🎵: Dash of the Daring, Rise of the Iron Will

I awoke to the gentle light of dawn filtering through the branches above me. My body felt heavy, the stiffness in my muscles a reminder of yesterday's struggles. I took a moment to gather myself, feeling a mix of weariness and determination as I adjusted to the new day. The fire had long since burned down to ash, leaving only a few glowing embers. I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from yesterday's journey and battle with the beaver.

Hungry, I reached for the food I had summoned yesterday with Feast of Life. To my surprise, it was still there and unspoiled. It seemed like the magic had kept it fresh overnight. I ate a quick meal, savouring the simple but nourishing food. I also took a long drink from the canteen of purified water, grateful for its clean taste.

After finishing my magical breakfast, I packed up my few belongings. With a full stomach and renewed energy, I set off again, following the river as it meandered through the landscape.

After a few hours of alternating between running and walking, something caught my eye in the distance. Squinting against the sunlight, I could make out rooftops and the faint silhouette of a settlement. I accelerated, revealing a small town nestled along the river's edge. I could see people moving about, the sounds of daily life drifting on the breeze. Relief surged through me at the thought of finally finding civilization. The exhaustion from the journey and the loneliness I had felt during my time in the wilderness made the sight of the town even more overwhelming. I could feel tears of gratitude welling up, a testament to just how desperate I had been for any sign of human contact.

Taking a deep breath, I approached the town. As I entered the town, the contrast between my recent solitude and the bustling settlement was almost overwhelming. The streets were alive with activity - merchants called out their wares from wooden stalls, children darted between buildings playing their games, and the smell of fresh bread wafted from what appeared to be a bakery. The buildings themselves were a mix of stone foundations with wooden upper stories, their architecture unlike anything I'd seen before. Smoke rose from multiple chimneys, carrying the scents of cooking fires and what might have been a blacksmith's forge. Some looked curious, others wary. A few even seemed eager. Their attire was simple yet functional—linen shirts, leather vests, and sturdy boots. Many had sun-tanned skin, rough hands, and carried tools or baskets, suggesting they were farmers or craftsmen. Their faces showed a mix of suspicion and fascination, as though they weren’t sure what to make of me.

I heard shouting, the sharpness of their voices cutting through the air, and noticed people pointing at me. Their expressions ranged from shock to suspicion, with furrowed brows and wide eyes that made me acutely aware of how out of place I must have seemed. Their words were a jumble of unfamiliar sounds, meaningless to me. But from their gestures and tone, I could tell I was the centre of attention.

A young boy ran up to me, his eyes wide with excitement. He rattled off words, his voice high-pitched and eager. Before I could react, an older woman pulled him back, her eyes narrow and suspicious as she studied me.

I raised my hands in a non-threatening gesture and tried to speak, but the blank looks on their faces told me they couldn't understand me either. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment and frustration. How could I communicate?

An older man pushed through the crowd. He wore a simple but well-made shirt with a small medallion around his neck. He spoke to me, his tone warm and friendly, but I couldn't understand a word.

Panic set in. I needed to communicate, and fast. The desperation must have triggered something within me, because I felt that familiar stirring of creativity—the same feeling I'd had when forging Rise of the Iron Will. If I could create a song for strength, why not one for understanding languages? The melody formed in my mind, complex and flowing, like a conversation between different voices weaving together into harmony.

Words unknown, now clear as day,

Tongues of strangers, forever I say.

Babel's walls come tumbling down,

Understanding crowns this sound.

Your linguistic creativity just babbled out a melody named 'Babel's Harmony.'

Do you want to replace a song with it?

[YES] / [NO]

You have selected YES

Name: Babel's Harmony

Musical Instrument: String

Effect: Acquires languages and briefly deciphers unknown writings

Target Type: Self

Casting time: 2 turns

Range: 20 meters (for deciphering unknown writings)

Cost: 10 mana

Requirements: You must perform it in an area where at least one unknown language is present (written or spoken).

Duration:

* Permanent effect: Learn 10 new languages

* Temporary effect: Can decipher basic unknown writings for 1 hour

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New Song Acquired: Babel's Harmony

Song Removed: Rise of the Iron Will

You sing Babel's Harmony!

I could feel the old song slip away as the new one took its place. After singing Babel's Harmony, the world around me transformed. What had been meaningless sounds transformed into coherent words and phrases. The experience was disconcerting at first - like having someone flip a switch in my brain. I could now understand not just the primary language being spoken, but also caught fragments of what seemed to be different dialects among the crowd.

Mayor Thorn's introduction took on new significance as I processed his words.

"Welcome, traveller," he said, his voice warm and friendly. "I am Mayor Thorn. Even though we heard of your arrival, we didn't expect anyone to appear here. What was that strange song you were singing?"

I blinked in surprise, still adjusting to the fact that I could now understand him. "Oh, that? It's a spell I just created to help me understand your language."

Mayor Thorn's eyebrows shot up, impressed. "Remarkable! The System informed everyone that we'd be receiving visitors from another world soon. As you can imagine, it's been the talk of the town. We're just a small settlement in the heart of human territory, so we never expected an 'Outworlder' to show up here, of all places."

"Tell me," I asked, falling into step beside him as we walked through the town, "what exactly did the System say about us Outworlders?"

The mayor adjusted his medallion thoughtfully before responding. "About a week ago, everyone received a notification that individuals from another world would be arriving. The announcement caused quite a stir, especially in the larger cities. Some people are eager about the potential for new knowledge and skills you might bring, while others..." he trailed off diplomatically.

