As they continued along the bumpy road, they eventually stopped in an open area to set up tents. It was a magical sight as they arranged what looked like portable lampposts around the campsite. In total, there were three tents: one for the duo from the Maarak Family, one for the warriors, and the last one for Sylvar. The lizards were left to rest on the grass.

A simple bonfire and cooking set were also arranged for everyone's use. At this point, Sylvar approached Erin, holding the stone in his hand. As it emitted a soft glow once again, they were able to communicate.

"We'll be having dinner shortly. After that, you can sleep in the warriors' tent."

"Ah, thanks, Mr. Sylvar," Erin replied gratefully.

And just like that, they had something resembling porridge for dinner, and Erin quietly ate his share. He took the opportunity to inquire about the current situation, drawing some simple conclusions. They were at the western border of the Menduntis Empire, which held significant importance due to its status as a border. The Western Ridge, a mountain range, separated the Menduntis Empire from the Free Lands.

The Free Lands were aptly named as they lacked a specific governing body, relying only on militia and self-governed cities. Though somewhat ownerless, the people residing there were commonly known as Outlanders. Any attempts by neighboring empires to invade or claim their land would be met with retaliation from various races and people residing in the Free Lands. The area served as a neutral zone, making it essential for the surrounding empires to consider the risk of invasion.

Sylvar deduced that Erin had likely come from that area. The road they were currently traveling on connected the border to the Serene Forest and Tokh City.

"Erin, have you learned how to use aura yet?" Basten asked curiously. They were around the same age, and Basten was fascinated by the concept of natural awakening. While most people prepared for and underwent a ritual to awaken their aura, the natural awakening was unpredictable. It could result in a weak foundation, leaving the person stuck in the lower stages, or it could be a shortcut to incredible talent. However, the chances of the latter were so slim that most regarded it as an unfortunate occurrence.

"I haven't. To be honest, I didn't even know I had awakened. I was only trying to escape from an orange humanoid monster that tried to kill me in the forest," Erin explained.

Erin also learned that these creatures were called "Red" in the Meduntis Language, designated solely based on their appearance.

"I see, Master… Can we test him?" Basten turned to the quiet lady in blue.

"Don't get his hopes up, Basten. Most natural awakenings are a curse rather than a blessing," she cautioned.

"It's fine, it's just a grade 1 stone anyways," Basten responded nonchalantly.

Sylvar and Erin observed the interaction with curiosity.

"I can provide the stone for the test. I am also quite curious about his aptitude," Sylvar offered, trying to lighten the mood.

"Alright… Kid, come here," the woman said, beckoning Erin over. "We're going to conduct a simple test to determine your inclination."

Erin was genuinely interested.

"Please sit in front of me and focus on this stone," she said, as a white stone materialized before Erin. It appeared ordinary, except for a subtle glow.

Erin took a seat in front of the woman, and she began to instruct him.

"Concentrate on the stone in front of you. Visualize it as if it were made of water, and imagine using it to wash every part of your body. Maintain your connection with it and try to use it to the best of your ability."

"Okay."

As Suli placed the stone in Erin's hand, a sudden change occurred.

[Energy source detected.]

[Requesting permission to activate recovery protocol for the artifact program.]

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Erin's eyes widened in fright as the voice resonated from all directions.

"What…?"

Observing Erin's reaction, the woman thought, 'His concentration is lacking; his talent must be quite poor.'

However, Erin had a realization.

'Um… Hello? Are you the jewel in my head?'

[Responding.]

[The artifact is currently located within the host's soul.]

'I see. So, what do you mean by recovery?' Erin inquired.

[Responding.]

[The artifact lost all its energy during the dimensional jump.]

[It now requires energy to recover some of its functions.]

[The assistant function is currently sustained by the host's life energy, which is not advisable for long-term use.]

Erin furrowed his brows, contemplating the situation. He didn’t feel it at first, but now his head started feeling weary.

'Don't absorb it for now. I'll think about it later.'

After all, he couldn't fathom how to explain the existence of such an artifact to others. He had led a life where wealth sometimes came with life-altering challenges.

Refocusing on the task assigned by Suli, Erin imagined the stone transforming into water and cleansing his body. He felt a refreshing sensation as the energy from the stone...

After approximately 15 seconds, he opened his eyes, realizing that the stone no longer held any "water."

"Hm… I can't absorb any more for now.”

Both Suli and Basten wore intrigued expressions as they observed Erin.

“Master, he absorbed the whole stone, right?” Basten asked.

“Yes, but he’s very slow at attuning,” replied Suli.

Erin tilted his head, curious about their conversation.

“Excuse me, Elder… What do you mean by slow?” Erin inquired.

Suli looked at Erin and then sighed. “Typically, it takes a person about 20 seconds to attune to the stone’s energy. And then they absorb it in around 2 minutes, with pauses to digest the energy. You, on the other hand, took a minute and a half to attune to the energy but absorbed it within 20 seconds… It’s very unusual.”

