Dred, still haunted by the loss of his family, cautiously explored the unfamiliar surroundings. The maze-like corridors stretched out before him, their twists and turns captivating his attention. Memories of his loved ones weighed heavily on his mind as he made his way through the dimly lit passages.

As he ventured deeper into the cave, a growing sense of unease washed over Dred. "I'm lost, dammit," he thought, frustration creeping into his mind.

Due to Dred still being a toddler, he was unable to walk without support. He had to use wind magic to stabilize himself to move around.

Dred stumbled upon a wooden door deep within the cave. "What the hell is a door doing down here?" Dred wondered.

Dred stared at the door, in thought. "How can I open this door? It's too heavy for me to push open," he wondered.

Dred thought for a second and used wind magic to push the door open, revealing a dimly lit room. "Interesting," he thought as he noticed a book floating in the middle of the room.

Dred approached the book and noticed an inscription on the cover that he couldn't understand. "Im too short to reach the damn book," he thought. However, to his surprise, the book floated down in front of him.

"Well, I've got nothing to lose," Dred thought as he grabbed the book and opened the front page. To his disappointment, he found nothing inside as he flipped through every page of the book.

“Who in the hell does all this to store an empty book” Dred thought as he stared at the book.

The book floated out of Dred's hands, its pages fluttering in mid-air. Dred stood there, dumbfounded, his mind racing with a mix of disbelief and apprehension. A wave of fear washed over him as he contemplated the consequences of his impulsive action. "I'm going to die, aren't I?" he thought, berating himself for approaching a book-suspended midair in some random cave.

As Dred stood there, contemplating the book, the fluttering of its pages ceased, and it gracefully floated down, coming to rest right in front of him. The title on the cover caught his attention: "Grimoire." Dred's mind raced with questions and intrigue. "I can read it? How is that possible?" he wondered, his thoughts swirling with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

As Dred reached out once again for the Grimoire, his hand grasping at thin air, the book vanished before his eyes. Yet, a peculiar sensation tingled within his mind, as if something had taken residence there. Thoughts and knowledge flooded his consciousness as if the Grimoire had been transferred directly into his mind. "How did the Grimoire go from being in front of me to within my head?" he pondered, filled with wonder and intrigue.

"In my past life, I played a few games. I know what a Grimoire is, but I don't know how it works in this world," Dred thought, his mind filled with memories of his previous existence. He shifted his attention to the Grimoire within his mind, recognizing the need to understand its powers and potential dangers. He knew that harnessing the knowledge within the ancient tome would require caution and mastery.

Dred concentrated intently, the Grimoire materialized before him once more. Dred pondered the possibility that the Grimoire had forged a profound connection with him. With determined hands, Dred seized the ancient tome, its weight solid and promising. Opening its weathered pages, he discovered a mysterious list of elements. Familiar names such as fire, water, wind, and earth caught his eye, but among them were several enigmatic ones that eluded his knowledge.

Dred's eyes traced the lines of the Grimoire, and a peculiar discovery caught his attention. The entries for dark, light, dimensional, gravity, and holy magic were accompanied by the abbreviation "N/A," shrouding them in an air of mystique. In stark contrast, the elements he already knew—fire, water, wind, and earth—were accompanied by intriguing numerical values.

Dred's gaze fixated on the numerical values next to the familiar elements. Fire-1, water-1, wind-1, and earth-1. Dred flipped to the second page and found a description of magic and cultivation and information on Grimoires.

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Cultivation, Dred discovered, was far more than a mere pursuit—it was an art, a practice that involved honing and fortifying one's magical core while simultaneously deepening their connection with the world around them.

Grimoires, Dred learned, held an important place in the realm of magic. These mystical artifacts were not merely books, but rather potent conduits that stored the accumulated wisdom and arcane knowledge of a caster throughout their journey. They served as indispensable companions on the arduous path of cultivation as they stored the spells and wisdom of their owners.