"While others are worried about what our arrival might mean," I finished for him.

"Precisely," he nodded. "Change isn't always welcomed with open arms, even when it's predicted. But here in Riverhaven - that's our town's name - we are more practical about such matters."

"You must be hungry after your journey," Mayor Thorn said, gesturing toward the market square. "Come, let me treat you to some proper food while you tell me about your world."

As we walked to a nearby food stall selling fresh bread and spicy stew, the mayor's curiosity was clear. "We've all wondered what worlds our visitors might come from."

The vendor ladled out two bowls of steaming stew, and we found a muted spot to sit. The familiar act of sharing a meal made it easier to talk about the hard memories.

"My world... Earth... it was dying," I began, the words catching in my throat. "A disease swept across the globe, unlike anything we'd seen before. It didn't just affect humans–it mutated even to animals."

Mayor Thorn listened intently as I continued, his expression softening with understanding, "My family… we were just trying to survive on our farm when they came. Desperate people, looking for supplies, medicine—anything they could get their hands on. They attacked our shelter. My parents…" I hesitated, the memory still fresh and painful. "We all got separated. My mom and sister… they were captured by those thugs. As for my father…" My voice wavered. "I don't know what happened to him. They chased me, but I escaped." I took a steadying breath, pushing through the painful memories. “The following day, I heard about portals opening up. I didn’t know if they were real, but I had to see for myself. Maybe… maybe it was a chance for something better.”

"That's when I saw it–a shimmer in the air, like heat waves rising from the ground. Something inside me just knew it was a way out. The System's portal, I suppose. Eventually, I was able to jump through one. Next thing I knew, I was in your world, in the plains a few days from here. I received a quest which provided me with directions to your town."

The mayor placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "The System works in mysterious ways. Perhaps it sensed your world's plight and opened pathways for those it could save."

I nodded, taking another spoonful of stew. "I've been here about three days now. Everything's so different, so alive. It's like stepping into a world untouched by the decay I left behind."

"Thank you for sharing that with me," Mayor Thorn said quietly, giving me a moment to collect myself as we finished our meal. "It can't have been easy, leaving everything behind like that."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. After we finished our lunch, we continued our walk through the town.

As we walked, I noticed more details about the town's layout. The river that had guided me here ran along the eastern edge of the settlement, and several water wheels turned steadily in the current, likely powering mills or other machinery. The streets were arranged in a rough grid pattern, with the major thoroughfare we were on being the busiest.

"How many people live here?" I asked, trying to get a sense of the scale.

"We're about eight hundred strong," Mayor Thorn replied. "Not counting the farmers who live in the surrounding areas. We're the largest settlement for several days' travel in any direction, though that's not saying much in these parts."

He pointed out various establishments as we walked - the local temple with its silver bell tower, the marketplace where farmers brought their produce, and the craftsmen's district where the rhythmic sound of hammers and saws filled the air. Each location had its own story, its own place in the town's ecosystem.

"The System you mentioned," I said, "how does it work exactly? I've noticed notifications and such, but I'm still trying to understand it all."

Mayor Thorn's eyes lit up at the question. "Ah, yes. Well, the System governs everything from our abilities to our growth. Everyone has a class - mine is Administrator, for instance - and can gain levels by completing tasks related to their class. The higher your level, the more skills you can learn and the stronger those skills become."

He gestured to a group of young people practicing with wooden swords in a small courtyard. "Take those apprentice guards, for example. They're working on basic combat skills. Each successful training session gives them experience points, and when they accumulate enough, they level up. The System also provides quests - sometimes small ones like delivering messages, other times more significant tasks like clearing out monster nests."

The explanation helped clarify some of what I'd experienced since arriving. "And these notifications we receive..."

"Are the Systems' way of communicating important information," he finished. "They can tell you about new skills, level ups, quest opportunities, or major events affecting the area. Speaking of which..."

We had arrived at the Adventurers' Guild, its imposing structure standing three stories tall. Unlike the wooden buildings around it, the Guild was built entirely of stone, with thick walls and heavy wooden doors reinforced with iron bands. The sword and shield emblem above the entrance was carved from what appeared to be black marble, catching the sunlight with a subtle gleam.

"The Guild is where you'll want to start," Mayor Thorn said. "They can provide you with basic equipment, information about quests, and most importantly, they can help you understand your current status and abilities. Many adventurers also use the Guild as a place to form parties for more challenging quests."

I could hear the sounds of conversation and activity from within - the clink of coins, the rustle of papers, and the occasional burst of laughter. Through the windows, I caught glimpses of people in various types of armour and clothing, some carrying weapons while others pored over what looked like maps spread across tables.

"Before you go in," Mayor Thorn said, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "there's something you should know. Being an Outworlder makes you special, but it also makes you a target. There are those who will seek to use you for their own ends, and others who might view you with suspicion or hostility. The Guild is neutral ground, but exercise caution in whom you trust."

I nodded, appreciating his candid advice. "Thank you, Mayor Thorn. For everything."

He smiled warmly. "Think nothing of it. We all need guidance when starting a new journey."

With that, he departed, leaving me standing before the Guild's entrance. The world around me was still strange and new, but at least now I had a starting point, a direction to move in.

As I reached for the door handle, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was it—my first proper step into this new world. Whatever happened next, I knew my life would never be the same.