Chapter 4: Heliko

Sitting within his small compartment on the train, Noel watched as the strangely familiar scenery started to fade into the distance. Suddenly inheriting a wave of memories seemed to have an interesting effect on his mind.

From his memories, Noel knew that the original Noel only left the town he lived in named “Sylkin” a few during his life. The last being when he went to check his body's mana capabilities, this was also the day he was invited to attend Sanctuary.

In the original game he played, Noel didn't remember any character named Noel Nettle. This meant either the character was an unimportant background character or he never existed in the first place. But either way, Noel had no plans to remain an insignificant character. He clenched his fist, feeling the determination well up inside of him. Only by showing his talents would he gain the opportunities needed to continue to grow stronger.

Noel's eyes returned to the landscape outside, now bathed in the soft hues of the setting sun. His thoughts wandered to the upcoming challenges and the people he would encounter at Sanctuary. He knew he must stand out from the crowd, prove himself capable, and climb the ranks.

Knowing the train ride would take many hours, he closed his eyes, ready to rest in preparation for the long journey ahead of him.

—

Noel's eyelids fluttered open, roused by the sound of the train horn echoing through his small compartment. His muscles tensed and relaxed as he stretched, shaking off the remnants of his slumber. The orange glow from the sun bathed the interior of the room, casting a warm hue over everything.

"Finelly here" Noel murmured, observing the town through the window. The buildings stood proud, though their exteriors showed signs of wear. He knew this place was considered relatively safe due to its distance from the country's borders, but even safety came with a price.

In recent decades, Heliko has become a sort of haven for middle-class families without mana. Choosing to keep themselves away from the constant explorers and battles occurring daily in other cities. Sadly this peace wasnt perfect, as soon a wave of criminals and gangs quickly arrived, happy to oppress the powerless citizens of Heliko.

"Time to start searching!" Noel thought, his eyes wandering around as he took in his new environment.

Stepping off the busy train, Noel maneuvered through the bustling crowd of people attempting to get on or exit the train just like him. Swiftly side-stepping around a tall man, Noel broke free from the crowd, stepping onto the brick sidewalk.

Without a second thought, Noel turned his body, ready to head left toward the city's more impoverished area.

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He could feel the air growing heavier with smog the further he walked. The busting city district slowly turning into factories, taking advantage of the less fortunate in order to gain cheap labor.

—

In the heart of Heliko's slums, a young boy raced through an alley, his black hair drenched in sweat and his arm hanging limply at his side. Pain radiated through his body, but he couldn't afford to stop now. As the boy turned into another alley, he collided with a man who stood ominously before him.

A sinister laugh filled the air as the boy looked up, his bright red eyes glaring daggers at the figure blocking his path.

"Going somewhere?" the man sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"None of your business" the boy retorted, clutching the precious bread in his uninjured hand.

"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" the man quipped. "Well, I suppose that's to be expected from a filthy street rat"

"Shut up!" the boy spat, defiance burning in his eyes.

The red-haired man closed in on the boy, his grin widening as he licked his lips with malicious intent. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the alley, announcing the arrival of more figures from behind. Their leader's brown eyes glinted with delight.

"Should've paid your fees on time, kid" he sneered. "Maybe then we wouldn't be having this little chat"

The boy, Nico, clenched his jaw and shot a defiant glare at his pursuers.

His silence enraged the group, as one of the men pushed him onto the dirty alley floor and a few of them began viciously kicking him to the ground.

As blood spattered across the floor, Nico rotated his body in order to protect the few scraps of bread he managed to earn today.

Being only 8 years old, it was impossible for Nico to find a full-time job. After losing his parents at the age of 6 he had no choice but to start taking odd jobs around Heliko in order to provide for his little sister Grace.

Usually, his days consisted of running errands or picking small fruits and berries for shops around town. A few hours earlier, Nico was excited as a passing adventurer left behind an old rusted dagger that he managed to pawn off. Earning himself enough change to buy himself a stale loaf of bread from a cheap bakery nearby.

Sadly his happiness was crushed, as when he was only a few minutes away from home he ran into this group of thugs.

"Pathetic" the red-haired man spat.

At that moment, a yawn reverberated through the air, drawing everyone's attention. A young man with silver hair and piercing blue eyes emerged from the shadows, stretching languidly as if he had just awoken from a nap. He strolled towards the group, seemingly unconcerned by the scene unfolding before him.

This young man was, of course, Noel.

"Who the hell are you?" snarled the red-haired man, his gaze narrowing with anger.

Noel ignored the question, his focus solely on Nico. He crouched down, studying the battered boy intently. "Hello there" he began, his voice soft and measured. "I was wondering if your name is Nico?"

Nico's red eyes flicked between his attackers and the newcomer, uncertainty clouding his expression. At last, he hesitantly nodded.

"Nice to meet you, Nico" Noel said, a warm smile gracing his face. "I'm Noel"