

Now I’m sitting next to Dona while the team’s unconscious body count has doubled. Lying flat next to the bald guy was none other than Kastor, now blissfully unaware of the world.

It all happened so fast. Kastor lunged, his blade aimed straight for me. At the last second, I managed to activate my Stone Shield just in time to block the strike. I had my dagger ready too, but I didn’t even need it.

Before I could react, vines erupted from the ground, binding Kastor like a mummy. And then the leader stepped in—no, charged in—and threw a punch so monstrous that Kastor was sent tumbling across the ground like a tumbleweed in a hurricane.

Surprisingly, The team ignored the knocked out Kastor completely as they swarmed me instead.

“Adam, are you okay?!” Dona dropped to her knees beside me, her hands inspecting every inch of me like a worried parent.

“I’m fine!” I replied, a bit flustered. “But uh... what just happened to him?”

She exhaled a long sigh of relief upon confirming I had no injuries. Meanwhile, the leader dusted off his hands and began explaining Kastor’s little meltdown.

Long story short: Kastor had always been obsessed with becoming an alchemist. Not just a good one—the best. His fixation drove him to spend years locked away in experiments and research, completely neglecting his relationships. Friends, family, you name it—they’d all given up on him.

The only person who stuck by him was, surprisingly, the same guy who had just decked him into next week.

“It’s ironic, huh?” I mumbled, glancing at Kastor’s unconscious form sprawled out like a ragdoll.

Apparently, after all those years of dedication, all Kastor managed was becoming an above-average alchemist. Not bad, but nowhere near the level he dreamed of.

And then I came along—a dirty kid who popped out of a hole, casually created a Core node in front of everyone, and pulled off feats Kastor couldn’t imagine achieving in his lifetime.

I guess I couldn’t blame Kastor too much. Imagine dedicating your entire life to mastering something, only to have a kid roll up, say, "goo goo gaa gaa," and then casually invent the steam engine out of dirt and rocks. Yeah, that would make anyone rethink their life choices.

I glanced over at Kastor’s unconscious body. Nove had helpfully placed a health bar over him—30%. Honestly, it was a miracle he was still alive after taking that haymaker from the beefcake they call a leader. Maybe the guy held back because they were friends? If that was holding back, I didn’t want to see what full force looked like.

I looked around and saw the twins were busy tending to the two unconscious bodies, and the leader was packing up the camp like nothing had happened.

I still had some food left, so I plopped down and started munching on it. The savory taste of chicken did wonders to soothe my nerves.

That’s when Dona approached, her motherly concern written all over her face.

“Adam, what do you want to do now?” she asked.

“Huh?” I replied mid-chew, a chunk of chicken still in my mouth.

What did I want to do now?

Freedom was exhilarating, sure, but it also came with its own problems. I needed information—common knowledge about this world. I couldn’t afford another Kastor situation where my actions baffled everyone and almost got me skewered. I needed to blend in, not stick out like some prodigy or a freak If I wanted an easier life.

Dona pressed on. “You have amnesia, right? Do you have any plan until your memory comes back?”

I mulled it over. There was so much I wanted to do. My time in the cave had given me plenty of ideas:

A base of operations, a small team, mastery of Metalweaving and alchemy, better techniques, rare materials, and maybe, just maybe, a chance to see everything this world had to offer.

My wandering thoughts snapped back to the present as Dona’s words cut through.

“You know, we wouldn’t mind if you joined us,” she said, her voice gentle yet hopeful. She cast a glance at the leader, who immediately dropped whatever he was holding. His expression shifted to surprise, then concern, before he quickly shook his head as if trying to banish the idea.

Dona wasn’t about to give up, though. “We can teach him all sorts of things. And let’s be honest—he’s already proven himself capable, especially as an alchemist,” she pressed, sounding suspiciously like a child bargaining with her parents to adopt a stray kitten.

Honestly, it didn’t sound like a bad idea. Having allies, especially in a world where I was essentially clueless, was a definite plus. And if these people were nomads, they weren’t tied to any one place—or any one faction, for that matter.

As if she could hear my thoughts, Nove chimed in, her voice echoing in my head. “Alper, please reconsider and return to your family. Your parents must be extremely worried. Moreover, we need to report the attempted assassination and sever ties with the opposing clan.”