Little did Suli know that Erin had attuned to the energy in less than half a second. He had been engaged in a mental conversation with the so-called "artifact" during that time.

“I see,” Erin replied, deciding not to share the truth. “But Elder, may I ask for the result?”

“Ah, yes. So, you have a horrible energy sense, but a great absorption rate. Honestly, I've never seen a case like yours, so I think you’re somewhat above average in talent,” Suli explained.

Erin was relieved to hear this assessment. It seemed he was quite talented according to their standards.

“Also, considering your class options, you’re more suited to be a warrior since you already have aura. You can dabble in magic a bit, but considering your talent for sensing energy, you’ll most likely only learn tier 1 or 2 magic at most,” Suli continued.

“Lastly, remember this is a crude test… Since you’re a naturally awakened warrior, you might follow an unconventional direction or simply have no improvement for the rest of your life.”

“Alright, thanks, Elder Suli. Hm… If I may ask, where can I find other stones like this?”

“Some monsters have them, while others possess other magic parts… You’ll learn about it eventually,” Suli replied, seeming uninterested in explaining it further.

Erin understood that he couldn't keep pestering the elder, who had already gone out of her way due to her disciple's willfulness. So, he excused himself and approached Sylvar.

“Huh, hm… Mr. Sylvar, how much does a stone like that cost?” he asked, attempting to look pitiful.

“It isn’t expensive at all, only about a gold piece. The Warriors above tier 2 don’t even bother with it. It’s mostly useful for convenience, such as lamps or lighting a fire for warriors. But you can’t absorb any more of that. You have to digest it into your own power… Otherwise, you'll build up resistance and won’t be able to improve to further levels.”

“Ah, I see. Thanks…”

His plan to get a free stone failed, but he did gain some useful information.

‘Huh, hey, are you there, assistant?’

[Responding.]

[Yes.]

‘Do you know other energy sources I can find, and what are the functions I’ll be able to use?’

[Responding.]

[Energy sources have to be prime matter, such as stars or raw energy.]

[There are a variety of sources, and I can analyze them after you come in contact with such sources.]

[The functions were divided into levels of energy input.]

[The first level will comprise of:

1. Syntenium full control.

2. Energy manipulation.

3. Information analysis and integration.]

Erin did recall the dimensional jump, but he knew it would require an enormous amount of energy. However, he also realized that there might be a possibility of returning to Earth.

‘So, Syntenium is the metal, right?’

[Responding.]

[Syntenium is a composite mix made of atomic energy-infused tungsten and titanium.]

‘Okay, shut off for now. I'll find ways to get energy later.’

[Responding.]

[Standby mode on.]

Feeling lightheaded, he decided to end the conversation. The priority list now included "energy sources"...

'My work is just increasing.'

...

“Master, isn’t he talented?” Basten asked, intrigued by his master's lack of interest. The Maarak was always on the lookout for individuals with above-average talent to recruit into the lower class, but his master hadn't shown any enthusiasm for Erin.

“The selection, Basten. His talent is at best a little above average, and there’s only one year until the selection… Do you truly think it would be a wise idea to bring him into the family with the current struggle going on?” Suli replied, casting doubt on the proposal.

“Ah, I see… The selection.” Basten realized his chances were slim. Despite being very talented, the competition within the family was fierce, and others were equally, if not more, gifted than him. 'I have to break through to stage 3.'

Suli simply glanced at him, seemingly knowing his thoughts, but decided against speaking as to not dampen his hopes.

…

Erin experienced something entirely new when it was time for a shower. Unlike the showers he was accustomed to on Earth, the warriors around him simply used gallons of water and a sponge. This method was unfamiliar to him, making it a novel experience. They were efficient with their water usage, not wasting more than 10 liters per person. Erin, with his small body, needed only one gallon of water. However, what truly fascinated him was the discovery of soap - a normal soap and a rough sponge. It seemed that cleanliness was achieved through a quick scrub, likely to conserve water.

Amidst the warriors, Erin noticed everyone else had something resembling toothpaste, and one of them offered him a bit. It turned out to be an acidic gel that he applied to his mouth and used to rinse. Although it lacked the refreshing minty feeling he was used to, it did leave a sense of cleanliness, even without a toothbrush.

The shower routine was a unique cultural experience for Erin, but he appreciated the resourcefulness of the warriors in their water and hygiene practices.

As night fell, it was time to sleep. Erin entered the warriors' tent and found a rough blanket covering the ground, probably a spare as the warriors were already asleep, with some snoring. The breathing patterns of the warriors changed as soon as he entered the tent, indicating their alertness and strength.

Erin couldn't help but be curious about their level of vigilance.

‘They must be on high alert to react like this…’

Nonetheless, he was grateful to have a proper place to sleep under a tent, even if it meant adjusting to new customs and practices.

"I'll survive," he said softly, before closing his eyes and finally getting some well-deserved rest in this unfamiliar world.