Octavius sat in the soft, glowing grass, his breathing heavy as the System’s translucent blue screen lingered before him. The words “Welcome to Eltherion, Octavius Figaro” flickered briefly before dissolving into the air. The glowing orb that had guided the wolves away hovered high in the sky, its pulsating light retreating with the same serene mystery that it had arrived with. For the first time since the chaos began, silence blanketed the clearing. The only sounds were the faint hum of the glowing trees and Octavius's uneven breaths.
“Okay,” he whispered to himself. “This isn’t Earth. This isn’t a dream. And somehow… I’m still alive.”
He rubbed his hands together, feeling the faint, residual heat from the firebolt spell he had cast minutes ago. It had been so instinctive, so raw, that he could hardly believe he had done it.
But the proof lay in the charred remains of the wolf that had nearly killed him. Its black fur still smoked, its lifeless eyes staring blankly at nothing. Octavius shuddered and quickly looked away.
The screen reappeared.
[Quest Updated: Survive Your First Day][Progress: 1/3 Objectives Completed]
1. Defeat a Threat – ✅
2. Rest in a Safe Zone – ⬜
3. Seek Guidance from a Local – ⬜
“Well, at least it’s giving me goals,” Octavius muttered, standing up. His legs wobbled beneath him, not from exhaustion but from the lingering shock of what he’d just experienced. “Safe zone… I guess this glowing field counts for now.”
But something in his gut told him this serenity wouldn’t last. He surveyed the area carefully. The crystalline trees at the edges of the clearing glittered like gemstones, their colors shifting gently in the dimming light. The ground beneath him pulsed faintly, as if it were alive and breathing. It was beautiful, alien, and undeniably dangerous.
His gaze fell to the screen again, this time focusing on his stats.
[System Status: Level 1]
* Health: 100
* Vitality: 80
* Mana: 120
* Strength: 70
* Intelligence: 95
* Agility: 75
“Alright,” he said, pacing as he studied the numbers. “If I’m going to survive here, I need to figure out what all this means.”
STAT BREAKDOWN
The System seemed to sense his thoughts, as new descriptions materialized.
* Health: The measure of life force. If it reaches zero, the user dies. Simple enough.
* Vitality: Determines stamina and physical durability. Higher vitality means enduring more damage and fatigue.
* Mana: The reservoir of magical energy used for casting spells.
* Strength: Governs physical power and melee attack effectiveness.
* Intelligence: Affects magical aptitude, learning speed, and spell potency.
* Agility: Influences speed, reflexes, and evasion capabilities.
Octavius nodded as he read. “Okay, so I’ve got decent intelligence for magic and… decent strength for punching things. At least the wolves seemed to think I was good enough to eat.”
As he mulled over his stats, a soft chime rang out again.
[Tutorial: Beginner Skills Available for Unlocking][Skill Points Available: 5]
Octavius blinked. “Skills? I can choose skills?”
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A list appeared, filled with options that seemed both intriguing and overwhelming.
AVAILABLE SKILLS
1. Firebolt (Passive) – “Improves spell efficiency and fire damage. A basic offensive spell for beginners.” (Cost: 2 SP)
2. Endurance (Passive) – “Increases stamina regeneration and allows extended activity.” (Cost: 3 SP)
3. Combat Reflexes (Active) – “Boosts agility briefly when under attack.” (Cost: 4 SP)
4. Basic Swordsmanship (Passive) – “Grants proficiency with one-handed blades. Useful for melee combatants.” (Cost: 3 SP)
5. Mana Shield (Active) – “Converts mana into a protective barrier against physical attacks.” (Cost: 5 SP)
“Five points, huh?” Octavius muttered. “I should probably go for balance. I don’t want to burn through all my mana too quickly, but I need to stay alive.”
He weighed his options carefully before making his selections.
[Skill Unlocks: Firebolt (2 SP), Endurance (3 SP)][Remaining Skill Points: 0]
Octavius felt a strange warmth spread through his body as the System’s message confirmed his choices. It was as if something had clicked into place, his muscles and mind both adapting to this newfound power. “Alright,” he said aloud. “I have fire, and I can last longer. Not bad.”
His next objective loomed in his mind. “Rest in a Safe Zone.” The meadow was tranquil, but it didn’t feel permanent. The crystalline forest surrounding it looked like both a sanctuary and a trap. If those wolves had come from there, more creatures could emerge at any moment. Octavius scanned the horizon, searching for any signs of civilization or shelter. A faint plume of smoke rose in the distance, just beyond the tree line.
“A campfire?” he wondered aloud. “Or something burning?”
The idea of encountering another person filled him with both hope and dread. The System had mentioned seeking guidance from a local, but there was no guarantee that whoever—or whatever—was near the fire would be friendly.
Still, standing still wasn’t an option. He tightened the straps of his tattered briefcase, now an ironic keepsake of the life he’d left behind, and started walking.
As he entered the forest, the air grew cooler. The trees emitted a faint, ethereal hum, and their crystalline leaves chimed softly when the breeze stirred them. It was beautiful, almost hypnotic, but Octavius remained alert. Every shadow seemed to move, every sound amplified in the silence. He crouched low as he moved, trying to make as little noise as possible. His heart raced with every step.
He soon discovered that even in this magical world, his instincts were not to be underestimated. A faint growl came from his left, and he spun to see a small, reptilian creature stalking him. Its scales shimmered like oil slicks, and its claws gleamed as it crept closer.
[Enemy Detected: Crystal Raptor – Level 2]
The creature lunged, but this time, Octavius was ready. He activated Firebolt, the spell forming faster than it had before. The orange flame blasted the raptor mid-air, sending it crashing to the ground. The creature staggered back to its feet, snarling, but Octavius didn’t give it a chance to recover. He dashed forward and swung his briefcase at the raptor with all his strength. The case smashed into the creature’s side, and it crumpled to the ground with a whimper.
[Enemy Defeated: Crystal Raptor – 25 EXP Earned]
Breathing hard, Octavius wiped sweat from his brow. The fight had been quick but exhausting, and his stamina was already dwindling.
“This place really isn’t going to give me a break, is it?” he muttered.
He continued deeper into the forest, the plume of smoke growing closer.
After what felt like an hour of cautious walking, Octavius emerged from the forest into a small clearing. A campfire crackled in the center, surrounded by a simple ring of stones. Sitting beside the fire was a figure cloaked in deep green robes, their face obscured by a hood. They seemed to be humming softly, their hands hovering over a pot suspended above the flames. Octavius hesitated, unsure of how to approach. He cleared his throat, and the figure turned sharply, revealing the face of a woman. Her features were sharp and angular, her eyes glowing faintly with a golden light.
“Who are you?” she demanded, standing and drawing a dagger from her belt. Octavius raised his hands defensively. “I’m not here to fight! I just... I don’t know where I am. I was hoping you could help me.”
The woman studied him for a long moment before lowering her blade. “You’re new,” she said, her tone softening. “You reek of mana.”
“Uh, thanks?” Octavius replied, unsure if it was a compliment or an insult.
The woman chuckled. “Come, sit. You must have questions. And I can see from your ragged appearance that you’ve already had your first taste of Eltherion’s dangers.”
Grateful for the reprieve, He approached cautiously and took a seat across from her. “I’m Octavius,” he said. “And, yeah, I have... a lot of questions....."