Family…

A concept that felt more foreign than familiar. My parents in my old life weren’t exactly paragons of love and care. They saw me as a tool, a bargaining chip to grease the wheels of their ambitions. Toss me into the meat grinder, reap the rewards, and repeat. Did I miss them? No. I couldn’t even remember their faces clearly anymore.

But this wasn’t my old life. What if the clans here weren’t like the mob families I knew? What if I was projecting my past onto something completely different? What if I was just blowing this whole thing out of proportion?

“Dona,” I said after a moment, my curiosity getting the better of me. “Can you tell me what you know about clans and minor clans?”

Better to get an outside perspective. After all, knowledge was power—and I needed all the power I could get.

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Dona’s eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn’t expected my question. She glanced at the leader, whose expression shifted to something sharper, more cautious. I wasn’t sure what unspoken exchange passed between them, but after a moment, Dona began explaining.

“You want to know about clans, huh?” she said, tilting her head slightly. “Well, if you wanted to join one, they’d probably accept you in a heartbeat. But if you’re just curious…”

She launched into a description that painted the clans as powerhouses of this world. According to her, the major clans weren’t just influential—they were nation-shakers, with the ability to govern entire countries. Even the so-called "minor" clans were forces to be reckoned with, wielding enough power to control cities.

“Each clan has its own goals and objectives,” Dona continued, her tone shifting to one of reassurance, “but none of them are secretly running some evil empire or anything.”

“Really?” I couldn’t help but blurt out, my skepticism showing.

Dona chuckled softly, her smile widening. “Well, there are territorial disputes from time to time, but for the most part, clans leave the common folk alone. And if a clan ever does go rogue, the others team up to bring them back in line. It’s only happened once in recorded history, and no one’s been foolish enough to try it since.”

Her words sparked a glimmer of hope in me. Maybe I had been overthinking this whole clan thing. If what she said was true, these clans didn’t operate like the mob families from my past. No shadowy hit jobs, no blood-soaked vendettas in the name of "honor." Just structured organizations with a clear sense of accountability.

Huh. Maybe I wouldn’t have to worry about getting dragged back into a life of dirty work after all.

Even so, a knot of doubt remained in my chest. Memories of the mob and its relentless grip on me—on my every action, every choice—were hard to shake. The scars from that life ran deep, and jumping into a clan without knowing all the facts felt… reckless.

I took a deep breath, nodding slowly. “Thanks, Dona. That helps… a lot.”

She smiled warmly, but her words echoed in my head as I mulled over my options. Maybe it was time to stop running from the idea of family. If the clan turned out to be a genuinely good one, maybe I could finally experience what it was like to have a real mom and dad.

But I couldn’t rush into this. Not yet.

For now, I’d play it safe. I’d gather intel, keep my options open, and if everything checked out—if this wasn’t just some dream built on false hope—I’d consider heading back.

Nonetheless, Having the backing of a whole organization can be a game-changer. Plus, if they turn out to be genuinely good folks, I wonder what it's like to have a real mom and dad?

"Alright, I’ve made up my mind," I declared, glancing at Dona. Her curiosity was mirrored by the leader, who was clearly eavesdropping despite pretending otherwise.

"I’ll research the clans first," I continued, "and once I know what I’m getting into, I’ll give them a shot."

Dona’s expression shifted, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "What if you have a family out there, worried sick about you?" she asked gently.

I rested my hand on my chin, feigning deep thought. "Well," I said with a confident grin, "if I get famous enough, they’re bound to hear about me, right? I’ll reconnect with them then."

Dona sighed but nodded, seemingly resigned to my logic. Even the leader gave an approving grunt, his eyes reflecting a mix of relief and mild annoyance—probably glad I wasn’t dead weight, but also ready to focus on their mission again.

And then, Dona threw everyone for a loop.

"Okay. I’m coming with you," she announced, her tone leaving no room for debate.

Both the leader and I froze, equally startled. "What?" we said in unison, though mine came out more like a squeak.

The leader raised an eyebrow. "Dona, what are you doing? We’ve got a mission here."

Dona turned to him with a look that could only be described as maternal defiance. "Oh, come on. Half the team’s already down for the count. It’s better to put the mission on hold for now. Besides," she added with a pointed glance at me, "the wilderness is dangerous. For a child."

The leader rubbed his temples as if this conversation was giving him a headache. "Fine," he muttered, exhaling heavily. "Also, he’s not a child but a teenager, regardless, make it quick. We’ll postpone the mission until tonight."