No two Grimoires are the same; each possesses a unique ability. As Dred returned to the first page, his attention was drawn to a small inscription in the corner that read, "Special ability: Status." Intrigued, he pondered the significance of this newfound revelation. It became apparent that while the abilities of Grimoires were not limitless, his own Grimoire granted him the extraordinary gift of perceiving his proficiency in various magical elements, albeit with limitations. The veil of mystery slowly lifted, and Dred realized that his Grimoire, while not bestowing all-encompassing knowledge, provided him with a valuable tool to assess his mastery of elemental magic and gauge his progress on the path of sorcery.

Dred's mind whirled with determination as he devised a plan. "I am too young to be able to survive within society, I must exercise patience and wait for a few years before seeking out civilization," he contemplated. However, the immediate task at hand was to navigate his way out of the cave.

Dred's eyes scoured the cave until they landed upon an intriguing anomaly on the rugged cave wall. With cautious steps, he approached the peculiar spot, a flicker of hope igniting within him. Placing his hand upon the rough surface, he pressed firmly, his fingers tracing every contour in a desperate search for any hidden mechanism or revelation.

As if in response to Dred's fervent plea, the seemingly impenetrable wall gave way with a thunderous crash, revealing a concealed passageway beyond. A surge of exhilaration coursed through his veins as he beheld the unexpected revelation. "I knew it!" he thought, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and triumph. It became evident to Dred that the individual who had concealed the Grimoire in this secluded place had anticipated the need for an escape route.

Emerging from the hidden walkway, Dred found himself standing on the forest floor, surrounded by towering trees and the gentle whispers of nature. The world stretched out before him, brimming with possibilities. However, the realization settled upon him like a gentle breeze. "Considering my young age, it would be wise to exercise patience and wait for a few years before venturing toward civilization," he contemplated.

Emerging from the hidden walkway, Dred found himself standing on the forest floor, surrounded by towering trees and the gentle whispers of nature. The world stretched out before him, brimming with possibilities. However, a profound realization settled upon him like a gentle breeze. "Considering my tender age, it would be wise to exercise patience and wait for a few years before venturing toward civilization," he contemplated.

With a mixture of caution and understanding, Dred acknowledged the limitations of his youth. He recognized the need for maturity and growth, both in body and mind, before embarking on the journey to seek out civilization. The forest became his haven, a sanctuary where he would observe and learn, nurturing the flame of his curiosity until the time was right.

Settling into the embrace of the verdant surroundings, Dred committed himself to the passage of time, knowing that each day would bring him closer to the moment when he could truly engage with the world beyond the forest's borders. For now, he embraced the tranquility and the invaluable lessons that awaited him in the embrace of nature.

Over the following years, Dred fully immersed himself in the harmonies of the untamed wilderness, dedicating himself to refining his survival skills and nurturing an intimate communion with the natural world. Day by day, he wholeheartedly embraced the mantle of a skilled hunter and resourceful forager, deftly traversing the forest with an acutely honed instinct.

In between these ventures, Dred diligently devoted a significant portion of his time to the practice of magic. He recalled the passages within the Grimoire that alluded to cultivation techniques but unfortunately, he did not have one so he was unable to advance his magic core.

Under the watchful guidance of the forest, Dred learned the art of tracking prey, honing his senses to seek out sustenance. He became adept at identifying edible plants, their flavors and medicinal properties becoming imprinted in his mind. Through trial and error, he discovered the delicate dance of coexistence with the creatures of the wild, understanding the symbiotic relationship between predator and prey.

As the years wove a tapestry of experiences, Dred's confidence and self-reliance grew. The forest provided both challenges and teachings, shaping him into a resilient and adaptable individual. Finally, the day arrived when he sensed the stirring within him.

With newfound maturity and a heart filled with anticipation, Dred bid farewell to the sanctuary of the forest as he was now 10 years old. He carried with him the wisdom acquired from the wild. The path lay ahead, beckoning him toward what he despised most humans.