I began to make my way toward the Guild to report that the dog was dead and wrap up the quest. It was disappointing not to get paid, but it could’ve been worse. At least I wasn't dealing with hallucinations from some bizarre flower attack.

As I walked, I noticed two students nearby casting spells. One had fire flickering in her palm, while the other shaped water into intricate forms. The sight of magic being used so casually was surreal, like it was just another regular Thursday for them.

Level 1: Axel

HP: [███████░░░░] 60/100

Mana: [░░░░░░░░] -1/100

Stamina: [██████████░░] 70/100

Options: [Inv | Skills | Quests]

I stared at the translucent box that appeared in front of me, my mana still in the negatives. If spellcasting required mana, which I was sure it did, I was out of luck. Negative one—probably the lowest level imaginable. I couldn’t help but smirk bitterly.

"Minus one," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. "What a joke.”

The streets were full of activity; people went about their routines, while some of the homeless folks I’d seen earlier now looked sickly, with red noses and coughs. A few volunteer healers were moving among them, casting spells to alleviate their ailments. Watching them work, I realised just how little I knew about this world's magic.

Memories of my childhood came rushing back—when I’d make up imaginary battles by myself since I had no friends. I'd pretend to save a princess, swinging an invisible sword or casting spells in my bedroom. The old me, the one who still had hope, would’ve probably loved this world.

“Save the princess, huh?” I muttered to myself with a dull voice. “What a fool I was back then.”

══════✦══════

Arriving at the Guild, I walked in and nodded to the man behind the counter. He looked up from his book, eyebrows raised, waiting for me to speak.

“Hey,” I began, rubbing the back of my neck. “I couldn’t complete the quest. The dog—it didn’t make it. Something attacked her.”

“Ah, that’s a shame,” he said, sighing as he closed his book. "Gabriel’s gonna be heartbroken. He was holding onto hope."

The name sounded familiar, but I didn’t dwell on it. I just gave a small nod as the man reached for the quest paper and tore it in half. "Well, anything else? We've got new jobs on the board if you’re interested."

“Maybe later,” I replied.

“Alright then, take care, kid,” he said, waving me off.

I stepped outside, taking in a deep breath. The sky was clear, and though I had enough money for now, I needed a plan. If I wanted to survive in this world long enough to find a way back home, I’d have to learn how to defend myself. Weapons like daggers or swords crossed my mind, though fighting was never really my thing. Back in my world, I always preferred to avoid confrontation whenever possible.

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Deciding it was time to at least get a basic weapon just in case, I headed toward Mortan’s blacksmith shop, recalling the directions he’d given me. Luckily, it was fairly close.

Changing my direction, I made my way toward the main gates. The guards stationed there gave me side-eye glances, their eyes narrowing slightly as if questioning why I wasn’t in a school uniform like the other kids my age. Thankfully, none of them confronted me about it; the last thing I needed was to explain my situation. I was pretty sure, ‘Hey, I came here from another world, and I’m just trying to find my way back, don’t mind me please,’ wouldn’t fly as a valid excuse.

Descending the stone steps, I finally reached Mortan's blacksmith shop. He was sitting on a sturdy wooden bench, using a large grinding wheel operated by a foot pedal. His leg moved rhythmically, powering the rotating stone as he pressed a sword against it. Sparks flew in a shower of orange and gold, casting flickering light across his face and the blade. The grinding wheel itself was massive, mounted on a frame of weathered wood with metal reinforcements, looking like it had seen years of use but still turned with smooth precision. Mortan's hands were steady, guiding the blade at just the right angle to sharpen it without damaging the steel.

“Ah, hey, Axel,” Mortan greeted, glancing up from his work. “Morning, lad. You look rough.”

“Morning,” I replied, nodding in acknowledgement. “How are you?”

“Same old, same old. How about you? How’re you finding the city?” he asked, switching to another blade. “A thing of beauty, isn’t it?”

“It’s… disgusting,” I said bluntly. Then, hesitating for a second, I added, “Hey, do you know where I could learn about magic in this world?”

He looked at me with a smirk. “World, huh? You’re talkin’ like you’re from another world.”

“Oh, right. I mean, where I come from, it’s forbidden to learn magic. They were, well, they were a bit strict about the rules.” I said, making the lie sound as natural as possible. “Here is---like it’s like a new world for me.”

Mortan raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “Well, if you’re serious about it, start with Redwood Academy.”

I shook my head. “I’m not here to become a student. Any other options?”

He chuckled. “You might wanna reconsider. Every student gets a free room until they graduate.”

The thought of buying a dagger for my safety disappeared. And also, attending school in this strange world didn’t sound unnecessary to me.

My eyes widened slightly, barely noticeable. “Free room?”

“Yep. Meals, baths—the whole deal.” He said. “You also didn’t know that, huh?”

“Where’s this Redwood Academy?” I asked, trying to keep my excitement in check.

“Just follow the kids in the uniforms,” he said, pointing to a group nearby. “They’re headed there now.”

I paused, then hesitated before asking, “Hmm---okay. So, let’s say I have -1 mana. What does that even mean? I can’t cast any spells?”

Mortan gave a small laugh. “Mana’s not something you can count like coins. It’s spiritual energy, kid. You’d need to talk to someone with more knowledge on the subject.”

I nodded, feeling a bit foolish. “Right. Thanks for the info.”

Mortan looked at me a moment longer. “You’re, uh, you’re not mad about me not taking you in, are ya?”

I shrugged. “Nah, if I were you, I wouldn’t have helped me either. Taking me in the forest was more than enough.”

He gave a small smile. “Fair enough, boy. Fair enough.”

“Well,” I said, nodding, “looks like I’m off to Redwood then.”

“Good luck, kid. I’m sure you’ll fit in… eventually,” he said, with a wink.