With a triumphant smile, Dona took my hand. "Let’s go," she said warmly, tugging me toward the path down the mountain.

And you know what? It didn’t feel bad at all, being guided like a lost kid. For the first time in a while, I didn’t have to feel like I was on my own.

With her staff in one hand and my much smaller hand in the other, Dona expertly navigated the rocky descent as we made our way down the small mountain. Her steps were confident, and her grip firm, giving off an oddly comforting aura.

As we carefully descended the mountain, one thought nagged at the back of my mind, refusing to let go. I couldn’t help but ask, “Dona?”

“Yes, dear?” she replied warmly, her ever-present smile lighting up her face.

“Why are you helping me so much?”

Her smile faltered for a moment, freezing in place. She stopped mid-step, sighing softly before making a bittersweet expression. “I guess… I really am doing too much,” she admitted, her tone tinged with self-reflection.

I waited, sensing there was more to her answer. Sure enough, she glanced away, her gaze distant, as though staring into a past she couldn’t escape. “I have a child, Adam. He’s the same age as you. His name is Gunnar.” Her voice grew softer, almost wistful. “We’re… not on good terms. We haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

Her words hung in the air like a fragile echo, and for a brief moment, I feared she’d lost him. The thought made my chest tighten.

Dona let out a dry laugh, shaking her head as if to dispel the heaviness. “When I saw you… you looked just like him. The splitting image. I couldn’t leave you alone, not when I felt like I was looking at my own son.”

I stayed quiet, unsure of how to respond.

“It’s selfish, really,” she continued with a sad chuckle. “Maybe I’m just helping you for my own sake. But when you smile… it reminds me of how he used to call me ‘Mother.’” Her voice cracked slightly, and she swallowed hard. “And I just couldn’t turn my back on you.”

Her vulnerability hit me like a ton of bricks. For all her strength and kindness, there was a deep sadness in her. I felt a strange warmth toward her, as though, in this moment, she wasn’t just helping me—she was healing herself, too.

“I see…” I finally murmured, keeping my voice soft. The weight of her story left me quiet, but now I understood. Her reasons were personal, tangled with longing and regret, and yet she offered her help without expecting anything in return.

And for that, I was grateful.

"Oh, I forgot to give this back," I said, realizing I still had the leader’s dagger tucked away.

"That thing? It’s just a piece of metal and some wood," Dona replied dismissively. "Barely worth mentioning."

Right, I thought to myself. Metalweaving must make objects like this practically disposable here. Almost as if reading my confusion, Dona’s eyes lit up with sudden realization.

"Oh! I just remembered—you’re not able to metal weave properly, are you?" she asked.

I nodded, making sure to put on my best innocent-kid face. Maybe it would trigger more of those motherly instincts of hers. Don’t judge me; this whole being-cared-for thing is new, and I’m not above milking it.

"I'm guessing your nexus core helps you out with alchemy," she continued, "but the trade-off is that you’re not good at Metalweaving."

"Exactly," I replied, nodding along like a diligent student.

Nove’s voice immediately rang out in my mind, dripping with indignation. "Correction, host: I assist you with everything. You don’t know anything about Metalweaving."

Should’ve said that to Alper, Nove, not me.

I nodded again, and Dona let out a soft chuckle. “Don’t worry, you’ll eventually make a core node that boosts your Metalweaving. But you can also increase your stats just by practicing consistently. Like increasing strength—if you exercise daily, you’ll gradually improve your strength, agility, or even other stats.”

Huh. That was news to me.

“So, I can improve my stats just by working hard?” I asked, feeling a spark of hope.

“Theoretically, yes,” Dona replied with a knowing smile. “But it gets harder the higher your stat points are. For example, someone with 1 Strength only needs to do five pushups to gain a point overnight. But someone with 50 Strength? They’ll need to do 500 pushups every day for several days just to get half a point.”

“Ohhh, so that’s how it works!” I exclaimed, my gears turning. “That means I could turn things around in Metalweaving, too. YESSSSS—”

I was already envisioning myself as a master Metalweaver, shaping mountains with a flick of my wrist. But, of course, Nove had to pop my balloon with her trademark deadpan delivery.

“Alper,” she interrupted, her voice unusually urgent. “Your other core is awakening. I strongly advise entering your Core Nexus area immediately in case things go awry. This is an impossible event, and it warrants caution.”

My victory dance froze mid-thought. Impossible event? Yeah, that definitely didn’t sound like a good thing.